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KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Persistent high temperatures over the past few days have prompted the Malaysian Meteorological Department to issue warnings on Sunday covering 12 areas in Peninsular Malaysia, particularly in the country's northern states.

The department issued a Level 1 alert warning, particularly for affected areas in the northern states, while a Level 2 heatwave warning was issued for the Padang Terap district in Kedah state, where temperatures of between 37 and 40 degrees Celsius have been recorded for three consecutive days.

A Level 1 alert is issued when daily maximum temperatures range between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius for at least three consecutive days.

The public is also advised to stay up to date on the weather forecasts. 
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been pictured for the first time since his arrest over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.

The 66-year-old former prince was seen walking his dogs in the grounds around his new home, Marsh Farm, on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

He has not been seen since he left Aylsham police station in February, where he attempted to hide from photographers in the back of the car.

The former Duke of York was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over accusations he had shared confidential information with the convicted paedophile while serving as trade envoy.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor served as the UKs special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with the disgraced financier.

open image in gallery The former duke was seen walking his dogs near his new home in Norfolk ( Bav Media )

He remains under police investigation by Thames Valley Police, whose officers are assessing the claims after they emerged in the Epstein files, which were released by the US government.

It was also reported earlier this week that the investigation may be widened to potential corruption offences. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing over his friendship with Epstein.

The former Duke of York was forced to relocate to the Kings estate in Norfolk after public backlash over his rent agreements resulted in him giving up his lease on the Grade II listed mansion Royal Lodge in Windsor.

open image in gallery The former prince was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office ( Reuters )

It emerged he had only paid a peppercorn rent for more than 20 years, having first moved into the property in 2003.

He was arrested at Wood Farm, where he is temporarily living while renovations are underway at Marsh Farm, with the former prince expected to move in the coming days.

Calls have grown from a range of public figures for a wider probe into Andrews past dealings with Epstein, while Commonwealth countries such as Canada and New Zealand have called for him to be removed from the line of succession.

Despite being stripped of his royal title last year, the Kings brother is still eighth in line to the throne, and an Act of Parliament would be required to remove him and prevent him from ever becoming king.

open image in gallery Images released in the Epstein files show the former prince bent over an unidentified woman ( US Department of Justice )

Sir Keir Starmers government will consider introducing such legislation once police have finished their investigation into the Kings disgraced brother, it has been understood.

Calls for his removal came after Mr Mountbatten-Windsor featured a number of times in the so-called Epstein files, including images of him bent over an unidentified female and lying across the laps of a number of women.

In an email, Epstein appears to introduce the former prince to a woman described as 26, Russian, clevere [sic] beautiful, trustworthy who wished to visit him at his royal residence.

Retired civil servants have also claimed he used taxpayers money for massages and excessive travel costs during his time as the UKs trade envoy.

The BBC reported that one ex-civil servant refused to pay to cover the costs of a massage for him, but was overruled by senior staff, telling the broadcaster: I thought it was wrong Id said we mustnt pay it, but we ended up paying it anyway.

A former Whitehall official, who oversaw finances, separately told the BBC they had absolutely no doubt about the authenticity of the claim after having seen similar expenses for his overseas trips.
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Iran has developed long-range missiles capable of reaching major European cities, Israel has warned, after the targeting of the UK-US base on Diego Garcia.

Iran took aim at the military base on the Chagos Islands before the UK government gave the US permission to strike missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, but it is not clear exactly when the two intermediate-range ballistic missiles were fired.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it was the first time Tehran had launched a long-range missile since the start of the war, and showed it is now capable of reaching cities such as London, Paris or Berlin.

We have been saying it: the Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat, the IDF said in a statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran has the capacity to reach deep into Europe.

He told reporters: Ive been warning all the time. They have now the capacity to reach deep into Europe.

They already have fired on a European country, Cyprus. They are putting everyone in their sights.

The Israeli military claimed the missiles could reach a distance of around 2,400 miles (4,000km), posing a danger to dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.

With Iran recklessly attacking other countries in the Middle East, concerns are now mounting that the UK could become a legitimate target as the war shows no signs of abating.

Diego Garcia is around 2,360 miles away from Iran ( AP )

How far can Irans missiles go?

Irans military capabilities are not fully known following the 12-day war last June, which saw Israel and the US target missile bases and launchers.

It had previously been thought by analysts that Irans longest-reaching weapon is the Khorramshahr 4 missile, which can potentially hit targets from 1,200 to 1,900 miles away.

Given that ballistic missiles have succeeded in being launched to the Chagos Islands, it is now feared that Iran is more capable than previously thought.

Sky News military analyst Sean Bell said: All of a sudden, the UK is not far away either, so thats the huge significance. At least Diego Garcia is well protected, London is not. The UK has no effective ballistic missile defence system in place, and therefore, this is a very worrying development for the UK.

Danny Citrinowicz, a researcher at Israels Institute for National Security Studies and a former Iran specialist in Israels military and intelligence services, said that it remains unclear how much missile capacity Iran has rebuilt.

You can see through satellite imagery, attempts to restart manufacturing, he said, adding that government leaks in Israeli media suggest that Israel assumes Iran still retains a substantial number of short-range ballistic missiles.

What has the UK said?

Housing secretary Steve Reed has insisted the UK is safe, despite the warnings that Iran has developed long-range missiles capable of reaching major European cities.

He told Sky Newss Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: We have systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe, and that will continue to happen, but the prime minister has been crystal clear about this war.

We didnt join the war, were not going to be dragged into this war, but we will take necessary defensive action to protect British interests, British people, or our allies across the region.

Mr Reed said the fact that one of the missiles fired at Diego Garcia was intercepted, and the other failed, shows that our defensive capabilities are correct.

What have the experts said?

Before the weekend, when news of the attempted attack on Diego Garcia emerged, experts had said an Iranian attack on Britain was very unlikely, with Irans offensive capabilities not assessed as long-reaching enough.

However, on Saturday, Gen Sir Richard Barrons, former head of the UKs Joint Forces Command, warned that Iran could hit targets much farther away than the international community realised.

He told BBCs Today programme: Previously we thought Irans missiles had a range of 2,000km and Diego [Garcia] is 3,800km (2,360 miles) from Iran.

Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli military intelligence officer who now works for the Tel-Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, told The Times the missiles fired on Diego Garcia could have been a warning to the UK, but cast doubt on whether Tehran would target Europe.

He said: Its not that they think that tomorrow they will attack London or Paris, but I think that for them its another element that enables them to build the deterrence.
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Around six weeks before Theo Websters daughter, Sophia, was due to be born, his ex-wife suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital, where she found out she had a double kidney infection.

That day quickly turned into a life or death situation, and she had to undergo an emergency caesarean section, Mr Webster said.

The 32-year-old, from Devon, who runs an electrical services business, thought he had six more weeks to save for their daughters arrival.

But being unable to afford time away from work, he had to return to his job the following day, just hours after his premature child was born.

For the first two weeks after Sophias birth, she and her mother had to stay at the hospital, being separately cared for.

Each evening, after long days of manual labour, Mr Webster, would head to the hospital and spend just an hour with his partner and baby.

It was a really worrying situation, because I didn't know if we were going to lose either of them. It was really stressful not having any contact with them during the day, and going there late at night to catch up on everything that happened, he said.

open image in gallery Theo Webster had to be back at work the day after his premature daughter was born ( Theo Webster )

Last Monday, tradesmen headed to Westminster to campaign for paternity leave for self-employed fathers. Alongside paternity leave campaign group The Dad Shift, they handed out condoms to MPs, which read this lasts longer than our paternity leave.

Right now, self-employed fathers are not entitled to paternity leave, while self-employed mothers can get a maternity allowance of up to 39 weeks.

But the government is currently conducting an 18-month review into parental leave and pay, which was launched last July. The review aims to look at all types of leave, including paternity, in order to make the system fairer and easier to use.

Those first couple of weeks are really important for bonding with your child, Mr Webster said. It's a very big issue. At the end of the day, you don't get those moments back as a father, it's something that you literally cannot replicate. Once it's gone, it's gone.

We're not doing this for ourselves. We're doing it for other dadsWe've been there and we've not had that opportunity, but we want other people to have that opportunity.

Josh Newbury is one of the many MPs backing their calls.

The Labour MP for Cannock Chase said the estimated cost for introducing the changes would be between 13 million and 38 million, which for the government, is like peanuts.

In the first instance, we just want parity with everybody else and for self-employed dads to have the option of taking two weeks pay, he said.

I think it would make such a big difference to so many families, and particularly people that the government is trying to reach, people that are really struggling and making choices out of financial necessity, not out of desire.

open image in gallery ( Robyn Boot/Boot Creative )

Mr Newbury, who is a father himself, said there has always been a perception that self-employed people work these things out themselves, but in reality, many are unable to care for their children.

When you can't take the financial hit, you don't really have a choice, and I think we at least want dads to be able to have that choice.

Among those calling on the government is Norfolk cable jointer Tony Skilbeck, who had to be 360 miles away for a job on the Monday after his son, Ned, was born.

With a mortgage, bills, and a newborn to support, Mr Skilbeck had no other option but to leave his wife, Lisa, to care for their baby alone all day and night.

Theyre not sharing the workload. They take on 100 per cent of it. I was fortunate, I could come home on a weekend, but she's still got those four or five days on her own to raise a baby.

Mr Skilbeck, who also couldnt take more than a few days off work when his daughter Kitty, now 19, was born, said the worst part was missing out.

He is now urging the government to introduce changes in the hope that future fathers dont have to miss out as he did.

open image in gallery Alice Lester is anxious about the arrival of her baby ( Alice Lester )

Alice Lester, who is four months pregnant with her first baby, already knows she will have limited help from her self-employed partner, Andy, who is in the carpentry business.

The Oxfordshire couple has been unable to put much money aside for their child, and Andy will have to go back to work almost immediately.

Ms Lester, whose family lives far away, dreads the thought of being her own after she gives birth.

"Its basically going to be me left on my own with the baby. It's going to be my first child, so it's all going to be very new, she said.

There's going to be lots to take care of, and there's that anxiety that if something is wrong with me or the baby, or I'm struggling to recover, then I don't have that support system around me, and it's going to feel very much on my own without support that I need more than ever at that point.

Knowing that at the end of it, I'm not going to have the support that I want makes it more of a worrying prospect than an exciting prospect.

She knows it is also stressful for her partner as well, who feels stuck between wanting to be there and needing to financially support their family.

If you pay into the systemI'd like to see there be a minimum two weeks paternity leave supported by the government, so that not just the father gets to spend time with his child, but also the mother of the child is supported, and the baby itself is supported.

open image in gallery Tradesmen handed out condoms to MPs as part of their campaign to get paternity leave ( Robyn Boot/Boot Creative )

Jordan Hook, a heating engineer in Oxford, had a baby boy five months ago who was born with health conditions affecting his bowel.

He had to get surgery within 12 hours of being born, and Mr Hook had to take three weeks off work to help care for his son.

It was obviously quite hard on the family and there was no support for myself, he said.

I wasn't getting any money in and you are constantly looking at the bank thinking have I got enough? I've got my mortgage coming out. Can I pay for that? And then it's putting food on the table at night.

He said the absence of paternity leave is a huge issue that needs to be changed for the sake of future fathers.

If my son were to go into the trade or go self-employed, would I want the same for him? If he had children and something was to go wrong, would I want him to have the stress in that? The answer is no.

George Gabriel, the co-founder of The Dad Shift said: This is the most active generation of fathers the UK has ever seen and thats true in every social group and right across the country.

Its working class blokes who are let down worst by the least generous paternity offer in Europe, two weeks on less than half the minimum wage and with absolutely nothing if youre self-employed.

Responding to Mr Newburys calls to review paternity leave for self-employed fathers as part of the ongoing parental leave review, business minister Kate Dearden said: We know that the parental leave system needs to be improved and recognise that the current system does not do enough to support the many dads and partners who want to be hands-on and actively involved in caring for their children.

That is why the review is so important. It will consider all current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements, looking at options to improve the support available to British working families.
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Tens of thousands of people converged on Prague to protest against the policies and plans of the new Czech government, led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis.

The demonstration, held at Letna park  a location historically significant for the huge gatherings that contributed to the fall of communism in 1989  drew attendees from across the Czech Republic on Saturday.

Protesters voiced concerns that Mr Babis, a billionaire, and his coalition Cabinet pose a threat to democracy, alleging that they are steering the country away from supporting Ukraine and towards an autocratic path.

Organisers estimated the crowd at 200,000, with many seen waving Czech national flags.

One banner displayed the message: "Lets defend democracy."

Were here to clearly stand against dragging our country onto the path of Slovakia and Hungary, said Mikulas Minar, the head organiser from the Million Moments for Democracy group, referring to the pro-Russia and autocratic leanings of those two countries.

open image in gallery Tens of thousands of people took part in the protests ( AP )

Mr Babis returned to power in the Czech Republic after his ANO, or YES, movement, won big in the countrys October election and formed a coalition with two small political groups, the Freedom and Direct Democracy anti-migrant party and the right-wing Motorists for Themselves.

His new alliance with the groups, some of whose views are considered extreme, the government began to significantly redefine the nations foreign and domestic policies.

Babis has opposed some key European Union policies on environment and migration and rejected any financial aid for Ukraine and guarantees for EU loans to the country fighting the Russian invasion, joining the ranks of prime ministers Viktor Orban of Hungary and Robert Fico of Slovakia.

The new government is preparing a bill that critics say is inspired by a Russian law on foreign agents and would require nongovernmental organisations and individuals involved in vaguely defined political activity and receive foreign aid to register or face big fines.

open image in gallery Prime Minister Andrej Babis is worth more than US$4 billion, according to Forbes ( AP )

This law can easily be used to restrict personal freedom, Vaclav Paces, the former head of the Academy of Sciences, told the crowd.

Another plan on the agenda is to change the funding of public radio and television, a move many say would give the government control of the broadcasters.

Organisers said that they decided to hold the rally after a recent decision by the lower house of parliament to reject a motion to lift the immunity from prosecution of Babis in a $2 million fraud case involving EU subsidies.

Approval would have allowed a court to issue a verdict any time soon, but the rejection of the motion means that he can stand trial only after his term in the house expires in 2029.

Lawmakers also refused to agree to allow for the prosecution of lower house Speaker Tomio Okamura, the head of the Freedom party, on charges of inciting hatred.

The Million Moments group said that those decisions divide the nation into two categories: the ordinary people and the untouchables.

I came to defend something that is extremely important to me, said Michael Cernohlavek, a 19-year-old student. I know that the system we have, our freedom, cant be taken for granted and it is important for me to protect it.

More protests are planned to follow.
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Sir Keir Starmer is to chair an emergency Cobra meeting to address the economic impact of the Iran war, having been warned that price rises are inescapable.

Senior cabinet ministers, as well as the governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey, are expected to discuss energy security, the resilience of industry and supply chains, as well as how to help families and businesses with bills, as the conflict in the Middle East enters its fourth week.

Over the weekend tensions heightened again as Donald Trump warned Iran he would obliterate its power plants if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial to the worlds oil supply.

On Sunday night, Sir Keir spoke to Mr Trump on the need for access along the channel, which has effectively been blocked by the fighting.

open image in gallery Consumers have been warned that energy prices could rocket ( PA Archive )

Iran has hit back at Mr Trump, vowing to target energy and oil infrastructures across the Middle East and shut the strait completely if the US president follows through on his threats.

Ahead of the meeting on Monday, which is also expected to involve the chancellor Rachel Reeves, the foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and the energy secretary Ed Miliband, sources have said the government would always act responsibly in the national interest.

It comes after, on Sunday, housing secretary Steve Reed would not rule out possible food and petrol shortages, adding that the government was monitoring the situation hour by hour but said there was no need for fuel rationing yet.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of Centrica, which owns British Gas, Chris O'Shea, warned a rise in energy bills may be inescapable if the war in the Middle East stays as it is.

Asked if the government had a plan for shortages of petrol and food, Mr Reed told Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: Of course, we need to be prepared for any eventuality.

But, he added: Theres no need to ration fuel. People should go around and buy their fuel, just like they always would. If the situation were to change, then the government would look at what was required in that circumstance.

He later said that when it came to energy bills, which look set to spiral due to the soaring cost of oil and gas due to the conflict, the government will take whatever action is necessary.

Mr O'Shea told the BBC that the impact on gas, and therefore electricity bills, from the closure of the strait, a key shipping lane, should be lower than the impact on oil. So, my gut feel is that you'll see more of an impact of this in the petrol pumps than you will in bills.

He also backed the idea of targeted government support to help people with bills, which he described as far better than blanket help, and called for more exploration in the North Sea to cut energy prices.

open image in gallery Steve Reed says there was is need to ration fuel ( PA Wire )

It came as Sir Keir was urged to impose a temporary profit cap on energy companies and petrol retailers to stop them benefiting too much from the Iran war, by the governments cost of living tsar.

Lord Walker of Broxton, a boss of the supermarket Iceland, has asked the government to examine limiting profits during crises.

As executive chairman of a retailer, I have no problem with profit. Its what allows businesses to invest, employ people and pay tax. But I do have a big problem with profiteering, especially when families are under real pressure, Lord Walker said in an article for The Sunday Times.

He added: I have asked the government to consider a temporary profit cap to stop producers and retailers exploiting the crisis to make windfall profits at the expense of consumers.

Lord Walker, a former Conservative who became a Labour peer last year, said petrol retailers and energy producers had been summoned to Downing Street and warned that opportunistic rip-offs would not be acceptable, in what he described as a shot across the bows.

He added that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which also took part in the meeting, had newly enhanced powers to step in if required.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer has been urged to place a temporary profit cap on energy companies and petrol retailers by the government's cost of living tsar ( AFP/Getty )

There has been a surge in global energy prices as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.

The average annual household energy bill alone is predicted to rise by 332 in July, according to the latest forecast from Cornwall Insights, and experts have warned that further rises in the price of petrol and diesel are inevitable after attacks on energy infrastructure in the region.

But Ms Reeves has been urged not to raise taxes in response to the economic shock brought on by the USs war with Iran.
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Israels warnings about Iran possessing long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching the UK are exaggerated, a senior minister has suggested, as the government played down claims that Tehran could target Britain.

Tel Aviv issued a stark warning on Saturday that Iranian missiles are a threat to European cities  including London, Paris and Berlin  after two ballistic missiles were unsuccessfully fired by Iran towards the UK-US Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands.

But Israel was accused of exaggerating the threat to build support for the war, even as experts suggested Britain would be left vulnerable if Iran did have the capability to hit the UK.

Insisting that the UK is safe from Iranian threats, housing secretary Steve Reed told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: We have systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe, and that will continue to happen.

He repeatedly refused to say how close the missiles had come to Diego Garcia, which is thousands of miles from Iran, but insisted that the fact that one was intercepted and the other failed shows that our defensive capabilities are correct.

open image in gallery Explosions erupt following strikes at Shahran Oil Refinery in Tehran ( AFP/Getty )

Asked later if he accepted reports that the UK could be hit by Iranian missiles, he told Times Radio: No. There's no assessment that I'm aware of that says either that the Iranians would target Europe, or even that they could if they wanted to.

It comes as tensions in the region escalated again, with Iran threatening to destroy energy targets across the Middle East after Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or the US would obliterate Iran's power plants.

Iran hit back, saying the key waterway is open to all but Irans enemies and vowed to target energy and oil infrastructures across the Middle East and completely shut the strait if the US president executed his threats.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Mr Trump on Sunday night to discuss the need to reopen the strait in a call described as constructive by Downing Street. A spokesperson said: They agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market.

As concerns continue domestically over energy prices, Sir Keir will chair an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday to produce a plan to help households.

Meanwhile, two Iranian missiles hit the towns of Arad and Dimona in Southern Israel overnight on Saturday, injuring scores of civilians in one of the worst attacks of the war so far on Israeli soil. The Israeli military said later that it was striking Tehran in response.

Hours after Mr Reeds comments, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on his nations warning, saying Iran has the capacity to reach deep into Europe.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Netanyahu said: They fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Diego Garcia  that's 4,000 kilometres. I've been warning all the time. They have now the capacity to reach deep into Europe. They already have fired on a European country, Cyprus. They are putting everyone in their sights.

But Israel has been accused of exaggerating the risk to Britain to build support for the war on Iran, which began when they and the US launched surprise strikes intending to topple the countrys regime last month.

Lord McDonald, the former top civil servant at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said: Frankly, there's no evidence that they have missiles of this capability apart from an Israeli source. And the Israeli agenda is to get Europe more concerned, more involved, more supportive of what they're doing.

He added that even if Iran aimed at Diego Garcia they didn't hit their target. And I think that is an important fact.

open image in gallery Ministers have given the US permission to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz from UK bases, including Diego Garcia ( Alamy/PA )

He conceded, however, that it was true the UK could be vulnerable to such a strike as we do not have a comprehensive missile defence system.

Former foreign secretary James Cleverly also said it was not useful to start setting hares running about Irans missile strike capabilities, adding: The Iranian regime are very, very good at disinformation and theyre very good at twisting anything that might go out on broadcast.

On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was the first time Tehran had launched a long-range missile since the start of the war, and showed it was now capable of reaching cities previously thought to be out of reach.

It claimed the missiles could go a distance of around 4,000km, meaning they posed a danger to dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. In a post on X, it said: We have been saying it: The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat. Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin.

Diego Garcia is around 3,800km (2,360 miles) away from Iran. The distance between Iran and the UK is around 4,435km (2,750 miles).

As he refused to say how close Iran's long-range missiles had come to reaching Diego Garcia, Mr Reed insisted that to do so would only help Iran.

He also would not be drawn on whether the government backs Mr Trump's 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was a matter for the US president.

Mr Trumps threat comes barely a day after he talked about "winding down" the war, and as US Marines and heavy landing craft are heading to the region.

Responding to his ultimatum, Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote on X that critical infrastructure and energy facilities in the Middle East could be irreversibly destroyed if Iranian power plants are attacked.

Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards said it would also mean the shipping lane, where a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally transits along Iran's southern coast, would remain shut.

The Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed and will not be opened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt, the IRG said.
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Donald Trump has shared a television skit mocking Sir Keir Starmer, as the pairs relationship appeared to suffer another blow.

The US president posted a comedy sketch from the new Saturday Night Live UK programme on his Truth Social platform on Sunday.

In the clip, Sir Keir, played by George Fouracres, panics as he tries to dodge a phone call from Mr Trump and asks his deputy: Oh golly  what if Donald shouts at me? What do I say, Lammy?

Mr Lammy, played by Hammed Animashaun, then says: Just be yourself, Prime Minister. Yourself is who everyone likes.

Sir Keir then picks up the phone and hears a voice mimicking Mr Trump who says hello. In response he hangs up and says: Oh sod that scary, scary, wonderful President. Why is he so bloody difficult to talk to?

open image in gallery In the sketch, from the new Saturday Night Live UK programme, Sir Keir tries to dodge a call from Mr Trump and asks his deputy: Oh golly  what if Donald shouts at me? What do I say, Lammy?

Mr Trumps decision to share the clip online, without any message, follows a strain in the relationship between him and Sir Keir since the outbreak of war in Iran.

Mr Trump recently accused the UK and other Nato allies of being cowards and criticising them for inaction to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier this month, he said Sir Keir was not Winston Churchill after voicing his unhappiness at the UK not initially allowing the US to use its bases for strikes on Iran.

However, on Friday, Downing Street gave the US permission to launch attacks on Iranian sties targeting the strait.

open image in gallery Donald Trump shared the clip from the show on his social media channel on Sunday

Sir Keirs response to the conflict is also featured in the SNL UK skit.

Mr Lammy tells Sir Keir: Sir, just be honest and tell him we cant send any more ships to the Strait of Hormuz. Sir Keir replies: I just hate conflict so much.

During a back-and-forth between the two, in a set mocked up to look like Sir Keirs Downing Street office, Sir Keir also quips: How did Liz Truss make this job so easy?

Mr Trump and Sir Keir were among notable figures featured in the sketch show, which also included impersonations of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and Sir Winston Churchill.
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A British military base in Cyprus hit by an unmanned drone strike at the start of the Iran war will not be used by the US to target Tehrans missile sites after an extraordinary international row.

Sir Keir Starmer told the Cypriot president that RAF Akrotiri would not be among the UK bases from which the US could launch strikes, hours after it emerged Iran had fired missiles at the joint US-UK Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean.

As part of the same phone call on Saturday, Nikos Christodoulides demanded that Sir Keir open discussions about the future of the British bases on the Mediterranean island.

While Cypriot politicians have demanded the return of the sovereign UK bases previously, this is believed to be the first time that a Cypriot president has formally requested talks since independence in 1960.

open image in gallery A transport aircraft arrives at RAF Akrotiri air base near Limassol, Cyprus (Petros Karadjias/AP) ( AP )

It comes just days after he described them as a colonial consequence, amid fears over the islands security as the conflict in the Middle East escalates.

On Friday, the UK gave Donald Trump the green light to use British bases to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz.

Downing Street said any such action would still amount to collective self-defence, insisting it would not mean the UK was drawn into the wider conflict.

But the base in Cyprus will not be included, the PM said.

open image in gallery The base in Cyprus will not be included, the PM told the countrys president ( House of Commons/UK Parliament )

A Downing Street spokesperson said the PM has spoken to Mr Christodoulides directly to convey the message.

He added that Sir Keir reiterated that RAF Akrotiri would not be involved in the UKs continuation of its agreement with the US to use UK bases in collective self-defence of the region, including for the degrading of Iranian missile capabilities.

In a statement following the call, the office of President Christodoulides said on X, formerly Twitter: During the discussion, with regard to the British bases in Cyprus, President Christodoulides referred both to challenges that have arisen and to lessons learned from the management of the crisis thus far. In this context, he presented a proposal for the initiation of relevant discussions.

On Saturday, it emerged that Tehran had fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, but neither hit, the Wall Street Journal and the semi-official Iranian news agency Mehr reported. One of the missiles was shot down by a US warship, while the other failed in flight, according to the newspaper, which cited multiple officials.

open image in gallery Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has condemned attacks by Iran on Diego Garcia (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire )

The foreign secretary Yvette Cooper condemned what she said were reckless attacks by Iran that threaten British interests and allies.

The Ministry of Defence also said that RAF jets and other UK military assets were continuing to defend our people and personnel in the region.

Questions over the future of the Cypriot base would pile pressure on Sir Keir Starmer, who is already facing criticism over his decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The archipelago is home to the key UK-US Diego Garcia base, which will be leased back to the UK as part of the deal.

But The Cypriot presidents demands have sparked a row in the islands with the unrecognised breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) demanding it should be involved in the talks if they happen.

A spokesman for the Freedom and Fairness Campaign for the TRNC said: This is not merely a bilateral matter between the United Kingdom and the Greek Cypriot administration. It carries broader implications for the political balance, legal foundations, and long-term stability of the island. Recent engagements by UK officials in Cyprus, including the current visit by Minister Doughty, underline the importance of ensuring that such interactions reflect the full reality of the island, including meaningful engagement with the Turkish Cypriots.

Past experience is clear: one-sided international engagement on Cyprus does not resolve disputes  it entrenches them. Processes that exclude Turkish Cypriots deepen division, undermine trust, and risk further destabilising an already sensitive situation.

The drone that attacked RAF Akrotiri was Iranian-made but launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to Cypruss foreign minister Constantinos Kombos.

It caused minimal damage and did not result in any casualties. Further drones were intercepted and the Ministry of Defence has temporarily moved families from the base.

British bases in Cyprus were established as part of a negotiated independence deal in 1960 and are the UK militarys main jumping-off point for operations in the Middle East.
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Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio declared over the weekend that the nation stands prepared for a military engagement with the U.S., directly responding to Donald Trump's threats to take over the Caribbean island.

Trump escalated his rhetoric on Monday, stating he expected to have the "honor" of taking Cuba. This comes as an oil blockade he imposed pushes the Communist-run nation deeper into economic crisis, despite Havana and Washington entering talks earlier this month.

De Cossio told NBC's Meet the Press in remarks aired Sunday, "Our country has historically been ready to mobilize as a nation as a whole for military aggression ... We don't believe it is something that is probable, but we would be naive if we do not prepare." He added, "We don't see why it would have to occur, and we find no justification whatsoever."

Reports had previously suggested the Trump administration was seeking to remove Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel from power.

De Cossio added a regime change is "absolutely" off the table in discussions with the United States ( AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin )

De Cossio also said any suggestion of the nature, the structure, or members of the Cuban government being subject to negotiation in talks with the U.S. is untrue.

He added a regime change is "absolutely" off the table in discussions with the United States.

The U.S. military is not rehearsing for an invasion of Cuba or actively preparing to militarily take over the island, the top general overseeing American forces in Latin America told lawmakers on Thursday.

Cuba also initiated efforts to restore its national energy system on Sunday, a day after a complete grid collapse left millions without power for the third time this month.

The island nation is grappling with an unprecedented energy crisis. While its aging infrastructure has significantly deteriorated in recent years, the government also attributes the widespread outages to a U.S. energy blockade.
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Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have issued a desperate plea to the Tucson, Arizona, community, begging neighbors to search their memories and security camera footage to help find their missing mother.

Its possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant, the Today show host wrote in a new statement on Instagram. We hope people search their memories, especially around the key timelines of January 31 and the early morning hours of February 1, as well as the late evening of January 11.

We desperately ask this community for renewed attention to our moms case  please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations, or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance, the statement added. No detail is too small. It may be the key.

Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood outside of Tucson in the early hours of February 1, in what investigators believe was an abduction.

Drops of Nancy Guthries blood were found on the front porch of her home, and the FBI released surveillance footage on February 10 that showed a masked man at her doorstep the night she went missing.

open image in gallery The family of Nancy Guthrie, 84, issued a new statement Sunday pleading with the community in Tucson, Arizona, to keep searching for their missing mother ( NBC/Today )

Authorities have shared little other evidence pointing to any suspects in the 84-year-olds disappearance.

Nancy Guthries children have previously appeared in videos pleading for her safe return, and have offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of their mother.

Her familys most recent statement concluded with another emotional plea for Nancy Guthries return home.

We miss our mom with every breath, and we cannot be in peace until she is home. We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder. Our focus is solely on finding her and bringing her home, the statement said.

We want to celebrate her beautiful and courageous life, but we cannot do that until she is brought to a final place of rest. Thank you for continuing to pray without ceasing, the family continued.

The statement is signed The Guthrie Family, listing Camron and Kristine, Annie and Tommaso, and Savannah and Michael.

open image in gallery Nancy Guthries family is offering a $1 million reward for information that would lead to her safe recovery ( Fox News )

open image in gallery The search for Nancy Guthrie is entering its seventh week ( Getty )

The statement was posted as the search for Nancy Guthrie enters its seventh week. It also comes as local news station News 4 Tucson aired a special Bring Her Home  The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie on Saturday, to shine a light on the case.

As authorities continue their investigation, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC News earlier this month that investigators believe they have a motive for the kidnapping.

We believe we know why [the kidnapper] did this and we believe that it was targeted, but were not 100 percent sure of that, Nanos said. I think day one, we had some strong beliefs about what happened, and those beliefs havent diminished, he said on March 12.

The sheriffs department and FBI have been analyzing DNA samples collected from Guthries home and neighborhood, and have also been looking into the suspect seen in the doorbell footage.

However, authorities have shared no other information about where they are in their investigation or if they have any new leads.
TEHRAN, March 22 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian international affairs expert said on Saturday that Iran attacked the nuclear site in the southern Israeli city of Dimona earlier in the day in response to an Israeli strike on Iran's Natanz atomic facility.

Morteza Simiari made the remarks in a live interview with state-run IRIB TV while elaborating on Iran's retaliatory missile attack on the Israeli city.

He noted that the attack was carried out less than 24 hours after Israel "insanely" struck the Natanz facility in the central province of Isfahan.

Simiari said that Iran's new "eye for an eye" strategy entails delivering reciprocal responses, but with greater intensity, to any military actions taken by Israel. According to Israeli medical officials, more than 30 people were injured in Iran's missile strike on Dimona.

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there was no indication of damage to Israel's nuclear research center - Negev following a missile attack on Dimona.

"Information from regional states indicates that no abnormal radiation levels have been detected," the IAEA said on social media on Saturday evening.

Rafael Grossi, director general of the IAEA, has been closely monitoring the situation and stressed that "maximum military restraint should be observed, in particular in the vicinity of nuclear facilities."

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East. 
Back in the winter of 2024, Donald Trump announced he was selecting Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and military veteran largely unknown outside the US, to be his secretary of defence.

A few years before, Hegseth said he was among a group of National Guard members removed from securing President Bidens inauguration after concerns regarding potential links to extremism. On his right bicep, Hegseth has the words Deus vult tattooed in gothic script. Originally a rallying cry for the First Crusade and Pope Urban II in 1095, Latin motto, translated as God wills it, has since been reclaimed by extremists and is now widely used by white supremacist and radical Christian nationalist factions as a shorthand for anti-Muslim sentiment. Hegseth said his tattoos, which include a cross, are just Christian symbols.

Author Jeff Sharlet, an expert in the American religious right, places people like Hegseth and other figures linked to Trump within the context of a militant, Christian nationalistic current reshaping American politics. It is a movement which is not currently lacking ideological poster boys, many of whom surround the Maga movement.

Back in 2022, Yale Universitys Institution for Social and Policy Studies ran a two-day conference to explore what role Christian nationalism might play in the midterm elections that year, and how much of a threat it represented to American democracy. Sociologist Philip Gorski said it was a term that even five years ago you wouldnt hear outside of a seminar room, but since the January 6th attack on the Capitol, its started to circulate in national newscasts.

Gorski traced white Christian nationalism in the United States to the late 1600s, where adherents believed that America was founded by Christians, who modelled its laws and institutions after their religious ideals in the face of perceived threats from non-white people and non-Christians. The phenomenon bubbled up during periods when white Christians felt threatened by outside forces  and that this was amplified by war, heightened immigration, or periods of economic instability. Gorski said, The period were in now is a perfect storm. All three of those catalysts are present.

Two years later, Jeff Sharlet described Hegseth as a Christian nationalist who believed absolutely in the idea of the ingathering of Israel as a stage toward the Book of Revelation in the Bible and said, He sees Israels war on the Palestinians as biblical prophecy and one that must be supported for the sake of Christendom.

Hegseth is now in charge of the US defence department, which he re-christened The Department of War, and the primary architect of Operation Epic Fury, the bloody ongoing conflict in Iran. And earlier this month, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation said it had received more than 200 complaints from service members that US military commanders had told troops it was all part of Gods plan that they be deployed to Iran.

Rachel Bitecofer, a Democratic political strategist who has been warning of an authoritarian threat from the Trump administration in her newsletter The Cycle, tells me, that while it may sound insane to a European audience, she believes Hegseth thinks hes been chosen by God to go on a divine mission to usher in the second coming of Jesus. She adds, Not all evangelical Christians are white Christian nationalists, but all white Christian nationalists are evangelical. And they believe in the rapture, the apocalypse, and the Second Coming.

Public policy analyst and former senior advisor to the UN, Jeffrey Sachs, has sounded the alarm too, warning that the ideological drive behind the war on Iran is no longer tethered to traditional statecraft and that the administration is sacrificing global stability on the altar of a dangerous, end-times theology.

Bitecofer says many Christian nationalists also espouse whats known as the great replacement theory  a white supremacist conspiracy that falsely alleges a deliberate, globalist plot to diminish the political power and cultural dominance of white populations through mass non-white immigration and falling birth rates. What used to be seen as a fringe crackpot theory is now being taken seriously by many shaping government policy.

Everyone in the Maga orbit subscribes to the idea that America is for white people and the fact that its not going to have a majority white population in the future is an existential threat, she says.

They think that this not only has to be stopped in terms of new immigration, but theyre de-naturalising people too. Because theyre looking at cold, hard data, which shows low fertility rates in countries in the West, and are on a revenge tour for white people.

In 2024, I detailed for The Independent how the New Apostolic Reformation and its "Seven Mountain Mandate" had moved from the theological edges to the centre of the Maga establishment. Spearheaded by figures like pastor Lance Wallnau, it has at its heart a Dominionist theology that posits Christians are divinely chosen to reclaim the mountains of societal influence, including government, media, and the military, to transform America into a functional theocracy.

open image in gallery Hand-picked to be defence secretary by Trump, Hegseth then renamed the role secretary of war ( Pete Hegseth/ Instagram )

The movement is partially bankrolled by Ziklag, a secretive, invitation-only network of donors, each with a minimum net worth of $25m, who view their wealth as a weapon to be used to help realise Wallnaus apostolic visions. An investigation into the group by ProPublica revealed a multi-pronged strategy designed to deliver swing states to Republicans.

Ziklag was founded by entrepreneur Ken Eldred, whose 2009 book, God is At Work, teaches how to convert people to Christianity around the world through business ventures. Operating as a tax-exempt charity, Ziklag brings together wealthy Christian donors to support initiatives aimed at shaping culture and society in line with their religious beliefs. Investigations by ProPublica and other outlets show that the organisation has explored strategies to mobilise voters through church networks, issue advocacy, and outreach to conservative communities. Some of its backers include billionaire Christian families with ties to companies such as Hobby Lobby and Uline. While internal documents show the group considered leveraging technology and targeted messaging to influence voter engagement and conservative turnout, claims that it directly funded AI systems to remove voters from rolls have never been confirmed.

According to the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, the connections between Ziklag and Project 2025  the transition plan authored by the Heritage Foundation to provide a conservative roadmap to centralise executive power under Donald Trump  run deep. It says the two have overlapping networks of supporters and allied organisations.

The long-term, 250-year strategy being pushed by The Heritage Foundation today reads like a generational successor to Project 2025 and seems designed to ensure the Trumpian revolution becomes a permanent restructuring of American life. This involves establishing that marriage between a man and woman are the cornerstone of civilisation, rebuilding the nuclear family, replacing the welfare and cultural legacy of the 1960s with a model of faith-based governance, and encouraging high birth rates as a vital defence against demographic decay and moral decline, citing the rise of births outside marriage in Black communities as the original catalyst for this national social decline.

The roadmap explicitly states: Without families, a country  lacks a storehouse of strong and brave men to protect itself from hostile aggressors at home and abroad.

The requirement for a storehouse of men provides the human fuel for a foreign policy that views military intervention as a biblical necessity. Bitecofer says Pete Hegseth believes we have to have this war in the Middle East. Hegseths predecessors job title was secretary of defence, and she insists, Changing it to secretary of war was a big tell. It never felt performative. Its not a joke. Its a posture. An interventionist posture. Were living in a collapsing constitutional republic here in the US.

As Jeff Sharlet noted when he was interviewed on the Interfaith Alliance Foundation podcast recently, Christian nationalism has been mainstreamed. Their guys in the White House. They're not the underground  you and I are.

open image in gallery Hand-picked to be defence secretary by Trump, Hegseth then renamed the role secretary of war ( AFP/Getty )

In state legislatures, too, the theological mandate to reclaim societal influence is being translated into a cold, legal reality that reaches into the most private corners of American life.

In March 2026 at the Tennessee Statehouse, a subcommittee considered a bill that would have classified abortion as homicide  opening women up to the death penalty. No lawmaker dared to motion for a hearing, but Tennessee is merely one front in a coordinated, multi-state offensive. Similar prenatal protection acts in South Carolina and personhood challenges in Georgia and Louisiana have brought the prospect of state-sanctioned execution as punishment for abortion into the mainstream.

It is moves like this that are now increasingly alienating the women who once viewed the new right as a sanctuary from woke progressivism. A recent New York magazine report captures a growing fracture in the movement, detailing how a wave of young conservative women, once drawn to the new rights anti-woke rebellion, are now defecting as they realise that sexism has become the movement's core identity, with some leading figures demanding absolute female subjection to leadership.

It is a sobering conclusion for a movement that promised a return to freedom. Increasingly, the Heritage Foundations 250-year plan, like Hegseths God wills it tattoo, feels more like a roadmap for a country where the only way to lead is to prepare for the end of the world.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied that Americans would foot the bill on Sunday as the Pentagon prepares to push Congress for hundreds of billions of dollars to continue the war in Iran.

Bessent appeared on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday as the war with Iran pushed into its fourth week, and claimed that the administration would not seek a tax increase to pay for the Pentagons reported $200 billion funding request.

Calling a question from NBCs Kristen Welker terrible framing, Bessent simultaneously claimed that the armed forces $1 trillion budget was sufficient  while adding that the administrations supplemental request would help build out the military.

Why would we [raise taxes]? We have plenty. We have a trillion dollars in this year's budget for the military. And President Trump, even before the conflict started, had said that he would like to further build out the military, the secretary said.

And actually now we have plenty of money to fund this war. What we are doing is  this is supplemental, said Bessent. President Trump has built up the military, as he did in his first term, as he is now doing in his second term. And he wants to make sure that the military is well supplied going forward.

open image in gallery Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied that the administration would turn to tax increases to fund a war with Iran ( NBC - Meet the Press )

He did not, however, explain clearly where the additional money would come from. The administration has used tariff revenue in the past as a catch-all explanation for the funding of various projects, but that possibility dried up to some extent with the Supreme Courts decision to limit the presidents ability to levy tariffs unilaterally.

Global oil prices have surged amid the war as Iranian forces have blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the worlds oil travels. That economic pain has hit Americans hard as theyve watched gas prices spike by nearly a dollar per gallon in less than a month.

open image in gallery Gas prices have risen to their highest levels since October 2023 as the war with Iran impacts oil tankers' ability to pass through the Strait of Hormuz ( Getty Images )

Congress is expected to face a political battle in both chambers over the funding request, as both Democrats and Republicans have expressed skepticism to outright hostility over the prospect of funding a major conflict in the Middle East.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who typically sides with the president but is often honest about the limitations of his partys 53-seat majority, did not sound confident about the Senates chances of passing the legislation when asked by a reporter this past week.

It remains to be seen, he told CNN of the bills chance of passage. And obviously we havent seen any of the specifics around it yet. Saw the aggregate number theyre proposing, but were going to need to, obviously, take a look at it.

White House and other Trumpworld officials have characterized the funding as necessary to achieve the U.S.s military objectives, even as their allies on Capitol Hill and around Washington publicly and privately plead with them to end the war in the near future.

open image in gallery Pete Hegseth quipped that the U.S. needed $200bn to kill bad guys at a press conference last week ( AP )

Administration officials have offered shifting goalposts for the U.S.s objectives. Explanations have ranged from degrading Irans ballistic missile capacity to ending its nuclear weapons development and replacing the Iranian regime entirely.

Trump himself continues to insist that the war is won, even as the U.S. continues to clash with Iranian forces over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. On Saturday, the president threatened to target Iranian power plants if the Strait was not reopened within 48 hours.

As the war continues, the president and his team increasingly find themselves accused of not having a plan or clear objectives for the war, which has now claimed the lives of 13 American service members.

Trumps efforts to recruit a multinational coaltion to escort ships and keep the Strait of Hormuz clear largely fell flat. His blustery demand for the Strait to be re-opened comes as his previous efforts to force the resumption of shipping traffic have been unsuccessful, leading to speculation that the U.S. may attempt to invade with a ground force. He and his allies have resorted to lobbing personal insults at European leaders and countries including Sir Keir Starmer, the U.Ks Prime Minister.

Trump denied last week that he was considering a ground force, while cautioning that he wouldnt speak about those plans to the media before triggering an invasion.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth made clear at a press conference last week that the $200bn number is the floor of what the agency could end up asking Congress to pass.

It takes money to kill bad guys, he quipped to members of the media.
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Corey Lewandowski, the unpaid adviser to outgoing Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is unlikely to return to the White House once he leaves his post this month after generating various controversies over the last year, according to a new report.

While serving as Noems unpaid right-hand-man, Lewandowski reportedly amassed enormous power; able to fire DHS employees, sign-off on contracts over $100,000 and even elevate people, such as Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol leader, to a senior position, those familiar with the situation told the New York Times.

A recent NBC News report has accused Lewandowski of seeking payments from potential contractors while serving as a top aide to Noem, claims which he has previously denied.

Those reports about Lewandowskis role, as well as speculation about the extent of his relationship with Noem, allegedly frustrated President Donald Trump. While Lewandowski has a long history of working alongside the president, unnamed sources told the New York Times that hes on precarious grounds with Trump.

All personnel decisions are made by the White House, Lewandowski told the New York Times in a statement.

open image in gallery Lewandowski is a longtime Trump ally who has managed to retain a position with the president despite past controversies and strained relationships with other Trump officials ( Getty Images )

The Independent has asked the White House for comment.

Lewandowski joined DHS shortly after Noem, serving as a temporary special government employee in which he could work a maximum of 130 days. But by August, White House employees reportedly noticed Lewandowski was trying to stay in the administration longer than he was allowed, Axios reported at the time.

Reports emerged in the following weeks that DHS employees feared Lewandowski, who wielded power over them, accusing people of disloyalty, threatening to fire staffers over trivial matters and screaming at DHS employees for leaking negative information.

Former employees claimed Lewandowski had the power to sign off on DHS contracts worth $100k or more  a policy Noem implemented when she became secretary. However, Noem denied that while testifying to Congress earlier this month.

In a statement first given to MSNOW, Adam Trigg, a lawyer for Lewandowski said: Mr. Lewandowski adamantly denies ever demanding any payment or compensation from any potential, former, or current government contractorsuch allegations are not supported by a single piece of evidence (because there is none) and instead stem from almost entirely anonymous sources, save one person with a well-known axe to grind.

open image in gallery Lewandowski (pictured center on the couch) served as Noems de facto chief of staff despite being an unpaid adviser, according to reports ( Getty )

Lewandowskis lawyer added that his client played no role in reviewing or approving contracts.

Those allegations flooded DHS, all while other media reports accused Lewandowski and Noem of having an extramarital affair, which both vehemently denied.

As a result of the negative media attention, Trump is unlikely to re-hire Lewandowski, an official told the New York Times.

However, Lewandowski faced similar negative attention while serving as the 2016 Trump campaign manager and yet remained in Trumps inner circle.

This story was updated March 24, 2026, to reflect a statement from Lewandowskis lawyer
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While Donald Trump remains a primary target for Democrats, a growing number of the party's prominent figures are shifting their focus to Vice President JD Vance.

This strategic pivot was recently exemplified by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who traveled to Vances home county in Ohio. During a Democratic fundraiser in Butler County on Saturday night, Beshear accused the vice president of abandoning the very communities he chronicled in the memoir that made him famous.

Beshear asserted that Vances book, Hillbilly Elegy, which detailed his challenging upbringing, had "trafficked in tired stereotypes."

He went further, declaring, "His book Hillbilly Elegy was really hillbilly hate." The governor concluded his remarks by labeling it "poverty tourism, because he aint from Appalachia."

Beshear is the rare Democrat to lead a red state ( Stephen Cohen/Getty Images) )

The broadside was not only a sign of Beshears own potential presidential aspirations, but a reflection of Vances status as the Republican heir apparent to the coalition that twice elected Trump to the White House.

With every day that passes, we get closer to a day when Donald Trump is no longer president. And we need to prepare for that day, said Lis Smith, a Democratic strategist. Right now, JD Vance is a clear front-runner for the 2028 nomination. And so we should begin defining him  not in 2027, not in 2028  but today.

Vance spokesperson Taylor Van Kirk brushed off Beshear's criticism as coming from a flawed messenger.

Every time Andy Beshear attacks the vice president to try to get himself publicity, he ends up humiliating himself in the process, but maybe thats something hes into? she said.

An early foil for Democratic contenders

U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California was among the first Democrats to begin focusing on Vance last year. Khanna stopped at the City Club of Cleveland and Yale University, where he and Vance studied law, and gave speeches that attempted to cast Vance as more extreme than Trump.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, another potential presidential contender in 2028, singled out Vance in November while making the argument that the Trump administration did not care about working people.

At least with Donald Trump, hes transparent about that, Shapiro said. JD Vance is a total phony.

Some Democrats have coalesced around California Gov. Gavin Newsom as a strong candidate because of his aggressive strategy in going after Republicans.

He coined the nickname JD Just Dance Vance" on social media, and he has mocked the vice president's appearance, saying Vance grew a beard and lost his spine."

Smith, the strategist who led Pete Buttigieg's 2020 presidential campaign and still works with the former Biden administration transportation secretary, said every line of criticism of Vance is an audition.

There's definitely value in taking on Vance to show Democrats, hey, this could be me on the debate stage against him, said Smith.

Vance often invokes his working-class roots

The vice president was born and raised in Butler County's Middletown, and he rose to prominence with the publication of Hillbilly Elegy in 2016. The book earned Vance a reputation as someone who could help explain Trump's appeal in middle America, especially among the working class, rural white voters who helped Trump win the presidency.

Vance carried that reputation to the U.S. Senate, winning election in 2022, and later to the vice presidency. That same background is likely to be central to any future presidential run  and it is precisely what Democrats are now working to undercut.

At Saturday's Democratic fundraiser, the mere mention of Vance's name drew a chorus of boos from the audience.

I don't think he's got the magic that everybody looks at with Trump, said Theresa Vacheresse, a retired physician and business owner who attended the event. I think when Trump is gone, the Democrats might have a chance. My god, I hope so.

The focus on Vance is not unusual for a vice president widely seen as a potential future nominee, particularly one as young as 41. Republicans went after Kamala Harris early in her tenure under President Joe Biden to undermine her political future.

Jamal Simmons, Harris communications director in 2022 and 2023, said vice presidents can be vulnerable.

The party is built to defend the president more than it is the vice president, he said. The vice president's kind of out there on their own, to defend themself, and find friends where they can.

Republicans, including Vance, frequently tied Harris to some of the Democratic administrations most politically difficult issues, such as immigration and border security.

Being vice president is a very mixed blessing," said David Axelrod, who was a top adviser to Democratic President Barack Obama. You often don't have the assets of the president, but you inherit all of the president's record. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Beshear has had success in Trump country

Beshear is the rare Democrat to lead a red state, and he is positioning himself as someone who can reach voters who have tuned out his party.

He said Democrats can actually go and win back those voters that JD Vance is so condescending to if they stay focused on Americans' basic needs such as affordable health care and public safety.

We've gotta start talking to people and not at them," he said. Thats how I won counties in eastern Kentucky that normally vote for Republicans by large margins  including Breathitt County. That's the county JD Vance pretends to be from. Donald Trump won it by 59 points. I won it by 22 points the year earlier.

The audience appeared delighted with Beshear's message.

I think he's first-rate, said Mark Kaplan, who lives in Butler County. What he's got is compassion, empathy, charisma and intellect, but he's also down-to-earth.
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President Donald Trump issued a high-stakes, two-day ultimatum to Iran: enable vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz or endure punishing strikes on its power grid.

Unless Tehran fully opens the strait within 48 hours, the U.S. military will obliterate Irans power plants, starting with their largest, the president wrote on Truth Social on Saturday evening from Mar-a-Lago.

In response, Iranian officials quickly telegraphed their willingness to go tit-for-tat. According to state media, Irans military vowed to target U.S. energy and desalination infrastructure in the region if Trump follows through on his threat.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz  a vital trade chokepoint through which 20 percent of the world's oil flows  has all but ground to a halt due to Iran's de facto blockade, put in place after the war broke out last month.

As a result, oil prices have surged past $100-a-barrel multiple times in recent weeks, with diesel prices surpassing $5 a gallon on Tuesday. Experts have warned that skyrocketing fuel costs could soon ripple through the economy, driving up prices for groceries, shipping and construction.

open image in gallery On Saturday, President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, demanding it reopen the Strait of Hormuz or risk the 'obliteration' of its power infrastructure ( Getty Images )

While speaking to reporters on Friday, the 79-year-old president fumed that NATO allies have so far declined to assist in securing the waterway, branding them cowardly. He also declined to comment on reports that he is considering deploying troops to help dismantle the blockade.

At the same time, Trump insisted that the strait is of little strategic importance to the U.S. and claimed that it would eventually open itself.

Hes also dismissed concerns about rising fuel costs, writing on Truth Social earlier this month that short term oil prices are a very small price to pay for global security.

The war  launched jointly by the U.S. and Israel on February 28  has now stretched on for three full weeks, engulfing the broader Middle East region in violence.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a briefing on Thursday that the U.S. had struck more than 7,000 targets inside Iran. Were winning, decisively and on our terms, he said.

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes on nearby nations, including Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia  a response that Trump said surprised him.

To date, more than 1,500 Iranians have died, according to state media, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed, the Pentagon has said.

open image in gallery Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery of global trade, has all but ground to a halt, leading fuel costs to skyrocket ( AFP/Getty )

Trump has not provided a definitive timeline for when the war will end  and his recent statements have done little to clear the air.

Last week, he told Fox News that deadly conflict will wrap up when I feel it in my bones. On Friday, he said hes considering winding down the conflict, while on Saturday, he stated: We are weeks ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in additional funds for the overseas offensive, a senior administration official told The Associated Press this week. And The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that upwards of 2,200 Marines are already en route to the region.

Multiple recent polls have found that a majority of Americans are opposed to the war.

Fifty-three percent of respondents in a March 9 Quinnipiac survey said they are against U.S. military action in Iran, while 40 percent are in favor. And a Reuters poll released on March 2 found that just one in four respondents supports Trumps strikes on the Middle East nation.
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Shalom Baranes, the architect who agreed to see through President Donald Trumps White House ballroom addition, has baffled colleagues in Washington, D.C. by taking on the controversial project late in his career.

Baranes, 75, is a longtime, well-respected architect in D.C. who has worked on dozens of contemporary additions to federal buildings.

He also has a history of being critical of the Trump administrations harsh anti-immigration policies, as the son of Jewish Libyan refugees who came to the United States at 6 years old.

Why would he do this? and Wonder if the firm needs the business? were among the questions posed by the reports and editors at Washington Biz Journal in December when they announced that the architect they had been covering for nearly 20 years had agreed to take over the 90,000 square-foot ballroom project.

I am totally baffled why he would take this on, Nancy MacWood, a preservationist familiar with Baranes' work, told the New York Times.

open image in gallery ( Getty )

In an interview with the New York Times last week, Baranes repeated his criticisms of the Trump administration, saying: Whats happening now is heartbreaking.

I do hope theres a realization at some point that this country depends on immigration. We have to normalize our policies, Baranes added.

His legacy as a well-tempered, creative and collaborative architect was already cemented in the nations Capitol by 2006, when the Washington Post said it would be hard to find an architect who knows more about designing in Washington than him.

That, combined with his criticisms of the administration, has left some of his colleagues scratching their heads, wondering why he would take on the $400 million addition that has been scrutinized by fellow architects, the public and lawmakers.

I dont understand why he would put himself in such a hot seat right now, David M. Schwarz, an architect in D.C. who has known Baranes since their days at the Yale School of Architecture, told the New York Times.

Baranes agreed to take over the project after the original architect, James McCrery II, stepped down.

open image in gallery Rendering for the new White House ballroom show the massive 90,000-square foot structure attached to the main residence ( AP )

Baranes is under a nondisclosure agreement with the White House and declined to explain his motivations for taking on the project to the New York Times.

But he denied allegations that his architecture firm needs the undisclosed amount of money from the job.

Others in the architecture community said they could totally understand his taking on the job.

If I had to pick who would do this job, it would be Shalom, said Richard Nash Gould, a New York architect and Trump supporter who spoke to him recently about the ballroom. Hes happy, hes bulletproof and hes really smart.

Why wouldnt he? he said. Its an incredibly interesting job.

High-profile jobs Baranes has done around D.C., include the renovation of the Department of Homeland Security headquarters, the Federal Reserve Building, the American Red Cross Building and the Treasury  to name a few.

Perhaps most notably, though, Baranes and his firm were the architects who renovated the Pentagon after it was damaged on September 11, 2001, when a plane crashed into the side of the building.

He referred to that project as his proudest moment, in a 2017 op-ed for the Washington Post in which he lightly criticized the presidents immigration policies during his first term.

My hope is that the Trump administration will take actions to ensure that the travel ban is indeed temporary, so that good, hard-working individuals fleeing tyranny can find a new home as I did  and that each of them will be given the same opportunity to help build this great nation that I had, Baranes wrote in the 2017 piece.

The architect appears to be putting any personal feelings about the Trump administration policies aside to take on the new ballroom, which Trump demanded because the White House does not have a large enough entertaining space for state dinners and other events.
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Iran has fired missiles at a joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean as it warned British lives were in danger after prime minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the US to carry out further strikes.

Tehran directed two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands but neither hit. One of the missiles wasreportedly shot down by a US warship, while the other failed in flight.

It is undertood that the attack took place before Downing Street said on Friday that UK bases will now be used for US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships.

On Saturday, the minitry of Defence condemned the attack as reckless.

Diego Garcia is around 2,360 miles away from Iran and home to an airbase capable of accommodating long-range US bombers, with around 2,500 American troops based on the island.

open image in gallery Two missiles were reportedly launched at the base by Iran ( Ben Birchall/PA Wire )

The UK has agreed to cede sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius and lease back the base, in a move that has strained relations with Washington in recent months.

Diego Garcia is strategically valuable to the US, and has been used as a launchpad for operations in the Middle East for years, with Donald Trump describing the deal as a big mistake.

Why is there a UK-US base on Diego Garcia?

At the conclusion of the Second World War, concerns began to grow within the US administration that their access to overseas bases was diminishing, as more countries became independent from colonisation.

With naval planners concerned over the prospects of Russia and China getting a stronger foothold in the Indian Ocean, it was suggested that the Diego Garcia base would allow the US to project power in the region.

Given that the UK had established a base there during the war and it remained under their administrative status, it was decided in 1961 that the British government would detach the Chagos Archipelago from colonial Mauritius for future military use.

After secret negotations, the US agreed to make payments to the British of up to $14m for its use.

open image in gallery US President Donald Trump has criticised Sir Keir Starmers Chagos Islands deal (Leon Neal/PA) ( PA Wire )

A report from Chatham House noted: Since then, the military base in Diego Garcia has served as an anchor for American operations.

The island hosts an extensive airfield with runways long enough to accommodate large military aircraft like B-52 bombers, KC-135 tankers, reconnaissance aircraft and transport planes. It also has major fuel storage facilities, radar installations, and control towers that can support regional military operations.

During the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War, it was a critical launchpad for US air operations.

How will UK plans to hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius impact the base?

The government has argued the deal is necessary to guarantee the future of the Diego Garcia base after an advisory International Court of Justice ruling in 2019 backed Mauritian claims to sovereignty over the islands.

Under the plan, the UK will pay 34.7 billion in nominal terms over 99 years to secure use of the base.

However, legislation enabling the handover has not progressed through Parliament since January 20, even though it is in its final stages.

The agreement has faced significant criticism in both Westminster and the White House, with parties such as Reform UK and the Conservatives heavily criticising the decision.

What has Trump said about it?

The 35 billion deal that includes a plan to lease back strategically important UK-US military base on Diego Garcia  the largest island within the remote Indian Ocean archipelago  has led to barbed exchanges at Westminster and abrupt changes of heart by the American leader.

open image in gallery The UK has now allowed the US to use Diego Garcia for their attacks against the Iranian regime ( AFP via Getty Images )

While the US administration initially hailed the deal as a monumental achievement, Mr Trump subsequently lambasted it as an act of great stupidity and total weakness, amid transatlantic tensions over his ambitions to annex Greenland.

In a further reversal, the US president then signalled his support for the agreement, saying it was the best Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could make.

But he again recently withdrew his support for the accord branding it a big mistake, reportedly because Britain had refused the use of its military bases for a US strike on Iran.

The UK has stated it will not proceed with the deal unless it has the support of the US.

Speaking outside the White House on Friday, Mr Trump said: Its been a very late response from the UK.

Im surprised because the relationship is so good, but this has never happened before.

They were really, pretty much our first ally, all over the world.

Referring to Diego Garcia, he said: They didnt want us to use the island, the so called island, which for some reason they gave up rights to it.

I was a little surprised in the UK, to be honest. They should have acted a lot faster.

Why has Iran targeted the military base?

Although the attack came before the UK allowed its bases to be used by the US, it could be seen as a threat against the UK over such collaboration - while the range a sign of the potential of Iranian missiles.

Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran will exercise its right to self-defence.

Posting on X, he said: Vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-US war of choice on Iran. Ignoring his own People, Mr Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran.

Iran will exercise its right to self-defence.

Could Iranian missiles actually hit the UK base?

As the UK is drawn further into the conflict, some in Britain are naturally concerned about the potential for the fallout to reach the mainland.

This is very unlikely, experts say, as Irans offensive capabilities are not assessed as long-reaching enough to make the 3,000 mile journey.

Vuk Vuksanovic, associate at foreign policy think tank LSE IDEAS, said: There is no evidence that Iran has the capacity to attack the US or UK mainland.

open image in gallery The treaty between the UK and Mauritius sets out payments across 99 years (Staff Sgt. Hannah Malone/Alamy/PA) ( Alamy/PA )

Iran, with its missile and drone capability, does have the capacity to strike US and UK military outposts in the wider Middle East, including the Gulf and the Levant.

This includes the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus which has already been targeted by drones and the Diego Garcia base.

However, analysists had estimated that Irans longest-reaching weapon is the Khorramshahr 4 missile, which can potentially hit targets from 1,200 to 1,900 miles away.

Given that ballistic missiles have succeeded in being launched to the Chagos Islands, it is now feared that Iran is more capable than previously thought.

Sky News military analyst Sean Bell said: All of a sudden the UK is not far away either so thats the huge significance. At least Diego Garcia is well protected, London is not. The UK has no effective ballistic missile defence system in place and therefore, this is a very worrying development for the UK.
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Pope Leo XIV has renewed his plea for an immediate ceasefire, calling the death and suffering caused by the war in the Middle East a "scandal to the whole human family".

During his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, Leo said he continues to follow the situation in the Middle East and in other regions torn apart by war and violence with "dismay".

"We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of so many people, the defenceless victims of these conflicts," Leo said as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran enters its fourth week.

What hurts them hurts the whole of humanity.

"I strongly renew my appeal for us to persevere in prayer, so that hostilities may cease and the way may finally be paved for peace.

Leo, who is known for speaking diplomatically, has been ramping up calls for an end to the Iran war in recent days.

Pope Leo is known for speaking diplomatically ( AP )

On Wednesday, the Vatican's top diplomat had called on U.S. President Donald Trump to end the expanding Iran war as soon as possible and suggested Israel should also stop its strikes against Lebanon.

"I would say to finish it as soon as possible ... and to leave Lebanon alone," Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a senior advisor to Pope Leo, said in an unusually direct appeal.

"This message goes also to the Israelis," he added, speaking to journalists at an event at the Italian parliament.

Vatican diplomats do not usually make direct appeals for action by foreign leaders, preferring to work behind the scenes. Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State since 2013, is known for speaking in muted tones and seeking to avoid the spotlight.

Parolin said on Wednesday he was worried that the conflict would continue to escalate and called on Trump and other world leaders "to resolve problems ... through the peaceful ways of diplomacy and dialogue".
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With her freshly manicured long pink nails, Nicole pushes the next round of ammunition into the magazine and loads her rifle. She then adjusts her ear protectors, lies down and positions herself carefully behind the AK15.

The first shot misses her target, 100 metres across a snowy expanse, but the second hits with sharp clang and Nicole continues to make hit after hit, shifting into a seated position and then standing with the heavy gun pressed against her shoulder.

Earlier that day Nicole San Juan, 35, had come bounding into the shooting range in the Kanta-Hame region of Finland with fluffy Disney toys swinging off her backpack along with a glittery framed photo of herself and her boyfriend. Barely over 5ft tall, her slight frame stands out among the broad-shouldered, bearded men dressed in camo. But Nicole is far from alone. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, an increasing number of women in Finland are learning to shoot and familiarising themselves with firearms.

open image in gallery Nicole San Juan, a member of the Vantaa Reservists, at a shooting practice at the Loppi range ( Annabel Grossman/TheIndependent )

Suvi Aksela, communications manager for Naisten Valmiusliitto  the Womens National Emergency Preparedness Association of Finland  tells The Independent that following the invasion, her organisations phones were ringing nonstop with women interested in training.

She says: The first question we were asked was how can I help? What can I do?

The second question? Where can I learn to shoot?

The Vantaa Reservists, the group to which Nicole belongs and which is holding this shooting training at the Loppi shooting range, had around 950 members at the end of 2021. Today their number stands at 2,312, with some 170 of these reservists being women.

Nicole signed up to the Vantaa Reservists shortly after February 2022. She says: When the war in Ukraine started I saw these images of women fleeing and vulnerable. I realised that I could be in that situation too and I don't have any skills.

Nicole now attends shooting training regularly and is working to earn enough hours to apply for a licence to buy her own gun. She says: I think it's important for a woman like me to know how to use them [guns] to protect ourselves in the worst-case scenario.

open image in gallery Nicole practising with an AK15  a type of assault rifle used by the special operations units of the Russian military ( Annabel Grossman/The Independent )

The previous Friday evening, 25 of the female reservists had gathered for a girls night where they ate cake, had a sauna and compared weaponry. Nicole points out that women often have different preferences to men when it comes to firearms  although you may assume they would rather a lighter pistol, she prefers a rifle as they are easier to adjust with smaller hands. The AK15 that Nicole is shooting today is a type of assault rifle used by the special operations units of the Russian military.

Helena Laasjorvi lives in Mantsala around 50km north of Helsinki and is also a member of the Vantaa Reservists. She says: It's really important for me to know how to use guns because of the situation we have with our neighbour.

Everyone should be able to protect themselves and their families.

open image in gallery At Naisten Valmiusliitto training courses, women wear distinctive purple beanies along with their camo ( Naisten Valmiusliitto )

Not only does Finland share a 1,343km-long border with Russia, but the country lost territory to the Soviet Union in the Winter War of 1939-1940, a painful memory that has been passed down through generations.

In the face of the hostile neighbour to the east, drawn sharply into focus by Russias occupation of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Finnish government has developed a strategy of comprehensive security that involves all parts of society taking responsibility for defence.

Lt Col Annukka Ylivaara, assistant secretary general of the governments security committee, explains: We emphasise the role of individuals as security actors.

While Naisten Valmiusliitto does not deal with firearms, the organisation runs courses in security and preparedness. Recognisable in their distinct purple beanie hats that are worn with military-style camouflage, the women learn skills such as first aid, field catering, and off-road driving. In addition, the group organises weekend exercises to teach survival skills, often camping out in the forest.

These courses have always been popular, but Aksela says demand was so high for the first ones to launch after the invasion of Ukraine that the system completely crashed, with 800 women waiting in a queue online. Even today, the courses usually fill up within a minute.

Aksela adds: Our strategy in Finland is to be so prepared that no one wants to even try. The message we want to share with the world is that we are able, capable and willing to defend what's ours.

open image in gallery Naisten Valmiusliitto Women's civilian training, Finland ( Naisten Valmiusliitto )

Ulla Mattila, 51, has been on a number of the trainings and is now a volunteer with Naisten Valmiusliitto. Like many women, she started to research these courses after the invasion of Ukraine four years ago. She tells The Independent: In the first days of war it looked like they were just going to roll the tanks throughout the whole country and there was no stopping them.

There was the feeling that this could have happened to us.

The National Defence Training Association of Finland, (MPK) runs training for civilians designed to support the readiness of the Finnish Defence Forces, with the shooting training proving particularly popular. Training director Kari Pietilainen estimates around one million rounds were fired last year, but suggests that this pales in comparison to how many the reservists would have shot.

open image in gallery Civilians training with MPK in Finland ( Annabel Grossman/TheIndependent )

As with the reservists, MPK has seen a surge in activity since 2022. In 2021, the organisation recorded 48,000 training days; in 2025 the number was close to 149,000, with a little over 32,000 of these days attributed to women.

With a strong culture of hunting and sport shooting, Finland has the highest rate of gun ownership in the EU and one of the highest in Europe. According to the Ministry of the Interior, there are around 1.5 million licensed firearms in Finland with approximately 460,000 licence holders, in a country with a total population of a little over 5.6 million.

There are currently around 670 shooting ranges in Finland like the one at Loppi, but the Finnish government plans to open around 300 more, bringing the total to around 1,000.

open image in gallery Naisten Valmiusliitto Women's civilian training, Finland ( Naisten Valmiusliitto )

Finland consistently ranks highly when it comes to the willingness of citizens to defend their country in the event of attack. A survey by the Advisory Board for Defence Information conducted at the end of 2025 found that 80 per cent of the 1,072 respondents would be willing to participate in national defence operations in the event of an attack.

Akela says: Why do we want to defend this country? Because this is our home and we love it. It is in our DNA.

Nicoles parents are from the Philippines, but she was born in Germany and moved to Finland when she was a young girl. I want to protect my country, she says. I have an immigrant background but I grew up here, and what we have here is something very special.

When asked if she would take up arms to defend her country, Helena also doesnt hesitate:Of course.

She adds: "We want peace but if there is a situation with Russia, we know what to do.
Zelensky warns of 'distracted' US as acting ambassador Davis prepares to exit

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Russia is once again scaling back its annual Victory Day parade in Red Square, saying no military equipment will be used amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The parade is a key event in Russia and is held in Moscow on 9 May every year, marking the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945.

Prior to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the parade would traditionally involve a display of tanks and other military equipment, as Moscow flexed its muscles for the world to see.

It has been pared back dramatically due to the war, however, and in 2024 Russia was mocked by Ukraine for displaying just a solitary tank for the second year in a row.

Russia's defence ministry confirmed no military hardware would be involved in the parade at all this year, though it did not directly link this to shortages or frontline deployments.

Meanwhile, Ukraine announced that its air defences shot down more than 33,000 Russian drones of various types in March, a new monthly record in the four-year war.
"It was very good experience." Six surgical experts from Singapore, India, and Uzbekistan gathered in Chongqing for hands-on training with Chinese-made robotic surgery systems. #GLOBALink
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Royal Caribbean has canceled more than 20 scheduled sailings aboard its Freedom of the Seas ship for the summer 2027 season, just days after Carnival Cruise Line similarly canceled 11 future sailings.

The impacted Royal Caribbean departures were originally scheduled between May and September 2027 and included a range of itineraries from fournight Bahamas trips to five-night trips in the Dominican Republic and ninenight journeys calling in Aruba and Curacao, according to the unofficial Royal Caribbean Blog and The Travel.

Royal Caribbean emailed passengers this week to announce that Freedom of the Seas will be redeployed to Southampton, England, for the 2027 season, canceling its previously scheduled homeport sailings due to an ongoing itinerary planning process, according to the blogs.

Deployment planning is dynamic and regularly reviewed based on demand, capacity requirements, and broader fleet considerations, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told The Independent in a statement. As part of this process, weve made the decision to redeploy Freedom of the Seas to Southampton in 2027. Guests and travel partners are being contacted directly with details about their sailings and available options.

Some passengers hit by the cancellations vented their frustration on social media.

open image in gallery The affected Royal Caribbean sailings, set for May to September 2027, ranged from fournight Bahamas trips to ninenight cruises to Aruba, Curacao, and the Dominican Republic ( Getty Images )

That frustrates the heck out of me when they do this, one person wrote in a Facebook comment on a post about the redeployment. I had three ship sailings in a row cancelled two years ago. By the time it was announced in the UK we couldnt rebook on the replacement as it was full. Then they wanted twice the amount to book a similar cruise. RC has become too unreliable for long cruises now.

Another added, Freedom is my favorite ship in the fleet, but this is a bad look for Royal. So many disappointed people. I would be especially unhappy if I had a nine-nighter to those great ports and now am stuck with only a four or five-nighter to the Bahamas.

In response to the changes, Royal Caribbean is reportedly offering impacted guests several alternative options to fulfill their bookings. Those unable to secure space on a different Freedom of the Seas sailing may choose from other ships in the fleet, including Wonder of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas or Jewel of the Seas, or opt for a full refund of their cruise fare as well as reimbursements for any prepaid amenities such as excursions or drink packages if no suitable alternative can be arranged, according to the blogs.

open image in gallery The Carnival cancellations are also due to a change in itinerary plans ( AFP via Getty Images )

Just days before the Royal Caribbean shock, rival Carnival confirmed cancellations of 11 voyages aboard its Carnival Firenze ship that were scheduled to depart in the fall. Carnival told affected guests it was offering rebooking with fare protections and onboard credits, in addition to refunds for those who chose not to sail.

Due to changes to itinerary plans, we have cancelled sailings aboard Carnival Firenze scheduled between October 12, 2026, and November 16, 2026, a Carnival spokesperson told The Independent in a statement.

Guests booked on the affected sailings, as well as their travel advisors, have been notified directly. We have apologized to our impacted guests and are offering them the option to rebook another Carnival cruise with their cruise fare protected on a comparable sailing in similar accommodations, along with an onboard credit. Guests who choose not to reschedule will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased items to the original form of payment, the statement concluded.
Mood music is definitely better than last year  Intel chief tells minister hes looking forward to more Leixlip investment

Chip giant cut hundreds of jobs at the Kildare plant last year but Lip-Bu Tan told Martin Heydon he was now upbeat about its future

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan and Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon during a meeting of members of the business community in California last week as part of the Government's St Patrick's Day diplomatic blitz

Fearghal O'Connor Sun 22 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has told Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon he looks forward to being able to invest further in the chip manufacturers giant Leixlip plant.
Your Questions Answered: A zip has broken on my 18-month-old runners. Can I get a refund?

The shop told me they wouldnt take responsibility for the broken zip  because the runners were more than six months old.

No one explained the runners were only guaranteed against fault for six months. Photo: Getty

Grainne Griffin Sun 22 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Q I purchased a pair of therapeutic runners from a specialist shop for 190 about 18 months ago. Around five months ago, I noticed that the zip on one of the runners was broken  as soon as I put my foot in, the zip came apart.
Jenni Murray, who has died aged 75, was the deep and reassuring voice of Radio 4s Womans Hour from 1987 to 2020.

Humorous yet headmistressy, she was capable of switching from razor-sharp interrogation to flirtatious whimsicality and was equally at home presenting features on female genital mutilation as on home furnishings.

She had a hypnotists ability to make people forget there was a wider audience listening to their cosy chat. Quizzing the actor Jack Nicholson about his apparent distrust of women, she got him to say he felt it stemmed from not finding out until he was 30 that the woman he believed to be his mother was really his grandmother and that his sister was the one who had shamefully given birth to an illegitimate son.

In 1999, Monica Lewinsky confessed that the reason she had kept unwashed the famous blue dress (that proved President Clinton was lying when he denied a sexual relationship with her) was that, as she had subsequently put on weight, she had left it in the wardrobe because she could no longer squeeze into it.

Critics claimed Murray had allowed the programme to become the mouthpiece for an embittered form of radical feminism: Can a nice late-night slot be found for Jenni Murrays Feminists Hour, and can we have Womans Hour back please? asked a listener from London, on Radio 4s Feedback.

Some of the vituperation was undoubtedly due to an article she wrote in 1992 for Options magazine, headlined Why No Woman Should Marry. In this, she reflected on the failure, after seven years, of her own first marriage, and concluded: I believe that marriage is an insult and that women shouldnt touch it.

An only child, Jennifer Susan Bailey was born on May 12, 1950, in Barnsley, Yorkshire. Her father had trained as an electrical engineer, but the key figure in young Jennis life was her mother, a housewife.

Jenni was educated at Barnsley Girls High School, where she was described as good at writing but a bit loose on facts, and advised that she should do well in journalism.

She was forbidden from covering the 2019 election after breaching impartiality rules by expressing regret over Britains decision to leave the EU

It was to avoid her mothers disapproval that she decided to get married to her architect student boyfriend, Brian Murray, in 1971. They had travelled round the world together and decided to share a flat. Convinced her mother would go absolutely bonkers if she knew her daughter was living in sin, she asked Brian to marry her. The marriage lasted seven years.

In 1973, Jenni Murray joined BBC Radio Bristol as a copytaker, later becoming a reporter and presenter for BBC Televisions South Today.

In 1983, she joined BBC Newsnight. Two years later, she moved to Radio 4 as a presenter on Today and launched the Saturday programme with John Humphrys in 1987. That year she took over as the main presenter of Womans Hour from Sue MacGregor.

In 2020, she left Womans Hour, later telling the Daily Mail she had been cancelled for writing a 2017 Times article in which she asked trans activists to acknowledge the difference between a trans woman and a woman, and to respect womens right to safe single-sex spaces.

The BBC ticked her off publicly and thereafter prevented her from debating the trans issue on Womans Hour. She was also forbidden from covering the 2019 election after breaching impartiality rules by writing an article expressing regret over Britains decision to leave the EU.

When, in December, 2006, she revealed she had breast cancer, the BBC was deluged with messages of sympathy from female fans and also from an army of devoted male listeners, who, during Murrays 33 years at the helm of Womans Hour, accounted for 40pc of the audience.

Her marriage to Brian Murray was dissolved in 1978. In 2004, she married David Forgham-Bailey. They had two sons.
Dogflation linked to dramatic increase in abandoned and stray pets being put down in local authority shelters

Owners struggle to pay vet bills as cost of living keeps rising

Corina Fitzsimons with her Lab cross, Dougal, at the Irish Blue Cross in Dublin. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Lynne Kelleher Sun 22 Mar 2026 at 06:30

The number of abandoned or stray dogs put down in council shelters in Ireland has increased fourfold over three years, a study has shown.
Hes willing to push boundaries: Kneecap manager Daniel Lamberts provocative playbook, from Bohs to Iran

Entrepreneur joins a sanctions-busting trip to Cuba as he makes his presence felt in sport, music and politics

Kneecap and Daniel Lambert at the Belfast premiere of their movie in 2024. Photo: Daniel Lambert/X

John Meagher Sun 22 Mar 2026 at 06:30

As Micheal Martin was preparing for his White House encounter with Donald Trump last week, Kneecap announced they were bound for Cuba, an island being strangled by the man wholl be handed the shamrock.
Irish teachers in UAE told to return to the Gulf by their schools  never mind the war

Implications for staff who choose not to return to the war-torn region remain unclear

Fire and plumes of smoke rise after a drone struck a fuel tank forcing the temporary suspension of flights near Dubai International Airport last week. Photo: AP

Deirdre Barry Sun 22 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Irish employees of schools and companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are being asked to provide proof of their return flights if they went back to Ireland during the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
Rise in children trafficked here to work in cannabis grow-houses is only the tip of the iceberg

Support group highlights lack of data on criminal and sexual exploitation levels, as new figures revealed

Children are being trafficked here for criminal and sexual exploitation, says JP OSullivan of MECPATHS

Ali Bracken Sun 22 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Vietnamese children are being trafficked to Ireland to work in cannabis grow-houses, as well as for sexual exploitation, a support group has said.
Colm Toibin: I wish I had given up drinking much earlier or not bothered starting
We were typical Celtic Tiger people... Everyone was borrowing from banks and building massive houses, except we were spending our own money  owner of demolished Meath home

Rose Murray plans to return to Ireland today to face court

Drone footage of the demolition of Meath home at centre of planning row

Amy Molloy Sun 22 Mar 2026 at 06:30

The owner of a Meath property that has been demolished plans to fly home today to face contempt of court allegations in the High Court.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Enterprises from the United States are welcome to seize the development opportunities in China and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with the country, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said on Sunday.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with a delegation of the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC).

Noting that China-U.S. ties are the world's most important bilateral relations, He said it is hoped that the USCBC will continue to play its role as a bridge to promote friendly exchanges and the stable and healthy development of economic and trade relations between China and the United States.

It is also hoped that U.S. enterprises can fully seize the development opportunities in China, make good use of the potential of the Chinese market, and inject more stability and positive energy into China-U.S. economic and trade relations, He added.

Rajesh Subramaniam, board chair of the USCBC, Sean Stein, president of the USCBC, and other members from the delegation noted that the U.S. business sector is optimistic about China's economic development prospects. They expressed the willingness to further explore the Chinese market, play an active role, and continuously deepen the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. 
Wexford woman in battle to secure new wheelchair  My daughter is trapped in the middle of a vicious circle

Simona Demyter was diagnosed with an extremely rare mutation in the PDE10A gene and is believed to be the only known case in Ireland

Simona Demyter with Rare Warriors Wexford Chairperson Rebecca Whitty.

Cillian Boggan Wexford People Sun 22 Mar 2026 at 06:30

The mother of a 20-year-old Wexford woman with severe disabilities has said that while the rest of the country and the world was out celebrating St. Patricks Day and enjoying the parades, our girl Simona was at home on her sofa, unable to leave the house.
My favourite room: Jimmy always had an idea of coming back to the Naul and one day he said Ive bought this place  The family who restored Whitestown House

As a young boy Jimmy Keogh dreamed of owning Whitestown, a grand period house in his native village of Naul, Co Dublin. His dream came true and now his wife and daughters are honouring his memory with their special brand of entertaining

Kelly, Hazel and Aoife Keogh outside Whitestown House, in Naul, Co Dublin. Photo: Tony Gavin

Mary O'Sullivan Sun 22 Mar 2026 at 06:30

A stags head  that symbol of power and majesty  is a staple of the decor in the hall of a grand house, usually one of many trophies snaffled by a remote ancestor and passed down through the generations.
Teruels dry, salt-free climate lends itself to preserving planes, and is being sought by airlines

An airport in a dusty and remote corner of rural Spain has once again become a parking lot for aircraft stranded in Europe, this time due to the war with Iran, which has forced countries to close their airspace and airlines to reroute flights.

State-owned Teruel airport in eastern Spain, which normally serves as one of Europe's largest aircraft maintenance and storage hubs, had around 140 planes park there over two years during the Covid pandemic.

Now its dry, salt-free climate, which lends itself to preserving planes, is being sought again by airlines whose timetables have been scrambled and are facing risks to jet fuel supplies because of the conflict in the Middle East.

It was expected to receive about 20 aircraft, including 17 Qatar Airways planes, by the end of last Saturday, according to a schedule seen by Reuters.

A former military base in Aragon province, which has become a byword for the rural depopulation known as the Empty Spain phenomenon, Teruel airport habitually receives two aircraft a day.

Last Friday, around 10 wide-body jets - the world's biggest commercial aircraft - were due to arrive, the majority operated by Qatar Airways.

A Qatar Airways A380 landed mid-morning after departing from London. Two of the airline's A350s and a Boeing 787 had landed by late afternoon. Qatar Airways did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on its plans.

"It's not normal," said Alejandro Ibrahim, general manager of the terminal. "Companies are revising their fleets and routes and looking for safer places to park their planes, and Europe fits the bill."

Just a few people, mainly pilots and crew, could be seen leaving the industrial airport, located 300km from Madrid, on Friday morning.

With capacity for 250 wide-body and up to 400 narrow-body aircraft, Teruel is one of Europe's largest storage facilities.

"We've acted as a refuge and supported global air transport," Ibrahim said.

Since Teruel does not handle passengers, planes can sit without issue on the tarmac, he said.

The airport's operators cannot say how many more planes could arrive as the war continues, though several Middle Eastern airlines that fly regularly to Europe are among its regular clients.

"We're working week to week because there's no clear horizon and it really depends on the companies ... how this could all develop in the coming months," he said.

What is preferable for business are the quick-turnaround maintenance contracts that are the airport's usual work, he added.

"What we would like is for (the conflict) to end, because our important business is aircraft maintenance. The more planes fly, the greater activity our airport has."
Heavy screen use is linked to lack of attention and poor sleep

Madam  Julia Molony highlights the decline in reading for pleasure (With fewer people reading for pleasure, should we be worried?, March 15), but overlooks an important point: schools are increasingly pushing children towards screens rather than books.

The Department of Educations Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 promotes the embedding of digital technologies in teaching and learning, yet high-performing education systems are moving in the opposite direction. Sweden and Finland are investing heavily in textbooks and other printed material, citing concerns about the impact of screens on reading, comprehension, concentration and learning outcomes.

OECD data supports these concerns, and longitudinal research suggests children with attention difficulties may be particularly vulnerable, with heavy screen-use linked to worsening attention over time and poor sleep.

There is also a practical concern for parents. When learning is delivered through platforms and devices, it becomes harder to see what children are actually being taught.

If we are serious about promoting reading, we cannot ignore the contradiction of encouraging children to read at home while replacing books with screens in school.

Sandra Adams, Baldoyle, Dublin 13

Micheal Martins masterclass in passive aggression

Madam  I had never really fully understood the term passive aggressive, but Taoisech Micheal Martins performance in the Oval Office on St Patricks Day must be the best example Ive seen of how it works.

Both the Taoiseach and his wife, Mary, must have been conscious that the TV cameras, particularly from Fox News, would be trained on them, hoping to see any flicker of negative reaction to Donald Trumps rants. They would have got no satisfaction, as Martin sat back in his golden chair, giving the relaxed impression that he was taking it all in.

He was attentive enough to intervene not once, but twice; first to defend Keir Starmer and the special relationship we have with the UK, and then to do the same over Trumps attack on Europe.

Not only did he interrupt, but several times when Trump tried to get back in, Martin put his hand across as if to say: Hold your horses. Let me tell you....

Coupled with the Taoiseachs friendly and humorous history lesson with JD Vance at the breakfast reception, it was a masterclass in passive aggressive diplomacy. He did Ireland proud.

Typically, the whingeing opposition leaders couldnt muster an ounce of good grace, if not to congratulate the Taoiseach, then at least to acknowledge his safe passage through treacherous waters.

And spare me the mock outrage at his non-reaction to the question about an ill-timed comment from President Connolly (who Trump referred to as he). When you are a guest at even the friendliest of gatherings, you dont publicly chastise the host over a minor misunderstanding. We all saw what happened to Volodymyr Zelensky when he tried that.

Pat Conneely, Glasnevin, Dublin

Connolly turned her back on the Iranians

Madam  President Connolly presents herself as a soft-spoken shrinking violet, but her recent criticism of the US war on Iran at a time when international law is dead in the water was a complete breach of her constitutional powers. It will damage our relationship with a major trading partner and long-term ally.

When the Iranian regime recently slaughtered tens of thousands of their own citizens who were marching for democracy, it was understandable that the US might declare war on Iran to free its citizens and destroy its nuclear capability, which could pose an existential threat to the Middle East and elsewhere.

The question is why our president did not use her office to condemn the Iranian regime for slaughtering its citizens. Further, she did not support the Iranian exiles in Ireland when they held a peaceful protest in Dublin. By her inconsistency, she has given tacit support to a vile regime.

It calls into question her commitment to freedom as we in the West understand it.

Denis Larkin, Mullingar, Co Westmeath

Greens ruined shot at energy security

Madam  Donald Trumps destructive war in Iran is rapidly escalating out of control and seriously affecting global energy supplies. For many years, Irelands energy security has been on a knife edge, dependent on the importation of 100pc of our oil and 80pc of our natural gas through increasingly vulnerable submarine pipelines from the UK.

In 2021, the Irish government, based on political expediency and ideology, made the irresponsible and critical decision to cease issuing oil and gas licences off our coast. This decision was made in the full knowledge that the island was totally dependent on the importation of vital fossil fuels to drive our economy and society.

The decision contradicted a formal policy proposal in 2019 to support indigenous natural gas as the preferred fuel as a back-up to renewables.

Irelands situation is further exposed as UK offshore oil and gas resources are declining, forcing the British government to consider opening the North Sea again to exploration, overturning a previous decision.

Ireland could have avoided a potential energy shock and pending disaster but for the decision in 2023 of Green Party leader and energy minister Eamon Ryan to block the development of the Barryroe oil and gas field off the Cork coast, ostensibly on financial advice, but mainly on ideological grounds.

The problem was exacerbated by his decision to delay the licensing of the Inishkea natural gas prospect near Corrib off the Mayo coast.

Barryroe has been independently shown to have over 350 million barrels of high-grade oil and a trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which together with Inishkea would afford Ireland total energy security for decades to come as back-up to renewables.

It is imperative now that the government urgently advances, with pragmatism and common sense, the further exploration and development of these vital prospects to ensure Irelands economy and energy stability.

John Leahy, Cork

Tax gouging at heart of fuel price woes

Madam  There is a lot of talk about increases in fuel prices and the impact on the cost-of-living crisis.

Lets have some perspective. Based on the figure of 2 per litre of fuel, the Government takes 1.30 (65pc) in taxes and duties. Its clear to me who the real gougers are.

Walter Lacey, Bullock Park, Co Carlow

Virtual bogeyman has mass appeal

Madam  Sandra Adams (Letters, March 15) warns of the billions of men living in cultural and religious traditions that continue to treat women as second-class citizens.

We dont, however, need to travel to Afghanistan or Iran to find examples. Our own primary education system is largely controlled by the Catholic Church, an organisation that treats the female of the species as inferior from the moment we are born. The virtual bogeyman may reside closer to home than Ms Adams imagines.

Bernie Linnane, Dromahair, Co Leitrim

Bottom line is that Lowry gets job done

Madam  During Shane Rosss brief spell in Fine Gael in the early 1990s, if he had come out from behind the newspapers he was hiding behind in the Oireachtas library and listened to Michael Lowry, he might have had a more successful career (Establishment still cant lay a glove on untouchable Lowry, March 15).

I recall a former teaching colleague in Thurles telling me Lowry gets things done. The people of Tipp still believe this.

Thomas Garvey, Claremorris, Co Mayo

Sunday blues are banished by paper

Madam  Recently, on a Sunday afternoon during a spell of incessant rain, I had a light bulb moment while reading your publication: I realised the Sindo had given me the only thing close to interactive engagement I had that day.

The thought occurred that I couldnt be unique, that I must have some kindred spirits among your readership  others who value the Sunday Independent not just for its written words and its personalities, but crucially, for the company it provides.

The purpose of this letter is to extol the virtues of your newspaper as much as to celebrate the virtues of reading, especially for people who find themselves living on their own for whatever reason.

Stephen Cooke, Fermoy, Co Cork

Pattern is clear with deranged diatribes

Madam  Contrary to his protestations, Declan Lynch undoubtedly suffers from Trump Derangement Syndrome (If anyone has been driven crazy by Trump, its not me, March 15). For evidence, all we need do is look back over his columns for the past few years.

I would also diagnose a case of Brexit Derangement Syndrome: an unhealthy obsession with a democratic decision made by the people of the UK.

Lynch lectures us every week about Trump and Brexit with a tone coated in condescension and dripping with smugness.

He need not bother. Most of us understand Trump and most of us understand that Brexit has made virtually no difference to our lives.

P Kelly, Carraroe, Co Galway

Politicians trading on public attention

Madam  Declan Lynchs discussion of Trump Derangement Syndrome made me reflect that I may once have suffered a mild case of it myself.

Like many others, I spent years trying to comprehend Donald Trumps motives and morals, as if somewhere beneath the bluster there might lie a recognisablepolitical philosophy. It now seems more likely that the philosophy is simply attention, power and profit, preferably in that order.

Being deranged about Mr Trump is rather pointless. He thrives on outrage the way ordinary politicians thrive on approval. Indignation merely feeds the machine.

The more interesting question concerns what happens next. The Trump years may yet prove to be less a political aberration than a demonstration that spectacle now beats substance in modern politics.

My modest prediction is that future leaders will not imitate Mr Trumps beliefs so much as his method: permanent drama, grievance and domination of the news cycle.

If so, historians may conclude that the real derangement was not ours but the political systems discovery that attention, not competence, is now the most valuable currency of power.

In which case the wisest response may simply be to keep calm, read the news sparingly, and resist the urge to buy the clown shoes.

Enda Cullen, Tullysaran, Co Armagh

Israel has the right to act in self-defence

Madam  Tom McElligott (Letters, March 15) refers to the war in Iran as this latest illegal mass killing of civilians and implies that Israel exercises power through what it sees as a divine right.

The airstrikes carried out by US and Israeli forces on Iran were targeted at members of an Islamic extremist regime that has, since 1979, murdered many thousands of people in Iran and also abroad via its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, which bombed US and French military bases in Beirut in 1983 and the Jewish cultural centre in Buenos Aires in 1994.

The exercise of power he mentions is self-defence by a democratic country. Divine right does not come into it.

Ciaran Masterson, Cavan town

RTE cant hide its hatred of England

Madam  In 1973, during the Provisional IRAs indiscriminate killing campaign, England travelled to Lansdowne Road to play Ireland in a rugby match.

This was notable because our Celtic cousins Scotland and Wales refused to travel to Ireland over security concerns.

In other words, England showed up while others pulled the blinds. But in RTE, no good deed by England remains unpunished.

For the past few weeks on Against the Head, RTE 2s weekly rugby round up, the chair of the panel vehemently expressed the view that he hoped England got stuffed by whoever they were playing. The rest of the panel laughed.

This irrational hatred of England that RTE is pushing seems to have infected the public at large and is turning Ireland into a nation of nasties, some of whom were cheering on France against England, regardless of how the result affected Irelands standing in this most exhilarating Six Nations tournament.

Does RTE know what its doing?

Eddie Naughton, The Coombe, Dublin

Hot Dudes could help book the trend

Madam  Julia Molony touches on something close to my heart: reading and its lamentable decline.

Talk-shows in all their formats are destroying peoples ability to concentrate and think independently. Turn them all off would be my first piece of advice.

Second, make reading sexy again. In that regard, you could do worse than follow Hot Dudes Reading on Instagram, and join their 1.3m followers.

Last, but not least, visit your local library. A treasure trove awaits, whatever your mood or inclination, and its all for free.

Tom McElligott, Tournageehy, Co Kerry

Barman was on a hiding to nothing

Madam  Brenda Power tells us about a man in front of her at the checkout in Lidl who answered his phone thus: Im in SuperValu just now. (If wed rather get fleeced than lose face, who is to blame for our cost of living?, March 15).

I am reminded of a time, before the proliferation of mobile phones when a call came through for a customer in my local pub. The barman whispered to him, perhaps not as subtly as he imagined: Are you here?

Very hard, in that scenario, not to be honest about location.

Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9
Taoiseach Micheal Martin with US President Donald Trump at the White House on St Patrick's Day. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

As your editorial noted, the White House is promoting the war in Iran with memes from American action and adventure films (Taoiseach finds the right tone in tricky corner with Trump, Irish Independent, March 18).

This is as thousands lay dead, including more than 150 Iranian school children.

For Americans of Irish descent, as well as all Americans who value Irelands vision of peace and global co-operation, the question must be asked: How can Irelands pro-human values really make a dent in the American political fabric?

The citizens of Ireland from across the political spectrum should consider whether it is time to establish a Commonwealth of Ireland: an international organisation with a renewed commitment to fostering world peace and human rights.

And, above all, a commonwealth where politicians who seek to entice young men into battle with Hollywood action films, literally to kill and be killed themselves, will be instantly noticed by the citizens of each commonwealth nation for the scum of the earth that they are.

Timothy Villareal, Miami, US

The US has no option but to change Iran regime  or walk away from the war

In January, Irans government turned on its people when up to 30,000 people in public protest in Tehran were shot dead for demanding an end to the regime. Their bravery cost them their lives.

There have been no big protests since, as they now know the regime has no qualms about killing so many to stay in power.

Israel and the US began a war on Iran last month, believing this will remove the regime. It is still there in spite of the killing of its supreme leader.

In response, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to stop oil supplies from the region to around the world  leading to fears of a severe economic depression worldwide.

Russian president Vladimir Putin thought it would be easy to take over Ukraine in weeks.

The 2022 Russian war on Ukraine is in its fourth year.

US president Donald Trump likewise expected the people of Iran to rise against the regime with support of the US and Israel.

They havent yet for fear of a civil war or that many of them will be killed by the regime.

This week, the Pentagon has requested $200bn (173bn) from Congress for the war. The US is one of the most heavily indebted countries in the world.

Irans regime defends itself by attacking US allies in the Middle East and their oil and gas facilities to force them to pressure the US to end the war.

To remove the regime would require an invasion on the ground.

The regime rules by fear. It may be wise for the US to end the war on Iran unless the US is confident of a regime removal in next few months.

Mary Sullivan, College Road, Co Cork

If only Saint Francis and a bit of divine inspiration could turn Trumps head

I was impressed with your mention of Saint Francis in your editorial on March 14 (In times of war, it is mothers who bear the heaviest burden, Irish Independent).

I think that nothing short of divine intervention will save the world today.

Trump stopped giving aid to save childrens lives in the worlds poorest countries.

Now he is spending $3bn to kill children and others in Iran.

Any taoiseach meeting Mr Trump in the White House might do well to also take the advice of Saint Francis. It is the best way to make a man like the US president see the light.

The only people who got the better of Mr Trump so far were the people of Greenland.

I heard their leaders on TV saying that they had no defence and they could not fight anyone.

Weve heard nothing about it from Mr Trump since.

May God protect our little children and bring peace to mankind.

Phil Healy, Ardfert, Co Kerry

Making Pearl Harbour a punchline has lowered the White Houses standing

There is a distinction, often lost in the modern appetite for the clever line, between pointing out a policy and lowering the tone.

When Donald Trump reached for humour in invoking the attack on Pearl Harbour, the discomfort in the room was not merely diplomatic (Trump jokes about Pearl Harbour in awkward meeting with Japanese PM, Irish Independent, March 20). It was instructive.

History had been pressed into service, not to illuminate, but to provoke a reaction. It succeeded, though not in the way intended.

There is, of course, no shortage of historical material that others could deploy in return, from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki onwards.

But that way lies a race to the bottom.

Enda Cullen, Tullysaran, Co Armagh

Pointing out that there is an Israeli land grab in Lebanon is not antisemitic

The Lebanese people have been told to move in just the same way as Gazans did in the early stages of their war.

Hundreds of thousands of people at a time in Lebanon are now being told to move.

Then when they have moved, they are being moved again.

Now as it happens, they have been moving a lot since 2024. There also seems to be another land grab going on in southern Lebanon.

Yet, if one brings this issue up, one gets accused by some people of antisemitism.

But its not antisemitism to point out that the actions of the Israeli government are beyond the pale.

However, I do think that its equally as important to be especially critical of Hezbollah, too.

John OBrien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Despicable murderers of IRA cant be rehabilitated by Gerry Adams rhetoric

Gerry Adams told the High Court in London this week that the men and women of the IRA defied all attempts to criminalise them.

Really?

Im old enough to remember when the mature and intelligent IRA blew up two little boys in Warrington.

By that disgusting and indefensible action, along with hundreds of other murders, including gardai and members of the Defence Forces, Mr Adams brave volunteers criminalised themselves.

Bernie Linnane, Dromahair, Co Leitrim
Malachi ODoherty: Gerry Adams incredible run of good luck just wont stop

Former Sinn Fein leader has been targeted by police, republicans, loyalists, the British army and in the courts and survived

Gerry Adams arrives to speak to the media in Belfast after High Court damages claim was 'discontinued'. Photo: PA

Malachi ODoherty Sun 22 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Has any politician ever been as lucky as Gerry Adams? He has defied the maxim coined by Enoch Powell that all political careers end in failure.
Shane Ross: My father almost completely cut me out of his will as he felt I had lost the run of myself and become utterly obnoxious

Government is raiding treasure troves parents have saved for their children

Shane Ross: "A will contains a serious power." Photo: David Conachy. 21/3/2025

Shane Ross Sun 22 Mar 2026 at 06:30

Up until the time that my father, a comfortably off middle-class Dublin solicitor, died a few years ago, I was a bellicose opponent of inheritance tax.
Students receiving scholarships to the Gaeltacht. Front; Cathaoirleach Donal Gilroy, Deborah Tiernan - Mercy College, Laura Higgins - Aonad Loch Gile, Caitlin OCallaghan  Colaiste Mhuire, Ballymote, Matthew McCorry - Summerhill College, Meabh Ni Thonair - Coola PPS. Middle: Councillor Marie Casserly, Director of Services Jim Molloy, Senator Nessa Cosgrove, Oifigeach Gaeilge Edel Mhic Amhlaidh, Back: Parents and teachers of the students who were successful in receiving a Gaeltacht scholarship

Sligo County Council has successfully concluded its programme of events for Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia 2026, marking another strong year of commitment to the Irish language across the organisation and within the wider Sligo community.

The programme, which ran from 413 March, brought together families, schools, community groups, Irish-language organisations, and members of the public for a lively and diverse series of events. Activities included guided walks, cultural gatherings, table quizzes, Irish-language conversation sessions, and performances for children.

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, An Cathaoirleach Donal Gilroy said: Seachtain na Gaeilge is a highlight of our cultural calendar, and we were delighted to see such enthusiasm and participation across the county.

"Our commitment to promoting the Irish language is year-round, and this festival gives us the opportunity to bring that work into the public spotlight.

A particular highlight of this years celebrations was the strong involvement of Sligo Libraries, which once again demonstrated its longstanding support for the Irish language through an imaginative and inclusive schedule of events.

Across the week, Sligo Central Library hosted:

 Trath na gCeist sessions for schools

 The popular Little Gem puppet show

 A special Baby & Toddler Storytime

 And a welcoming Ciorcal Comhra for learners and fluent speakers alike

The variety and accessibility of these events reaffirmed the Library Services role as a key cultural and linguistic hub in the county.

Sligo County Council continues to expand its Irish-language services and supports, including staff training, bilingual communications, community partnerships, and cultural programming. As part of La Mor na Gaeilge, the Council launched a new Handbook of Useful Irish Terminology for Staff, designed to encourage and support day-to-day use of the language across all departments.

The Council also presented five secondary school students with part scholarships to the Gaeltacht, supporting the next generation of Irish speakers and demonstrating the Councils dedication to nurturing Irish in both the workplace and the wider community.

Edel Mhic Amhlaidh, Oifigeach Gaeilge le Chomhairle Chontae Shligigh remarked: These initiatives reflect the momentum building around the Irish language in Sligo. By supporting young people, empowering our staff, and creating accessible opportunities for the public to use Irish, we are helping to ensure that the language continues to grow, thrive, and belong to everyone in our community.
David O Gorman,Geraldine Farrell, Deirdre Hendrick, Ryan Brady,Geraldine Roche, Florintina Cranciun,Tina Foley, Brendan French,Gillian Foley, Rosaleen Casey,Frank Conway and Wayne O Connor, Erin and Lorcan Sinnott at the cheque presentation in Pettitt's Enniscorthy.

A recent fundraiser held by a supermarket chain in Enniscorthy in honour of a late colleague will be making a positive impact on families in hospital with loved ones.

James Foley who worked at Enniscorthy Pettitts Supervalu sadly passed away on Saturday, September 27.

A popular employee of Pettitt's for over 17 years, staff at the store decided to honour his memory by giving back to charity The Friends of Wexford General Hospital.

Brendan French, chairperson on the board of the charity, explained that the store members had reached out to him about doing the fundraiser  which had a personal twist on it.

James was known well by all to wear silly and memorable hats every day to work, so his former colleagues decided a Silly Hat Day would be the perfect way to honour his memory and lively personality.

Thanks to the effort and generosity of both the store and its loyal customers, they managed to raise 920 for the charity, where its money will be felt by the families of those ill in hospital.

"We propose various projects to spend the funds on  with there being a range of excellent ideas, Mr French explained.

"It can go towards medical equipment and facilities within the hospital. There are projects that refurbish parts of the wards so patients can move from their beds and have a fresh space to enjoy. We also have paediatric transport trolleys,

"The donations we receive could also go towards family rooms where families of the critically ill in the ICU can go and have some dignity and privacy. These spaces have a big impact on these families who are going through a hard and difficult time, he said.

He added that the charity is incredibly grateful to everyone who tries to help and donates in any way they can.
Public meeting to be held in Wexford to discuss Common Agricultural Policy in next EU Budget.

A public meeting is set to take place in Wexford to begin negotiations for farmers needs for the next EU Budget.

The public meeting, The Next EU Budget and Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations will be held in the Askamore Community Centre, Gorey on Tuesday, March 24. The event will begin at 8 p.m. sharp.

European Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne will attend the special meeting to outline the discussion process surround Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). These discussions are set to be a major feature of Irelands EU Presidency, starting in the second half of 2026.

The meeting will serve as an opportunity for farmers in Wexford to rise their concerns and opinions on the some of the issues for farmers in the coming months and years, as a way to plan accordingly for the next EU Budget.

The EUs Common Agricultural Policy has been facing funding reductions in recent budgets as its share of the EU budget has fallen, with proposed future budgets set to cut funding further, leaving farmers financial uncertainty.

Deputy President of the Irish Farmers' Association, Alice Doyle will also attend the meeting, to respond to Minister Byrnes points of discussion.

Organised by Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne, he said the public is open to those who would like a better understanding of the negotiation process. "Negotiations have commenced on the next European Union Budget and will intensify during Irelands EU Presidency in the second half of this year.

There will be huge implications for Ireland and any changes in CAP in particular will impact on Irish farms and rural communities, Deputy Byrne said.

The meeting is open to all interested to attend.
Staff members perform among snapdragon blossoms at a scenic area in Jiti Village of Ersheng Town, southwest China's Chongqing, March 22, 2026. In recent years, Jiti Village, once a seedling base, has been working to promote the in-depth integration of agriculture, culture and tourism. By creating many theme scenic areas featuring flower varieties that bloom across seasons, it has effectively promoted the development of rural tourism and increased the income of local residents. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

A drone photo taken on March 22, 2026 shows tourists visiting a scenic area in Jiti Village of Ersheng Town, southwest China's Chongqing. In recent years, Jiti Village, once a seedling base, has been working to promote the in-depth integration of agriculture, culture and tourism. By creating many theme scenic areas featuring flower varieties that bloom across seasons, it has effectively promoted the development of rural tourism and increased the income of local residents. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

A tourist poses for photos among rapeseed flowers at a scenic area in Jiti Village of Ersheng Town, southwest China's Chongqing, March 22, 2026. In recent years, Jiti Village, once a seedling base, has been working to promote the in-depth integration of agriculture, culture and tourism. By creating many theme scenic areas featuring flower varieties that bloom across seasons, it has effectively promoted the development of rural tourism and increased the income of local residents. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

Tourists visit a scenic area in Jiti Village of Ersheng Town, southwest China's Chongqing, March 22, 2026. In recent years, Jiti Village, once a seedling base, has been working to promote the in-depth integration of agriculture, culture and tourism. By creating many theme scenic areas featuring flower varieties that bloom across seasons, it has effectively promoted the development of rural tourism and increased the income of local residents. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 22, 2026 shows tourists visiting a scenic area in Jiti Village of Ersheng Town, southwest China's Chongqing. In recent years, Jiti Village, once a seedling base, has been working to promote the in-depth integration of agriculture, culture and tourism. By creating many theme scenic areas featuring flower varieties that bloom across seasons, it has effectively promoted the development of rural tourism and increased the income of local residents. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 22, 2026 shows tourists visiting a scenic area in Jiti Village of Ersheng Town, southwest China's Chongqing. In recent years, Jiti Village, once a seedling base, has been working to promote the in-depth integration of agriculture, culture and tourism. By creating many theme scenic areas featuring flower varieties that bloom across seasons, it has effectively promoted the development of rural tourism and increased the income of local residents. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 22, 2026 shows a view of a scenic area in Jiti Village of Ersheng Town, southwest China's Chongqing. In recent years, Jiti Village, once a seedling base, has been working to promote the in-depth integration of agriculture, culture and tourism. By creating many theme scenic areas featuring flower varieties that bloom across seasons, it has effectively promoted the development of rural tourism and increased the income of local residents. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)
Brian McDonagh (65), formerly of Drummin House in Delgany, Co. Wicklow, at Wicklow Circuit Court. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.

A Dublin businessman has been refused an appeal against the revocation of his gun licences, following an alleged incident in which he is accused of producing a shotgun at a Wicklow property.

Brian McDonagh (65), of Walkinstown, Dublin 12, appeared before a sitting of Bray District Court for the appeal of his gun licence.

The appeal relates to the decision to revoke Mr McDonaghs firearms licences in January 2026.

Superintendent John Fitzgerald told the court that Mr McDonagh had previously been granted several firearms licences, most recently on March 26, 2024, for a Beretta shotgun and a BS4 air rifle.

He outlined an alleged incident on February 24, 2025, when he was on duty at Bray Garda Station and gardai were alerted that the Dublin County Sheriff was attending Mr McDonaghs former property at Drummin House, Delgany, Co Wicklow, to repossess it.

The court heard that gardai received reports that the accused had allegedly produced and pointed a shotgun at the sheriff and his staff as they attempted to enter the house.

Superintendent Fitzgerald said he attended the scene, along with armed support units. At that stage, we believed we were dealing with a potential hostage or suicide incident, he said.

After arriving, he took cover behind an armed Garda vehicle and attempted to make contact with Mr McDonagh by phone and text message, but received no response.

Negotiators from the Garda National Negotiation Unit were deployed to the scene, along with additional armed support and members of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU).

Supt Fitzgerald said he later left the scene but remained in contact with the negotiation team and the ERU. At around 2pm, he was informed that the accused had left two firearms outside the property, which were seized by gardai and are now being retained as evidence in separate criminal proceedings.

The court heard that Mr McDonagh subsequently exited the property and was arrested by Detective Garda Brian Higgins.

A search of the house was later carried out, as gardai believed evidence of an alleged offence may have been inside. The property has since been sold to new owners.

CCTV footage was played to the court, with the first clip showing body-worn camera footage in which voices can be heard saying, He has a shotgun, put that down, and Im not going in there, he has a gun.

In a second clip, Mr McDonagh can be seen holding a shotgun while walking up and down the stairs inside the Delgany property.

Supt Fitzgerald also raised further objections, citing alleged incidents between September 30 and October 5, 2025. He claimed that the defendant had continued to engage in a campaign of trespass, harassment, criminal damage and repeated burglary offences at Drumin House.

The accused faces charges relating to this period, including two counts of burglary. He denies these allegations.

Mr McDonaghs firearms licences were subsequently revoked by the superintendent after considering all the factors in the incident, adding that he was not satisfied Mr McDonagh was a suitable person to hold a firearms licence.

The decision was made in January 2026 and was served on Mr McDonagh later that month.

Solicitor for the accused, Michael OConnor, told the court that his client had previously held multiple licences and asked the superintendent why he revoked them, to which he replied it was based on his alleged criminal activity.

A small word we use in court is alleged, and my client has the presumption of innocence, said Mr OConnor.

Mr McDonagh had been previously been charged with the production of a shotgun during a dispute, unlawful possession of a firearm, and the wilful obstruction of a sheriff, over the incident described by Supt Fitzgerald at the Delgany house.

The matter is listed for trial in the summer of 2026, as Mr McDonagh has instructed his legal advisers to plead not guilty. The same applies to the alleged incidents in October.

Mr OConnor said that the State had provided no disclosure and that the case was at risk of being struck out, but that his client had instructed that the matters proceed to the Circuit Court for trial before a judge and jury, as he believes he was unlawfully evicted.

Both firearms have been seized, and Mr McDonagh will not have them returned before his trial.

Defence solicitor Michael OConnor also asked about how firearms certification works and whether licences are tied to specific weapons.

If I have a Colt pistol and a certificate for it and want to buy a Magnum, what do I do? Mr OConnor asked.

Superintendent Fitzgerald replied that each firearm requires its own certificate and must be individually licensed.

He added that even if Mr McDonagh were found not guilty in the criminal proceedings, he would still not sign off on the reinstatement of his firearms licences.

Mr OConnor argued that, as a senior officer of the State, the superintendent should judge it fairly.

I wouldnt be granting it, Supt Fitzgerald replied.

Mr McDonagh gave evidence that he had never been in trouble prior to the alleged incident and said he held the firearms as a member of a clay pigeon shooting club. He told the court he also used them for culling foxes and other vermin that interfered with livestock on his 12-acre property.

Supt Fitzgerald said he accepted that the accused had legitimately held firearms for vermin control, but added that he hoped Mr McDonagh would accept that this did not extend to allegedly pointing a gun at the sheriff.

Judge David Kennedy refused Mr McDonaghs application, remarking that even if the superintendents concerns were insufficient, it was appropriate to refuse the appeal.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme

This article was amended on Monday, March 23, 2026 to reflect the fact that between September 30 and October 5, 2025, Brian McDonagh was only charged with two counts of burglary.
Politics

latest | Simon Harris says Iran War energy impact likely to be felt in winter as Taoiseach rules out mini-Budget
Nigerian music star Peter Okoye of the iconic P-Square duo has issued a stern legal warning to a social media user who made inflammatory and disparaging remarks about his deceased mother, describing the post as deeply hurtful and an unacceptable crossing of boundaries.

The controversy was ignited by a post from a user identified as Ademola Ogudu, who made derogatory claims about Okoyes late mother, alleging that she had bitterly opposed his brothers marriage to a Yoruba woman and attributing her death to what the user described as ethnic hatred. The post drew immediate and widespread condemnation online.

Okoye responded swiftly and forcefully, demanding that the post be removed and a public apology issued without delay, warning that failure to comply would result in legal proceedings being initiated against the individual.

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He wrote, This post about my late mother is unacceptable and deeply hurtful. Youve crossed the line. Take it down and apologise immediately, or I will take legal action. This madness on social media must stop,

Beyond his personal grievance, Okoye used the incident to draw attention to what he described as a troubling and escalating trend of vile and offensive content on social media platforms, calling for greater accountability and consequences for those who weaponise online spaces to attack the memories of the deceased and inflict pain on their families.

The post has since sparked broad public debate, with many Nigerians rallying behind Okoye and condemning the original remark as distasteful and ethnically charged.
United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark military ultimatum to Iran, threatening to destroy the countrys energy infrastructure unless the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened to international shipping within 48 hours.

The warning, which represents a dramatic escalation in hostilities, comes as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran enters its fourth week, with the Persian Gulf waterway  a critical artery for global oil supply  remaining effectively closed after Tehran declared it would deny passage to vessels it deemed hostile.

In a characteristic statement, Trump left little ambiguity about the consequences of non-compliance. If Iran doesnt FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST, he declared.

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While the President stopped short of identifying specific facilities that could face strikes, he made clear that the United States was prepared to act swiftly and decisively, with the largest power installation in Iran first in line for targeting.

Irans decision to block access to the strait  one of the worlds most strategically significant shipping lanes, through which a significant portion of global crude oil passes  has already sent shockwaves through international energy markets, driving oil prices sharply higher and stoking broader financial instability across global markets.

It remained unclear at press time whether Tehran had responded formally to the ultimatum or signalled any willingness to restore navigation through the disputed waterway.
The United States has deployed multiple MQ-9 drones alongside around 200 troops to Nigeria to provide intelligence and training support to the Nigerian military in its ongoing fight against insurgents across the northern region.

The operation is strictly focused on surveillance and advisory support, with no US personnel embedded in frontline units and no drone airstrikes being conducted.

The U.S. military has multiple MQ-9 drones operating in Nigeria alongside 200 troops to provide training and intelligence support to the military, U.S. and Nigerian officials told Reuters.

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According to Reuters on Saturday, the deployment was requested by Nigerian authorities to help identify, track, and respond to terrorist threats in the region.

We see this as a shared security threat, a U.S. defence official told Reuters, underscoring that the mission is limited to intelligence collection and advisory support.

Major General Samaila Uba, director of defence information at Nigerias Defence Headquarters, confirmed that U.S. forces are operating from Bauchi airfield in the northeast.

This support builds on the newly established U.S.-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell, which continues to deliver actionable intelligence to our field commanders. Our U.S. partners remain in a strictly non-combat role, enabling operations led by Nigerian authorities, he said.

The MQ-9 drones, sometimes called Reaper drones, are capable of loitering at high altitude for more than 27 hours and can perform both intelligence gathering and strike missions.

The US and Nigerian officials clarified that the aircraft currently in Nigeria are being used exclusively for surveillance. Our US forces are helping Nigeria identify, track and respond to terrorist threats, Uba said, without elaborating on specific operations.

The deployment comes amid escalating violence in Nigerias northeast and northwest. On March 16, suicide bombers attacked a garrison town in the northeast, underscoring the continued threat from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

We continue to assess that these organisations will seek opportunistic targets and may attempt to demonstrate relevance through high-visibility attacks, Uba said.

The Nigerian military said the duration of the current U.S. deployment will be determined in agreement with its American partners. The mission underscores an intensifying focus on intelligence-sharing and capacity-building in response to evolving insurgent threats across northern Nigeria.

The United States deployment follows American airstrikes on Christmas Day, ordered under President Donald Trump, targeting ISIS-linked terrorist elements in northwest Nigeria. The Federal Government confirmed that the strikes were part of a coordinated security partnership with international allies aimed at combating terrorism and violent extremism.
The University of Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra practices at Irvine Auditorium on Friday evening. The orchestra, founded in 1878, is older than the Philadelphia Orchestra. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

Adee Sonnino, 21, a freshman international relations major, arrived at the University of Pennsylvanias Irvine Auditorium early Friday evening.

Joining her were Quinn Haverstick, 22, a doctoral student in electrical and systems engineering, who had spent his day in a lab working on quantum dot synthesis and Michael Huang, a senior finance and economics major. There were dozens of others, too, from disciplines across the Ivy League university, even a Wharton professor.

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They grabbed their instruments and took the stage.

The group of 114 musicians comprises the Penn Symphony Orchestra. Founded in 1878, its even older than the Philadelphia Orchestra, whose archives Penn acquired in 2022.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia Orchestra donates its entire archive to Penn

And very few of the musicians are actually music majors, which Michael Ketner, Penn music departments director of performance, said is not unusual. There are only about 20 music majors at Penn.

One of the real strengths of these programs is the students who are part of them are from all these other schools and departments, Ketner said. We are lucky enough that many of them could have chosen to go to a conservatory or school of music and they have taken a different academic approach. They came here and we benefit, and hopefully they do, too.

One of 11 ensembles at Penn, the orchestra on Saturday performed one of two concerts it is offering this semester. It featured the central movement and Love Song movement of Austrian composer Gustav Mahlers Symphony No. 5, Hector Berliozs Roman Carnival overture, and other works. The performance was free and open to the public.

In its culminating performance next month, the orchestra  which does work from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries  will perform the entire Mahler symphony.

Great solos, everyone, Thomas Hong, orchestra conductor and artistic director, told the musicians during practice.

Students stamped their feet  a musicians applause.

The orchestra has grown in recent years, said Hong, who previously worked at the Pittsburgh, Dallas, and Seattle symphony orchestras before returning to Philadelphia, where his wife is a violinist for Philadelphias orchestra. Penn had about 60 members when he started in 2014, Hong said, and that has almost doubled.

The majority of performers are undergraduates, many having grown up playing in youth orchestras or other musical groups. About 10% are graduate students, alumni, professors, and even high school students, Hong said.

Sydney Vance, 16, of Lower Gwynedd, plays the timpani, a percussion instrument. She is a home-schooled high school student who met Hong at the Philadelphia International Music Festival when she was 11 and they stayed in contact. He invited her to join the orchestra last year when he needed more percussionists, she said.

Vance, who takes one Penn class per semester as part of its Young Scholars program, is one of few orchestra members who does want to pursue music as a career. She plans to attend a music conservatory with the goal of playing for an orchestra.

Student performers say the orchestra allows them to continue their musical passion and provides a welcome outlet from demanding studies.

Its sort of an escape from a lot of the work Im doing in classes or the lab, said Haverstick, the engineering doctoral student who plays oboe.

The orchestra, which practices several hours twice a week, requires the use of another part of the brain, Haverstick said.

Huang, the finance student, agreed.

Being in the finance and business community at Penn is very intense, he said. People are often worried about finding jobs, finding internships. Having space in the week where you can just step out of that and enjoy the music that you like to play, its very rewarding.

Other colleges have similar orchestras, Hong said. Penn pointed to orchestras at Harvard, Yale, and Cornell when deciding to start one nearly 150 years ago.

Our students have, without doubt, as much musical ability and education as the students of these colleges, and besides this have advantages given to them which are rarely given to any college, according to an 1877 edition of Penns University Magazine. Our university is situated in a city known for its fine musicians and keen appreciation of good, and hatred of bad music.

The first orchestra was organized in the spring of 1877, at first combining its concerts with the glee club, according to Jim Duffin, assistant university archivist. Its first annual concert was held in January 1878 in the chapel, now Room 200 of College Hall, he said.

Some orchestra members have continued to play for decades. Nancy Drye, who worked in Penns music department, started in 1973, only leaving a few years ago because of arthritis.

The group has gotten really, really good over the years, said Drye, a viola player. I hope Penn realizes how fortunate they are to have someone of [Hongs] caliber conducting this group.

Students said they admire Hongs passion for the work.

Its just really great to see him on the podium, Haverstick said. Its very clear that he loves the job ... and he really cares about the music and cares that were getting the most out of our experience.

Orchestra members say theyve made great friends, too.

Its really good to have an outlet and have friends outside of engineering, said Phoebe Vallapureddy, 22, a senior viola player from Doylestown, who is majoring in chemical and biomolecular engineering. We do a lot of social events outside of orchestra.

Barry Slaff, 37, a doctoral student in computer science, said he used to play in the orchestra in 2007-08 when he was a Penn undergraduate. The trombone player decided to rejoin when Hong told him the group would play Mahler this year.

Sonnino, who was born in Princeton but has lived in Israel most of her life, said playing the flute as part of the orchestra gives her a euphoria thats hard to describe.

Everyone in this orchestra really does have music in some place in their heart, Huang said. It means a lot to them and thats why were all here.
Listen to article  0:00 min

The Ben Franklin Bridge will close to car traffic on July 11 for its 100th anniversary celebration, the Delaware River Port Authority has announced.

The closure will allow for pedestrian access of the bridge, the port authority said. The exact timing of the closure has not yet been announced.

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Mike Williams, a spokesperson for the authority, said the event is expected to last for several hours.

Visitors will be able to participate in the celebration of the span that connects Philadelphia and Camden, including live music, performances, food trucks, and carnival rides, according to the port authoritys website. There also will be a pop-up museum and exhibits with bridge artifacts, the authority said. The celebration will occur on the Camden side of the bridge near the toll plaza.

Its not the first time the bridge has been closed for an event. It also shut for the 75th anniversary in 2001 and for about two and a half days during Pope Francis visit in 2015.

It wont be convenient for everyone. More than 34 million vehicles cross the bridge annually  on average 94,000 vehicles per day  and it comes during the height of the Jersey Shore season. While the closure is scheduled for a Saturday, the rain date is Sunday, July 12.

Opening in 1926, the 1.8-mile span originally was called the Delaware River Bridge and at one time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.

The Ben Franklin Bridge is more than just a crossing; it is a symbol of connection between our communities, John T. Hanson, DRPA CEO said in a news release. For 100 years, it has supported the movement of people and goods across the Delaware River, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with the public.
Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, seen during Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's budget address on March 12, 2026. Winning bidders at property auctions say they are still having problems obtaining deeds from Bilal's office, months after paying. Read more

Listen to article  0:00 min

Sheriff sales are not supposed to be this complicated.

The property goes to auction. The proceeds of the sale are used to pay back taxes and utility bills. Then the deed is transferred to the new owner.

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After more than five years in office, Sheriff Rochelle Bilal has yet to master this basic function.

On Monday, a debt-acquisition firm filed a motion for sanctions against the Philadelphia Sheriffs Office in Common Pleas Court, claiming that it bought a property at auction in May 2024 and has yet to receive the deed.

For approximately two years since the sheriffs sale, plaintiff is still paying ongoing taxes and preservation costs to protect the property without the benefit of legally possessing the property, reads the complaint filed by Amos Financial L.L.C., based in Illinois.

On Tuesday, another firm sued the sheriffs office, saying that it paid nearly $1 million for eight properties between December 2025 and early last month, but that Bilals staff has ignored repeated requests to even begin the process of transferring ownership.

This problem is unique to Philadelphia, wrote attorney Daniel Bernheim, who is representing New Jersey-based JSB Property Group, and it is an embarrassment.

The sheriffs office and the citys law department declined to comment Friday on the latest court filings or the ongoing sheriff sales problems, which have dogged Bilal for years.

Bilal, who was elected in 2019 and is now halfway into her second four-year term, has previously insisted this issue has been resolved, pointing to millions of dollars spent on software upgrades. Yet many buyers say they have seen little change.

The Inquirer first reported in July 2024 on widespread delays in recording deeds following mortgage or tax foreclosures. It is supposed to take 70 days to record the deeds under the state rules of civil procedure, but under Bilal, some buyers have waited a year or longer, leaving often vacant and tax-delinquent properties in limbo.

Its like a Seinfeld episode, said a real estate agent who in the spring of 2024 had resorted to visiting Bilals office in futile attempts to obtain a deed.

A debacle, said utility worker Dave Brown that summer, as he waited for a deed to a rowhouse he had bought in November 2023 as a first-time renovation project.

I feel like Ive been robbed, said a woman who purchased an investment property with her husband in March 2024 and was still waiting for a deed that November.

The Inquirers analysis in 2024 found that in February and March of that year, the sheriffs office had submitted just 29 deeds for recording, nearly all of which corresponded to auctions that took place 200 to 300 days prior.

Without a deed, the new owners cannot access properties to renovate, rent, or demolish them. Realtors cannot list them for resale. Trash accumulates. Weather takes a toll. Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections violations pile up.

After initially denying any significant delays, Bilal acknowledged in July 2024 that there was a problem and said her office would conduct an audit.

Once completed, Bilal spokesperson Teresa Lundy said in a statement that month, the result of the audit and our updated policy will be made public.

In September 2025, Lundy said in an email that the primary causes of these delays have been identified and corrected. She declined to reveal what the audit found or provide other details.

We are working diligently and collaboratively with the City Law Department, law firms, buyers, and constituents to ensure timely deed recording and consistent updates, she wrote.

In 2023, the office entered into a 10-year, $7.5 million software contract with Tyler Technologies, which Bilal said would make the sheriff sale process faster and more efficient.

Yet the office has shown only a marginal increase in deed processing.

Between January and March 2025, the city recorded 180 deeds related to sheriff sales. This year, during that same time period, the city recorded 185 sheriff sale deeds.

The office still lists many more properties for sale than it processes in a given month. As a result, it is unlikely to eliminate its backlog of properties that have been sold at auction but not yet deeded to their new owners.

Roughly 440 properties are currently slated to be sold at a single April mortgage foreclosure sale, more than double the number of deeds the office has submitted all year.

In the motion for sanctions filed Monday by Amos Financial, the firm wrote: After 14 months and 26 requests, the Sheriff failed to provide its post-sale cost sheet, let alone prepare a deed.

Departmental e-mails obtained by The Inquirer through a Right-to-Know request last year show a string of lawyers for banks and other buyers complaining to the office about chronic delays in deed processing in excess of six months.

Attorneys in 10 sheriff sale cases that year filed for legal sanctions in court, citing processing delays or lack of communication from the sheriffs office. In another email exchange from last May, an attorney at the LOGS Legal Group inquired about the status of 27 sheriff sale properties.

I continually see emails from my office to yours that go without any response, let alone a justifiable explanation for some of the extended delays we are experiencing, LOGS attorney Samantha Gable wrote. My clients are getting increasingly frustrated with the wait times as closings and deadlines have been completely missed, and have now requested that we visit your office IN PERSON on a regular basis to obtain these documents.

Records show the sheriffs office eventually resolved those issues and avoided sanctions after senior administrators at the office intervened to move the sales along.

Buyers who do not hire a lawyer have had less luck getting deeds to their new properties.

Bernheim, who sued Bilal last week on behalf of JSB Property Group, said he had to threaten to depose Bilal in 2024 before her office would hand over the deed to a previous client.

Bernheim, who also serves as a Lower Merion Township commissioner, said he has since been contacted by about 20 lenders, mortgage industry specialists, attorneys, and others who have been unable to get their deeds.

He has offered to arrange a meeting with industry specialists to help streamline the process in the sheriffs office, he said, but he has been rebuffed by city officials.

No one has explained it to me, Bernheim said of the delays. Whats the problem?
TEHRAN, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Iran's army said Sunday that its air defenses had targeted an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet in the country's southern airspace.

In a statement posted on its website, the army said the invading aircraft was tracked and engaged by a surface-to-air missile as it flew over southern coastal areas near Hormuz Island earlier in the day. It said an investigation was underway to determine the aircraft's fate.

On Saturday, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had struck an Israeli F-16 fighter jet in central Iranian airspace earlier in the day.

The IRGC added that Iran's armed forces had tracked and intercepted more than 200 hostile aerial targets, including drones, cruise missiles, tanker aircraft, and advanced fighter jets, since the start of the conflict with the United States and Israel late last month.

It also said Iranian forces had struck two other aircraft, a U.S. F-35 and a U.S. F-15E, in Iranian airspace since the conflict began.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel as well as U.S. bases and assets across the Middle East. 
Clodagh Cronin has literally stepped off a flight from Paris when we talk. Shes just wrapped six days, and 22 back to back appointments, with some of the worlds most prestigious fashion houses, curating her autumn/winter collection for Samui.

A decade ago, I shadowed Cronin on one of these buying trips, and observed her assemble her edit at the illustrious Dries Van Noten.

I tell her I can visualise her traversing the Parisian streets, phone in hand, arm outstretched, following directions on Google maps to the next appointment. She laughs at the memory. Its still as busy, she says, though technology  apps like online wholesale platform Joor  have eased the practicalities of the buying process. No version of AI, however, can match Cronins unique skill: Her innate eye for fashion.

Its the reason Samui, the boutique that put Cork on the style map, is about to mark its 25th anniversary.

Under Cronins eye, its withstood a crippling recession, and a global pandemic.

Cronin is in a reflective state of mind as the milestone approaches  she celebrates the occasion today at an all-day, in-store customer event.

From shab to chic

She recalls the very first day she opened, on Drawbridge Street. Today its a busy throughoughfare, home to coffee shops, large retail chains, a bustling lane that links St Patricks Street and Emmet Place. Some 25 years ago, it was a very different story.

Drawbridge Street, it was derelict. It was full of old houses with net falling off the curtains, she recalls.

In 2001, Samui was just seconds from St Patricks Street, but it might as well have been miles away.

Cronin had taken a gamble with this new business. She had just left Cork boutique Monica John after 18 years, but even with all that experience, she had never attended an International Fashion Week.

Clodagh Cronin from Samui

She learned fast and on the job, but her first real coup was securing Moncler  the design house came to Cork to view Samui to see if it was the right fit for their esteemed label. Today it is sold exclusively in Ireland only at Brown Thomas and Samui. The big names, the esteemed brands, kept coming: Sacai, Rick Owens, Dries, Simone Rocha.

Now labels are often vying for space on her shop floor. Still though, it takes work to secure exclusive new names.

Cronin spends vast amounts of the year on planes, networking, meeting the key players. And its not as simple as a visit to Fashion Week twice a year either.

These days, pre-collections are key, alongside individual viewings with key labels.

Private bookings with design teams at Fashion Week allow her to get up close and personal with the clothes that have just been showcased on catwalks to decide which pieces will best suit her customers.

Control and Curation

Cronin is constantly pushing for new, striving to do better. Not bigger, just better.

Theres no drive to extend the store, or move to Dublin  Im too much of a control freak, she laughs. Curation is key. She wants the perfect collection for her customer.

I bring her back again to the Dries showroom, where she chose pieces for specific customers  it was the ultimate in personal shopping. There is so much trust that some clients are simply sent collections each season, allowing Cronin to make the call for them.

The number of items and sizes are limited, so customers know they are truly getting one-off pieces.

Clodagh Cronin from Samui

You have to make it interesting every season, she says, describing her clients as savvy, discernible women. I want it to be amazing. Next seasons got to be better, and the following season has got to be even better again.

She is, she admits, her own competition: I spend my time chasing myself, trying to better myself.

Throughout our conversation, Cronin keeps referring to her close team of five, crediting them for the boutiques runaway success. Samui, she keeps stressing, is very much a team effort.

Finding the silver lining

The economic crash and the pandemic destroyed many businesses, but they became powerful business opportunities for Cronin.

In 2007, business was so strong she extended her boutique to the first floor. And then, the crash brought the economy to its knees.

The lights simply went out, Cronin says, recalling those fraught years.

But as businesses spluttered around her, Cronin very masterfully decided to aim high, to make Samui even more exclusive.

It was a gamble, she admits in hindsight, but I just felt I needed to be different to everybody else.

Clodagh Cronin from Samui

There were so many closing around me, and everybody was looking for mid-price point. And I just thought there was always a customer there who wanted something exclusive. Even if it was to buy one piece and to have a good piece.

It was a gut feeling, she remembers, and she followed it. It was one of the few boutiques in Cork to not just survive the downturn but to positively thrive.

Fashion locked down

On our Paris trip in 2017, we discussed the downturn as if it would be Cronins main career hurdle. We had no idea that a global pandemic was just a few short years away.

A challenge for so many industries, it was another unexpected boon for Samui.

Clodagh Cronin from Samui

People were baking banana bread and it was this time of year and we had a storeroom full of stock, Cronin recalls.

So one day she joined the team in store and they showcased their brands on Instagram: I opened a box and we would put it up on Stories and people were just ringing, and I was back and forth to the post office.

The warm coats were snapped up during bouts of outdoor dining, with the Anine Bing sweatsuits selling out in the boom athleisure days.

Remaining ever-adaptive

Cronin has never looked back. Her business model was changed forever.

Instagram has increased our audience massively. We have to feed it every day but clients can watch us from Dublin or from anywhere in the country. Before you could be going to work on a Saturday morning and wonder, is there a rugby match on, what can impact us, but not anymore. Clients can just ring, and its done over the phone, she says.

Cronin watches the latest trends keenly, pouring over the social media feeds of international boutiques to find the next big name in fashion. But Samui never has been, and never will be, a slave to trends.

Instagram makes it easier to see whats happening, she says. I follow a lot of other stores, I spend my time looking at brands. Yes, the trends are there but above all else, it has to be accessible to the Irish woman.

Next on the priority list is an overhaul of Samuis website. In the meantime, there are new labels arriving for spring/summer 2026  premium cashmere from Frenckenberger, founded by two former employees of Rick Owens; and Haikure, an Italian denim brand centred on sustainability and contemporary design.

Our conversation over, Cronin turns her attention again to Fashion Week. The following morning shell place her orders for autumn/winter 26  securing Corks position once more on the international fashion map.
For an island nation, we have a curiously detached relationship with our superb Irish fish and seafood. Our consumption is not only markedly lower than other European nations, but almost 20% of Irish people spurn entirely one of natures finest foodstuffs. BIM are addressing that pattern, with four independent Irish fishmongers recently securing the prestigious accolade of master fishmonger, at a ceremony in Londons storied Fishmongers Hall.

The annual Irish domestic seafood market is 524m, says Paul Ward, BIM manager of business intelligence, about 175 in the food service sector, but retail is mainly in the multiples; the smallest portion is the independent fishmongers. Over the last decade, while the value of sales increased, the volume of retail sales has decreased and weve seen a drop in households purchasing seafood.

We have limited scope with the multiples, so we thought we could support the independent mongers to be advocates for seafood.

The master fishmonger candidates were nominated through BIMs Seafood Academy and were required to demonstrate excellence in their craft  including advanced knife skills, product expertise, responsible sourcing, sustainability practices, and outstanding customer service. They are the first master fishmongers in Ireland.

My dad started as a bicycle messenger in Flanagans, the biggest fish shop in Waterford, aged 13, says Liam Burke, of Billy Burke Fish & Poultry, and opened his own place when he was 24, nearly 50 years ago. I started when I was old enough to handle a knife.

Liam Burke of Billy Burke Fish and Poultry, Ballybricken, Waterford City holding a monkfish. Picture: Patrick Browne

When I left school at 16, I went to work in a butchers shop and had better knife skills than the old men in there. I was cock of the walk, thought I was destined for better things.

I got an interview with an engineering firm and the man said, Id give you a job in the morning but, one, your father would kill me and, two, me mother would never again get a decent bit of fish

So I started working full-time with me Dad. I was already working for BIM to train people and doing stuff in [South East Technological University] but the accreditation was on my bucket list, for the prestige of getting as high as I can.

Liam Burke of Billy Burke Fish and Poultry, Ballybricken, Waterford City. Picture: Patrick Browne

Stefan Griesbach owns Gannet Fishmongers in Galway, which carries the widest range of fish and seafood in the country.

Parisian-born Stefan studied aquaculture, arriving in Ireland in 1997 to work on a salmon farm before setting up Gannet Fishmongers in 2004.

Master fishmonger Stefan Griesbach (right)

It was more an ego thing than anything else, he said. Im going to sound pompous and being French about it, but in France everyone working in a fish shop would be a master fishmonger, constantly training. Traditionally, the French consumer would have been more open to fish.

Much of our traditional antipathy to fish dates back to memories of over-cooked and less-than-fresh fish during Lent or on meat-free fasting Fridays. However, deeply entrenched prejudices seem finally to be withering  helped along by the evolution of Irish hospitality, including a growing coterie of seafood restaurants, such as Corks multi-award winning Goldie. In addition, the success of the Wild Atlantic Way has seen coastal restaurants supported by Failte Ireland in developing their own fish and seafood offerings.

Dubliner John Cleary began behind the fish/deli counter in Quinnsworth, aged 16, eventually managing multiple departments. A self-described blow-in who moved to Cork for a woman, he has worked for Keohanes for 14 years and runs their Cork City outlet. He is also chairperson of the Independent Fishmongers group.

John Cleary of Keohane Seafoods, Cork. John Cleary, one of the first Master Fish Mongers in Ireland displaying a 7-8 kilo Kingfisher at the Keoghans Seafood Shop near the Kinsale Rd roundabout in Cork. Picture by Noel Sweeney

When I was growing up, it was almost a punishment, but now its a pleasure and sustainable, especially wild fish, healthy and very tasty, he says. And theres always something new to surprise you  were trying out more exotic fish, mahi mahi, kingfish.

The cultural melting pot

It used to be Ash Wednesday and Good Friday were the big days, says Billy, but it is a completely different ball game now. I get a boost out of Valentines, the Chinese New Year, Ramadan  its so multicultural and I love all that.

Daniel Hayes, of Wrights of Howth, was born in Howth.

Its a big fishing town, says Daniel, pretty much everyone ends up here, down on the pier or on the boats. After I left school, a friend who worked in Wrights got me a job for Christmas that was supposed to be for two weeks  10 years on and the rest is history.

Im the main filleter, Id come in at 7am, and, if theres no filleting in the factory, Ill set up the fish counter or work in the smoke room because we ship a lot of smoked salmon across the world. The best thing about my work is the customers, most have my phone number, everyone knows each other in Howth.

Alan Mitchell of Als Fish Shop, in Portalington, Co Laois, achieved advanced fishmonger accreditation, a grade below but impressive for a relative newcomer from a county with zero coastline.

Fish never came across my radar when I was younger, says Alan. Im from a family of butchers. I ended up in hospital for two months and was watching daytime cookery shows, it was all fish. I was thinking I could incorporate fish into the butchers. I rang a fish company and asked if theyd sell to me. They said yes and then I said, would you be interested in teaching me, because I had no idea about fish or species.

Alan also worked with other fishmongers, including Cusacks, in Limericks Milk Market: Paul Cusack was like the Willie Wonka of fish and a great mentor. Im from the Midlands, Id have seen a supermarket fish counter in a small town, cod, salmon, whiting, and that was it. He had an amazing selection.

The New Irish, those from around the world who have chosen to make Ireland their new home have had a big impact on the local retail market.

We sell to local restaurants but 70-75% is the shop, says Billy, and once we can get the proper wild product, there is such an eclectic range of customers: Indians, Asians, Chinese, Eastern Europeans. But half our customers would be Irish, families going back generations  theyll ring me on a Thursday to get something on a Saturday or Sunday.

We have a nice Thai community who like whole fish, says Alan, Indians, Poles, Ukrainians, Filipinos, they all love fish. Portarlington is a nice, big melting pot, a helluva lot better than it was 10 years ago.

Fishmonger Alan Mitchell (right)receiving his BIM Master Fishmonger award

Our typical customers are everyone, says John, because we share the unit with a butchers, a fruit and veg market, and a very popular deli that took off on TikTok about a year ago, and were getting some of that new young crowd who are learning how easy it is to cook fish.

Some Irish customers are knowledgeable and more open but most are more traditional, says Stefan, more interested in fish, a small bit of seafood; salmon, cod, hake, fish mix, maybe a few scallops or peeled prawns as a treat. But all consumers are dumbing down. In France, Spain, farmed salmon is everywhere because people dont know how to cook fish anymore but if you overcook salmon, it will taste OK because it is a fatty fish.

Ironically, even as these independent fishmongers enhance their qualifications to increase sales, it is becoming harder to source the most prized product of all: Wild Irish fish.

Our most popular fish is farmed salmon from Norway or Ireland, says Daniel, and [imported] tiger prawns, Turkish farmed seabass, Atlantic farmed plaice. The most popular wild Irish fish would be cod or monkfish, haddock and hake but its getting more expensive.

Master Fishmonger Daniel Hayes of Wright's of Howth (right)

I hate saying it but our biggest seller is farmed salmon, says Alan.

I love selling wild cod and hake, but its hard to get good Irish product  I just have hake and monkfish today. Everything else is either from Norway, Spain.

60% of what we sell is salmon but I refuse to sell farmed plaice, says Billy.

It looks beautiful vac-packed in the box, take off the plastic and after an hour the colour changes. Id be ashamed to charge for it. Wild fish is best: Turbot, John Dory, black sole, brill, squid, cuttlefish, octopus, red mullet, gurnard, scallops, ray.

Were 49 years selling fish, but last year was the first year since we started that I didnt get a local mackerel off a local boat.

The Irish fishing market

In addition, consumer conservatism means we are neglecting many premium wild Irish alternatives.

A lot of different species are caught in Ireland, says Stefan, and they cant find a market so are discarded or exported: cuttlefish, Irish octopus. People give out about price but wont look at whiting, ling, ray, fish theyd have eaten in their youth. My customers like niche fish: Brill, wrasse, ray, rock salmon, pollock, mullet, red mullet, bluemouth, blue ling. They love black scabbard, landed once or twice a year in Donegal. Irish bluefin tuna, we sold a lot last week.

In Ireland, canned fish is student-poverty food; in southern Europe, entire restaurants are devoted solely to premium canned fish. Stefan has not only pioneered online fish sales in Ireland but sells canned fish and seafood.

The decline in business motivated me to sell online. Its now 50% online and 50% retail, Stefan says.

Tinned sales are going up. Initially there was resistance but I explain the huge difference between supermarket tins and the premium Gannet range. All natural ingredients, no additives or preservatives. I couldnt sell caviar, two, three years ago; it is now one of my top 20 products. What I do is very different from Irish fishmongers but in France I would be just like every other fishmongers.

However, the elephant in the room is the ongoing decimation of the Irish fleet  over 50% lost in the last 20 years  and slashed Irish fishing quotas.

You can see the decline is quite obvious, says Daniel, its not nice to think about. The way its looking, its hard to imagine therell be many independent fishmongers in 10 or 20 years, and the only complaints wed get is that the price is not what it used to be.

If I could see a future for any of my kids, says Stefan, Id welcome them with open arms but the business is fucked, from one bad week every couple of months to one good week, two bad, one average. For me, selling salmon, cod, hake is not selling fish  thats a supermarket.

I love it, I have a passion for it, says Alan, and I seem to be getting busier every week. You can worry about the future all you want but you cant change it, so I try to keep a positive attitude.

Its going to be really, really tough, says John, If we dont start looking after the independent fishmongers, were going to lose them. We need to support them and get wild Irish fish back on the counter where possible  or even farmed. We have a lot of good trout farms and we try to promote organic Irish salmon.

John Cleary of Keohane Seafoods, Cork. John Cleary, one of the first Master Fish Mongers in Ireland at the Keoghans Seafood Shop near the Kinsale roundabout in Cork. Picture by Noel Sweeney

I dont see any future, says Billy, I wouldnt put my son into it.

The Irish seafood sector is a complex story, says Paul Ward, and there are 1,001 challenges and many different factors. And we have to be realistic. Yes, the minister will go to Brussels to advocate for Irish fishing but were not going to increase the quota. For BIM, its about how we can capture as much value as possible from the quota we have and we are working with the fishmongers on how they can best promote their own offerings and skills.
A woman in her 20s in a critical condition in hospital following a serious assault that took place in Co Tipperary on Saturday.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which occurred on the R494 at Birdhill at approximately 5.30pm.
Attacks on Ukrainian healthcare centres and hospitals by Russian forces have increased in frequency and intensity, which makes medical aid delivered from Ireland all the more crucial.

Ukrainians have praised the generosity of Irish donors but have also noticed an "ebb and flow of support as the war moves into its fifth year and attentions has turned to other global conflicts.

The World Health Organization warned that attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine increased by 20% last year, saying hospitals and clinics are now "routinely attacked.

Irish volunteer Stephen Sammy Byrne has been part of regular medical aid deliveries to Ukraine since 2022, as the founder of the not-for-profit foundation, the Peace Bridge Foundation.

People are suffering incredibly in Ukraine," said Mr Byrne.

"A big takeaway for me, the last time I was there, was seeing that all the golden wheatfields are now just weeds.

You can see a lot of the farming and food supply has been badly disrupted. Its because all of the young boys are on the frontline or in the graveyard. Its sad, very tough.

Every graveyard we went into has doubled in size in a year.

Finola Byrne, supervises the loading of medical equipment and vehicles brought to Ukraine earlier this week via the Peace Bridge. Picture: Garry O'Neill

Despite this, Mr Byrne said Ukrainians remain defiant.

"Thats one thing you see, the resilience is incredible.

Last September, the Irish volunteer group drove over with 1m of medical supplies, including 20 mobile ultrasounds as well as 10 4x4 vehicles, two ambulances, and a mobile kitchen.

They partner with Jeeps for Peace to ensure donations go where they are needed.

Some of the consignment of medical supplies went to a disability centre, while other equipment was delivered to an amputee rehabilitation centre.

On the latest trip last week, there was a special request from a frontline chaplain for more off-road vehicles. Mr Byrne said:

The 4x4s are used to take injured soldiers off the battlefield very quickly.

They try to out-run the drones. The Jeeps are just getting blown up at a rapid rate, so were bringing over four of them. And we got a request for a refrigerated van so they can collect the bodies and return them to their families with a bit of dignity.

On average, each donated 4x4 lasts around 90 days before it is blown up or damaged beyond repair.

Irish companies in the medical-technology and catering sectors have been key supporters of the Peace Bridge charity

Were community-to-community, helping ordinary people. We rely on the wonderful generosity of ordinary people and businesses here, he said.

Its outrageous our own government is so badly broken they cant figure out how to get supplies to people, supplies they might be throwing out here.

Donations have been steady since 2022, but Mr Byrne said: There is some fatigue. Some people are generous once, twice maybe, but you cant keep going back to the same people."

This week, the charity took part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Greystones to raise awareness of their work.

We had an ask for 600 crutches, that just shows you the depth of suffering and injury thats taking place. Every crutch means someone can walk a bit better or allow them have some form of a life, he said.

Ukrainian Action in Ireland

In 2022, Ukrainian Action in Ireland was formed to help refugees here, but over time, this has also evolved into arranging medical aid for Ukraine.

It recently shipped two more ambulances following a fundraising drive.

Anatoliy Prymakov, director of the charitys board, estimated they have sent over 50 ambulances to Ukraine as well as over 130 4x4s and other supplies.

This takes time to put together, he said.

If youre looking for 10 used ambulances, you cant just walk into a shop and say, hey Ill take 10'.

"You have to source them, make sure theyre in good condition and agree a price. The same with the pick-up trucks.

Its partner, the Gurtom Foundation, manages distribution of the aid in Ukraine.

In one illustration of the challenges, the charity lost a truckload of Irish humanitarian aid and its warehouse in the Kyiv region last year; destroyed in a Russian drone attack.

The first ambulance we ever bought got blown up in a week, but it saved five people in that time, he said.

So can you put a price on that? The aid does make a difference but it might not make a help for a long time.

"If it saves one life, then thats mission accomplished because thats what ambulances are for. Unfortunately thats the nature of war.

The charity also sends pick-up trucks for paramedics, saying roads are often impassable for ambulances due to years of bombing.

Stephen Byrne, Founder of the Peace Bridge with David Clerkin, who is delivering four 4x4s, medical supplies, and a refrigerated truck to three centres in Ukraine this week. Picture: Garry O'Neill

It also responds to power outages which leave hospitals without electricity.

We donate power generators and power banks, he said.

This winter Russia really stepped up attacking the electricity plants across Ukraine.

The power outages are a crisis for patients, including diabetics storing medicines in their homes.

They will go to the hospital or medical centre because it will have a fridge to store the insulin, so if that goes out of action as well theyre in a lot of trouble, he said.

The charity, based in Dublin, in run by volunteers.

We have partners down in Cork, we try to work with anybody really who would like to work with Ukrainians.

He feels the personal connection many Irish people now have with Ukraine through meeting refugees or opening up their homes helps to keep the support going.

There is goodwill but it ebbs and flows, he said.

Some want to help Ukraine, some know somebody, some hear a touching story. Whats key is the personal connection.

There is a lot of goodwill in the communities, but theres just so many crises around everywhere now, its hard maybe for people to see where they can make a difference.

Last year, the HSE donated a container with 299 items of medical equipment to Ukraine. This includes monitors, ultrasound equipment, scopes, and hospital trolleys. The overall value was 471,800.

This was sent as part of an ongoing agreement with Gurtom Charity Ukraine on behalf of the Ukrainian health ministry.

The HSE also funded the University College Dublin's Ukraine Trauma Project, which offers advanced training to civilians, military medical personnel, or paramedic staff in Ukraine.

In 2024, it supported training of 286 emergency medical personnel in Kyiv.
President Donald Trump warned the US will obliterate Iranianpower plants if it does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

His statement came hours after Iranian missiles struck two communities in southern Israel late on Saturday, leaving buildings shattered and dozens injured in dual attacks not far from Israels main nuclear research centre.

The developments signalled the war was moving in a dangerous new direction at the start of its fourth week.

Mr Trump  who is facing increasing pressure at home to secure the Strait as oil prices soar  issued the ultimatum in a social media post while he spent the weekend at his Florida home.

Mr Trump said he is giving Iran 48 hours to open the vital waterway or face a new round of attacks. He said the US would destroy various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!

The Iranian strikes in Israel came after Tehrans main nuclear enrichment site at Natanz was hit earlier in the day.

Israels military said it was not able to intercept missiles that hit the southern cities of Dimona and Arad, the largest near the centre in Israels sparsely populated Negev desert. It was the first time Iranian missiles penetrated Israels air defence systems in the area around the nuclear site.

If the Israeli regime is unable to intercept missiles in the heavily protected Dimona area, it is, operationally, a sign of entering a new phase of the battle, Irans parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on X before word of the Arad strike spread.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said more emergency crews were being sent to the scene.

This is a very difficult evening, he said.

Rescue workers said the direct hit in Arad caused widespread damage across at least 10 apartment buildings, three of them badly damaged and in danger of collapsing. At least 64 people were taken to hospitals.

Dimona is about 12 miles west of the nuclear research centre and Arad is around 22 miles north.

Israel is believed to be the only Middle East nation with nuclear weapons, though its leaders refuse to confirm or deny their existence. The UN nuclear watchdog said on X it had not received reports of damage to the Israeli centre or abnormal radiation levels.

The war is not close to ending, Israels army chief, General Eyal Zamir, said earlier in the day.

Iran also targeted the joint UK-US Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean about 2,500 miles away, suggesting that Tehran has missiles that can go farther than previously acknowledged  or that it had used its space program for an improvised launch.

The US and Israel have offered shifting rationales for the war, from hoping to foment an uprising that topples Irans leadership to eliminating its nuclear and missile programs and its support for armed proxies.

There have been no signs of an uprising, while internet restrictions limit information from Iran.

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

The wars effects are felt far beyond the Middle East, raising food and fuel prices.

It is not clear how much damage Iran has sustained in the US and Israeli strikes that began February 28, or even who is truly in charge.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since being named to the role.

Israel earlier on Saturday denied responsibility for the strike on the Natanz nuclear facility, nearly 135 miles southeast of Tehran.

The Iranian judiciarys official news agency, Mizan, said there was no leakage.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the bulk of Irans estimated 970 pounds of enriched uranium is elsewhere, beneath the rubble at its Isfahan facility.

It said on X that it was looking into the strike.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the strike on Natanz, which was also hit in the first week of the war and in the 12-day war last June.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said such strikes posed a real risk of catastrophic disaster throughout the Middle East.
Iran and the allied Lebanese militant group Hezbollah stepped up attacks on Israel on Sunday as the US and Iran threatened to target critical infrastructure in the war in the Middle East, now in its fourth week.

Iran said the Strait of Hormuz, crucial to oil and other exports, would be completely closed immediately if America follows up on a threat from US President Donald Trump to attack its power plants.

Mr Trump late on Saturday set a 48-hour deadline to open the strait. Irans parliament speaker said Tehran would also retaliate against US and Israeli energy and wider infrastructure.

US President Donald Trump said if Iran did not open the strait, the US would destroy its power plants (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

Israeli leaders visited one of two southern communities near a secretive nuclear research site struck by Iranian missiles late on Saturday, with scores of people wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a miracle no-one was killed.

He also claimed that Israel and the US were well on their way to achieving their war goals and asked the world for more support.

The aims have ranged from weakening Irans nuclear programme, missile programme and support for armed proxies to enabling the Iranian people to overthrow the theocracy.

The developments signalled that the war, which the US and Israel launched on February 28, was moving in a dangerous new direction, despite Mr Trumps comment last week that he was considering winding down operations.

It has killed more than 2,000 people, rattled the global economy and sent oil prices surging.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an airstrike that killed a man in northern Israel, while Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called Israels targeting of bridges in the south a prelude to a ground invasion.

Iran has practically closed the Strait of Hormuz that connects the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world. Roughly one-fifth of global oil supply passes through it, but attacks on ships and threats of further strikes have stopped nearly all tanker traffic. Some of the largest oil producers have made cuts because their crude product has nowhere to go.

The US and its allies in Europe and Asia rely heavily on the oil to meet energy demand. In its most recent attempt to relieve pressure on energy prices, the US has lifted some sanctions on Iranian oil at sea.

Mr Trump said if Iran did not open the strait, the US would destroy its various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!

The US has argued that Irans Revolutionary Guard controls much of the countrys infrastructure and uses it to power the war effort.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf responded on X that if Irans power plants and infrastructure are targeted, then vital infrastructure across the region  including energy and desalination facilities  would be considered legitimate targets and irreversibly destroyed.

Under international law, power plants that benefit civilians can be targeted only if the military advantage outweighs the suffering it causes to civilians, legal scholars say.

People survey a site struck by an Iranian missile in Dimona, southern Israel, on Sunday (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Separately, Iranian officials said they would keep providing safe passage through the strait to vessels from countries other than its enemies.

Iran said its strikes in the Negev Desert late on Saturday were in retaliation for an earlier attack on Irans main nuclear enrichment site in Natanz, according to state-run media.

Tehran praised the attack as a show of strength, even as Israels military asserts that Iranian missile launches have gradually decreased in frequency since the war began.

If the Israeli regime is unable to intercept missiles in the heavily protected Dimona area, it is, operationally, a sign of entering a new phase of the battle, Mr Qalibaf said.

Southern Israels main hospital received at least 175 wounded from Arad and Dimona, its deputy director Roy Kessous told The Associated Press.

(PA Graphics)

Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, although it does not confirm or deny their existence.

The UN nuclear watchdog said on X it had not received reports of damage to the Israeli centre or abnormal radiation levels.

Israel denied responsibility for hitting Natanz on Saturday, while the Iranian judiciarys official news agency, Mizan, said there was no leakage. The Pentagon declined to comment on the strike.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the bulk of Irans estimated 972 pounds (441 kilograms) of enriched uranium is elsewhere, beneath the rubble at its Isfahan facility.

Iran said strikes hit a hospital in Andimeshk. Its health ministry said patients and doctors were evacuated to another city.

Irans death toll in the war has surpassed 1,500, state media reported on Saturday, citing the ministry.

In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian strikes. More than a dozen civilians in the occupied West Bank and Gulf Arab states have been killed in strikes.

A Qatari military helicopter crash on Saturday, blamed on a technical malfunction, killed all seven aboard, Qatari authorities said.

An Israeli civilian was killed in his car in the northern town of Misgav Am in what Israels military said appeared to be a rocket attack. Israeli authorities identified him as 61-year-old farmer Ofer Poshko Moskovitz.

Two days ago, Mr Moskovitz told a radio station that living near the Lebanese border was like Russian roulette.

Hezbollah launched strikes on Israel soon after the war began, calling it retaliation for the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel then targeted Hezbollah in deadly airstrikes and expanded its ground presence in southern Lebanon.

Residential buildings were heavily damaged by an Iranian missile strike in Arad, southern Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Israel expanded its target list on Sunday to include bridges over the Litani River that defence minister Israel Katz said Hezbollah was using to move fighters and weapons into the south.

Israel later struck the Qasmiyeh bridge near Tyre, giving an hours warning.

Destroying bridges further isolates residents from the rest of Lebanon.

Mr Katz also ordered the military to accelerate its destruction of Lebanese homes near the border.

Lebanese authorities say Israels strikes have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than one million.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel.
Performers from the Chinese contingent take part in a parade during the Cape Town Carnival 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

CAPE TOWN, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The annual Cape Town Carnival 2026 kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening, with Chinese cultural elements emerging as a highlight of the festivities.

Under the theme "Follow Your heART," this year's carnival brought together more than 1,500 performers from communities across the city. The parade celebrated diversity, creativity and cultural understanding through massive floats, colorful costumes and vibrant performances, drawing tens of thousands of local and international spectators.

Among the participants, the Chinese performing group stood out as the biggest star of the evening. Their repertoire -- including Chinese opera, traditional dance, dragon and panda performances -- consistently drew applause and cheers from the crowd along the parade route.

According to Dong Gang, head of the Chinese performing group, this marked the eighth time the Chinese community had participated in the carnival. This year's delegation featured two floats, four performance formations and more than 150 performers ranging in age from four to over 70, making it the largest lineup at the event.

"This year, the Chinese team's performance is a combination of tradition and modernity. It not only showcases traditional intangible cultural heritage, such as dragon and lion dances, but also incorporates modern technology, especially advanced humanoid robots, which together with our traditional performances bring new highlights to the audience," Dong told Xinhua.

"Coinciding with the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, we believe the participation of the Chinese community will help strengthen cultural exchanges between China and Africa. In particular, presenting our traditional culture within South Africa's mainstream cultural life will leave a vivid and lasting impression," he added.

Dong's remarks were echoed by Ren Faqiang, China's Consul General in Cape Town. "Against the backdrop of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the Chinese contingent at this year's Cape Town Carnival is the largest, most colorful, most numerous and most spectacular in terms of performances in history. I believe it will definitely showcase the charm of Chinese culture," he said.

Ren noted that the Chinese performing team included not only overseas Chinese and students, but also local South Africans. This, he said, demonstrates that despite the geographical distance between China and South Africa, the peoples of the two countries are closely connected, and cultural exchange serves as an important bridge.

Guo Jingkai, a 30-year-old overseas Chinese resident in Cape Town, participated in the carnival parade for the fifth time this year as a member of the lion dance team. He said taking part in such events helps strengthen cohesion among Chinese people living abroad.

"The carnival is a cultural window, featuring a wide variety of cultures and styles. Through cultural exchange, it allows Chinese people to experience local culture while also enabling others to experience Chinese culture," Guo said.

For Erick Strydom, a South African teacher who joined the Chinese formation, this was his first time participating in the parade as a performer. He described the experience as deeply exciting.

"To me, it's an honor to be here and to represent China," he told Xinhua. "What I've noticed is just how my culture aligns with the Chinese culture. We have the same work ethic. We have amazing similarities in our cultures. I think that's something we can celebrate, especially in Africa."

"When we look in Africa and the change that China has also brought, we see that there's a lot of help that we've been receiving from China and we know it. And it's time to celebrate each other's cultures and stand together and be stronger together," Strydom added.

Hazel Mhishi, a local visitor attending the parade with her children, spoke highly of the Chinese performances, calling them "amazing."

"They did a great job and we really enjoyed the interaction that they did with us and with the kids," Mhishi said. "We love to know more about the culture, so that we can understand what they're presenting more."

"It shows more diversity in the culture that we're in, for me as a foreigner as well. It shows more diversity, more intercultural exchange that is happening in South Africa, which is a great thing, and more involvement in all the cultures," she added. 

A performer from the Chinese contingent interacts with the audience during the Cape Town Carnival 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 21, 2026. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

Performers from the Chinese contingent take part in a parade during the Cape Town Carnival 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

Performers from the Chinese contingent take part in a parade during the Cape Town Carnival 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

Performers from the Chinese contingent take part in a parade during the Cape Town Carnival 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

Performers from the Chinese contingent take part in a parade during the Cape Town Carnival 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, March 21, 2026. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)
Human Rights Watch  (Beirut)  Israeli forces on the evening of March 18, 2026, attacked South Pars Gas Field in Iran: one of the most important sources of natural gas for Irans domestic energy consumption, including home heating. Hours later, Iranian forces attacked oil and gas infrastructure at Qatars Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, which provides one-fifth of the worlds LNG. QatarEnergy confirmed extensive damage to the facility. The companys CEO Saad al-Kaabi told Reuters that the repairs might take three to five years.

US President Donald Trump, in a statement posted by the White House on X on March 19, stated that if Iran were to attack Qatar again, the United States would massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before.

A spokesperson for the Iranian central command said on March 19 that Iranian forces response to the attack on South Pars had not yet ended, and that further attacks would prompt a response  much more severe than the previous attacks on US and Israeli allies energy infrastructure.

The March 18 and 19 attacks have triggered another jump in the price of oil and natural gas, which, if sustained, will likely further raise prices in sectors such as food and transportation worldwide which are critical in populations access to human rights such as the right to food.



Ras Laffan satellite imagery taken in 2006 by NASA. Public Domain. Via Picryl

Michael Page, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said,

The tit-for-tat attacks by Iran, Israel, and the US on some of the worlds largest oil and gas infrastructure in Iran and the Gulf states risk causing economic and environmental catastrophe to civilians in Iran and across the Gulf, and countless economically marginalized people across the globe. Warring parties should immediately end any and all attacks targeting civilian energy infrastructure.

Via Human Rights Watch
By Monica Duffy Toft, Tufts University

(The Conversation)  Wars are rarely lost first on the battlefield. They are lost in leaders minds  when leaders misread what they and their adversaries can do, when their confidence substitutes for comprehension, and when the last war is mistaken for the next one.

The Trump administrations miscalculation of Iran is not an anomaly. It is the latest entry in one of the oldest and most lethal traditions in international politics: the catastrophic gap between what leaders believe going in and what war actually delivers.

Im a scholar of international security, civil wars and U.S. foreign policy, and author of the book Dying by the Sword, which examines why the United States repeatedly reaches for military solutions and why such interventions rarely produce durable peace. The deeper problem with the U.S. war in Iran, as I see it, was overconfidence bred by recent success.

Dismissed concerns

Before the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the U.S. escalated, Energy Secretary Chris Wright dismissed concerns about oil market disruption, noting that prices had barely moved during the 12-day war in June 2025 between Israel and Iran. Other senior officials agreed.

What followed was significant: Iranian-aimed missile and drone barrages against U.S. bases, Arab capitals and Israeli population centers. Then Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the worlds oil supply passes daily  not with a naval blockade, not with mines or massed anti-ship missiles, but with cheap drones.

A few strikes in the vicinity of the strait were enough. Insurers and shipping companies decided the transit was unsafe. Tanker traffic dropped to zero, although the occasional ship has made it through recently. Analysts are calling it the biggest energy crisis since the 1970s oil embargo.

Irans new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has since vowed to keep the strait closed. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, reported after a closed-door briefing that the administration had no plan for the strait and did not know how to get it safely back open.

With no embassy in Tehran since 1979, the U.S. relies heavily for intelligence on CIA networks of questionable quality and Israeli assets who have their own countrys interests in mind. So the U.S. did not anticipate that Iran had rebuilt and dispersed significant military capacity since June 2025, nor that it would strike neighbors across the region, including Azerbaijan, widening the conflict well beyond the Persian Gulf.

The war has since reached the Indian Ocean, where a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian frigate 2,000 miles from the theater of war, off the coast of Sri Lanka  just days after the ship had participated in Indian navy exercises alongside 74 nations, including the U.S.

The diplomatic damage to Washingtons relationships with India and Sri Lanka, two countries whose cooperation is increasingly important as the United States seeks partners to manage and mitigate Irans blockade, was entirely foreseeable. Washington has put them in a difficult position, with India choosing diplomacy with Iran to secure passage for its vessels and Sri Lanka opting to retain its neutrality, underscoring its vulnerable position.

But U.S. planners didnt foresee any of this.

The wrong lesson from Venezuela

The swift military intervention by the U.S. in Venezuela in January 2026 produced rapid results with minimal blowback  appearing to validate the administrations faith in coercive action.

But clean victories are dangerous teachers.

They inflate what I call in my teaching the hubris/humility index  the more a leadership overestimates its own abilities, underestimates the adversarys and dismisses uncertainty, the higher the score and the more likely disaster will ensue. Clean victories inflate the index precisely when skepticism is most needed, because they suggest the next adversary will be as manageable as the last.

Political scientist Robert Jervis demonstrated decades ago that misperceptions in international relations are not random but follow patterns. Leaders tend to project their own cost-benefit logic onto opponents who do not share it. They also fall into availability bias, allowing the most recent operation to stand in for the next.

The higher the hubris/humility index, the less likely there is to be the kind of strategic empathy that might ask: How does Tehran see this? What does a regime that believes its survival is at stake actually do? History shows that such a regime escalates, improvises and takes risks that appear irrational from an outside perspective but are entirely rational from within.

Recent cases reveal this unmistakable pattern.

The United States in Vietnam, 19651968

American war planners believed material superiority would force the communists in Hanoi to surrender.

It didnt.

American firepower alone didnt lead to military defeat, much less political control. The Tet Offensive in 1968  when North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched coordinated attacks across South Vietnam  shattered the official U.S. narrative that the war was nearly won and that there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Athough the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces ultimately repelled the attacks, their scale and surprise caused the public not to trust official statements, accelerating the erosion of public trust and decisively turning American opinion against the war.

The U.S. loss in Vietnam didnt occur on a single battlefield, but through strategic and political unraveling. Despite overwhelming superiority, Washington was incapable of building a stable, legitimate South Vietnamese government or recognizing the grit and resilience of the North Vietnamese forces. Eventually, with mounting casualties and large-scale protests at home, U.S. forces withdrew, ceding control of Saigon to North Vietnamese forces in 1975.

The U.S. failure was conceptual and cultural, not informational. American analysts simply couldnt picture the war from their opponents perspective.

Afghanistan: Deadly assumptions

The Soviet Union in Afghanistan in 1979 and the United States in Afghanistan after 2001 conducted two different wars but held the same deadly assumption: that external military force can quickly impose political order in a fractured society strongly resistant to foreign control.

In both cases, great powers believed their abilities would outweigh local complexities. In both cases, the war evolved faster  and lasted far longer  than their strategies could adapt.

Russia, Ukraine and the Strait of Hormuz

This is the case that should most haunt Washington.

Ukraine demonstrated that a materially weaker defender can impose huge costs on a stronger attacker through battlefield innovation: cheap drones, decentralized adaptation, real-time intelligence, and the creative use of terrain and chokepoints to find asymmetrical advantages. The U.S. watched it all unfold in real time for four years and helped pay for it.

Iran was also watching  and the Strait of Hormuz is the proof.

Iran didnt need a navy to close the worlds most important energy chokepoint. It needed drones, the same cheap, asymmetric technology Ukraine has used to blunt Russias onslaught, deployed not on a land front but against the insurance calculus of the global shipping industry.

Washington, which had underwritten much of that playbook in Ukraine, apparently never asked the obvious question: What happens when the other side has been taking notes? That is not a failure of U.S. intelligence. It is a failure of strategic imagination  exactly what the hubris/humility index is designed to highlight.

Iran does not need to defeat the U.S. conventionally. It needs only to raise costs, exploit chokepoints and wait for a fracture among U.S. allies and domestic political opposition to force a fake U.S. declaration of victory or a genuine U.S. withdrawal.

Notably, Iran has kept the strait selectively open to Turkish, Indian and Saudi vessels, rewarding neutral countries and punishing U.S. allies, driving wedges through the coalition.



Paintings created by Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder hang in the Combat Arts exhibit in the Southwestern University art gallery Sept. 14, 2013. Combat Arts San Diego is a nonprofit organization that provides visual arts classes to active and inactive duty veterans who have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and was founded on the principle that making art is inherently therapeutic. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ken Scar, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment). Public Domain. Via Picryl.com

Historian Geoffrey Blainey famously argued that wars start when both sides hold incompatible beliefs about power and only end when reality forces those beliefs to align.

That alignment is now happening, at great cost, in the Persian Gulf and beyond. The Trump administration scored high on the hubris index at exactly the moment when it most needed humility.

Monica Duffy Toft, Professor of International Politics and Director of the Center for Strategic Studies, The Fletcher School, Tufts University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
CAIRO, March 22 (Xinhua) -- As the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict entered its 23rd day on Sunday, airstrikes and missile launches continued to inflict heavy casualties and extensive destruction.

In a sharp escalation, the United States threatened to hit Iranian power plants unless Iran fully opens the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Iran fired back, warning that any attack on its energy facilities would make power plants in countries hosting U.S. bases legitimate targets.

The following is a brief overview of the latest developments in the escalating crisis affecting much of the region and beyond.

The United States

-- U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Saturday to "hit and obliterate" Iranian power plants if the country fails to fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

"If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" He wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Israel

-- Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered the military to "immediately" destroy all bridges over Lebanon's Litani River used by Hezbollah.

-- A rocket fired from Lebanon by Hezbollah struck two vehicles in the Upper Galilee near the Israel-Lebanon border, killing one man, Israeli authorities said.

-- Israel's military chief has approved plans to expand the offensive in Lebanon and said that the military is prepared for a "prolonged" operation. Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir approved the advancement of targeted ground operations on Saturday following a meeting with Northern Command leadership, the military announced in a statement on Sunday.

-- The Israeli military said Sunday that fighting against Iran and Hezbollah was expected to last "weeks," adding that Israel had dropped more than 10,000 munitions on "thousands of targets" across Iran since Feb. 28.

Iran

-- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas spoke by phone to discuss the political, security, and humanitarian fallout from U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, Iran's Foreign Ministry said.

-- Iran's army said that its air defenses had targeted an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet in the country's southern airspace. In a statement, the army said the invading aircraft was tracked and engaged by a surface-to-air missile as it flew over southern coastal areas near Hormuz Island earlier in the day.

-- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that energy and oil infrastructure across the region could face "irreversible" destruction if the United States targets Iran's power plants.

-- Iran's primary military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued a statement warning that power plants in countries hosting U.S. bases would be considered legitimate targets if the United States attacks Iran's power facilities.

-- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said the Strait of Hormuz is open to all "except those who violate Iran's territory." Iran's Foreign Ministry also confirmed that the strait remains open to navigation, with necessary measures in place due to wartime conditions, dismissing concerns that the vital waterway has been blocked.

-- Araghchi called on the United Nations, its nuclear watchdog, and the Security Council to take immediate and decisive action regarding recent U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran's "peaceful" and safeguarded atomic sites and facilities.

He made the plea in a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and members of the Security Council, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Iraq

-- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella body for Iraq's pro-Iranian militias, said it had carried out 21 operations against "occupation bases" in Iraq and the region over the past 24 hours.

-- The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announced another 72-hour extension of the country's airspace closure to all arriving, departing, and overflying aircraft, citing ongoing security concerns.

Lebanon

-- A senior Iranian official said that Tehran is carrying out a pre-planned, multi-phase strategy in response to U.S.-Israeli attacks, while setting six conditions for ending the conflict, Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen reported.

-- More than 3,800 people have been killed or injured in ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon since March 2, the Health Ministry said, reporting 1,029 deaths and 2,786 injuries.

-- Israeli warplanes struck the strategic Qasmiyeh Bridge over the Litani River in southern Lebanon on Sunday, Lebanon's National News Agency reported, as Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes across the region.

-- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned Israel's targeting and destruction of infrastructure and vital facilities in southern Lebanon, particularly the Qasmiyeh Bridge over the Litani River and other bridges. 






Saturday, March 21, 2026 - Prominent lawyer, Nelson Havi, has come out guns blazing, accusing High Court Judge, Josephine Mongare, of turning the court into a money-making avenue.

Taking to his X account, Havi shared a screenshot from a complainant who alleged that the judge demanded a Ksh 10 million bribe in exchange for a favourable ruling in a case she was handling.

According to the claim, an immediate deposit of Ksh 5 million was required.

The complainant reportedly withdrew the case and filed it in another region in search of a fair hearing.

This is not the first time Justice Josephine Mongare has faced corruption allegations.

Not long ago, former judge Joseph Mutava, who was removed from office over misconduct, was nabbed by EACC detectives at former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tujus Karen home allegedly soliciting Ksh 10 million on behalf of Justice Mongare.

Havi urged any Kenyan with a complaint against Justice Mongare to reach out to him.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, March 21, 2026 - Kikuyu Member of Parliament, Kimani Ichungwah, has hit out at Archbishop Maurice Muhatia of the Kisumu Catholic Archdiocese following the clerics remarks on President William Rutos recent verbal attacks against opposition leaders.

During his tour of Western Kenya, President Ruto launched a scathing offensive against opposition principals, accusing them of persistently insulting him at political rallies.

The President said that he had endured abuse for too long and vowed to respond in kind.

Archbishop Muhatia, speaking in Machakos on Friday, March 20th, faulted the Head of States conduct, warning that such exchanges undermine the dignity of leadership.

We call upon political leaders to exercise restraint. Children listening to you are shocked and traumatised, adults are embarrassed.

When you publicly insult each other, you disrespect not only yourselves but also the citizens.

This country belongs to more than 50 million Kenyans, he said.

However, Ichungwah countered the clerics position while addressing a gathering in Siaya on Saturday, March 21st.

He argued that opposition leaders frequently insult Ruto even in churches, yet religious leaders remain silent until the President responds.

"I want to tell Archbishop Muhatia, that indeed, we as Christians are more embarrassed that our religious leaders and our bishops can preside over the trading of insults in churches," Ichung'wah said.

"I want to ask you Muhatia, please make sure that your alter in the Catholic church is not used to sell division and hatred.

Stop your selective judgment, and you are not being fair to Kenyans," Ichung'wah added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, March 21, 2026 - In a dramatic turn of events that has brought relief across Nakuru County, a highly sought-after criminal gang leader has finally been brought to book following a swift and intelligence-driven operation by vigilant officers.

A team of police officers conducting routine patrols received actionable intelligence on the whereabouts of a dreaded gang leader believed to be hiding within the notorious Gioto area, commonly referred to as London, a hotspot within the sprawling informal settlements.

What followed was a calculated and tactical response by the crime busters, culminating in the arrest of 21-year-old Francis Nderitu Maina, alias Maish.

The suspect, who had been evading law enforcement, narrowly escaped a police dragnet on 23rd February 2026, going underground in a bid to dodge capture.

Maina is alleged to be the ringleader of the outlawed Isilando sect, a criminal outfit linked to a string of heinous activities within the Gioto slums, also infamously dubbed Hilton.

His name has long featured prominently in investigations tied to robbery with violence, alongside a troubling criminal history that includes unlawful assembly, incitement to violence, and drug trafficking.

Upon his arrest, officers recovered a military-style sword (USA saber), a chilling indication of the suspects readiness for violence.

But the operation didnt stop there.

Following a brief yet effective interrogation, the suspect led officers to his makeshift residence.

A meticulous search of the premises uncovered a crudely assembled homemade firearm, a wooden structure fitted with a steel pipe and wrapped in black cellotape, concealed in a blue canvas behind the house.

All recovered exhibits have been secured as crucial evidence to support ongoing investigations, while the suspect is currently in custody and is set to be arraigned in court upon completion of investigations.

This successful arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the fight against organized crime in Nakuru County, and underscores the unwavering commitment of security agencies to restore peace and safeguard communities.

Via DCI






Saturday, March 21, 2026 - ODM Deputy Party Leader and Vihiga Senator, Godfrey Osotsi, was among the 39 people who survived a plane crash-landing at Wilson Airport on Friday evening, March 20th, 2026.

The aircraft, arriving from Kisumu, veered off the runway at approximately 8:55 p.m. in what officials described as a runway excursion.

According to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), the incident involved 34 passengers and five crew members.

Authorities confirmed that all occupants escaped unharmed.

We wish to confirm that all passengers and crew are safe, with no injuries reported, KAA stated.

Senator Osotsi recounted the tense landing, expressing gratitude for surviving the ordeal.

I thank God for His protection after I came out safely from an aircraft accident at Wilson Airport this evening.

I was among the 39 passengers on board the flight, he said.

He praised the pilots quick thinking, noting that decisive action prevented what could have been a catastrophic fire.

However, the Senator raised concerns over the lack of emergency response at the airport.

It is deeply troubling that despite the pilots efforts to save lives, there were no immediate rescue operations from the airport management.

Osotsi revealed that the accident occurred just days after he sought a Senate statement on safety concerns at Wilson Airport.

He pointed to flooded runways and faulty lighting systems as evidence of deteriorating infrastructure.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, March 21, 2026 - Kapseret MP, Oscar Kipchumba Sudi, left mourners in stitches when he turned a solemn occasion into a lighthearted trip down memory lane.

In a candid moment, the vocal legislator introduced his childhood girlfriend, Ruth, revealing that he once believed she was the one.

Calling her to the podium, Sudi confessed that he had a huge crush on Ruth back in primary school.

This was someone I was very close to, although you were a bit older than me.

If people married when they were young, maybe I would have married her, because you know theres someone you love even when youre just kids.

I really liked her, he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

The MP recalled a school trip to Kisumu where they toured the Chemelil Sugar Factory and took photos together.

One day we went on a Kisumu tour to the sugar factory in Chemelil and took photos together, I still have them on my phone.

Even though she was older and I was younger, she was my person, he added.

Sudi pledged to support Ruths daughter, who is currently in high school.

So I want to say congratulations. Because you, Ruth, you got away and were a bit ahead in life.

Im asking that I support your daughter through secondary school; leave this one to me. Ill guide her, educate her, and help her find her path until she becomes someone.

When you see me, youll remember this is the guy who loved my mum, he declared.

OSCAR SUDI's blast from the past..... pic.twitter.com/5lqZrUEfnY  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) March 21, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, March 21, 2026 - Prominent lawyer, Steve Ogolla, has been drawn into the ongoing controversy involving Victor Agwaro and his estranged wife, Margaret Akoth.

According to whispers, Victor discovered that his wife had been involved with multiple men, including the flamboyant lawyer.

He went through her phone and stumbled upon romantic messages exchanged between the lawyer and his wife.

You were chatting Victor Agwaros wife and he found your texts on her phone. And yes, they were romantic as he said, a vocal social media personality blasted Ogolla, accusing him of being among the men who contributed to Victors marital troubles.

Victor has recently been the subject of intense online discussion after going on a public rant exposing his marital woes.

It is now emerging that, besides Maxwell Odongo, who is currently eloping with his wife, Margaret may also have had an affair with lawyer Steve Ogolla.

Lawyer Steve Ogolla is not new to controversies involving women.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, March 21, 2026 - A Human Resource Officer based at Galilee Hospital in Kitale is on the spot after he reportedly did the unthinkable to a female staff member who rejected his advances.

According to reports, the victim, identified as Nancy Kungu, was airlifted to Nairobi Womens Hospital after sustaining serious injuries at the hands of her alleged assailant.

She is currently admitted at the hospital, as calls for justice continue to grow louder on social media.

The suspect is said to be the son of the hospitals owner.

Below is a photo of the assailant as a concerned social media user calls for justice.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, March 21, 2026 - Heartbroken Luo man, Victor Agwaro, has continued to air his woes on social media, accusing controversial social media personality, Maxwell Odongo, of hatching a plan to kill him after eloping with his wife, Margaret Akoth.

According to Victor, Maxwell has made several attempts on his life.

He claims that in the first attempt, Maxwell hosted hitmen at a Tsavo Airbnb, but they failed to execute the mission due to a payment dispute.

In a second attempt, the hitmen were reportedly hosted at an Airbnb in Westlands, where they planned his murder.

However, Victor says he got a tip-off and managed to survive.

He further claims that on Wednesday this week, his estranged wife, Margaret, met with the hitmen and discussed a final attempt to eliminate him.

Maxwell is said to have paid 80 percent of the money to execute the job.

Check out his posts.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
LONDON, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of protesters took to the streets in London on Saturday, joining a growing wave of demonstrations across Europe against U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran.

In the British capital, a sea of demonstrators marched from Russell Square to Whitehall, waving banners and chanting slogans condemning the attacks. Their voices echoed through central London as concerns over the escalating conflict spilled onto the streets.

At a rally later in the day, participants called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to foreign intervention in the Middle East. Mariam, a protester holding a sign reading "STOP THE WAR ON IRAN," criticized Washington's characterization of the operation as "Epic Fury," calling it instead an "Epic Failure."

"No foreign intervention. Hands off the Middle East and stop bombing. People have the right to live in peace. You cannot bomb people to democracy," she said.

Another protester, Adrian, who had traveled from Birmingham, described the strikes on Iran as "completely outrageous" and "quite frankly exhausting." He warned that the consequences, including rising oil prices and global insecurity, were already being felt.

The London demonstration formed part of a broader wave of protests across Europe on Saturday, reflecting mounting opposition to the ongoing offensive.

In Spain, thousands gathered in Madrid, with authorities estimating around 4,000 participants. Marchers moved from Atocha to Puerta del Sol, carrying signs such as "No to war, no to NATO" and "Spain is not the U.S." Leaders from the Podemos party, including Secretary General Ione Belarra and political secretary Irene Montero, joined the rally. Montero called on Spain to withdraw from NATO, highlighting wider criticism of Western military policy in the region.

Elsewhere, protests were reported in multiple European cities. In Lisbon, several hundred people gathered in the rain on March 14 near the U.S. embassy in a demonstration organized by the Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation. Backed by more than 70 groups, participants denounced what they described as U.S. and Israeli aggression, chanting "Yes to peace, no to war" and calling for disarmament.

In Bulgaria, hundreds marched in Sofia on March 2, holding signs such as "No war against Iran" and "U.S. military aircraft are not welcome here." Protesters called for an end to the strikes and demanded the withdrawal of U.S. military aircraft from Bulgarian territory.

Similar demonstrations have also taken place in countries including France and Greece, as the conflict entered its third week.

Amid the public backlash, criticism has also emerged from European analysts. Rob de Wijk, a professor at Leiden University in the Netherlands, described the U.S. actions as "outright blackmail" and warned they could pose risks to European security. He argued that Europe should reduce its reliance on the United States and strengthen its strategic autonomy. 
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Zip Code
Louise Walsh

A loving dad is appealing to car thieves to return the only mode of transport he has to bring his son, who has additional needs, to clinical appointments.

Stranded Gary Nolan is now appealing to the thieves to return his 171 Skoda Octavia, which was taken from outside his home at Whitehall in Dublin last week.

Gary gave up his job with Dublin Bus to be a full-time carer to his son, David, who has moderate to severe autism, ADHD, an intellectual disability and anxiety.

The 23-year-old needs full- time care, and Gary needed the car every day to take his son to various appointments and outdoor trips.

Thieves broke into his home in the early hours of Saturday, March 14th and stole his wife's handbag and the keys to the car.

"My wife thought I'd moved her handbag when she couldn't find it on the Saturday morning and then she noticed the car was gone. That's when the bottom of our world fell out," he said.

"People have been really good. I can't drive David to his daycare in Edenmore, which is about 40 minutes away so they are kindly coming to collect him. And people have offered me the use of their cars but I've terrible anxiety and would just worry in case I'd damage their car in some way. I'd be too nervous to drive anyone else's car."

David's needs are complex, and now that they don't have the freedom of leaving the house, Gary fears his own mental health is suffering.

"It really takes two people to take care of David so my wife only works part-time. He has begun to show self-injurious behaviour such as biting his arm or hitting his own head which is quite worrying.

"He had a routine and even just getting out for a drive was an escape for us. We used to drive him to a social club in Balbriggan or to visit his uncle in Co. Meath. We used the car to bring him to clinical appointments. There was always something to get him to.

"David wouldn't be able to use public transport, especially as we'd need to catch two buses to get him to some places. He doesn't understand theft. He keeps looking out the window and saying that the man will bring the car back soon."

"It's been a difficult road over the years and I'm on the verge of my mental health unravelling with everything now.

"The thieves didn't just take a car. They took our life and our freedom and I would ask them to please leave the car somewhere we can find it."

Anyone who sees a black Skoda Octavia 171 D 16702 is asked to report it to any garda station

Gardai say they are investigating 'a burglary at a house in Whitehall, Dublin 9, which occurred at around 3.30am on 14th March 2026. A car was taken from outside the property. Investigations are ongoing."
A MAN charged with allegedly running around a Newbridge estate with an air gun on one occasion, a knife on another, who also made threats to kill two people, and assault of another man, was sent straight over to the circuit court with four separate books of evidence for trial at the present sittings which began on 13 January.

Gavin Marsh (24), with an address in Mount Carmel in Newbridge appeared in Naas District Court recently for formal presentation of all four books of evidence, whilst Sergeant Mary Meade went through the various offences.

Fitness to Stand Trial

Judge, gardai got a call on 21 April 2025 about a man in headphones running around Linear Park with what seemed to be a gun in his hand, she alleged.

When they called to his house he admitted it was an air pistol.

Previously, on 13 November 2023 a man was seen running the streets of Newbridge with a knife, and when pursued, he threw it away and was arrested.

On the same date he threatened a female and a male saying Ill stab you and take you from your mother.

Then, on 1 April 2024 a man appeared at the counter of Newbridge Garda Station saying a male approached his car on Edward Street and hit it with his fist, causing 200 of damage.

Finally, on 17 November 2023 also on Edward Street, the injured part received a punch in the face from a man who was unknown to him.

He received a concussion and soft tissue damage, concluded Sgt Meade.

And his fitness to stand trial? asked Judge Desmond Zaidan.

Well reserve our position, said solicitor Joe Coonan, who is awaiting a second opinion on his client.

But one psychiatrist says hes alright to stand, noted the judge.

We still reserve our right, said Mr Coonan.
ATHY is receiving a big push for its tourism sector with the award-winning Shackleton Experience at the heart of its growing appeal.

Fresh from securing both the Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality Project of the Year and the Heritage, Conservation Project of the Year at the Irish Building and Design Awards (IBDA) 2026, the museum has been drawing increasing attention to Athy since its opening.

The awards celebrate outstanding achievements in architecture, engineering, construction and design.

The Shackleton Experience was recognised for carefully combining a process of best-practice building conservation, and detailed buildingarestoration with contemporary flair design to a high standard.

Building on this momentum, the town recently welcomed leading tour operators from across Ireland for a specially Destination Familiarisation Trip, designed to show off Athys tourism offering, hospitality, and rich heritage.

Delivered through a strong collaboration between local partners, including Boats.ie, the Clanard Court Hotel, Burtown House, Kilkea Castle and Clancys Bar, the initiative highlighted the areas fantastic blend of culture and history.

Guests were treated to an immersive itinerary that included a scenic barge cruise along Athys historic waterways, a guided exploration of the Shackleton Experience, and a range of premium hospitality offerings. These ranged from seasonal dining at Burtown House to a visit to Kilkea Castle, complete with activities at its expanded centre. The group also enjoyed a dining experience at the Clanard Court Hotel and a traditional music session in Clancys Bar.

Feedback from visiting operators was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting Athy as a hidden gem with strong potential for inclusion in future travel programmes. The towns sense of community, warm welcome and high-quality visitor experiences were repeatedly cited as key strengths.

Central to this momentum is the continued success of the Shackleton Experience, which has been going from strength to strength since its opening.

The attraction features 11 immersive galleries that brings the story of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton to life through innovative exhibition design, including augmented reality elements that allow visitors to engage with the story at their own pace.

The development, supported by Kildare County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development, has also played a key role in Athys wider regeneration, and has strengthened connections to nearby attractions such as Emily Square and the Barrow Blueway.
Ottoline Spearman

Two men have been charged following the seizure of 2.75 million worth of drugs in Co Dublin.

Two properties in Coolock and Finglas areas of Dublin were searched on Friday as part of investigations targeting organised crime.

Gardai seized 38kg of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of 2,660,000 at a business premises in Coolock.

A residential property in Finglas was subsequently searched, where 1kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of 70,000 and 1kg of cannabis with a value of 20,000 was seized.

The two men aged in their 20s and 30s were arrested and detained at a station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.

They were subsequently charged on Sunday, and are due to appear before the Courts of Justice on Monday morning.

The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis.

Investigations are ongoing.
CAIRO, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Iran said the United States and Israel carried out a major airstrike Saturday on Natanz, its primary uranium enrichment facility. Neither government has officially claimed responsibility, while Israeli media suggest the U.S. bombers carried out the strike.

Iran moved swiftly to retaliate, launching ballistic missiles at southern Israeli cities near the country's Negev nuclear research center. The strikes injured almost 200, including children, according to Israeli officials.

The exchange marks a dangerous new phase in a conflict that has already destabilized the broader region, rattled global energy markets, and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that carries roughly a fifth of the world's oil.

STRIKES ON IRANIAN NUCLEAR SITES

The Shahid Ahmadi-Roshan complex at Natanz, about 220 km southeast of Tehran, has been a central target in Israel-U.S. strikes against Iran. The site houses Iran's main underground uranium enrichment facility and has been struck multiple times: first in June 2025, again in early March 2026, and most recently on Saturday morning. Satellite imagery and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports indicate damage to entrance buildings and support structures at the underground plant.

Earlier in the campaign, Israel claimed that a "covert site" northeast of Tehran, believed to be used for nuclear weapons component development, was hit around March 3.

Strikes in June 2025 also damaged facilities in Fordow and Isfahan, among others, though those sites were not reported to have been hit on Saturday.

IS THERE A RADIATION RISK?

Iranian and international nuclear authorities say the strike on Natanz has posed no radiation risk to the public. Iran's Atomic Energy Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that no radioactive material was released, with monitoring in neighboring countries showing radiation levels remained unchanged.

Still, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi urged restraint, warning that continued strikes risk triggering a nuclear accident.

Experts noted that Natanz, a uranium enrichment facility, does not have an active nuclear reactor and does not store highly radioactive spent fuel. A strike on an operating reactor, such as the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, would be far more dangerous for surrounding populations, they said.

HOW IS IRAN RESPONDING?

Iran moved quickly to retaliate. On Saturday evening, ballistic missiles struck the southern Israeli towns of Dimona and Arad -- near Israel's Negev nuclear research center, though the facility itself was not hit. Nearly 200 people were injured, including children. Iran's Revolution Guard Corps described the strikes as targeting "military installations."

The attacks are intensifying pressure on Israel's air defense capabilities, as Iranian strikes increasingly test the limits of the country's protective systems.

Iranian officials vowed that the country's nuclear program "will continue" despite the damage, framed all retaliatory strikes as acts of self-defense, and threatened further escalation if attacks persist. 
A LOCAL history project in Kilcullen is documenting the towns strong and enduring links with the Defence Forces. Phase one of the Military History Project has just been completed, during which 15 retired local military personnel, both men and women, were interviewed and recorded sharing their personal memories of service in the Defence Forces.

Organisers, including local historian Mary Orford and former Defence Forces member Enda O'Neill, say it has been a pleasure to listen to and preserve the stories of those who have served. Funding for the project was received from Kildare County Council and other sources. Special thanks are extended to cllr Tracey ODwyer, who allocated funds from the Local Property Tax towards the initiative. Thanks are also expressed to Mary Orford, Julie ODonoghue, and Andrew ONeill for their ongoing support as the project enters phase two, which will include a formal launch to be announced in the coming weeks.

The audio interviews in phase one feature the following retired members of the Defence Forces: Col D Travers, Comdt F Smith, Capt B Hallidan, Sgt Major W (Billy) Redmond, Company Sgt J Mallon, CQMS G Fogarty, Sgt M Burke, Sgt E ONeill, Cpl A ONeill (Air Corps), Cpl B Clarke, Cpl N Aulsberry, Cpl S Lee, Gnr L Dunne, A/S J Langdon (Naval Service), and Sister M McDonnell (Army Nursing Service).

These are the first 15 participants in the project, titled 'Dilis Go Brath, Gasra Haon'. 'Dilis Go Brath' is the motto of the 3rd Infantry Battalion and means 'Second to None', while 'Gasra Haon' translates as 'Group One'.

Mr O'Neill said: "The project is ongoing and remains open to any retired military personnel from Kilcullen or the surrounding area who wish to share their stories."

It's not the first time the local connections with the Irish Defence Forces have been celebrated in Kilcullen. In 2018, a packed and fascinating evening in Kilcullen Community Library heard the reminiscences of several local veterans of the Congo Campaign of the early 1960s, in a Memory Night organised by Mary Orford. And in 2014, several events were held to mark the centenary of WW1, commemorating the participation of more than 33 men from the locality known to have died in the conflict.
The 'colonial master' mentality of Australia and New Zealand is both absurd and pitiable: Global Times editorial

Global Times) 16:52, March 20, 2026

Illustration: Liu Xiangya/GT

Recently, Australia and New Zealand held the third Australia-New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (ANZMIN 2+2) and issued a joint statement. What is baffling is that the document - one that should have focused on bilateral cooperation - was instead permeated with an outdated Cold War mind-set. It even included unwarranted accusations regarding China's internal affairs, fully exposing a kind of colonial-style arrogance.

Their stance on China-related issues is by no means incidental, but rather reflects a long-standing and repeatedly performed political inertia. Under the alliance system led by the US, Australia and New Zealand have increasingly embedded themselves in a narrative framework centered on "bloc confrontation," portraying China as an "imaginary enemy" or a "systemic challenge." At its core, this mind-set extends the binary opposition of the Cold War era, reducing complex and diverse international relations to a simplistic zero-sum game of "I win, you lose," while continuously manufacturing topics and amplifying differences on issues such as security and human rights. The problem is that such Cold War thinking has long been abandoned by the tide of history. If Australia and New Zealand remain obsessed with this outdated approach, they are not only misjudging China, but also misreading the times.

More concerning is the ill intent of both countries to shift blame and divert attention. In recent years, both countries have been plagued by recurring scandals related to domestic governance, human rights protection, and the treatment of racial minorities. Yet their joint statement remains silent on their own problems, while eagerly assuming the role of a "judge of human rights" when it comes to China. This kind of "blame-shifting diplomacy" may appear tough on the surface, but is hollow at its core. It does nothing to address their own deeply rooted human rights issues and, more seriously, undermines their credibility in the international community.

Ironically, such accusations, often made in the name of "rules" or "values", are accompanied by a brazen form of selective blindness. When addressing the situation in Iran, the statement by Australia and New Zealand turns a blind eye to the US and Israel launching military strikes in blatant violation of international law, causing civilian casualties, while unilaterally condemning "Iran's reckless and indiscriminate attacks on countries in the region." Such double standards of forbidding others to do what it is doing itself expose their hypocrisy on issues of peace and justice. Even more absurdly, the statement accuses China of engaging in "destabilising activities" in the South China Sea. Yet who is it that travels thousands of miles to flex military muscle and stir up trouble there? The so-called "rules-based international order" has, in their rhetoric, become a tool to be selectively applied rather than a principle to be universally upheld.

At a deeper level, the words and actions of Australia and New Zealand reveal a lingering colonial mind-set. They remain accustomed to adopting a condescending posture, passing judgment on other countries' development paths and internal affairs, ignoring the reality that the world has already entered a new era marked by multipolarity and the rise of the Global South. Plagued by frequent economic and social problems, they are highly dependent on other countries in the security field and finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their original influence. However, they insist on seeking attention and attempting to act as "judges" when it comes to the right to speak on international issues. This is not only absurd, but also pitiable. Their behavior reveals the deep, helpless anxiety of the "colonial masters."

The times have long changed. That outdated posture of acting as self-appointed "masters" is overdue for retirement. Against the backdrop of profound shifts in the global landscape, the Asia-Pacific has become the most dynamic engine of global growth because countries pursue cooperation amid differences and seek development through mutual benefit. If Australia and New Zealand remain trapped in outdated colonial fantasies and continue down the wrong path, they will ultimately miss out on historic opportunities and be reduced to mere pieces on others' strategic chessboards.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
GODOMEY, Benin, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Demonstrations and introductory activities were held Saturday in Godomey, about 30km from Cotonou, Benin's economic capital, to mark the country's first celebration of International Taijiquan Day.

The event was initiated by the Chinese Cultural Center in Benin and organized by its Wushu team, with support from the Beninese Wushu Association. Combining demonstrations, teaching sessions and interactive experiences, it drew more than 100 participants, including local residents and students from the Confucius Institute at the University of Abomey-Calavi.

Through the movements, participants experienced the balance between softness and strength, explored the philosophy of harmony, and gained a deeper appreciation of the unique charm of Chinese culture.

"The celebration of the International Taijiquan Day aims, among other things, to promote the practice of Taijiquan, raise awareness among the Beninese people of its health benefits, foster cultural exchanges, and strengthen bilateral ties between Benin and China," Fabrice Noudofinin, ambassador for the promotion of Sino-Beninese Wushu, told Xinhua.

For nearly two hours, Beninese practitioners introduced Taijiquan to the public through slow and flowing movements, qigong exercises, breathing techniques and group practice, while highlighting the therapeutic benefits of this Chinese martial art, which is listed as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. 
Simon Brown has blogged his submission to the Medical Council:

Let me start by stating I support the Councils goal of promoting culturally responsive care and addressing health disparities. New Zealands healthcare system must evolve to meet the needs of our diverse population, and I acknowledge the well-documented inequities in health outcomes for Maori, such as lower life expectancy (78 years below non-Maori), higher rates of preventable deaths, and unmet primary care needs (44% for Maori). These gaps are real and demand action. My core concern with the drafts, however, is their tendency to conflate socioeconomic status (SES) with systemic racism as a primary causal explanation for these disparities. While the draft documents do not explicitly state systemic racism it is evident from the use of terms like systemic bias, unfair systems, institutional structures, power imbalances, and colonial histories. This attribution of systemic racism remains unproven on rigorous scientific grounds and risks embedding socially and scientifically contested interpretations into professional standards, potentially at the expense of more practical, evidence-based solutions focused on prevention, education, and individual responsibility.

So the goal is good, but the draft is bad.

However, the drafts mandatory requirements for medical doctors to actively acknowledge and address your own power, privilege, biases and use your professional influence to work in partnership with Maori to identify and dismantle unfair systems and power imbalances imply acceptance of systemic racism as a settled fact. This goes beyond encouraging respect and self-reflection; it mandates endorsement of a causal framework that conflates SES-driven problems with racism, without sufficient causal evidence.

The Medical Council is trying to impose a political view on all doctors, without evidence.

The Medical Councils role is to ensure clinical competence and patient safety, not to enforce interpretive frameworks on causation. By conflating SES with racism, the drafts risk dividing the profession and distracting from holistic solutions. I urge the Council to refine these statements to prioritize evidence, prevention, and individual agency alongside equity. I believe this balanced approach is better suited and will better serve all New Zealanders.

Hopefully the Council listens.
Andrew Little has released his Triennium Plan for WCC. Lets take a look at it.

Create a $50,000 per annum External Legal Advice Fund for representatives to test the council organisations legal advice by seeking an external legal opinion.

Excellent. Really important governors can access legal advice directly.

Strive to keeping rates as low as practicable in an effort to make Wellington more affordable, while acknowledging there will always be a range of views about what that means.

I blogged in September what that would look like. Well the Whanau Council has a 12% rates increased planned for next year, so a minimal success would be getting that to under 10%. The current Council has further rates increases of 7% for out years. So rates increases of under 5% from 27/28 would qualify.

Protect the Councils ownership stake in Wellington International Airport Ltd.

Why? As a minority shareholder you have no real say, and it means you are not independent when dealing with the airport. Id sell the airport shares and invest it in water infrastructure.

Rapidly review approved capital projects valued at $1 million or more where construction has not started (or a future tranche has not started), so representatives have assurance each is realistic and affordable.

Good.

Any identified expected cost escalation of more than 5 percent in any project worth $1 million or more must be reported in writing within 7 days to the Chair of the projects authorising committee and the Mayors Office

Good, but amazing this was not already the case.
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Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Missouri... Missouri River at Boonville affecting Howard, Cooper, Moniteau and Boone Counties. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. This product along with additional weather and stream information is available at www.weather.gov/kc/. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Missouri River at Boonville. * WHEN...Until early Friday afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 21.0 feet, Low-lying rural areas along the river flood. At 23.8 feet, Easley River Road and Smith Hatchery Road begin to flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 3:04 AM CDT Wednesday the stage was 21.1 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 22.7 feet this afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage early tomorrow afternoon. - Flood stage is 21.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && Fld Obs Forecasts Location Stg Stg Day/Time Wed Thu Fri 7am 7am 7am Missouri River Boonville 21.0 21.1 Wed 3am 22.5 21.5 18.1 &&
ULAN BATOR, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia has observed World Water Day, aiming to raise public awareness about the importance of water, the country's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change said on Sunday.

The ministry urged the public to recognize the value of water, promote its responsible use, and actively participate in protecting water resources.

Meetings and conferences were also held on this day to focus on the rational accumulation, equitable distribution, and efficient use of water resources, as well as strengthening intersectoral coordination, the ministry added.

In addition, Mongolian Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar has instructed the Water Agency of Mongolia to collect water pollution fees from all companies that pollute water, according to the ministry.

Zandanshatar emphasized the need to consistently enforce the international principle that "the provider protects and the polluter pays."

World Water Day, observed annually on March 22 since 1993, is a United Nations observance that highlights the importance of freshwater. The theme for 2026 is "Water and Gender." 
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LJUBLJANA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia's ruling Freedom Movement (FM), led by Prime Minister Robert Golob, secured a narrow victory in the country's parliamentary election on Sunday, according to preliminary results.

With 99 percent of votes counted, the centre-left FM won 28.6 percent, narrowly ahead of the opposition Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), led by Janez Jansa, which garnered 28.2 percent, data from the State Election Commission showed. Voter turnout stood at around 68 percent, down from 71 percent in the 2022 election.

In the 90-seat National Assembly, the FM is projected to secure 29 seats. Its current coalition partners, the Social Democrats and the Left, are expected to win a combined 11 seats, leaving the ruling bloc short of a parliamentary majority. The SDS is projected to take 28 seats.

Three smaller parties - New Slovenia, the Democrats, and Resni.ca - are also set to enter parliament and could play a decisive role in coalition negotiations.

Golob said in a statement following the release of preliminary results that his party would strive to improve the future for all citizens, while acknowledging that coalition talks would be "tough." He has previously indicated a willingness to negotiate with all parliamentary parties except the SDS.

Jansa, a former three-time prime minister, expressed concern over the outcome, warning that it could result in an unstable government.

President Natasa Pirc Musar is expected to nominate a candidate for prime minister in the coming weeks. 
Sean McCarthaigh

The family of a Waterford man who was not notified of the discovery of his body in his Dublin apartment for almost a week, despite information about his identity available in his home, have called for a review of how gardai liaise with relatives of deceased persons who die in tragic circumstances.

The badly decomposed body of Jamie Weldon, who came originally from Butlerstown, Co Waterford, was found in his apartment in the Iveagh Trust Building on Upper Kevin Street, Dublin, on August 19th 2023, which would have been his 57th birthday.

Weldons six siblings only became aware of his death after they asked gardai to carry out a welfare check on him six days later amid concern that they had not heard from him for some time.

The deceaseds body subsequently had to be formally identified through matching his DNA with a sample provided by one of his brothers.

The family also expressed concern that their brothers remains were in a morgue for 27 days before his body was released to them.

The inquest into his death at Dublin District Coroners Court was adjourned last November to allow evidence from another witness to be heard.

At a resumed hearing this month, Iveagh Trust estate manager, Norbert Hanlon, said he carried out a forced entry into Mr Weldons apartment following a report of a strong smell of decay coming from the property.

Hanlon said it was evident that the body he found had been there for a while, and he left the apartment immediately to call the emergency services.

He said he had last seen Weldon, whom he said kept very much to himself, a few weeks earlier.

Hanlon said he found a note in a pad on a mantlepiece at a later stage after the apartment had been made presentable.

Questioned by counsel for Weldons family, Derek Dunne BL. Hanlon said the deceased had fallen into arrears with his rent, but not to the extent that it was something he had to go chasing.

Asked if he found any other items in the apartment, the witness said he was focused on cleaning up so the family would not be distressed.

Weldon said he would have given the name of the tenant to gardai, but he confirmed he had no contact details for Weldons next-of-kin.

Garda Peter Murray was recalled as a witness to be asked why he had not found the note left by the deceased on the day the body was discovered.

Dunne expressed surprise that the note had not been found, as it was visible in a photograph taken of the scene.

I just didnt find it, said Garda Murray, who added he had no reason to believe it was not there at the time.

The coroner, Crona Gallagher, said the note had indicated an intent or a goodbye.

Garda Murray confirmed that he had seized a mobile phone and some documents from the apartment.

The coroner intervened after Mr Dunne suggested gardai had enough information to know the identity of the deceased.

Gallagher said she would not have accepted a reliance on documents in such circumstances to establish Mr Weldons identity.

Asked by Dunne if there was any way of changing Garda procedures to ensure families were notified sooner, Garda Murray said he did not feel qualified to comment on the issue.

Murray said he could not recall if he had some indication about Mr Weldons next-of-kin by August 23, 2023.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Gallagher said the deceased took a decision to end his own life and took an action to bring that about as well as leaving a note of his intention.

The coroner said she would record Mr Weldons date of death as August 19, 2023, although she accepted that it was clear he had not died that day.

On behalf of Weldons family, Dunne suggested a recommendation could be made for An Garda Siochana to improve procedures to speed up a highly stressful situation as he claimed the timelines and delays involved in the case were less than ideal.

However, Gallagher said she would not do so as the legislation prescribed that recommendations must be made to prevent future deaths, and the issue was post facto.

She pointed out there were complicated reasons why there were delays and there was no coherent recommendation she could make other than for families to be notified as soon as possible.

However, Gallagher committed to writing to Garda management to share the concerns of Weldons family with them and acknowledged that the entire process had been difficult for his siblings.

Following the hearing, the deceaseds sister, Fiona Weldon, said her family were grateful to the coroner for acknowledging the additional stress caused to them by the delays in notifying them of their brothers death.

However, Weldon said some aspects of the case were not explored in detail, while they were not permitted to pursue questions about his missing personal items, including his wallet.

She said notes by the coroner, which referenced attempts to contact the family on August 23-24, 2023, appeared to contradict evidence that gardai were unaware of the deceaseds relatives until they came forward a few days later.

The family confirmed that they were still awaiting the outcome of their appeal against a decision of Fiosru (formerly the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission) not to uphold their complaint about the handling of the case by gardai.

Weldon said they fervently hoped the case would prompt An Garda Siochana to thoroughly review their procedures for liaising with families in tragic circumstances such as Jamies.

It is our sincere wish that no other family will ever have to endure the unnecessary and avoidable further distress that was caused to ours, she added.

Weldon continued: Six days is far too long for a family to be left not knowing their loved one has died. Jamie was in a morgue for 27 days before we could bury him.

No family should have to wait that long to bring their loved one home.

She concluded: Jamie was a loved brother and he is deeply missed every single day.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can freephone the Samaritans 24 hours a day for confidential support at 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.

Alternatively, the contact information for a range of mental health supports is available at mentalhealthireland.ie/get-support.

In the case of an emergency, or if you or someone you know is at risk of suicide or self-harm, dial 999/112.
A SLEW of offensive and threatening messages sent to his godmother over the course of one morning has led to a conviction for harassment for a Carlow man.

Jonathan Cooke, 7 Riverdell Apartments, Haymarket, Carlow was charged with harassment after sending 26 voice messages to his godmother over the course of one day last year. Mr Cooke pleaded not guilty to the offence before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Carlow District Court on Thursday 12 March.

Recordings of the voice messages were played to the courtroom. In them, Mr Cooke (30) could be heard saying you rat bastard repeatedly and I dont even want to look at you again, you ugly c**t.

The court heard Mr Cooke ranting and raving in the messages, accusing the complainant of being a busybody, saying you had to get involved, as always and shouting that her family were scum.

Who do you think you are? Youre not my family, he said.

In one of the more humorous messages, the defendant sang his insults. In one of the darker ones, he said of the complainants brother: I would have ended his life.

Judge Carthy heard that the harassment began in the early hours of 17 February 2025 when the complainant received a WhatsApp message on her phone, addressed to her daughter, looking for a phone number for his godmother. She responded at around 9am in the morning, identifying herself and asking him what he wanted.

Then he bombarded me with messages that I wasnt happy with, she told Judge Carthy. They were threatening me and my family. At one stage he threatened to kill my brother, she said.

I felt very upset. The complainant explained that his contact came up under another name, but that he identified himself as Jonathan in the first message and that she recognised his voice: Ive known him for as long as hes alive  hes my godson.

In fear for her safety, she went to Bagenalstown Garda Station with her brother to report the incident. After making a statement, she forwarded the messages to Garda Brian Wilkinson, who said in his evidence that their content can only be described as abusive in nature.

In total, she received 35 messages, but four were shorter than a few seconds and contained no audio. The last message was sent around midday.

Solicitor Alexander Rafter, representing Mr Cooke, put it to Garda Wilkinson that its my clients case that he received voice notes in return and that you havent been presented with that.

He brandished a letter from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which noted it would not be appropriate to proceed with a harassment charge if messages were sent in return.

Garda Wilkinson said the complainant presented him with the voice notes shortly after she received the last message and said the defendant was arrested on the day of the incident, questioned about the correspondence and could not produce messages from his godmother in return on that day.

However, he agreed that it was on the state to produce evidence rather than the defendant.

Theres an unfairness here. A one-sided version of events has been put before the court. My client instructs there are responses to those messages, but we dont have those, said Mr Rafter.

He referred to a Supreme Court decision from 2009 which said the prosecution has a duty to seek out all telephone records.

But he did  your client couldnt produce it, responded Judge Carthy.

That case is from prior to the 2023 legislation, which absolutely reduces the threshold for harassment, she observed.

As to why Mr Cooke couldnt produce the messages he received that had been deleted and why he didnt go back to the gardai with his phone, Mr Rafter said: Well, a phone could be lost. Judge Carthy did not accept this defence.

Mr Cooke then took to the stand and explained he sent the voice notes after he was kicked out of the house, the family tried to take his dog from him and I went mental and lost me head. He said his godmother had sent messages in response, egging him on.

Judge Carthy convicted Mr Cooke of the offence of harassment under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Obviously, what I heard today is quite distressing and stark in its content, but Ill give your client every opportunity, she told Mr Rafter.

She requested a probation report be compiled to get a full picture prior to sentencing Mr Cooke and remanded him on bail until a hearing on 20 May.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
SOON, we will enter into the rich tradition of observing Holy Week. A week that embraces every aspect of the human story, from joy to sorrow, despair to hope, from darkness into light. It's wonderful to embrace the brighter evenings, soon our clocks go forward and summertime begins. For millennia, this time of year was observed as a sacred time when light once again triumphed over darkness and what was planted begins to grow and blossom.

These days, the spring equinox (also called the vernal equinox) takes place, occurring around 19-22 March each year. This marks the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night roughly equal in length in both hemispheres. It signals the astronomical start of spring in the northern hemisphere and carries themes of balance, renewal, rebirth, fertility and increasing light. In Christianity, the spring equinox has no direct festival dedicated to it as an astronomical event. However, it plays a key indirect role in determining the date of Easter, Christianity's most important celebration commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The rule for calculating Easter was established at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD to standardise the date across churches. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon (called the Paschal full moon) that occurs on or after the spring equinox. The Church uses a fixed ecclesiastical date of 21 March for the equinox (not always the exact astronomical date, which can vary slightly by 1-2 days). This makes Easter a moveable feast, ranging from 22 March to 25 April.

This lunar-solar calculation ties Easter to the timing of Jewish Passover (which begins on the 15th of Nisan, near the first full moon after the equinox), reflecting Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection occurring during Passover week. Theologically, many Christians see symbolic resonance: the equinox represents balance between light and darkness, while Easter celebrates the triumph of light (Christ's resurrection) over death and darkness, paralleling the shift toward longer days. Christianity engages the spring equinox primarily through Easter's dating system a a deliberate choice to align the celebration of resurrection with cosmic renewal and the ancient.

Traditionally, this time of year we are prompted to make a spring cleaning. Spring cleaning is not just reserved for our homes but, indeed, for our personal lives. Spring cleaning offers an opportunity to renew and allow personal growth and wellbeing to happen. I am reminded of this important task by the following short story: a young couple moved into a new house. The next morning, while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbour hanging the washing outside.That laundry is not very clean; she doesnt know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better detergent. Her husband looked on, remaining silent. Every time her neighbour hung her washing out to dry, the young woman made the same comments. A month later, the young woman was surprised to see a nice, clean wash on the line and said to her husband: Look, shes finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this? The husband replied: I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows. And so it is with lifewhat we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look. So dont be too quick to judge others, especially if your perspective of life is clouded by anger, jealousy, negativity or unfulfilled desires. Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are.

A Prayer in Spring a Robert Frost

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away As the uncertain harvest;

keep us here All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid-air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,

The which it is reserved for God above

To sanctify to what far ends He will,

But which it only needs that we fulfil.
LONDON, March 22 (Xinhua) -- A nuclear-powered Royal Navy submarine has arrived in the Arabian Sea, capable of launching cruise missile attacks on Iran, British media reported Saturday, quoting military sources.

The submarine, HMS Anson, is fitted with Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, and is believed to be in the deep waters of the northern Arabian Sea, Daily Mail said.

This means that British forces have the capacity to launch attacks on Iran if the conflict escalates, it added.

If authorized by the prime minister, the report said, HMS Anson would be given the order to fire, and would rise close to the surface and dispatch four missiles.

Britain on Friday agreed to allow the United States to use British bases to carry out "operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz," while reaffirming its commitment to "not getting drawn into the wider conflict." 
A court was told a man working for a youth diversion programme was rugby tackled and pinned to a wall in Portlaoise by a man unknown to him.

Luke Philips (29) of 12 Raheen Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24 appeared before Portlaoise District Court accused of assault at Main Street, Portlaoise on March 7, 2024.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said a man had reported being assaulted on the Main Street in Portlaoise at 5.45pm on that date.

He said the man who was working for a youth diversion programme reported being pinned to a wall by an unknown gentleman who shouted something not very nice at the victim. He said the man wasnt injured but he was in shock after the incident.

He rugby tackled him and pinned him to the wall in front of Ryans pub, said Sgt Kirby.

He said the defendant had 27 previous convictions but violence wasnt a feature in the offending.

Andrew Dunne BL said his client was a bricklayer who had been in a long term relationship which ended. He said the stress over his relationship resulted in addiction difficulties. He said the man also had mental health issues. He said the man is now not taking any drugs or drink.

There is little to no memory of the offence on the date in question, said Mr Dunne. He said the offence should never have happened and his client wished to offer an apology to the man who was bringing youths to the cinema. He said that apology extends to the youths that witnessed the incident. He said his client was eager to engage with restorative justice.

Judge Catherine Ryan noted the eloquent victim impact statement which was before the court and included a quote which is attributed to Carl Jung: I am not what happened to me. I am what I chose to become.

She described the injured party as someone who appears to be a valuable member of society and she noted it wasnt just a physical assault.

Judge Ryan recommended a restorative justice report and she imposed a one month sentence which she suspended for one year on condition that the accused engages in restorative justice and follows the advice of the probation service.
A man admitted having drugs in his underpants at Portlaoise Prison.

Eoin Wilton (27) of 117 Saul Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12, admitted conveying three types of drugs into Portlaoise Prison on November 15 last.

Andrew Dunne BL said his client was pleading guilty to the offences. He asked Judge Catherine Ryan to note a guilty plea to the three charges of conveying drugs, with a total value of 1,000, into the prison and to order a probation report.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said an alarm went off during a security check at the prison where the defendant was attending as a visitor at 2.10pm on the date in question.

He took out a package out of his underpants and handed it over to the prison officer, said Sgt Kirby.

Judge Catherine Ryan noted the man had 12 previous convictions. She said it was a serious offence and may be outside the reach of what the probation services can deal with. She described the offending as very troubling and she asked for an explanation.

Mr Dunne conferred with his client and explained that the man had a drug debt. He said significant pressure had been placed on the man to engage in the act.

It is extremely serious to be taking these drugs into prison. God knows what effects that has on the population in prison, said Judge Ryan.

She ordered a probation report really just to see what is in his thinking but said, I am noting a probable custodial sentence warranted.

The case was adjourned back to Portlaoise District Court on September 7 for a probation report.
A TD based in North Kildare has detailed his recent visit to Australia, which coincides with St Patrick's Day 2026 celebrations.

Fianna Fail politician James Lawless, who is also the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of Ireland, revealed what he got up in the Land Down Under on his official LinkedIn profile.

Minister Lawless explained: "This week, during my St Patricks Day visit to Australia, Ive been fortunate to meet with a wide range of elected representatives across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.

READ NEXT: Sports clubs invited to attend Capital Grants meeting in well-known Kildare hotel

"Each engagement has been an opportunity to deepen the already-strong diplomatic ties and close friendship between our two countries."

He elaborated: "In Melbourne at our Embassy of Ireland, Australia & Consulate General of Ireland (New South Wales) Community celebration, I was pleased to meet the Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Minister for Public and Active Transport, Pauline Richards MP, as well as John Mullahy MP.

"It was wonderful to connect with them and share in the celebrations.

"In Sydney, I was honoured to meet the Governor of New South Wales, Margaret Beazley AC KC, at our community event.

"I also had very productive discussions with the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan MP, and the Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Anoulack Chanthivong MP, exploring shared opportunities and challenges in our respective briefs."

READ NEXT: 'Take extra care on the roads': Kildare County Council urges public to make safe travel choices for St Patrick's Day 2026

Minister Lawless continued: "Later during my visit to Sydney, at the The Lansdowne Club St Patricks Day lunch, I had the pleasure of meeting the Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Don Farrell - and was delighted to learn of his proud Irish heritage linked to County Clare.

"I also enjoyed speaking with Senator Deborah ONeill, Chairperson of the AustraliaIreland Friendship Group, and Gurmesh Singh MP.

"In Brisbane, I was honoured to visit Government House and meet the 27th Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, accompanied by the Irish Ambassador to Australia, Fiona Flood.

"At the Brisbane St Patricks Parade, I had the chance to meet the Premier of Queensland, David Crisafulli MP, a great friend of the Irish community.

"For my final engagement, I was pleased to have an insightful conversation over lunch with the Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, Rosslyn Bates MP, particularly on our shared focus on skills and training."

Minister Lawless further said: "I want to extend my sincere thanks to all the representatives I met for their warm welcome, their engagement, and their longstanding support for the Irish community in Australia."

He concluded: "As we celebrate 80 years of formal diplomatic relations between Ireland and Australia this year, I have no doubt that this friendship will continue to strengthen and thrive in the years ahead."

READ NEXT: GALLERY: All the best photographs from the Naas LGFA Table Quiz
It has been confirmed that The Exchange Project, a 6.2 million project in Drumshanbo, Leitrim, which could facilitate up to 40 jobs has been given the green light to commence construction next month and should be completed in less than 18 months.

The initiative will see the development of a working hub and creative studios in the town centre, with the potential to create up to 40 jobs.

The project includes the repurposing of the former Bank of Ireland building and the adjoining vacant premises on Main Street, the rebuilding of two outbuildings in the backlands, completion of the riverside walk, enhancement of the Peoples Park, and improved connections to the town centre.

READ MORE: Home care provider is holding an event for Leitrim people 'interested in exploring a rewarding career' Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Cllr Enda McGloin said: "A spokesperson for the Capital Programmes in the council, confirmed to me that it is expected the construction company will be onsite and have informed Leitrim County Council that they expect to be onsite starting the project on 14 April."

Cllr McGloin said that the residents have been anticipating the commencement of the new project for a number of years now. He said: "It's taken a considerable period of time in terms of the whole protracted tender process but the people in Drumshanbo will be delighted to see the work start. We're not quite sure how long it will take but certainly, it's in excess of between a year and 18 months. It will be a massive redevelopment for the town centre of Drumshanbo and provides great excitement in terms of what's going to there; the invigorated bank and the project itself will bring new prosperity to the town centre. Delighted to see this started after a long time; it's going on a good few years."
KIEV, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian and U.S. delegations discussed "key issues" and next steps on settling the Ukraine crisis in fresh negotiations held in the U.S. state of Florida on Saturday, Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, has said.

"We continued to discuss key issues and next steps within the negotiation track. Special attention was paid to coordinating approaches for further progress toward practical results," he was cited as saying in a report by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

Umerov met with the U.S. side together with David Arakhamia, head of the parliamentary faction of Servant of the People; Kyrylo Budanov, head of the presidential office; and Sergiy Kyslytsya, first deputy head of the presidential office.

According to Umerov, the U.S. delegation was represented by presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, White House Senior Advisor Josh Gruenbaum and State Department Senior Policy Advisor Chris Curran.

Umerov said a report on the results of the first day of the Ukraine-U.S. meeting was presented to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky said in a video address on Saturday that the Ukrainian and U.S. teams will continue their talks on Sunday, noting that a key issue discussed was to understand how ready Russia is to move toward a real end to the crisis, according to the Ukrainian president's official website.

Witkoff on Saturday said in a post on social media platform X that U.S. and Ukrainian delegations held "constructive meetings" in Florida, with "discussions focused on narrowing and resolving remaining items to move closer to a comprehensive peace agreement."

"We welcome the continued engagement toward resolving the outstanding issues, recognizing its importance to broader global stability," he wrote.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Friday that Russia would not participate in Saturday's talks.

Delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Russia previously held two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23-24 and Feb. 4-5, followed by another round in Geneva on Feb. 17-18. 
GARDAI in Killaloe are appealing for witnesses following a string of criminal offences close to the Limerick border.

The first incident took place on Wednesday morning, March 11, in the Convent Hill area. From here, two men entered a house through an unlocked front door, subsequently stealing car keys.

The men opened this vehicle and rifled through it, according to gardai.

Just three days later, on Saturday, March 14, a second burglary occurred in Shantraud Woods at 3:40am.

READ NEXT: BREAKING: Teenager arrested over death of Limerick nurse Aine O'Reilly in road traffic collision

It is understood that the culprits gained access to a property through an unlocked front door. Car keys were stolen from the home and the suspects made off with a grey Volvo S40 11TS, which is still missing.

Also on Saturday, another incident took place at a home near Shantraud Woods.

Throughout the course of this offence, culprits attempted to gain entry to the property but fled once disturbed by the homeowner.

If you have any information on these incidents, please contact Killaloe Gardai on 061 620 540.
A BARRISTER said that his client - who was in court for swearing at a garda - has a constitutional right to express himself however he may choose.

Kieran Barry, 52, with an address at Galvone Road, Limerick, was charged with a Section 6 Public Order offence for calling Garda Moloney a f**cking dope during an exchange outside Henry Street garda station on September 1, 2025.

Inspector, Liam Wallace, told Judge Catherine Ryan that Mr Barrys partner had parked a car outside the garda station in an official garda parking spot.

In a contested hearing, defendant Garda Moloney gave evidence that Mr Barry engaged in threatening behaviour towards him.

READ MORE: Limerick man caught with 34k drugs in attic gets a suspended sentence

Garda Moloney said he asked Mr Barry for his name. The garda said the man replied: I dont answer to f**king guards, and proceeded to call him a f**king dope.

Garda Moloney then proceeded to caution the man, and charged him at Henry Street garda station.

Mr Barry has 42 previous convictions, including six for the possession of drugs, a sale and supply of drugs conviction, a criminal damage conviction, and a conviction for assault.

Barrister Joseph McMahon, representing Mr Barry, said that he was looking for a strikeout for his client.

Its not criminal conduct, the barrister claimed. Mr McMahon said that while the mans language may have been noxious, the gentleman has a constitutional right to express himself however he may choose.

Inspector Wallace disagreed with Mr McMahons assessment, and said that Mr Barrys behaviour was a clear breach of the Public Order Act.

Judge Ryan read the legal definition of Section 6 of the Public Order Act, and found the man to be guilty of the offence.

The judge said: Mr Barry clearly hates authority, and perhaps the authority of this court, and proceeded to sentence the man to one months imprisonment, which was suspended for 12 months.

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
SOLICITORS in Limerick have expressed their strong disapproval of the Department of Justices proposed reform of the legal aid system.

Legal aid is funded by the tax-payer and the system ensures that no member of the public goes unrepresented in court because of the costs, unless they choose to do so.

As it currently stands, for each appearance before the district court for a legal aid case, a barrister or solicitor receives a flat-fee of 239.38 for a single accused persons first appearance in court, with further payment of 59.86 for each appearance thereafter.

The Minister for Justice, Jim OCallaghan, says an analysis of over 350,000 district court cases shows that adjournments are more common in cases where legal aid has been granted compared to cases involving private representation.

READ MORE: Limerick man caught with 34k drugs in attic gets a suspended sentence

The proposed reform has floated a not-yet-concrete flat fee of 455 for solicitors and barristers for each legal aid case - with no top-up fee for subsequent appearances.

President of the Limerick Solicitors Bar Association, Darach McCarthy, warned: With these reductions in legal aid, its quite possible that some people may not have legal representation in their cases going forward, and thats very worrying.

Mr McCarthy is a fixture of the Limerick District City Court, and has worked in criminal law for over 20 years.

He says that people who use legal aid, quite a lot of them have done something wrong, but often a lot of them as well are people who are victims of crime in their own right, and are people who have been kicked.

In Mr McCarthys line of work, he has found that those who avail of legal aid are people who have mental health issues, addiction issues, abuse issues, their own trauma, issues from their youth. People who have been less fortunate in life.

On the topic of potential abuse of the system, the solicitor stated: There has been commentary from documentation from the Department of Justice implying that solicitors have been seeking an excessive amount of adjournments to maximise legal aid fees.

I would defy anybody to go down to court and look at the reasons for which cases are being adjourned.

He added: It is primarily due to the lack of disclosure orders being complied with in good time, directions being obtained by the gardai for cases in good time, books of evidence being furnished in cases in good time, and the results of forensic analysis being given to the accused and the court in good time.

In more serious cases, disclosure orders are required so that the accuseds legal representation is aware of what evidence may be levelled against their client in a case.

These materials, which are furnished by the prosecution, can take several weeks, or in some instances over a month to be prepared before they are made available to defence solicitors in the district court.

Padraig Langsch of Langsch & Cunnane Solicitors in Limerick says the proposed reform will cause the district court to experience similar problems to those he sees within the family courts system.

Within family law, Mr Langsch is aware of individuals forgoing legal representation very often due to being unable to find solicitors or barristers willing to take a flat-fee of legal aid, and not having the means to afford private representation.

People appearing before the courts without representation can often delay proceedings and their case can be less likely to have a good outcome.

The most precious thing is your liberty, Mr Langsch says, and the key difference in the criminal court is that you can end up in jail.

The solicitor believes that the proposed new system will be a disaster on many fronts.

For one, he believes those with a history of bench warrants will struggle to find representation due to the likelihood of there being more adjournments in their cases - which will not be compensated under the proposed new system.

Mr Langsch is keen to point out that those who live a chaotic life, such as homeless people, or those living with addiction, are more likely not to turn up in court - thus leading to increased adjournments, which will not be remunerated under the proposed new system.

The Irish Times recently published an article highlighting one firm in Dublin which was paid 14,000 in legal aid for a single district court case and another law firm which hosted a crash-course to teach barristers how to maximise legal aid fees.

When discussing the article, Mr Langsch responded: Why dont we have articles about a solicitor spending 20 hours on a case where he was paid 300? There are cases like that.

Closing the interview, Mr Langsch added: I think we are trying to survive in a system that is far from perfect.

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BISHOP Brendan Leahy has appealed to Limerick people to acknowledge migrants in their local communities this St Patricks Day.

The message comes against the backdrop of deadly attacks in the Middle East.

The Bishop says he hopes the message of peace and love that St Patrick espoused will break through the awful noise of war and hostility in the world right now.

The leader of the Catholic Church in the diocese has said the migrant message of Irelands patron saint is more important than ever.

READ MORE: Grave concerns over potential flooding in Limerick town as urgent action is demanded

This migrant message refers to St Patricks life experience of being taken from his home as a young boy, surviving hardship, and ultimately embracing and serving a foreign community, symbolising resilience, hope, and welcome for those far from home.

This years celebration of St Patricks Day is taking place against the background of war in the Middle East following the attacks on Iran and Lebanon by the United States and Israel since last Saturday, February 28, Bishop Leahy said.

But the message of the Gospel of peace and reconciliation that the migrant St Patrick wanted to promote in Ireland seems more relevant than ever, he added.

The Bishop said the will of God for humanity is peace.

To pray for peace, however, requires we re-commit ourselves to doing the will of God in our own lives, in some way correcting within ourselves along with others, the terrible suffering that is being caused through people not doing the will of God, which is peace, he said.

Bishop Leahy said that in praying for peace on St. Patricks Day, we should stand in solidarity with Muslim communities here who also seek peace, especially this week with the end of Ramadan.

We pray for them. They too pray for peace. They too believe that bowing down to do the will of God matters. Indeed, the word Muslims means submitters to God. Muslims often use the greeting as-salamu alaykum, which means peace be upon you, he said.

Let this years celebration of St. Patricks Day be a time to remember that Jesus asked us not to wait passively for that consoling future, Bishop Leahy added.

Last month, Bishop Leahy met with Imam Khaled Ghafour at Limerick Islamic Cultural Centre in Dooradoyle.
WASHINGTON, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate on Sunday advanced Senator Markwayne Mullin's nomination for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, just over two weeks after President Donald Trump announced that he will replace current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

The upper chamber advanced the nomination in a 54 to 37 vote. A final confirmation vote is likely to take place in the coming days.

Mullin, 48, has served in the Senate since 2023 after a decade in the House representing Oklahoma.

His nomination came amid growing bipartisan frustration with Noem's leadership, marking the first Cabinet shakeup of Trump's second term.

"I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected United States Senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), effective March 31, 2026," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on March 5.

Noem has been under bipartisan pressure after federal law enforcement officers fatally shot two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis and further angered Trump with her performance at recent congressional hearings.

"Noem's decision to allot 200 million dollars for an ad campaign, featuring herself urging those living illegally in the U.S. to self-deport, had already rankled the president for months for its self-promotional style," according to an earlier report by The Wall Street Journal. 
For this, it has deployed a dedicated team of medical representatives (MRs) who have undergone rigorous training for the specialised product. There has been a big effort for this (training MRs) in preparation for the launch. Most people who will be promoting the product, have an understanding of the therapy, of the disease pattern, of what these drugs are, said Gupta.
Air India is reportedly planning to roll out a health and fitness compliance rule for its cabin crew, under which staff found to be underweight, overweight or obese may face consequences such as de-rostering and potential loss of pay.

The compliance assessment will be based on the cabin crew members' Body Mass Index (BMI) with a reading between 18-24.9 classified as 'normal' and considered the 'desired range' by the airline.

The initiative, which forms part of the carrier's Cabin Crew Health and Fitness Compliance Policy, is set to come into effect from May 1, 2026, news agency PTI reported it first.

Aim of the initiative The carrier confirmed the reports, saying We have introduced a policy promoting awareness around healthy lifestyles and providing guidance on maintaining appropriate fitness levels.

It is intended to support crew members in sustaining long-term health while being fully prepared for the operational demands of their role and is in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) BMI classifications, Air India told Mint in an official statement.

How does the policy work? Outlining the policy's processes, the airline said it includes periodic checks and guidance, while ensuring employee welfare.

Air India has programs in place around nutrition, wellness, mental health, fatigue management and exercise to help cabin crew members manage their health optimally, it noted.

The carrier further stressed that fitness is intrinsically linked to safety and performance. Ensuring that cabin crew are physically capable of handling critical onboard situations is a key priority for the airline.

BMI criteria for the crew  explained A BMI reading of less than 18 will be considered as 'underweight', though it may be acceptable subject to clearing of medical evaluation and functional assessment.

According to the policy accessed by the news agency, a BMI reading of less than 18 will be classified as underweight, though it may still be considered acceptable if the cabin crew member clears a medical evaluation and functional assessment.

Meanwhile, a BMI reading in the range of 25-29.9 will be categorised as 'overweight' and will be considered acceptable, provided the cabin crew member passes the required functional assessment.

However, a BMI reading of 30 or above will be classifief as 'obese' and will not fall within the acceptable range under the policy.

Consequences of lapses For those who fail to meet the BMI criteria, will be subjected to certain consequences. A cabin crew member will be de-rostered if he or she is found to be either 'underweight' or 'overweight' and will mandatorily require to clear the functional assessment.

In case the member fails to pass the assessment, then he or she will be placed on loss of pay till the clearance happens, the policy said.

Meanwhile, for cabin crew members who are found 'obese', the immediate action will include de-rostering and loss of pay. Such people will have to achieve the acceptable BMI within a certain number of days.
Sebis investigation, however, found that the company diverted the proceeds almost immediately after receiving them toward investments in shares of other companies and loans to various entities. Such uses were not disclosed in the original offer document.



The regulator said in its 2014 interim order that Moryo had admitted that it invested 66% of proceeds of preferential allotment in shares of listed as well as unlisted companies and rest of the money was given as loans and advances to certain entities. This amounted to violations of the Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices (PFUTP) Regulations, it added.
Headcount rose from about 3,000 when Narayen took over to 31,360 by November 2025. The workforce is geographically distributed: the US accounts for about 36% of employees, concentrated in leadership and research roles, while India makes up roughly 29%, with engineering centred in Noida and Bengaluru. Part of that expansion came through acquisitions. Adobe spent more than $15 billion on companies such as Omniture, Marketo, and Magento, building out its Digital Experience segment and adding teams focused on enterprise customers.
Q. Pernod Ricard has some iconic whiskey brands in India, across price segments

All brands aspire to be cultural icons, only a few make it. If there is a whiskey brand that has earned the right to be a cultural icon, it is Blenders Pride. We have dabbled with campaigns that strengthen Blenders Prides association with style, culture and influence. We have consciously used Blenders Pride to shape the conversation around style in India. Blenders Pride literally built the premium category in India. We have over 50% market share, and more than a decade of building cultural relevance.
* CERAWeek organizers informed of Nasser's withdrawal, source says

* Aramco faces biggest challenges since COVID-19 and 2019 attacks

* Kuwait state oil firm KPC's CEO to attend virtually, source says

* Abu Dhabi wealth fund Mubadala executives unlikely to attend, source says

By Maha El Dahan and Yousef Saba

DUBAI, March 22 (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser has cancelled his planned appearance at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston to remain in Saudi Arabia because of the Iran conflict, an industry source told Reuters.

Nasser, who has been CEO of the world's top oil exporter for more than a decade, is usually one of the headline speakers at the conference, one of the energy industry's biggest events.

CERAWeek, organised by S&P Global, which begins on Monday, draws top executives, government officials, and policymakers from around the world to discuss global energy market outlook.

Nasser's withdrawal highlights the scale of the challenge he faces in dealing with the Iran crisis.

He will also not provide a recorded video message for the CERAWeek conference, the source said, adding that the event's organizers had been notified.

The conflict, now in its fourth week, has killed more than 2,000 people, upended global markets and spurred Iranian retaliatory strikes that have effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz and targeted Gulf energy infrastructure, including Aramco's.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran have threatened to escalate the war, targeting energy and fuel facilities in the Gulf. Trump on Saturday threatened to bomb Iran's power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil supplies normally flow.

Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah, CEO of state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, will also not attend the Houston gathering but will join a Tuesday session at the conference virtually from Kuwait, a separate source said.

ENERGY INSTALLATIONS UNDER ATTACK

Aramco is facing its biggest crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2019 attacks on Aramco's Abqaiq and Khurais facilities that temporarily knocked out more than half of Saudi crude output.

During a March 10 earnings call, Nasser told reporters there would be "catastrophic consequences" for the world's oil markets if the Iran war continues to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz.

To bypass the strait, Aramco is piping millions of barrels per day (bpd) of crude from its east coast to its west coast. It has cut oil output by about 2 million bpd from two fields, Reuters has reported.

The alternative route means tankers load at the Red Sea port of Yanbu, which temporarily stopped loadings last week, sending prices surging, after a ballistic missile interception and drone strike at an adjacent refinery.

The SAMREF refinery, an Aramco-Exxon joint venture, was struck by a drone on March 19, when Iran targeted energy installations across the Gulf - including Kuwait's - in response to Israel's strikes on its South Pars gas field.

That wave of attacks hit Qatar's Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas complex, with QatarEnergy's chief telling Reuters 17% of Qatar's LNG capacity would be offline for up to five years.

KEY ABU DHABI EXECUTIVES

Abu Dhabi wealth fund Mubadala is unlikely to have any representatives at the event, a source familiar with the matter said.

It was not immediately clear if Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of the UAE's oil company ADNOC, would attend in person. He is listed as a speaker on the event website. ADNOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

At last year's conference, Jaber said it was time to "make energy great again," mirroring Trump's Make America Great Again slogan while pledging large investments in the U.S. by ADNOC's international investments arm XRG. Nasser last year told CERAWeek there was more of a chance of Elvis speaking than current energy transition plans away from fossil fuels succeeding.
The US governments trade lawyers are working overtime. So what if the work in question requires more imagination than it does expertise?

Over the past fortnight, investigations into 16 countries for supposed manufacturing excess capacity have been launched under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. The office of US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also announced that similar probes would begin into forced labor practices in 60 countries. Several of Americas largest trading partners, including the European Union, Japan, India and Mexico, will be on both lists.

One can safely assume that these 76 inquiries will proceed at a somewhat speedier rate than is usual, and the answers will arrive with the same breathtaking rapidity at which the questions were asked. An even safer assumption is that these answers will just happen to be the ones that the Trump administration wants.

The White House is moving with commendable efficiency here, as it tends to do whenever it sets out to destroy institutions. Section 301 investigations serve a real purpose  identifying countries that are deliberately setting out to violate trading norms  and generally take months. Their purpose was to remove trade barriers, not raise them. Its perverse to employ them as post-hoc scaffolding for a policy thats already been declared unconstitutional.

The entire world can see whats going on. Everyone knew that President Donald Trumps response to the Supreme Court striking down his tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act would be to find another law that lets him do exactly what he was just forbidden from doing. No has never been Trumps favorite word, and if theres one skill that a certain sort of real-estate developer perfects, its forum-shopping.

The list of countries is a bit of a giveaway that this entire process is a legal fiction. Picture an army of worthy USTR officials solemnly poring over Bangladeshs structural overcapacity in manufacturing with all the seriousness of purpose that the exercise demands. Then imagine them turning with equal care to cataloguing the forced-labor practices of Norway, one of the 60 countries being examined.

Hard though it might be, the rest of the world will have to take this seriously. Its far from certain that the courts will ride to the rescue again.

Yes, the margin on the IEEPA ruling was 6-3, and Chief Justice Roberts was quite emphatic. But Section 301 is different. It outlines a process that must be followed, and this investigation, however theatrical, checks off that procedural box. The world cannot assume that the justices will want to strike them down in toto again. The administration is counting on that; Greer has described these provisions as incredibly legally durable.

Washington has clearly learned something from its failures over the past year. Have its counterparts in the rest of the world learned anything from theirs?

First, is it safe to negotiate with Trump? As the European Union has found out, he will relitigate his own deals even when he isnt being forced to by the Supreme Court. What the Section 301 investigations do is reopen  implicitly, perhaps explicitly  every deal Trumps done so far, whether with Korea, Japan, India, or Southeast Asia. Must they go through the whole thing again? Can they?

Some, like Malaysias trade minister, think they will. The bilateral Agreement on Reciprocal Trade that Trump signed with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to considerable fanfare at the ASEAN Summit last year is null and void, the trade minister said: It is not on hold. It is no longer there. The deal was as dead as Monty Pythons parrot. It has ceased to be. Why should any country consider itself bound by agreements signed under coercive terms that a court has voided?

Over the past year, countries rushed to secure piecemeal deals; some allowed panic to overtake them; very few coordinated their actions or retaliations. Washingtons pretense at investigations does at least give the rest of the world time to consider whether that was the best approach to take.

The worst part, of course, is that like all Trumps actions on trade, there is only one objective target. Only one country has enormous manufacturing overcapacity; only one large exporting economy has a structural problem with forced labor. But somehow Trump is too weak to take on China armed with fact, but strong enough to take on the entire world with fiction.

Using a more defensible, granular statute means there are many more points of weakness than there were with the original reciprocal tariffs. Each application of Section 301 should be tested in the courts; every target of tariffs should talk to the others about what it has learned; the House, if the balance of power shifts after midterms, will have to hold the USTR to account.

Nudging the US away from imagination and toward reality will not be an easy process. But it will have to be tried.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Mihir Sharma is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. A senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, he is author of Restart: The Last Chance for the Indian Economy.

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
This assumes significance as India is a major exporter of shirts, with outbound shipments of mens and boys shirts rising from $1.06 billion in FY24 to $1.08 billion in FY25, while exports of womens shirts increased from $1.04 billion to $1.10 billion during the same period. Despite this, the new standards are unlikely to alter export volumes, as manufacturers will continue to follow the sizing and specification norms of importing countries, while ensuring compliance with BIS requirements for the domestic market.
Since the days of ancient Persia, successive world powers including the Greeks, Ottomans and Portuguese sought to control the strait. It was once one of the wealthiest places on Earth, as spices, silk and jewels from India moved through its waters destined for trading centers like Baghdad, and ultimately Europe. Zheng He, a 15th-century Chinese seafarer, visited the strait, and Marco Polo wrote about risk-taking mariners there.
Prabhat Yadav, president of the Morbi Truck Transport Association, which represents over 1,000 truck and logistics company owners, describes the disruption in terms that go beyond the immediate stoppage. Most of our truck drivers are from UP (Uttar Pradesh) and Orissa and since the crisis started, many of them have gone home, he says. Unlike employees in companies, these drivers earn only when they drive. Even though there has been an announcement that gas supplies will start by 15 April, these drivers will return only when they are sure the factories are functioning normally.
Wetherspoons Profit Warning Shows Britains Cost Crisis Is Not Over - Moby

THE GIST

JD Wetherspoons latest update delivers a familiar but uncomfortable message. Sales are holding up, but profits are not. Rising costs across wages, energy and taxes are starting to overwhelm even the most resilient operators, suggesting the UKs consumer economy is entering a more fragile phase.

WHAT HAPPENED

JD Wetherspoon warned that full-year profits are likely to come in below market expectations as cost pressures intensify across its business.

The group reported a sharp decline in profitability for the first half of the year. Pre-tax profit fell to 22 million (about $29 million), down from 33 million a year earlier, while operating profit also declined despite steady revenue growth. Total revenue rose to 1.1 billion and like-for-like sales increased by 4.8%, driven primarily by stronger bar sales.

That combination tells the story. Customers are still showing up, but it is costing more to serve them.

Chair Tim Martin pointed to a wave of rising costs. The company expects around 60 million of additional annual expenses from higher wages and national insurance contributions, alongside roughly 7 million in extra energy costs. Repairs, maintenance and business rates are also adding to the burden.

The company said it would try to keep price increases to a minimum, reflecting its long-standing positioning as a value operator. That creates a difficult balance. Passing costs on risks alienating customers, but absorbing them compresses margins.

Markets reacted quickly. Shares fell sharply after the update as investors adjusted expectations for profitability across the year.

WHY IT MATTERS

Wetherspoon is often seen as a bellwether for the lower end of the UK consumer market. If even a value-focused chain is struggling to convert sales into profit, it raises broader questions about the health of the sector.

The key issue is that the current environment is hitting both sides of the equation at once.

On the demand side, consumers remain under pressure. Higher mortgage costs, elevated energy bills and general cost of living concerns are limiting discretionary spending. Even when customers continue to go out, they are more price sensitive and less willing to absorb increases.

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On the supply side, costs are rising in a way that is difficult to manage. Wage inflation is structural, driven by policy changes and a tight labor market. Energy costs remain volatile, with geopolitical tensions feeding through into utility bills. Tax changes are adding another layer of pressure.
Stocks to buy or sell: The Indian stock market benchmarks, the BSE Sensex and the Nifty 50, closed higher on Friday, March 20, supported by selective buying following sharp losses in the previous session.

The Sensex surged over 1,000 points during intraday trade but pared gains to end 326 points, or 0.44%, higher at 74,532.96, as investors booked profits amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. Meanwhile, the Nifty 50 advanced 112 points, or 0.49%, to settle at 23,114.50.

The Nifty 50 ended the week on a slightly negative note, declining 0.16% to close at 23,114. Despite this mild weakness at the index level, sectoral buying interest remained visible across new-age stocks, textiles, automobiles, telecom, and cement, reflecting underlying broad-based strength in the market, said Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Anand Rathi.

Ganesh Dongre's market outlook for next week Nifty 50 According to Dongre, the Nifty 50 index is expected to trade within a broad range of 22,50023,600, in the upcoming week.

Derivatives data further reinforces this view, with the highest Call open interest concentrated at the 23,500 and 23,200 strike levels, indicating key resistance zones. On the other hand, the highest Put open interest at 22,000 and 23,000 suggests strong support levels for the index, Dongre said.

Bank Nifty Bank Nifty also ended the week on a slightly weak note, down 0.62%, with strong support seen in the 52,00051,500 zone and resistance placed at 56,00056,500.

Overall, market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic. However, a decisive breakout above 24,500 on the Nifty and 56,500 on the Bank Nifty will be essential to confirm a continuation of the upward momentum. Until then, traders are advised to adopt a disciplined buy-on-dips strategy in selective stocks, while keeping a close watch on global cues and geopolitical developments for clearer directional signals, he added.

Weekly stocks to buy or sell Reliance Industries: Buy at 1400-1420, target price of 1460, stop loss of 1370.

ONGC: Buy at 255-260, target price of 290, stop loss of 255.

Wipro: Buy at 185-190, target price of 225, stop loss of 175.
Ashok Ferreys latest novel, Hot Butter Cuttlefish, is set in the fictional lakeside village of Kalabola in Sri Lanka during the covid-19 years. The protagonist, Malik, is a recently divorced personal trainer, who has relocated to this sleepy outpost, leaving behind his life in the city of Colpetty in the hope of some peace and quiet. But new adventures find him in exile as he becomes inadvertently involved in the lives of the local aristocrat fallen on hard times, 58-year-old Arthur, and his prospective bride, a 23-year-old woman called Chanchala, who has her heart fixed on the estate owned by her betrotheds family.

Marked by Ferreys vicious sense of humour and the dark, Naipaulian wit that runs through his descriptions of men and women, Hot Butter Cuttlefish is a breezy read for the most part, until its meandering plot begins to pall slightly on the reader towards the end. The author intersperses Maliks first-person narrative with a third-person omniscient voice, heightening the unreliability of his characters. As soon as the reader begins to trust their intentions, they start acting in ways that raise suspicions about their motives.

Is Chanchala, the nubile beauty, solely drawn to Arthur (referred to as the suddha, or brown sahib, by the locals) for his inheritance? Or is there a flicker of affection in her scheming heart? For that matter, is Malik keen to intervene in this odd pairs lives out of goodwill or self-interest? Can the personal trainer who ends up acting as a proxy therapist to his clients keep himself out of trouble?

As with all his novelsThe Ceaseless Chatter of Demons (2016) being a personal favouriteFerrey is effortlessly funny in Hot Butter Cuttlefish, even when he is dealing with subjects that are decidedly not amusing. Humour, as he told poet and writer Tishani Doshi in an interview in The Hindu in 2019, is a by-product of his writing. His stories dive deep into the Sri Lankan mindset, or what passes for itthe stoic passivity with which ordinary people react to misfortunes, authoritarian politicians, and other turbulences in their lives, riven by years of civil war.

We have the tropical island mentality, where there is no urgency to do any work or better yourself. Money does not motivate us. Time and again I have foreigners asking me how can we (sic) motivate our workers, and actually theres nothing you can do, short of being mother, brother, father, sister to them, Ferrey explained in the same interview. So you have this complex people who will never tell you what they want or mean. Theyre too polite on one hand, and shy. But they will resent you if you dont understand what they want at the same time.

This statement frames the plot of Hot Butter Cuttlefishand especially captures the passive aggressive presence of Kamala, who turns out to be the unlikely heroine of the story. Jilted by Arthur as a young woman, she returns to work as a housekeeper for him. By this time, she is unrecognisable to him. Her looks have faded, though her possessiveness over him remains undiminished.

View full Image View full Image Hot Butter Cuttlefish: By Ashok Ferrey, Penguin Random House India, 240 pages,  499.

Kamalas brute strength of mind and body, as well as her dithering between loathing and loyalty for Arthur, complicate the plot, especially during the topsy-turvy ethos of the covid era. Their domestic squabbles take on violent turns, as Kamalas visceral hatred for Chanchala, who she calls vaisey (or loose woman), reaches a fever pitch.

As the pandemic spreads, people begin to die like flies. But even as Kamala is afflicted by the disease, she manages to recover with great aplomb, and is promptly turned into a mascot for a miracle cure peddled by her cousin Biju, an unscrupulous minister. Just as Arthur had once rejected Kamala, she too had turned down Bijus offer of marriage in the past. Years later, as the three meet under changed circumstances, a new dynamic begins to play out among them.

Although she is a maid when the story begins, Kamala gains the upper hand slowly but surely. At a decisive moment, as Biju tries to coerce Arthur into selling his estate below the market rate, she appears as a raging saviour, threatening to expose his frauds.

Some atavistic memory of a feudalism long gone, some little whiff of primeval fear, rose up in his throat, Ferrey writes, as Kamala confronts Biju, who beats a retreat, despite his political influence. If this isnt true love, what is? Or is it perhaps the long-awaited revenge of the underdog?

It is a cleverly plotted novel, nimble-footed in its unfolding, acerbic and entertaining as a social satire. Ferrey is especially sharp in his critique of the colonial hangover that looms large over the psyche of his people. If the pace does sag in the middle, the gossipy, small-town energy never allows the story to become boring.
In homes across India today, toddlers are learning to swipe before they can fully articulate their thoughts. Screens have quietly become default companions for learning and play, from drawing apps to interactive games that promise cognitive advancement. As a pediatrician, I discuss screen exposure in almost every well-child visit. I often ask parents a simple question: Are our children truly creating, or are they primarily operating systems designed for them?

From a developmental perspective, the difference matters.

Also Read | Making history tangible to children through curated walks

A child using a drawing app appears to be engaging creatively. There are colour palettes, symmetry tools, auto-fill options and the familiar undo button. The results are polished and immediate. Yet neurologically, much of the complex work error correction, spatial planning and fine adjustments is performed by the software. The child makes choices while the device refines the outcome.

Now contrast this with a blank sheet of paper and a box of crayons. There are no prompts or digital corrections. If a child wants to draw a tree, they must decide its size, shape and colour. If a line goes off course, they adapt. If a crayon snaps, they adjust their grip and pressure. There is no undo button only experimentation, problem-solving and persistence.

These moments matter because the early years are among the most dynamic periods of brain development. During this time, children build the foundations of executive function: planning, working memory, impulse control, flexible thinking and sustained attention. Open-ended, hands-on activities activate these neural pathways in ways structured digital interfaces often cannot.

The sensory and motor experience of physical creation is equally important. Holding a crayon strengthens the small muscles of the hand and builds fine motor control. Paint provides texture; paper offers resistance. These experiences support neural development, strengthen handeye coordination and help prepare children for writing. A fingertip gliding across glass simply does not provide the same tactile feedback.

None of this suggests that technology should be eliminated from childhood. Digital literacy is part of modern life. However, balance is essential, particularly in the early years when sensory exploration shapes brain architecture. The World Health Organization recommends no screen time for children under two years of age and no more than one hour per day of sedentary screen time for children aged two to four. Beyond the age of five as well, the WHO recommends that childrens screen time be restricted to a maximum of two hours per day, as pediatricians worldwide are increasingly reporting cases of dry eyes and sleep disruptions linked to excessive student-screen interface.

In clinical practice, I often see something fascinating when children receive open-ended art materials without instructions. At first, there is hesitation: What should I draw? That pause is not a problem it signals the shift from passive consumption to active imagination.

Soon ideas begin to emerge. A line becomes a road, a circle becomes a sun, a smudge becomes a bird. When the child finally holds up the drawing, the pride is unmistakable: I made this.

That sense of stability built through effort, and not automation, helps develop confidence, resilience and intrinsic motivation.

As pediatricians, our goal is not only to raise academically capable children, but individuals who can think independently, adapt to challenges and generate original ideas. In a world that often equates intelligence with digital fluency, it is worth remembering that creativity and deep thinking grow from slower, hands-on experiences.

Sometimes the smartest device in the room is also the simplest. A box of crayons does not flash or buzz. It does not correct mistakes or provide instant rewards. It simply waits, inviting the childs brain and body to do the work they are meant to do.

If we want children with original ideas, who focus deeply and navigate frustration, we must protect space for analogue creativity. Because long before children learn to code the future, their brains must first be wired to imagine it.

Also Read | 7 screen-free indoor activities for your kids
I left my job in 2025 at the age of 48 after working for 18 years. During this period, both me and my employer contributed regularly to my EPF account with the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). My accumulated EPF balance at the time of leaving the job was  50 lakh, including the employers contribution. During my service period, my own contribution to EPF never exceeded  2.5 lakh in any financial year. I'm planning to keep my EPF balance intact with the EPFO until I turn 58, so that the corpus continues to earn interest. I plan to withdraw the entire amount at that time. I would appreciate clarity on the following: Will the interest earned on the EPF balance between age 48 and 58 remain tax-exempt even though I am no longer employed? When I withdraw the entire balance at age 58, will any part of the corpus or accumulated interest become taxable? If I make partial withdrawals before age 58for example, to fund my childrens higher educationwould those withdrawals be taxable? Would such partial withdrawals have any impact on the taxation of the remaining EPF balance that I plan to withdraw at age 58? - name withheld on request Name withheld on request

Response: It is assumed that after leaving your last job in 2025 at the age of 48, you have not taken up employment with any other establishment covered under the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and that you do not intend to do so in the future.

Under the provisions of the Income-tax (IT) Act, the accumulated balance standing to the credit of an employee in a recognized provident fund is exempt from tax if (i) the employee has rendered continuous service with the employer for a period of five years or more (period of service with previous employers is also included for this purpose, provided the provident fund balance has been transferred from the previous employer(s) to the current account) or (ii) if such continuous service (being less than five years) was terminated due to ill-health or contraction or discontinuance of employers business or (iii) any other cause beyond the control of the employee.

Also Read | MTF and the hidden risks in your stock investment plan

Since you have completed more than 18 years of continuous service and have contributed to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) throughout this period, the accumulated balance standing to your credit up to the date of cessation of employment will be exempt at the time of withdrawal.

However, the interest accrued on the accumulated balance, post cessation of employment (the period when no contribution is made to the EPF), is taxable, irrespective of your total contribution period with EPF. Thus, the interest earned by you from the date of cessation of employment in 2025 till the date of withdrawal, shall be taxable.

The tax treatment at the time of your final withdrawal at age 58 would follow the principles noted above. While the accumulated balance as of your last date of employment is exempt, the interest that accrues thereafterduring the period of non-employmentwould be taxable.

With respect to partial withdrawals before attaining the age of 58, such as withdrawals made for your childrens higher education, the same taxability as noted above would apply. Accordingly, as you have rendered more than five years of continuous services and have contributed to the EPF for such period, the taxability of the partial withdrawals will also be as per the specified provisions in point 1.

The partial withdrawals will not have any impact on the taxation of the remaining EPF balance. The taxability of the remaining balance withdrawn at 58 will continue as per the specified provisions in point 1.

Parizad Sirwalla is partner and head, global mobility services, tax, KPMG in India.
15 deer were killed after being attacked by a pack of stray dogs inside an enclosure at an animal rescue centre in Chhattisgarhs Surguja district, officials said on Sunday.

In connection with the incident, which took place at Sanjay Van Vatika in Ambikapur on the night between Friday and Saturday, the forest department suspended four staff members, including a deputy ranger and three forest guards, over alleged negligence.

Sanjay Van Vatika is run by the forest department, and the facility, which functions much like a zoo, is also open to visitors.

A pack of four to five stray dogs entered the park from the adjoining forest and breached the deer enclosure, Surguja Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abhishek Jogawat said.

Fourteen deer, including spotted deer, barking deer, and four-horned antelope, died in the attack on Saturday, while one critically injured animal succumbed to its injuries on Sunday. The deaths were due to dog bites, he confirmed.

The official said the carcasses were disposed of by burning in accordance with prescribed procedures after postmortem examinations were conducted.

He added that Chief Conservator of Forests for the Surguja Circle, Dilraj Prabhakar, had suspended Deputy Ranger Ashok Sinha, who was also overseeing the park, along with forest guards Mamta Porte, Pratima Lakra, and Bindu Singh over alleged negligence.

Ambikapur Forest Ranger Akshapalak Rishi has also been served a notice and directed to submit a reply within five days, failing which further action will be taken.

"An inquiry team led by the Sub-Divisional Officer (Forest), Ambikapur, has been constituted to probe the incident. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty," Jogawat said.

Nilgai, jackal pass away at Delhi zoo In other news, officials said a male nilgai and a jackal died at the National Zoological Park here within three days of each other.

The deaths, which took place on March 10 and March 12, come after similar incidents in recent months that have raised concerns over animal health and monitoring systems.

According to an official, the nilgai was found dead in Beat No. 1 of the zoo, while the jackal was discovered dead in Beat No. 10.

Zoo Director Sanjeet Kumar said both animals died of old age. He added that they had been under observation and that initial findings pointed to age-related complications.

Also Read | Freak accident kills beauty queen: Deer crashes through car windshield

These deaths occurred within three months of other animal fatalities at the zoo, including those of a female antelope, another jackal, and a Sangai deer.
Delhi Police have arrested a 54-year-old woman who allegedly tried to take her own life after the suspected murder of her two daughters at their home in Malviya Nagar, officials said on Sunday.

The case relates to March 6, when the bodies of the two sisters, aged 34 and 28, were discovered in separate rooms of their ground-floor house in F-Block, Malviya Nagar. Their mother was found unconscious in another room, police said.

Officials added that the mother was arrested on Friday after undergoing medical and psychiatric assessment. She is suspected to have consumed a poisonous substance.

Also Read | LPG cylinder price on 22 March: Check cooking gas rates in your city today

Police had initially suspected a murder-suicide attempt and registered a case of murder while waiting to record the woman's statement to establish the sequence of events.

Investigators said the elder daughter, who was mentally challenged, was found with a pillow on her face, while the younger one, a law student, had a ligature around her neck, police said.

The mother was suspected of having consumed a poisonous substance, they added.

Also Read | Delhi weather today: National capital on yellow alert as rain sweeps city

Police said the woman was allegedly under mental distress because of a troubled relationship with her husband and financial dependence on others, which may have driven her to commit the crime.

Officials added that further investigation is ongoing.

Three children among 5 found dead in Kochi house In other news, five people, including three children, were found dead in a rented house in Kochi's Vaduthala on Saturday, police said.

The deceased were identified as 58-year-old Sreekumari, her daughter Aswathi Nair, 36, two grandsons aged 14 and 4, and a two-year-old granddaughter. They were originally from Vilappilsala in Thiruvananthapuram and had been staying in a rented house on Karsaka Road in Vaduthala.

Police suspect the children were poisoned before Sreekumari and Aswathi died by suicide.

According to investigators, the family had been living in the house since February while the elder son received treatment at a nearby private hospital, and they were preparing to move out.

Police said the incident was discovered when a cable TV operator, who had come to the house for work, saw the two women hanging inside a room through a window and immediately alerted others.

The house owner and police soon arrived at the scene and began an investigation.

Police said Aswathis husband had died around eight months ago after the couple had separated. He was reportedly suffering from liver disease linked to alcoholism.

Officials added that after his death, neighbours and others close to the family had allegedly blamed Aswathi and her mother.

A police officer said the family was financially stable, noting that they were paying a monthly rent of 35,000 and also owned a house and property in Thiruvananthapuram. Police also recovered a suicide note from the house.

The bodies were later moved to Kalamassery Medical College, where postmortem examinations are scheduled to be conducted on Sunday.
Petrol and diesel prices across major Indian cities remained largely unchanged on Sunday, 22 March.

Despite volatility in global oil markets due to the Middle East conflict and the consequent stoppage of maritime traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, rates of petrol and diesel for regular customers have held steady in India.

The conflict in the Middle East, which has stretched past three weeks now, broke out on 28 February after the US and Israel carried out joint strikes against Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate.

Since then, the entire region has descended into chaos, with Gulf countries routinely dealing with missile and drone strikes from Tehran.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy trade, has also seen an effective halt in maritime traffic, with Iran threatening strikes against transiting tankers.

Consequently, oil prices have soared globally, with the price of Brent Crude rising from around $72 on February 27 to $112 as of Friday.

Industrial diesel, premium petrol price hiked With rising prices piling pressure on margins, state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) in India on Friday raised the price of industrial diesel and premium petrol.

Industrial diesel, which is sold in bulk to commercial establishments, saw its price hiked by 21.92 a litrea 25% increasewhile the price of premium petrol was raised by 2 a litre.

Regular petrol and diesel prices However, the prices of regular petrol and diesel, which make up the bulk of daily sales at pumps, were left unchanged.

The three major OMCs in India  Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)  revise prices at 6 am every day to ensure rates align with international crude prices and currency exchange rate movements.

Below are petrol and diesel prices across major Indian cities on 22 March.

City Petrol (  /L) Diesel (  /L) Delhi  94.77  87.67 Mumbai  103.54  90.03 Kolkata  105.45  92.02 Chennai  100.84  92.39 Hyderabad  107.46  95.70 Bengaluru  102.96  90.99 Lucknow  94.69  87.81 Ahmedabad  94.49  90.17

What affects petrol and diesel prices in India? There are several factors that influence petrol and diesel prices in India, with the most significant being the price of crude oil on international markets.

The rupee-dollar exchange rate also plays an important role in the pricing of petrol and diesel, given the fact that India imports a large share of its crude oil requirements: a weaker rupee can increase the cost of imported crude, pushing up fuel prices, or vice-versa.

A third factor is the taxes imposed by the Centre and state governments, which form a major component of petrol and diesel prices, and is responsible for fuel price variations across states.
A cargo vessel carrying Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Texas, United States, has arrived at the New Mangalore Port in Mangaluru on Sunday amid reports of supply shortage in several cities of India.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways on Friday said that cargo-related charges for crude oil and LPG shipments at the New Mangalore Port have been waived from March 14 to 31.

The move was aimed at facilitating faster handling of essential fuel supplies. The ministry also added that no congestion has been reported at any port across the country, news agency ANI reported.

Ships sailing through Persian Gulf reported to be safe During an inter-ministerial briefing, Special Secretary of the Shipping Ministry, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, also informed that all 22 Indian ships and 611 sailors on-board in the Persian Gulf are safe amid the West Asia conflict, which has entered its fourth week.

There has been no report of any maritime incident in the last 24 hours. All our 22 ships and 611 Indian sailors in the Persian Gulf region are safe, and we are continuously monitoring them, Sinha was quoted as saying by the agency.

He also added no congestion has been reported in any port. Additionally the "New Mangalore Port has issued a circular for waiver of all cargo-related charges for crude and LPG, which is valid from 14 March to 31 March," the Shipping Ministry official said.

LPG panic eases Over the past few weeks, several cities witnessed a severe LPG supply crisis, prompting people to stand in long queues to stock up their household supplies and move to alternatives such as induction cooktops.

The shortage was triggered by the ongoing conflict between the US-Israel and Iran, which led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway route through which India receives its LPG shipments.

India imports around 62-67% of its LPG, making it heavily dependent on foreign supplies. Meanwhile, nearly 85-90% of that supply comes through the Strait of Hormuz. As the route faced disruptions, supplies were also hit.

Also Read | 161 Indian sailors back from Gulf in last 24 hrs; Nanda Devi docks at Kundla

Also Read | Union govt increases commercial LPG allocation to 50%

However, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas recently said that panic booking of LPG cylinders has declined significantly, with only 55 lakh bookings reported on Thursday.

Speaking at an inter-ministerial briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, also highlighted an improvement in the LPG crisis, saying, "There is no panic booking now. Only 55 lakh LPG booking reported yesterday."

According to ANI, Sharma also reassured consumers, saying that there is no shortage of supply across the country. "There is adequate stock available, no outlets are dry out," she stated. However, she acknowledged that some other concerns remain.

Indian crude oil tanker arrived in Gujarat On Wednesday, the Indian-flagged crude oil tanker, Jag Laadki, successfully arrived at Adani Ports Mundra in Gujarat, marking a significant addition to the nation's energy imports.

Earlier, the two Indian-flagged LPG carriers safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz before arriving in India on March 16 and 17. MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi carried around 92,712 metric tonnes of LPG through the Strait of Hormuz on early Friday, March 13, 2026, according to the news agency.

(with agency inputs)
Indian refiners are planning to resume buying Iranian oil after Washington temporarily relaxed sanctions to ease an energy crunch triggered by the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, according to a report by Reuters.

Meanwhile, refiners across other Asian countries are also examining similar moves. The renewed interest comes as the conflict in West Asia disrupted shipping routes, threatening oil flows, and forcing major energy-importing nations to look for alternative supplies.

Livemint could not independently verify the reports.

Also Read | Asian refiners lock in Russian crude early amid Middle East shortages

Indian refining officials said they will purchase Iranian oil and are awaiting further directions from the government and clarification from the United States on details such as payment terms, the agency reported.

US eased sanctions on Russian oil The latest sanctions waiver on Iranian oil follows a similar move by the Trump administration on Russian crude. Earlier, Washington announced that US penalty on Russian oil would not apply for 30 days on deliveries that had been already loaded on tankers.

American sanctions will not apply for 30 days on deliveries of Russian oil thats been loaded on tankers as of Thursday (March 12), US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on X (formerly Twitter).

Refiners in India, which maintains significantly smaller crude stockpiles than other major Asian oil importers, rushed to book Russian oil after the US lifted sanctions temporarily earlier this month, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, other Asian refiners are still making checks to see if they can purchase the oil, the report stated.

Iranian oil also gets relief The Trump administration on Friday issued a 30-day sanctions waiver for the purchase of Iranian oil already at sea, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

The waiver applies to oil loaded on any vessel, including sanctioned tankers, on or before March 20 and discharged by April 19, according to the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

This marks the third time Washington has temporarily waived sanctions on oil shipments since the beginning of the war.

Consultancy Energy Aspects estimated on March 19 that approximately 130 million to 140 million barrels of Iranian oil is currently on water, which is equivalent to less than 14 days of current Middle East production losses.

Asia relies on the Middle East for 60% of its crude supply and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz this month has forced refineries across the region to run at lower rates and slash fuel exports.

Payment process, other complications still an issue However, traders flagged some potential complications for buying Iranian oil, which include uncertainty over how to process the payment and the fact that a large share of oil is aboard aging shadow fleet ships, Reuters said.

Additionally, some former buyers of Iranian oil were contractually obligated to buy from National Iranian Oil Co., two people aware of the developments told the agency. However, since the US re-imposed sanctions in late 2018, Iranian oil has been sold in major parts by third-party traders.

Apart from China, some major buyers of Iranian crude oil before the sanctions were re-imposed include nations such as India, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Greece, Taiwan and Turkey.



(with agency inputs)
Weeks after the US and Israel waged a war against Iran and targeted the latter's military and naval forces, Kashmiri residents are now coming forward to donate to the relief fund for Iran.

The Iranian embassy in India shared videos and images, expressing gratitude for the donations in social media posts. In one of the posts on X, the embassy wrote, "With hearts full of gratitude, we sincerely thank the kind people of Kashmir for standing with the people of Iran through their humanitarian support and heartfelt solidarity; this kindness will never be forgotten."

Kashmir takes part in a donation drive Kashmiri residents have been donating cash, gold, and copper utensils. According to a PTI report, a day after Eid celebrations, youth in Shia-majority areas of the valley went door to door on Sunday, collecting donations for those affected by the ongoing war in Iran.

In another post, the embassy shared a video of a Kashmiri woman donating a gold memento from her husband, who passed away 28 years ago. The donations came nearly a week after the Iranian embassy in India posted details of a bank account on its social media platform for the war-hit country.

The report, citing officials, said people from all walks of life, including men, women, and children, came forward and participated in the donation drive. The officials also added that women, in particular, came forward to make generous contributions. They donated gold jewellery, copper utensils, and other valuable household items. Several families also offered their livestock.

Donations have been gathered, particularly in Budgam and Baramulla, which have significant Shia populations. Those involved said the contributions are likely to be routed through authorised relief agencies, including the Iranian Embassy, to ensure they reach those in need.

PM Modi addresses Parliament over West Asia conflict On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Parliament over the ongoing conflict in West Asia. He said, "India's role in diplomacy is clear. From the beginning, we have expressed our deep concern about this conflict. I have personally spoken to all the relevant leaders in West Asia. I have urged everyone to de-escalate tensions and end this conflict. India has condemned attacks on civilians, energy, and transport infrastructure.

PM Modi speaks with the Iranian President Amid the ongoing war in the Middle East, which has plunged the region into a wider and renewed military confrontation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday. During the telephonic conversation, Pezeshkian called on the India-led BRICS grouping to play an independent role in "halting aggressions" across Tehran.

Also Read | PM Modi directs setting up of dedicated group to deal with West Asia crisis

The 21 March conversation was the second between the two leaders since tensions flared up in the Middle East on 28 February, after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran. According to a statement from the Iranian embassy in India, Pezeshkian highlighted "the dimensions of the aggression, unlawful attacks, and crimes committed by the US and the Zionist regime." He further emphasised that Tehran did not initiate the war.

During the call, PM Modi, who wished Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr to Pezeshkian, expressed concern as tensions escalate in the Middle East. PM Modi also condemned "any attacks on energy infrastructure" in the region, adding that they pose serious threats to global food and energy security. He further highlighted the need to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz and maintain unhindered maritime movement across the Persian Gulf.
Born and raised in Miami, Kimberly Jones had lived in South Florida her entire life, until recently.

Her children, family and friends all live in Florida. And yet, at age 60, Kimberly and her retired husband decided to relocate to North Carolina.

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As she explained in an article for Business Insider, Florida has become unlivable thanks to the rising costs, traffic congestion and extreme weather (1). Jones believes the cost of living is now out of control, adding that South Florida now feels overly developed.

Her commute to and from work in Florida was taking two-and-a-half hours each day. Meanwhile, her insurance premiums were going up, and everyday expenses like groceries were becoming noticeably more expensive.

South Florida is nothing like what it used to be, she told Business Insider. As she saw clusters of cranes and new buildings going up, she often wondered who could afford to live there.

Despite everything shes given up, she says her quality of life has improved since making the move. And shes not alone, with some retirees leaving Florida for other southern states in search of long-term financial stability and a better lifestyle.

Why some Floridians are leaving

Thanks to its warm climate and lack of state income tax, Florida has long been considered a retirement haven. But rising home prices, the threat of hurricanes (and skyrocketing insurance premiums) as well as infrastructure strain are pushing some long-time residents out.

And many are packing up the U-Haul in search of more affordability  and a more laid-back lifestyle  in neighboring states. The retirement conversation is no longer just about where to save on taxes, but how to offset the rising cost of living and boost quality of life.

Related: 4 money moves that could change your retirement

Florida was the second-fastest growing state from 2023 to 2024, making it the third-most populous state in America with 23.4 million people, according to Realtor.com (2). But in 2023, about 500,000 people left Florida for another state, according to the most recent census data (3).

Jones told Business Insider that many Floridians who choose to move are staying in southern states, and the numbers bear this out. Neighboring state Georgia, for example, was the most popular destination, accounting for more than 10% of Floridas outbound migration in 2024.
Iran has warned that the strategic Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed if the United States follows through on threats to target its power plants, escalating tensions in the Gulf.

ANI reported that in a statement carried by Press TV, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said: The Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed, and it will not be reopened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt.

Closed only to the enemyfor now Zolfaghari said the vital shipping lane remains under Irans control but has not yet been fully shut.

We have said repeatedly that the Strait of Hormuz is closed only to the enemy and to harmful traffic harmless passage occurs under specific regulations that ensure our security and interests, he said.

Energy infrastructure legitimate targets The Iranian official warned that retaliation would extend beyond the Strait, targeting regional energy assets.

All power plants, energy infrastructure, and information technology (ICT) infrastructure of the Zionist regime will be extensively targeted, Zolfaghari said.

He added that the power plants of countries in the region that host American bases will be legitimate targets for us.

Threats to US economic interests Zolfaghari further escalated rhetoric by warning of broader economic consequences.

Everything is ready for the great struggle aimed at the complete destruction of all American economic interests in the West Asia region, he said.

He also claimed that companies in the region with American shareholders would be completely destroyed.

Despite the strong warnings, the spokesperson insisted Iran does not seek conflict.

We were not the initiators of war however, if the enemy damages our power plants, we will do whatever it takes to defend our country, he said.

If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN the United States will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, Trump said in a post on Truth Social, giving Tehran a 48-hour deadline.
Quote of the Day, 22 March: Move fast and break things. Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough  Mark Zuckerberg

Quotes often have the power to motivate one and help them become a new person. Through inspirational quotes, individuals whether they are students, workers or entrepreneurs, can get motivated to achieve what they really want in life.

Reflecting regularly on inspiring words and quotations can help one cultivate positivity in their lives. Quotes have the power to say things in minimal words that can express a plethora of emotions, standing out as a learning step for many. They help one gain new perspective and navigate challenges.

One such person who has shared such motivational quotes throughout his entrepreneurial journey is Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg. The businessman, who has gained huge success over the past two decades, has often been heard saying inspiring lines that can inspire generations to come.

Here is everything you need to know about the Quote of the Day today, 22 March, by Mark Zuckerberg.

Quote of the Day, today, 22 March The quote of the day today, 22 March, is by Mark Zuckerberg. It says: Move fast and break things. Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough.

What does the Quote of the Day today mean? The quote of the day today, 22 March, is one of Mark Zuckerberg's most famous quotes. It has widely been used as the company motto of Facebook.

Over the years, the quote has become common advice for entrepreneurs looking to get ahead. It talks about how during your entrepreneurial journey you need to move with speed and not care when things go wrong. The phrase move fast focuses on prioritising speed, experimenting things and not overthink it. Break things signifies that mistakes and issues are expected when you move fast.

The second part of the quote says, Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough. Here, breaking stuff refers to making mistakes. Zuckerberg says that if you do not make mistakes while moving ahead, your speed is not up to mark. If nothing ever goes wrong, you are likely taking things too slow and it may come as a hindrance to actual growth.

Who is Mark Zuckerberg? Mark Zuckerberg is the founder of Facebook, the first social media platform that took the world by storm and stayed relevant even today. Zuckerberg later acquired social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp. In 2021, he brought all his companies under a single platform called Meta and became the Chairman and CEO of this merged entity.

Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook as part of a college experiment in Harvard when he was just 19. His platform soon moved out of his college dorm as it boomed across the world, and the entrepreneur dropped out of Harvard in second year to pursue his business.

Zuckerberg took Facebook public in 2012; he now owns about 13% of the company's stock.

In January 2019, Zuckerberg laid plans to integrate an end-to-end encrypted system for three major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Today, Meta is one of the most successful companies in the world and has become a leading tech company.

Mark Zuckerberg is married to his college sweetheart Priscilla Chan. The couple has three daughters together.

Mark Zuckerberg net worth Mark Zuckerberg is one of the richest persons in the world. He became the world's youngest self-made billionaire when he was 23 in 2008 and has been constantly ranked among the wealthiest people in the world.

Today, Mark Zuckerberg net worth stands at $203.8 billion, as per Forbes Real Time Billionaires. He is the fifth richest person in the world.

More quotes by Mark Zuckerberg The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.

Ideas dont come out fully formed , they only become clearer as you work on them . You just have to get started.

If you just work on stuff that you like and youre passionate about, you dont have to have a master plan with how things will play out.

I think a simple rule of business is, if you do the things that are easier first, then you can actually make a lot of progress.

So many businesses get worried about looking like they might make a mistake, they become afraid to take any risk. Companies are set up so that people judge each other on failure.
US President Donald Trump publicly mocked Chuck Schumer after the Senate minority leader briefly misspoke during remarks on the chamber floor.

Trump highlighted the moment in a social media post: Schumer got discombobulated in the Senate yesterday, and said, WE MUST FUND ICE, prior to correcting himself, Trump wrote. Thank you Chuck, I agree!

Schumer quickly corrected the statement to say: We must fund TSA now.

Shutdown fight and legislative gridlock The remark came amid an ongoing standoff over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Senate Democrats are currently filibustering a Republican-backed election bill, the SAVE America Act, while also pushing for targeted funding measures.

Schumers argument centered on the impact of the shutdown, particularly disruptions at airport security checkpoints due to lapses in Transportation Security Administration (TSA) funding.

TSA disruptions raise travel concerns With DHS funding having lapsed in mid-February, staffing shortages have begun to affect major US airports. Reports of increased absenteeism among TSA officers have led to longer wait times, especially during the busy spring break travel season.

Schumer used the moment to urge immediate action: We must fund TSA now.

Democrats attempted to pass a standalone funding bill for TSA, but Republicans blocked the effort, arguing that broader DHS funding is critical to national security.

ICE funding becomes flashpoint Trump seized on Schumers initial slip to reinforce a key Republican talking point: that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations are not immediately affected by the current funding lapse.

According to Republicans, ICE funding had already been secured through prior legislation, reducing the urgency compared to other DHS functions.

Tensions linked to Minnesota incidents The funding dispute is also tied to heightened political tensions following deadly immigration enforcement incidents in Minnesota. Fatal shootings during ICE operationsincluding the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Prettihave intensified scrutiny of federal immigration tactics.
For the roughly 50,000 people screening passengers and luggage at airports across the United States every single day, the past five weeks have amounted to an extraordinary ordeal. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have been reporting for duty - standing at conveyor belts, operating body scanners, managing queues - without receiving a single dollar in return. Their first zero-dollar paycheck arrived in mid-March, the consequence of a government funding lapse that began on 14 February, when Congress failed to agree on financing for the Department of Homeland Security.

Also Read | Government shutdown: Elon Musk offers to pay salaries of unpaid TSA staff

The human cost has been immediate and visible. More than 300 TSA officers have already left the agency since the shutdown began, according to DHS figures, while unscheduled absences have more than doubled.

At airports including Orlando, Houston Hobby, and Philadelphia, passengers have faced hours-long queues. A workforce that has quietly underpinned the safety of one of the world's busiest aviation systems since the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks is now, in the words of one industry analyst, turning to food banks and community donations simply to get by.

Trump Threatens ICE Deployment at Airports Donald Trump on Saturday, with a social media post that sharply escalated tensions,t announced plans to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to US airports as early as Monday if congressional Democrats refused to agree to a DHS funding arrangement.

Trump indicated the ICE agents would do far more than fill security gaps. "I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before, including the immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants who have come into our Country, with heavy emphasis on those from Somalia," he wrote.

In a follow-up post, Trump added that he was looking "forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, 'GET READY.' NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!"

Democrats have repeatedly attempted to fund the TSA independently of the broader DHS dispute, but those efforts have been blocked by Republicans in Congress.

Elon Musk Steps In With Salary Offer Hours before Trump's posts, Elon Musk made a striking intervention of his own. The tech billionaire offered, via microblogging platform, X (formerly Twitter), to personally cover the salaries of TSA personnel for the duration of the standoff.

"I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country," Elon Musk wrote.

The offer has not yet translated into a formal arrangement, and significant legal and logistical questions surround whether private payment of federal government employees is even permissible. Nonetheless, it thrust the question of what TSA agents actually earn into sharp public focus.

So How Much Do TSA Agents Actually Make? The answer, it turns out, depends considerably on experience, location, and seniority  but for the majority of frontline officers, the salaries are decidedly middle-class at best, and below the cost of living in many parts of the country.

Most TSA officers start on approximately $40,000 a year, according to Business Insider report. A DHS spokesperson confirmed to this to the publication that agents average "anywhere from $60,000 to $75,000" as they accumulate experience.

At the entry level  Band D, Step 1 on the TSA's internal pay structure, broadly equivalent to the federal government's GS-5 grade  officers earn roughly $35,000 in base pay before any locality adjustments. With a standard 16.8% locality uplift applied across most US cities in 2026, that figure rises to around $40,000, or approximately $19 per hour for a standard working week.

That is more than double the federal minimum wage, but it still falls short of what a single adult with no children needs to cover basic living costs in most American states, according to data from World Population Review. The national median wage for full-time workers sits at around $63,000 annually, per Bureau of Labor Statistics figures.

Location Matters: San Francisco TSA Officers Can Earn Far More Geography plays a significant role in take-home pay. Around 50 cities with higher costs of living attract additional locality supplements on top of the standard adjustment. San Francisco offers the largest boost, 46.3% above base salary, meaning a newly hired officer in the Bay Area takes home roughly $50,500 a year before bonuses, rising to approximately $65,600 at the top of the entry-level band, the Business Insider report adds.

Other cities offering locality boosts of at least 30% include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Seattle, Boston, Washington DC, San Diego, Hartford, and Alaska. Officers in Chicago or Houston with sufficient seniority can cross into six-figure territory through these adjustments alone.

Career Progression and Senior TSA Salaries Officers who remain with the agency and advance through its pay bands can earn considerably more. Moving into the F band, which encompasses roles such as Lead TSO or Security Training Instructor, places an officer in a salary range of roughly $61,000 to $79,000.

Programme analysts, whose work involves strategic planning and operational coordination rather than frontline screening, fall within the G band and earn between approximately $74,000 and $96,000 in standard-locality cities, with Houston and Hartford pushing those figures above $100,000.

At the apex of the structure sit Federal Security Directors, the senior officials responsible for overseeing operations at individual airports.

At the top of the K and L pay bands, their base salary reaches around $162,600.

Factor in San Francisco locality pay, and a Step 10 director there would earn in the region of $238,000 annually. In Los Angeles, the equivalent figure sits at approximately $222,000.

'It's Difficult to Work on a Sustained Basis Without Income' For the tens of thousands of officers nowhere near those upper echelons, the current situation is far grimmer.

The staffing exodus, over 300 departures in five weeks, and the surge in unplanned absences have produced the queues now snaking through terminal after terminal.
A blast that injured over 30 civilians and tore through homes in Bahrains Mahazza earlier this month may have been caused by an American-operated Patriot air defense battery and not an Iranian drone attack as previously believed.

On Saturday, Bahrain acknowledged for the first time that a Patriot missile was involved in the explosion over the Mahazza neighborhood on Sitra island, offshore from the capital Manama and also home to an oil refinery.

What Bahrain said In a statement to Reuters, a Bahraini government spokesperson said the missile successfully intercepted an Iranian drone mid-air, saving lives.

Also Read | Middle East conflict: Bahrain says Iranian missile strikes oil refinery

The damage and injuries sustained were not a result of a direct impact to the ground of either the Patriot interceptor or the Iranian drone, the spokesperson said.

US and Bahrain have Patriot systems Both Bahrain and the United States operate US Patriot air defense batteries in the kingdom, a close US ally located on the Persian Gulf that hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet along with the regional US naval command.

What happened on March 9 On the night of the explosion in Mahazza, the refinery on Sitra came under Iranian attack, according to the Bahraini national oil company Bapco.

Video of the aftermath of the Mahazza blast in Bahrain, verified by Reuters, shows rubble around houses, a thick layer of dust in the streets, an injured man and screaming residents.

Reuters could not establish whether the cause of the explosion during a night of Iranian attacks on Sitra would have been immediately apparent to US and Bahraini forces.

What researchers found But research associates Sam Lair and Michael Duitsman and Professor Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey concluded with moderate-to-high confidence that the suspect missile was likely launched from a U.S. Patriot battery located about 7 km to the southwest of the Mahazza neighborhood.

The conclusions of the three American munitions and open-source intelligence researchers were based on their review of open-source visuals and commercial satellite imagery.

Produced by Raytheon, part of RTX Corp, the Patriot is the U.S. Armys primary high-to-medium-range air and missile interceptor system and forms the backbone of U.S. and allied air defenses.

The researchers were unable to say with confidence what caused the Patriot to explode. But they added that based on the available evidence, including the pattern and spread of damage on the ground, it appeared to have detonated mid-flight.

They concluded that it was possible the Patriot was aimed at a low-flying drone and that the combined explosion of the missile and drone ignited the blast, the analysis said.

Also Read | UK sends warship HMS Dragon to Eastern Mediterranean after Cyprus drone attack

If this was the case, this was an irresponsible intercept attempt as it endangered the lives and the homes of allied civilians in a residential area, the analysis said.

This scenario matches what Bahrains government spokesperson said happened: that the Patriot intercepted an Iranian drone and both detonated in the air.

Asymmetric war The use of costly, advanced weaponry to defend against attacks by far cheaper drones has been a defining feature of the war. The incident points to the risks and limitations of this strategy: The blast from the powerful Patriot, whether or not it intercepted a drone, contributed to widespread damage and casualties, while Bahrains air defenses were unable to prevent strikes that night on the nearby oil refinery, which declared force majeure hours later.

(With Reuters inputs)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (local time) called on the global leaders to join hands with Israel and the US in their war against Iran, citing Tehran's recent attacks on Tel Aviv.

Calling it evidence of what he described as a growing global threat, Netanyahu, who was speaking at the site of a missile strike in Israel's Arad, said that the developments that have occurred in the last two days show how Tehran poses a danger not only to Israel but also to the wider international community.

Iran poses a threat to the world: Netanyahu In a video posted on X, Netanyahu said, Iran has proven again in the last 48 hours that it is the enemy of civilization and a danger to the free world: targeting children, families, and the elderly with terror missiles, threatening Jerusalems holy sites, launching long-range missiles, and trying to blackmail the world through the Strait of Hormuz.

Calling on the world leaders, he said, I ask the leaders of the free world: what are you waiting for? Israel is fighting not only for itself, but for all of you.

He went on to say that apart from targeting civilians and threatening Jerusalem's holy sites, Tehran is also stopping international maritime traffic routes and the energy route, and is trying to blackmail the whole world. His remarks were in reference to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) decision to shut the Strait of Hormuz, days after the US and Israel waged a war against Tehran and killed several of its top leaders, including the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The closure of the Strait, which is a narrow yet crucial waterway, is responsible for transporting roughly one-fifth of the world's oil, has rattled the global energy markets in the last few weeks.

Also Read | Iran claims it has shot down US F-15 fighter jet near Hormuz Island

Netanyahu welcomes Trump's appeal for actions against Iran Welcoming the appeal made by US President Donald Trump, calling for broader international action against Tehran, Netanyahu said that it is an essential action, not just for the US and Israel, but also to maintain global security.

Iran targets Israeli cities On Saturday, Iran targeted two Israeli cities, Arad and Dimona, targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure with missiles. The attack left several injured. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that at least 80 people were injured in a missile attack in Arad, located in the south of Israel. It added that a total of 100 people, including children, have been injured after ballistic missiles targeted Arad and Dimona. The strikes also caused extensive damage to residential areas.

Media reports suggest that the attack was in retaliation for the strikes that were launched earlier on Saturday, targeting Tehran's Natanz nuclear facility.

Iran's previously unknown military capabilities in focus Netanyahu's appeal to the global leaders came days after Tehran launched ballistic missiles at a joint US-UK base in Diego Garcia, a remote island situated in the Indian Ocean. On Friday, hours after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed the US to use British bases to launch attacks on Iran, a move which was condemned by Tehran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the Islamic Republic launched two missiles, while one was intercepted by the US' SM-3, and another failed mid-air. While there were no reported casualties or damage, the incident continues to gain traction because it has revealed Tehran's previously unknown military capabilities.

Diego Garcia is 4,000 kilometers away from Tehran, and the Islamic Republic previously claimed that its missile range is 2,000 kilometers.
Swati Gandhi

Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and Indias strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelors degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
As a percentage of the combined output of the 21 states, the subsidy rose from 2.2% in 201819 to 2.7% in 202324. It rose to 3% in 202425 as per the revised estimates but budget estimates of 2025-26 put it at 2.7%. The FC said large cash transfers have grown from 3% of all revenue subsidies in 201819 to 20.2% in 202526.
Despite asymmetry in military technology, Iran has been able to impose severe strategic costs on the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia by exploiting economic asymmetry. Even if most Iranian missiles are intercepted above Arab skies, the psychology underpinning the Gulfs prosperity has been damaged. And even if, as has been reported, the US did not prioritize Israels defence over that of the GCC states, the realization that it might do so is not lost on the regions elite.
Samsung has confirmed that its latest A series models, the Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57, will be launching in India and other global markets on 25 March. The Korean smartphone maker did not share many details about the phones, but leaks around the devices have already given us much of the details about the two devices. Here's a look at everything to expect from the two A series models.

Samsung Galaxy A37, A57 expected specifications: As per leaks, both the Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57 could feature a flat 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and up to a 120Hz refresh rate.

The Galaxy A37 could be powered by the Samsung Exynos 1480 processor with up to 6GB or 8GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A57 could run on the Exynos 1680 chip with up to 8GB of RAM. The two phones are expected to come with support for 128GB and 256GB of internal storage while also coming with support for external storage via a microSD card slot.

Just like the Galaxy S26 lineup, the A series is also tipped to be running on the latest One UI 8.5 with a promise of 7 years of OS updates and security patches. The two phones could come with a 5,000mAh battery with support for 45W of wired fast charging.

Also Read | Is PlayStation still down? What does Status page say

As for optics, the two devices could feature an identical camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5MP macro lens. The front of the phones could feature a 12MP shooter for selfies and video calls.

Feature Samsung Galaxy A37 Samsung Galaxy A57 Display 6.7-inch Super AMOLED (2340 x 1080), 120Hz 6.7-inch Super AMOLED (2340 x 1080), 120Hz Processor Samsung Exynos 1480 Samsung Exynos 1680 RAM & Storage 6GB / 8GB RAM + 128GB / 256GB (Non-expandable) 8GB RAM + 128GB / 256GB (Non-expandable) Rear Camera 50MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro 50MP primary + 12MP ultra-wide + 5MP macro Front Camera 12MP (f/2.2) 12MP (f/2.2) Battery & Charging 5,000mAh, 45W wired fast charging 5,000mAh, 45W wired fast charging Software Android 16 (One UI 8.5) Android 16 (One UI 8.5) Dimensions / Thickness 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4mm 161.5 x 76.9 x 6.9mm Weight 196g 192g
Selling a home can come with one of the most generous tax breaks in the U.S. tax code  but a recent Tax Court ruling is a sharp reminder that this isnt true in every situation.

In Pesarik v. Commissioner, a real-estate manager sold two properties in 2020 for a combined $743,800 (1)  properties hed originally paid $424,750 for, and on which he believed he owed no tax gains, according to a Wall Street Journal story.

Must Read

Tax Court Chief Judge Patrick Urda ruled otherwise: Jeffrey Pesarik owed taxes on $255,281 of unreported income, plus penalty and interest charges. He had failed to prove one home qualified as his principal residence, and also didnt substantiate much of the claimed improvement basis of the other.

The case shows what can happen when sellers assume they qualify for tax breaks they havent actually earned or documented.

Many sellers assume the IRS wont ask questions, CPA Eric Bronnenkant of Edelman Financial Engines told the Wall Street Journal (2).

What the break is and what it requires

The home-sale exclusion under Section 121 of the tax code lets qualifying sellers exclude up to $250,000 of profit from a home sale if filing single, or up to $500,000 for married couples filing jointly. Its a significant break, but it comes with strict conditions (3).

According to the IRS, to qualify, you must have owned and lived in the home as your primary residence for at least two of the five years immediately before the sale. You can only claim it once every two years. If you own more than one home, the IRS specifies the exclusion applies only to your main residence  not a vacation home, rental, or investment property (4).

While Pesarik satisfied the ownership timeline on his Massachusetts home, the problem was proving it was actually his main home.

The judge noted he had no Massachusetts tax filings or in-state drivers license, and his credit card bills went to a P.O. box in New Hampshire. The drivers license he used for ID was from Arizona. Utility usage didnt establish consistent Massachusetts residency. So, the court denied the exclusion, costing him a taxable gain of over $137,000 on that property alone (2).
Elon Musk has embarked on the most epic chip-building exercise in history with the launch of "Terafab". The new initiative will be a joint venture between Tesla and SpaceX and has begun with an advanced manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas. Musk claims the new facility is the only one in the world to have the entire chip-making lifecycle under one roof, including memory, packaging, testing, and manufacturing of lithography masks.

Speaking at a recent event, Musk announced the new facility to solve what he described as a looming shortage in AI compute. We either build the Terafab or we dont have the chips and we need the chips, so were going to build Terafab.

Were very grateful to our existing supply chain, to Samsung, TSMC, Micron, and others. We would like them to expand as quickly as they can, and we will buy all of their chips, Musk said at the event. I have said these exact words to them, but there is a maximum rate at which theyre comfortable expanding. That rate is much less than we would like.

Musk noted that the Terafab facility will focus on developing two distinct classes of chips. The first will be designed for Tesla vehicles and the Optimus humanoid robot and will be optimized for edge inference.

The second class of chips will be designed for space and will be made to handle hostile environments and run hotter than terrestrial chips.

The world's richest man says that the Terafab project is aimed at making chips that support 100 to 200 gigawatts of computing power on Earth, along with a terawatt in space.

Musk wants to take AI beyond Earth Musk also reiterated his plan for getting AI compute off the planet and noted that the cost of deploying AI in space will drop below the cost of terrestrial AI sooner than what people expect.

I think it may be only 2 or 3 years before it is actually lower cost to send AI chips to space than it is on the ground, Musk said.

As soon as the cost to orbit drops it immediately makes extremely compelling sense to put AI in space. It becomes a no-brainer basically, he added.
While the rise of AI has been portrayed as a great equaliser by the tech industry, another scary aspect of the new technology has also been the rise of spam. Social media platforms have often been filled with AI-generated content that has colloquially been termed AI Slop, and different platforms are already looking at steps to counter this threat.

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, in a recent podcast, said that the social media platform is looking for new ways to ensure that it remains a space for genuine human connection. While he acknowledged that some AI use is acceptable on the platform, like non-native speakers using AI for translation or writing assistance, Huffman states that the priority of the platform is to ensure that a real person is actively driving the conversation.

Speaking on the TBPN podcast, Huffman said, For us, Reddit is for humans. That is our platform, that is our product. It's human connection and community.

Huffman, while prioritising the idea of humanness and human verification, gave the metaphor of ass in the seat, meaning that the platform wants to guarantee an actual human is using Reddit instead of an AI agent.

Huffman on using Face ID and passkeys: Huffman said that the most lightweight tools to maintain authenticity on the platform are tools like passkeys and biometric technologies like Apple's Face ID or Touch ID because they call for an inherent physical human action like looking directly at the screen or touching a fingerprint sensor.

The most lightweight way (to prove authenticity) is with something like Face ID. Face ID or Touch ID, broadly, it's in the family of technology called passkeys, which I actually didn't appreciate about these a year ago. They actually require human presence, Huffman said on the podcast.

A human has to touch or do or look at something. That actually just proves that there's a person there or gets you pretty far. I think that's very lightweight and accepted. I think there are heavier versions like ID-checking services, which we have to use for regulations here or there, he added.

Huffman also stressed that while Reddit wants to implement human verification, it also wants to maintain the promise of user anonymity.
Conal Gallen

He is back with the gags, the characters, and the one-liners that have made him a legend.

Join Conal Gallen, Irelands master of mayhem, for a night of laugh-out-loud stand-up in The Last Laugh Tour.

From mad family stories to classic Irish observations, Conal delivers the kind of comedy only he can. Its cheeky, its wild  and its pure craic from start to finish.

READ NEXT: 'Committed to supporting our people': Longford-based company wins Best Workplaces award

Book your seats now  youll be laughing all the way home.

Tickets for Conal Gallen at Backstage Theatre on Thursday, March 26 at 8pm are available on 043 33 47888 or backstage.ie

From the team that brought you Forgotten, Underneath and the Olivier Award-winning Silent, Before is a play with music, set in Clerys of Dublin, on the very day this iconic department store shuts  for good.

Pontius is inside, trying to choose a gift for his estranged daughter, whom he hasnt seen for almost 20 years. He will meet her in an hour.

This fathers journey is both beautiful and strange, from the isolation of his Midlands home, to the madness of OConnell Street.

Some folk are impossible to buy for

READ NEXT: Longford meeting hears calls for emergency payment to be made to people with disabilities

Tickets for Before at Backstage Theatre on Wednesday, March 25 at 8pm are available on 043 33 47888 or backstage.ie
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

The world is "on the brink" of a capital war, according to billionaire investor Ray Dalio.

Speaking at the World Government Summit, Dalio said that the five "big forces" that have historically signaled the collapse of world orders are shifting. The multilateral system established in 1945defined by the United Nations, World Trade Organization and a U.S.-dominated monetary frameworkis rapidly fracturing. For investors, that raises uncomfortable questions about how much of their wealth is tied to paper systems that can be frozen, devalued or restructured in a hurry.

"The monetary order is changing, breaking down in a certain way," Dalio said.

Dailio said the transition from a multilateral to a unilateral, power-based world order is well underway, blaming the massive accumulation of debt and the proliferation of fiat systems as primary catalysts for the instability. It's the kind of backdrop that has more investors revisiting hard assets and, in some cases, reallocating a slice of their savings into physical gold and silver through specialists like Preserve Gold.

From Trade Wars to Capital Wars

While much of the current market anxiety focuses on trade tariffs and manufacturing protectionism, Dalio warned that the next phase of conflict involves the flow of money itself.

"The reverse of a trade deficit  is capital," Dalio said. "There is a capital imbalance, and capital could be used as war."

Dalio cited historic precedents, such as the U.S. defaulting on gold conversion in 1971 and the sanctioning of Japan before World War II, as evidence that "capital controls" and "foreign exchange controls" are normal occurrences during such periods of friction. For savers who watched similar playbooks unfold elsewhere, that's part of the appeal of owning some metal outright rather than keeping every dollar exposed to a system that can change by policy decision.

Gold: The Safest Money' in a Crisis

Dalio is steadfast in his support for gold. Despite its price fluctuations, he said it is a critical diversifier and an alternative to debt-based assets.

"Gold is the second-largest reserve currency," he said. "Gold is the safest money in this kind of an environment."

Dalio said investors should not trade gold speculatively but rather maintain a strategic percentage of it in a well-diversified portfolio to protect against the "bad times." Investors who want to put that idea into practice can work with Preserve Gold to move a portion of an existing 401(k), 403(b) or traditional IRA into IRS-approved physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium held in secure depositories and designed for long-term protection instead of short-term trading.
Business owners, entrepreneurs and remote workers are invited to take part in an ideas over coffee session in Westport that will directly inform and lead to practical mentoring, training and management development supports they can later access themselves.

The pilot initiative, delivered collaboratively by Local Enterprise Office Mayo (LEO Mayo), Connected Hubs, Leeson Enterprise Centre and Westport Chamber, will run from 9.30am to 11am at the Leeson Enterprise Centre on Thursday, March 26. Rather than a formal presentation, the session is designed as an open conversation where participants set the agenda and discuss the real challenges facing their businesses.

This event is open to companies and entrepreneurs based both in and outside of the Connected Hubs network, including remote workers and microbusinesses. Local Mayo businesses interested in contributing ideas for future mentoring, training, and management development programmes are also welcome to attend.

This session is about listening first. The most effective supports are shaped by the people who use them, so we want to hear directly from business owners about what will make the biggest difference in 2026, said John Magee of LEO Mayo.

The strength of our business community lies in its willingness to share insight and support one another. This event creates the space for those conversations to shape tangible outcomes, said Geraldine Horkan, Leeson Enterprise Centre.

The Chamber is proud to support an initiative that puts business voices at the centre of decision-making. We encourage anyone with ideas or insights to come along and be part of shaping what supports look like in 2026, said Dermott Langan, President of Westport Chamber.

Participants will have the opportunity to share challenges, network with peers and directly influence what comes next. Registration is not necessary, you can just turn up on the day.

READ MORE: 500,000 winning lotto ticket sold in Mayo shop
Conflict zones and fragile health systems are increasing the risk of disease outbreaks worldwide.

Highlights: Conflict driven outbreaks are increasing due to disrupted healthcare systems and vaccination programs

Fragile health systems and poor sanitation contribute to the spread of infectious diseases

Vaccination and preventive measures are essential for controlling global health risks

  Trusted Source

Global perspectives on infectious diseases at risk of escalation and their drivers



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Conflict, measles resurgence, and immunisation system collapse in Sudan: a narrative review



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Why Conflict-Driven Outbreaks Are Increasing?

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Top Infectious Disease Risks In 2026

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Role Of Fragile Health Systems In Disease Spread

Importance Of Vaccination And Preventive Measures

Preparing For Future Global Health Challenges

Frequently Asked Questions Q: What are conflict-driven outbreaks? A: Conflict-driven outbreaks are disease outbreaks that occur in regions affected by conflict and disrupted healthcare systems. Q: Why do conflicts increase disease spread? A: Conflicts create overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited healthcare access, increasing infection risks. Q: Which diseases are major concerns in 2026? A: Respiratory infections, waterborne diseases, and vaccine-preventable illnesses are key risks. Q: How does vaccination help prevent outbreaks? A: Vaccination protects individuals and communities by reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Q: What can improve global health preparedness? A: Strong healthcare systems, surveillance, and preventive measures can enhance preparedness.

Global perspectives on infectious diseases at risk of escalation and their drivers - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41188418/) Conflict, measles resurgence, and immunisation system collapse in Sudan: a narrative review - (https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanafr/article/PIIS3050-5011(26)00008-8/fulltext)

Global health experts are raising concerns about theacross different regions of the world (). Recent insights highlight how conflict and instability are increasing the likelihood of outbreaks. Areas affected by war or displacement often face disruptions in healthcare services. This creates conditions where infectious diseases can spread more easily. Understanding global health threats helps prepare for future challenges.According to recent analysis,are among the most pressing concerns for 2026.increase vulnerability.further worsens the situation. Research published in journals such assupports the link between conflict and disease spread (). These findings emphasize the importance of public health preparedness.Conflict situations often force populations to move into. These conditions create ideal settings for infectious diseases to spread rapidly. Healthcare systems may collapse or become inaccessible during such crises. This reduces the ability to detect and control outbreaks early. As a result, conflict-related health risks continue to rise.In addition,during periods of instability. This leaves populations unprotected against preventable diseases. Children are particularly vulnerable when immunization coverage declines. Experts warn that such gaps can lead to the re-emergence of diseases. Addressing immunization disruptions remains a critical priority.Health experts have identified several infectious diseases as major concerns for the coming year. These include diseases that can spread quickly in overcrowded or unsanitary conditions.are key risks. Emerging infections may also pose additional challenges. Monitoring infectious disease trends is essential for prevention.The risk of outbreaks increases when surveillance systems are weak or disrupted. Early detection plays a crucial role in controlling disease spread. Without timely intervention, small outbreaks can escalate into larger public health emergencies.supports better response strategies. This highlights the need for disease monitoring systems.Fragile health systems struggle to provide basic services during times of crisis.can hinder effective healthcare delivery. This reduces the ability to manage infections and provide timely treatment. Patients may face delays in diagnosis and care. Weak systems contribute to increased disease transmission.Healthcare workers in such environments often face significant challenges.can affect patient outcomes. Strengthening health systems is essential for improving resilience. Investments in infrastructure and training can enhance response capacity. Building resilient healthcare systems remains a global priority.remains one of the most effective tools in preventing infectious diseases. Maintaining high immunization coverage helps protect communities from outbreaks. In conflict-affected regions, ensuring vaccine access becomes more challenging. Innovative strategies are needed to reach vulnerable populations. Promoting vaccination coverage is critical for disease control.Preventive measures such asalso play vital roles. These factors help reduce the spread of infections in communities. Public health campaigns can raise awareness about preventive practices. Combined efforts strengthen community resilience against outbreaks. Encouraging preventive healthcare supports long-term health outcomes.Addressing global health threats requires coordinated efforts across countries and organizations.. Sharing data and resources can improve response to emerging risks. Preparedness strategies should focus on prevention, detection, and response. Strengthening global health preparedness remains essential.can also support better health outcomes.may improve disease detection and treatment options.among communities helps reduce vulnerability to outbreaks. These combined efforts contribute to stronger public health systems. Preparing for future risks ensures health security worldwide.Source-Medindia
Anupam Kher has come out in strong support of Aditya Dhars Dhurandhar: The Revenge, praising both the film and Ranveer Singhs performance. Sharing his reaction, the veteran actor also took a pointed swipe at those branding the film as propaganda, saying such criticism is misplaced and that people making such claims should feel ashamed. On Saturday, Kher posted a detailed video on Instagram, where he spoke at length about his admiration for the spy thriller. He also revealed that he personally reached out to Aditya Dhar after watching the film, calling him to congratulate him on the execution and impact of the project.

 Jio Studios In the video, Anupam says, People who are saying it's about jingoism and that it is a propaganda film I feel so sad for them. I feel pity for them. Initially, before I watched the film, I got angry because they tried to call The Kashmir Filesa propaganda filmPeople who call it a propaganda film should be ashamed of themselves Aapse bardash nahi hota toh, aap bhi aisi film bana lo (If you can't tolerate such a movie, go and make such a film)... Put some money and hire some writers.

He captioned the video as, DURANDHAR2 IS OUTSTANDING! ADITYA DHAR IS A ROCKSTAR! Sometimes, words fall short. You walk out of a film and theres a silence within you that says everything, yet explains nothing. Thats what watching #Dhurandar felt like. It is not just a film. It is an experience. An emotion. A journey that quietly enters your heart and then refuses to leave. There are moments in Dhurandar that dont just play on screenthey stay with you, long after the lights come on. He added, I have tried to capture what I felt in the video I am sharing along with this post but honestly, I could have gone on and on. Because some stories are not meant to be described! They are meant to be felt. Dhurandar is one such story. Congratulations to the entire team for creating something so powerful, so magical, so moving, and so deeply human. Watch it. Experience it. And then sit with it. And #SanjayDutt is brilliant! EVERY INDIAN WILL BE PROUD OF THIS FILM.

 Instagram/Anupam Kher Talking about Ranveers performance, Anupam Kher said, I'm a teacher of acting. For me to really salute somebody, it takes a lot of time and conviction. You are outstanding Your body language, your simmering anger, understanding your pain In one or two scenes, your pain is so visible and made me sad. My heart went out to you. Reacting to Anupam Kher, Ranveer Singh wrote, Shabd toh Mere kam pad gaye yeh dekh kar, Sir. Aap ki kalakari se prerit ho kar bade hue hain, Sir. Aapka aise kehna mere liye bahut bahut badi baat hai. Aap ko koti koti pranaam, Sir. (Words fall short after seeing this, sir. I have grown up inspired by your artistry. Hearing this from you means a great, great deal to me. My deepest respects and salutations to you, sir.
The family of killed Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic worker Nicholas Nic Crews are speaking out about the loss of the husband and father who was soon expecting another child.

Crews, who just turned 34 years of age on March 14, died from an incident that occurred at about 1:30 p.m. March 17 at a VA Clinic on East Church Street in Jasper, Ga. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations said that Charles Michels, 51, of Jasper, was at the clinic for a walk-in mental health consultation.

That was when Michels shot Crews, a social work case manager. Crews was taken to a trauma hospital, where he died on March 18.

Emergency vehicles are seen outside a Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Jasper, Ga., Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilie Megnien)

Authorities said that after shooting Crews, Michels exited the clinic and encountered police officers and an armed civilian. Michels was armed with a handgun and exchanged gunfire with the officers and the civilian. Michels was hit by gunfire.

Michels was pronounced dead on scene. No officers were injured. Both bodies of Crews and Michels were said to be taken to the GBI Crime Lab, where autopsies were being performed.

'Immeasurable Loss'

Crews family and friends, along with solemn members of the community, celebrated his life on Sunday, March 22, at North River Church of Christ in Marietta.

Crews served as a social work case manager at the clinic for the past 2.5 years and was described by those who knew him as deeply committed to caring for veterans and supporting those in crisis.

Nic lived a life marked by compassion, courage and calling, Crews wife, Alyssa, said in a statement shared with Military.com. He believed deeply in showing up for people in their hardest moments, and he did so with humility, kindness, and unwavering faith.

Crews is pictured speaking to a crowd. (Family of Nicholas Crews)

Crews tragic death came just as he and Alyssa were getting set to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary on April 3. Alyssa is currently 38 weeks pregnant. They already had two children together, ages 4 and 2.

Above all, Nic loved God and his family, Alyssa said. He was a devoted husband and an incredible father whose presence brought joy, stability, and deep love into our lives."

I thank God for our nearly 10 years of marriage and treasure our shared memories. His loss is immeasurable. My heart is broken.

She also thanked the community for the outpouring of love and support during this time, saying that Crews gave so much of himself to others so to receive kindness and generosity in return has been a blessing.

Crews Lived '48 Hours in a Day'

Alyssa's sentiment was shared by people who knew Crews.

Cody Porter, 33, of Kennesaw, Georgia, befriended Crews for over 13 years since their days at Kennesaw State University. He recalled one specific day etched in his memory.

There was a snowstorm, and even though he didnt really know me, Nic invited me over, Porter said in remarks shared with Military.com. We ended up hiking Kennesaw Mountain covered in snow, and we prayed at the top. It was the first time I had ever prayed out loud.

Crews, according to people who knew him, made time for everyone in his life that he loved. (Family of Nicholas Crews)

Porter said that moment showed who Crews was, letting others into a vibrant existence. Crews faith shaped how he lived and how he treated others.

Nic made life more vibrant, more epic. There was nothing mundane about him. He was a living legend.  There are probably eight of us who would each say we were his closest friendand he made each of us feel that way. Thats the kind of man he was, Porter added.

Porter also said that between his family, faith, hobbies like rugby, and providing care at the VA, Crews lived 48 hours in a day, and we are all better for it.

Crews is pictured with many of his closest friends. (Family of Nicholas Crews)

Joe Mulligan, a VA coworker of Crews, said that Crews set an example for others to follow that ultimately spread into the VAs broader mission.

Nics faithful and relentless commitment to serving the mission of providing care to Americas veterans was evident and continuously on display, Mulligan said in a statement shared with Military.com. He served this special population with compassion, integrity, respect, and with the utmost concern in promoting healing and recovery for our nations wounded.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the Crews family to assist with needs and to provide long-term support for his wife and children. As of 4:30 p.m. March 22, it had raised nearly $388,000.

Tax-deductible donations can also be made through Be A Peace Maker Inc.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has identified the remains of a Navy sailor who was killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor more than 84 years ago.

DPAA announced on March 13 that Seaman 1st Class Clyde Clifton McMeans was officially accounted for on Nov. 25, 2025. McMeans, 26, was assigned to the battleship USS California (BB-44) on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japanese torpedo bombers and dive bombers struck the vessel at its berth along Ford Island.

The attack killed 103 of the California's crewmen, according to the agency.

A South Texas Sailor

McMeans was born April 30, 1915, in Karnes City, Texas. His family moved to the Coastal Bend region the following decade, and he attended school in Agua Dulce before completing his education at Banquete High School in 1935. He enlisted in the Navy and drew an assignment aboard the California, a Tennessee-class battleship that had spent 20 years as the Pacific Fleet's flagship.

On the morning of the attack, the California sat at Berth F-3 at the southern end of Battleship Row. Japanese aircraft slammed two torpedoes into the ship's port side within minutes of the opening assault, rupturing compartments below the waterline and triggering severe flooding. A bomb then punched through the main deck and detonated inside the vessel, setting off an ammunition magazine explosion that killed dozens of sailors.

USS California sunk in shallow water at Pearl Harbor after the attack. (Wikimedia Commons)

Burning oil spreading across the harbor from nearby stricken ships forced the crew to temporarily abandon the California before they returned with firefighting gear from Ford Island. The battleship gradually took on water and settled into the harbor mud over the next three days.

McMeans was not aboard the California when it went down. Contemporary accounts indicate he had climbed into a motorboat to help ferry fellow crewmen to shore when a Japanese bomb scored a direct hit on the small craft, killing him. The Navy listed him as missing in January 1942 and declared him dead shortly afterward.

In October 1949, a military review board classified his remains as non-recoverable.

Decades of Waiting

Recovery crews worked the wreckage of the California from December 1941 through April 1942, pulling remains from the flooded compartments as salvage teams pumped the ship dry. Those remains were buried at the Halawa and Nu'uanu cemeteries on Oahu. Forty-two crewmen were identified in the immediate aftermath of the attack.

After the war, the American Graves Registration Service took responsibility for resolving the remaining unknowns across the Pacific. In the late summer of 1947, AGRS teams exhumed the California's dead from both cemeteries and brought them to the Central Identification Laboratory at Schofield Barracks for analysis.

Investigators there matched 39 more sailors to their names but hit a wall with the rest. The unresolved remains went to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu.

The walls of the Honolulu Memorial are etched with names of those who were never recovered from battle. (Wikimedia Commons)

In the early 2000s, the Navy reached out to McMeans' surviving siblings and collected cheek swabs for DNA reference. The family waited years without any word. Then in 2018, DPAA exhumed 20 sets of unidentified remains tied to the California from the Punchbowl and sent them to its laboratories in Hawaii and Nebraska for modern forensic testing.

Analysts narrowed one set of remains to a white male in his mid-20s, between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall. McMeans fit that profile at 26 years old and roughly 5 feet 8. A DNA sample developed from bone tissue produced a match against the reference material his siblings had provided. Dental comparisons and wartime records reinforced the finding.

Forensic examiners also documented blast-related trauma to the chest, injuries consistent with the bomb strike that destroyed McMeans' boat.

Coming Home to Texas

Navy officials informed McMeans' family of the positive identification on March 11 during a meeting at a funeral home in Corpus Christi.

Kathy Herrmann, McMeans' niece, told KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi that the news ended a wait spanning her entire life. Her father, Edward McMeans, was Clyde's brother and had served as an Army medic in the European theater, fighting through Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. Edward survived the war, but his older brother never came home.

"We've loved him forever, without ever knowing him," Herrmann told KRIS-TV.

McMeans will receive a funeral with full military honors at 11 a.m. May 1 at River Hills Baptist Church in Corpus Christi. He will be laid to rest that afternoon at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery, the same grounds where another of the California's fallen was buried just months ago.

In October 2025, Storekeeper 3rd Class Robert S. Garcia, 23, another Coastal Bend native who served aboard the California and died in the same attack, was interred at the same cemetery following his own DPAA identification. The two families had no prior connection until Herrmann learned about Garcia's burial and called his great-grandniece, Nickie Valdez.

The two women now describe their bond as unbreakable, linked by two young sailors from the same corner of Texas who went to war on the same ship and never returned.

A Broader Effort

McMeans is part of a surge of identifications from the California. Of the 20 unknowns DPAA exhumed from the Punchbowl in 2018, at least 11 had been publicly accounted for as of last October.

The agency credited a record-breaking fiscal year 2025 to advances in DNA sequencing, higher funding levels and the maturation of long-running laboratory projects.

Close up photo of the Court of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. (Wikimedia Commons)

DPAA also announced in early March that it intends to begin exhuming 88 sets of unidentified remains associated with the USS Arizona, the ship whose destruction on Dec. 7, 1941, killed 1,177 sailors and Marines. The project could begin by late 2026.

A rosette will be placed beside McMeans' name on the Court of the Missing at the Punchbowl, marking the end of an 84-year absence.
Foreign firms see growing opportunities in China over next five years

09:02, March 22, 2026 By Ren Jun, You Zhixin ( Xinhua

BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- With China adopting its new development blueprint for the next five years, multinational companies and global investors are seeing tangible opportunities across key sectors in the world's second-largest economy and expressing willingness to expand their presence in the Chinese market.

Through systematic planning and phased adjustments, the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development turns long-term strategic goals into practical actions, ensuring continuity while allowing for flexibility, said Jiang Ying, chair of Deloitte China.

The blueprint carries significant implications for global finance and investment.

The innovation momentum shown by Chinese companies in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), high-end manufacturing, semiconductors and new energy is reshaping global investors' perception of Chinese assets, said Janice Hu, China country head of UBS AG and chairperson of UBS Securities.

Chinese assets are gradually shifting from being a mere "portfolio option" to a "strategic imperative," Hu said, adding that this creates a historic opportunity for foreign financial institutions with global asset allocation capabilities to take part in China's high-quality development.

As cross-border investment and financing become easier, foreign financial institutions will have more room to leverage their cross-border strengths, drive product innovation, and strengthen business coordination.

Executives at foreign firms in China say that the country's clear planning, well-defined goals and a strong drive for innovation make it an attractive investment destination and a gateway to higher levels of the industrial value chain.

Zhao Mingqi, CEO of Global Logistics Properties (GLP) China, said the company has developed a model for converting upgraded logistics parks into computing power centers and is steadily increasing investment in and operation of AI computing power centers in China to better serve industries such as finance and the internet.

For Budweiser, the Chinese government's push to boost consumption, a key pillar of domestic demand, has strengthened its confidence in China's consumer goods sector.

The blueprint provides structural certainty about the future direction of China's economy. That long-term certainty allows the company to invest confidently in offline experiential platforms that align with China's priorities in service consumption, culture-tourism integration and urban vitality, said Konnie Zhu, vice president of corporate affairs at Budweiser China.

By acting as a catalyst for real-world social engagement, the company aims to help turn policy priorities on quality of life into vibrant consumption scenarios and stronger community connections, contributing to a more dynamic and sustainable domestic market, Zhu said.

For many, the outline reinforces the message that China remains a stable anchor for the global economy.

Bill Winters, group chief executive of Standard Chartered, captured the sentiment, describing China's economy as "stable, predictable, dynamic and forward-looking." In a world full of uncertainty, he noted, "stability is a very good thing."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
Borderlands Mexico is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Court ruling on tariffs sets off refund scramble, legal uncertainty; APM Terminals expands Lazaro Cardenas capacity; and German components maker opens $95M plant in Queretaro, adds 700 jobs.

Court ruling on tariffs sets off refund scramble, legal uncertainty

The U.S. Supreme Courts decision to strike down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) is setting off a high-stakes legal and operational scramble across the supply chain.

Importers are racing to recover billions in duties while federal agencies and courts work out how refunds will be issued, according to trade attorneys at Venable LLP.

During a recent webinar hosted by Venable, attorneys said the ruling fundamentally reshapes the administrations tariff authority while leaving key questions unresolved around refunds, timing and future trade policy.

This decision was broad and clear with respect to the legality of IEEPA-based tariffs, Venable partner Elizabeth K. Lowe said during the webinar. But the decision did not speak at all to remedies. That remains an open issue.

The webinar titled The End of IEEPA Tariffs: Legal Implications, Refunds, and the Future of U.S. Tariff Policy, featured Venable partners Lowe, Ashley Craig, and Wes Sudduth, and counsel Neha Dhindsa.

Washington-based Venable LLP operates 13 offices across the U.S. and employs about 850 professionals specializing in regulatory, litigation, corporate, and investigations matters.

The Supreme Court ruled on Feb. 20 that IEEPA does not authorize the president to impose tariffs, including those tied to fentanyl enforcement and migration involving Mexico, Canada and China, as well as broader reciprocal tariffs.

Refunds could total $166B, but process remains unclear

At the center of the fallout is the question of refunds. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data cited during the webinar, roughly $166 billion in tariffs could be subject to repayment across about 330,000 importers.

But attorneys cautioned that recovering those funds will not be simple.

There are more questions right out of the gate than we have answers, Craig said.

CBP has proposed building a new refund mechanism inside its Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), requiring importers to file claims that would be reviewed, recalculated and processed before payments are issued by the Treasury.

Even under an optimistic timeline, the system may take at least 45 days just to launch, with actual refunds likely taking monthsor longeronce claims begin flowing.
Protect Our Defenders and Volare have announced a new partnership designed to expand access to independent, pro bono legal representation for military-connected survivors of sexual assault. The collaboration comes at a moment of heightened scrutiny of the military justice system, as cases tied to Fort Hood and other high-profile incidents continue to raise concerns about how survivors are treated when they come forward.

The effort brings together two organizations with complementary roles. Protect Our Defenders, a national advocacy organization, has spent more than a decade working directly with survivors while pushing for systemic reforms within the military. Volare, a nonprofit focused on victims rights, operates a national pro bono network that connects survivors with trained attorneys.

Together, the organizations aim to address a persistent gap: many survivors have legal rights on paper but lack the representation needed to enforce them in practice.

A System that Leaves Survivors Without Meaningful Support

Despite years of reform, survivors of sexual assault in the military often face a system that is difficult to navigate and, at times, actively discouraging. Nancy Parrish, founder and CEO of Protect Our Defenders, said that although service members are legally entitled to support, many still go through the process without effective legal guidance.

When a service member is raped, the law says theyre entitled to legal support. And too often, they never get it, Parrish said during an interview with Military.com.

Even when legal assistance is provided, it may fall short of what survivors need. Parrish described situations where survivors are assigned inexperienced attorneys or must navigate complex investigative and administrative processes without consistent guidance. Survivors can find themselves pulled into meetings with multiple officials, asked invasive questions, and left uncertain about their rights or next steps, all while trying to manage the emotional impact of the trauma itself.

Bridgette Stumpf, CEO and co-founder of Volare, emphasized that these challenges are compounded by the structure of the military justice system itself. Unlike civilian systems, where survivors can pursue both criminal and civil remedies, military-connected survivors often face a narrower set of options and a more complex legal framework.

Theyre navigating one of the most complex justice systems in our country, Stumpf said.

Food and beverages are provided for attendees of a meeting for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month on Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan, April 1, 2025. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Thomas Sheng. Source: DVIDS.

The Scope of the Problem and Its Lasting Effects

The scale of sexual assault in the military remains significant. According to the Department of Defenses annual report on sexual assault, thousands of servicemembers experience unwanted sexual contact each year, though many incidents go unreported. Parrish noted that roughly one in four women in the military experience sexual assault during their service, while about one in ten men report similar experiences.

Reporting does not necessarily lead to relief. Service members who report sexual assault frequently face retaliation, including damage to their careers or social standing within their units.

Parrish said more than half of survivors report experiencing some form of retaliation after coming forward, which contributes to a broader culture of fear and underreporting.

Stumpf described sexual assault in the military as an iceberg problem, noting official statistics likely represent only a fraction of actual incidents. The combination of stigma, fear of retaliation, and lack of trust in the system often discourages survivors from reporting at all.

What Protect Our Defenders and Volare Bring to the Table

Protect Our Defenders has built its work around both individual advocacy and systemic reform. The organization provides direct support to survivors navigating the military justice system while also working with lawmakers to strengthen legal protections. Its advocacy has contributed to multiple legislative changes aimed at improving accountability and protecting victims rights.

Since launching its legal services program, the organization has provided pro bono legal representation or case assistance to nearly 1,000 survivors, while more than 1,500 individuals have received legal guidance, advocacy, or referrals. Its network of trained attorneys has delivered approximately 29,000 hours of legal representation, totaling more than $25 million in services at no cost to survivors.

The organization has also pushed for changes to the Feres Doctrine, a Supreme Courtcreated rule that prevents service members from suing the federal government for injuries incident to service. That doctrine continues to limit survivors ability to seek civil accountability outside the military system.

Volare focuses on a different but equally critical piece of the problem: access to legal representation. Through its national pro bono network, the organization connects survivors with attorneys trained in victims rights and trauma-informed advocacy. Its work also includes appellate litigation and broader efforts to expand the enforcement of victims rights laws.

Our organization was created to address a simple but critical gap, Stumpf said. Survivors have rights on paper, but they dont have lawyers to enforce them.

How the Partnership Will Work in Practice

Under the new partnership, Protect Our Defenders will continue to serve as the primary point of contact for survivors. Once a survivor reaches out, the case will be referred through a streamlined process to Volare, which will match the individual with an appropriate pro bono attorney.

The goal is to reduce delays and confusion while ensuring that survivors are connected quickly to lawyers with the right expertise. The partnership also includes expanded training programs for attorneys, covering both the specifics of the military justice system and the principles of trauma-informed legal practice.

We dont want to create confusion, Stumpf said. The goal is to streamline that connection to the local pro bono counsel.

Closing a Persistent Capacity Gap

One of the most immediate challenges the partnership seeks to address is capacity. Protect Our Defenders currently turns away about 25% of survivors seeking legal assistance due to limited resources. By leveraging Volares network of law firms and attorneys, the organizations hope to close that gap and potentially expand services beyond current levels.

At the same time, both leaders expect demand to grow as awareness increases. Many survivors may not realize that independent legal representation is available outside the military system, and the partnership could bring more people forward to seek help.

A handprint is painted on the wall outside of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Sexual Assault Response and Prevention office at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, July 26, 2024. Members of the 379th AEW placed teal handprints on the wall to signify their personal commitment to stand up against sexual assault. U.S. Air Force photo by Zachary Foster. Source: DVIDS.

Why Independent Legal Representation Matters

A central feature of the partnership is its emphasis on independent legal counsel. This means survivors will be provided attorneys who are not part of the military chain of command. Although reforms have established Special Victims Counsel within the military, those attorneys remain within the institution, and capacity constraints limit their availability.

Parrish and Stumpf both stressed that independence is critical to ensuring that survivors rights are fully represented. Prosecutors, they noted, are focused on the outcome of a case, which can create tension with the needs and priorities of survivors. Independent attorneys, by contrast, can focus solely on the survivors interests and ensure that their rights are enforced throughout the process.

Research supports this approach. Survivors satisfaction with the justice process depends less on the outcome and more on whether they feel heard and able to participate meaningfully, a role that effective legal representation can help facilitate.

Toward Accountability and Cultural Change

Both organizations view the partnership as part of a broader effort to improve accountability and shift the culture within the military. Legal reforms alone, they argue, are not enough; those reforms must be implemented effectively and supported by a system that prioritizes survivor protection.

No one who serves this country should have to fight their own institution to seek justice, Parrish said.

The partnership between Protect Our Defenders and Volare represents an attempt to make that principle a reality by ensuring that survivors are not left to navigate the system alone.
Iranian missile strikes on March 21 hit southern Israel, including Dimona and nearby Arad, bringing active hostilities into the immediate vicinity of Israels nuclear research infrastructure. More than 100 people were injured, according to reports, and the areas sustained significant damage.

Available evidence does not establish that the nuclear facility itself was struck. Instead, at least one missile landed in close proximity to the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center. The International Atomic Energy Agency stated that it had detected no damage to the facility and no abnormal radiation levels following the attack.

Dimonas significance lies in its association with Israels nuclear research program. Although Israel does not publicly detail the scope of its capabilities, the site has long been treated by analysts as strategically sensitive. As a result, military activity near the area carries implications that extend beyond conventional battlefield dynamics.

Airmen from the 90th Missile Maintenance Squadron prepare a reentry system for removal from a launch facility, Feb. 2, 2018, in the F. E. Warren Air Force Base missile complex. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Braydon Williams)

Strikes near nuclear-related infrastructure introduce layered risks. A direct impact could damage complex systems tied to research, materials handling or storage. Even without a direct hit, repeated attacks in the vicinity increase the likelihood of miscalculation, infrastructure disruption or unintended consequences. These risks do not depend on intent; they arise from the nature of the facilities themselves.

Public reporting on the IAEA response reflects this concern. The agency called for restraint and emphasized the broader dangers associated with military operations near nuclear sites. That position aligns with long-standing international practice, which treats nuclear facilities as particularly sensitive in armed conflict.

The Strike Within a Larger Escalation Pattern

The Dimona-area strikes occurred within a broader exchange between Iran and Israel that has increasingly involved direct attacks on infrastructure. The missile barrage followed reported strikes on Iranian nuclear-related sites, including Natanz. In that context, targeting an area associated with Israels nuclear program carries clear signaling value.

Coverage of the escalation describes a shift toward higher-value targets and more direct confrontation. The strikes near Dimona are part of a widening conflict involving critical infrastructure rather than exclusively military positions.

This trajectory increases the probability of further incidents involving sensitive sites. Each round of retaliation introduces incentives to match or exceed the previous strike in symbolic or strategic terms.

What the Evidence Supports

The publicly available record supports several specific conclusions.

Iranian missiles struck Dimona and Arad, causing civilian injuries and structural damage. Some projectiles were not intercepted by Israeli air defenses. At least one impact occurred near the nuclear research center, prompting international attention. The IAEA reported no detected damage to the facility and no radiation release.

People survey a site that was struck by an Iranian missile in Dimona, southern Israel, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

These points define the current factual baseline. Claims beyond them, such as confirmation of a direct strike on the facility, are not supported by available reporting. Maintaining that boundary is important for accuracy, particularly given the implications associated with nuclear infrastructure.

Escalation and Risk Going Forward

The March 2026 strikes highlight how the conflict has moved into a more sensitive operational space. Military actions are now occurring near sites with broader strategic and environmental significance. That shift does not require a worst-case outcome to be consequential; the proximity alone changes the risk environment.

The absence of reported damage to the nuclear facility limits the immediate impact of this specific event. At the same time, the pattern of escalation suggests that similar incidents could occur again. Each repetition increases the likelihood of error, whether through miscalculation, system failure, or targeting decisions.

In that sense, the significance of the strikes lies less in what happened and more in what nearly happened. The events demonstrate that nuclear-adjacent locations are now within the active geography of the conflict, and that reality carries implications that extend well beyond any single exchange.
Aamir Khan celebrates Eid al-Fitr with Raj Thackeray and his family

Aamir Khan celebrated Eid al-Fitr at home, hosting close friends and family, including Raj Thackeray. A viral video shows the actor stepping out barefoot to warmly bid him farewell.

Gayatri Rani March 21, 2026 / 23:21 IST























Aamir Khan's Eid celebration Aamir Khan celebrated Eid with family, friends, and Raj Thackeray

Aamir teased two new films, focusing more on acting roles

Aamir Khan Productions to release Ek Din, Lahore 1947 this year Did our AI summary help?
Mohit Suri talks about the eight-hour shift in film industry debate, says 'Emraan Hashmi shot 24 hours with me'

The conversation around working hours in the Hindi film industry has resurfaced, with filmmaker Mohit Suri offering a candid, ground-level view on the realities of film sets. His remarks come in the wake of the debate sparked by Deepika Padukones push for eight-hour shifts last year.









Mohit Suri recalls working with Emraan Hashmi 24 hours Mohit Suri highlights long hours for film crew, not just actors

Emraan Hashmi filmed 24 hours nonstop for Awarapan

Bollywood work hours debate centers on fairness and balance Did our AI summary help?
Prabhas, Dulquer Salmaan begin shooting for Kalki 2898 AD sequel in Hyderabad: Report

Prabhas and Dulquer Salmaan begin shooting for Nag Ashwins Kalki 2898 AD sequel in Hyderabad as production resumes, with Amitabh Bachchan also part of the new schedule.









The team has now started working on the film again after taking a short break, and the latest shooting schedule is currently underway in Hyderabad. Kalki 2898 AD sequel resumes production in Hyderabad

Prabhas, Dulquer Salmaan, and JD Chakravarthy join the shoot

Deepika Padukone exits the project due to scheduling conflicts Did our AI summary help?
Rishab Shetty praises Ranveer Singhs Dhurandhar 2, calling it a statement while lauding Aditya Dhars storytelling and the films powerful performances.

Did our AI summary help?

Sharing his review on X, Rishab expressed admiration for the films scale and craft, highlighting its storytelling, technical finesse and overall impact.
Truly honoured: Naga Chaitanya on getting Best Actor award for 'Thandel'

Actor Naga Chaitanya has expressed heartfelt gratitude after winning the Best Actor award at the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2025 for his performance in Thandel. Calling the film a deeply special journey, he said the recognition means a great deal to him.

PTI March 22, 2026 / 20:01 IST























Naga Chaitanya recieves Best Actor award for 'Thandel'
From code output to compute usage, Huang argues token consumption may become the new productivity benchmark in AI-driven workplaces
Japan Inc doubles down on India with record investments as China focus shifts: Report

Japans largest lender, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), has reportedly led this surge with a $4.4 billion investment in Shriram Finance, marking the biggest foreign deal in Indias financial sector to date









Despite challenges such as regulatory complexity, infrastructure gaps and tax hurdles, Indias large consumer base, digital growth and favourable policy environment continue to attract Japanese investors.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta (Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

California, New York and six other attorneys general filed an emergency motion to block the recently approved Nexstar-Tegna merger.

The FCCs media bureau approved Nexstars $6.2 billion acquisition of rival TV station owner Tegna on Thursday.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the merger illegal and had filed a lawsuit before the deal was approved. The emergency motion, filed Friday, is part of a coalition of lawsuits from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Oregon and Virginia.

The federal government has an obligation to protect our economy, consumers wallets, and competitive markets in which businesses and workers can thrive. With its approval of the disastrous Nexstar/Tegna broadcasting merger, the Trump Administration has once again put corporate interests ahead of the interests of everyday Americans  not on our watch, Bonta said.

This merger is illegal, plain and simple, running contrary to federal antitrust laws that protect consumers. Nexstar/Tegna is not a done deal. I will not let these corporate behemoths merge without a fight, he added.

The emergency motion for a temporary restraining order was filed Friday in Sacramento, Calif., and seeks court action to halt integration and consolidation of the two companies.

Defendants decision to close despite multiple pending lawsuits, their non-responsiveness to counsels inquiries, and their rush to consummate the Transaction raise the troubling specter that Defendants may be barreling forward with this transaction to frustrate effective judicial review, the states said in their joint motion.

Upon closing the deal, Nexstar will have 265 television stations in 44 states and the District of Columbia, representing 80% of U.S. television households, adding Big-4 affiliate stations in Phoenix, Atlanta, Toledo, Portland, Maine. The combined company would also have stations in nine of the top 10 markets and in 41 of the top 50.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the decision was made to empower broadcast TV stations and foster local journalism.

The attorneys general warned that the merger would reduce competition and provide fewer checks on power. In the Friday motion, they noted the swift nature of the regulatory approvals, saying the Justice Department closed its investigation before the end of a statutory waiting period. The FCC approved the deal after less than four months of review.

Nexstar founder and CEO Perry Sook even thanked President Donald Trump and the DOJ for enabling this transaction to move forward.
A new investment race is unfolding in Low Earth Orbit; heres why Big Tech and governments are piling in

Low Earth Orbit is emerging as a key global infrastructure layer, with billions in investments and rising competition among tech giants and nations.









Investments surge past $45 billion as companies and countries push to dominate LEO, raising stakes for connectivity, security and regulation. LEO satellites are reshaping global connectivity and data.

Investment in LEO infrastructure surged past $45 billion in 2025.

Rules trail rapid commercial growth in low Earth orbit Did our AI summary help?
Using credit card rewards for travel? Heres how to get the most out of them

Credit card rewards can quietly add up to free flights and hotel stays, but only if you use them the right way and avoid common mistakes.









Representative image Redeem credit card points for travel to maximize value

Transfer points to airline or hotel programs for better value

Use points wisely and avoid spending just to earn rewards Did our AI summary help?
Why do policyholders ignore in-principle approval from insurer, and how can it prevent claim shocks?

In-principle hospitalisation is a conditional benefit wherein the policyholder gets a pre-admission confirmation from their insurer, which gives them peace of mind before they reach the hospital









In its standard policy form, the clause states that the insurer will reimburse charges that are typical for a specific treatment in that region and type of hospital Pre-approval from insurer reduces out-of-pocket hospital expenses

Choosing a room beyond policy entitlement increases extra costs

Errors or missing documents may delay or reject insurance claims Did our AI summary help?
BMI trouble: Air India crew could lose pay over new fitness norms

In case the member fails to pass the assessment, then he or she will be placed on loss of pay till the clearance happens, the policy said.
Clear wave for change in Kerala: KC Venugopal says UDF to win over 100 seats in upcoming assembly polls

K. C. Venugopal, General Secretary of the Indian National Congress, on Sunday said that there was a "clear wave" in Kerala in favour of the United Democratic Front (UDF)









Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal Congress claims UDF will win over 100 seats in Kerala polls

Venugopal says Kerala voters seek change from Left-led government

Kerala Assembly elections set for April 9, counting on May 4 Did our AI summary help?
Delhi Assembly's Budget Session to commence on Monday

Leader of Opposition Atishi said that AAP MLAs will boycott the session if the Speaker does not revoke the suspension of four MLAs of the party

PTI March 22, 2026 / 19:35 IST























Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will attend the 'kheer' ceremony and is also likely to table Delhi's Economic Survey report in the House
The tanker is currently anchored in the Arabian Sea, about 10 nautical miles off the Mangaluru coast
The ministry also stressed that any instance of excessive or unjustified surge in fares, if observed particularly during periods of peak demand, disruptions, or exigencies, would be viewed seriously.
Himachal Pradesh defers salaries; CM, ministers, officials take pay cuts as debt tops Rs 1 lakh cr

CM Sukhu said 50% of his salary would be deferred, along with 30% for the deputy chief minister and cabinet ministers, and 20% for MLAs, chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and political appointees.









Sukhu attributed part of the strain to the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), which he said has resulted in an annual loss of Rs 8,000-10,000 crore. Himachal announces salary deferments for leaders and officials

Rs 54,928 crore budget focuses on welfare and rural growth

New welfare schemes include aid for women and free electricity Did our AI summary help?
Inside Ranya Raos gold smuggling operation: Africa, Dubai, and a Rs 2 crore early setback

On Wednesday, the Enforcement Directorate filed a chargesheet in a Bengaluru court in connection with a money laundering case, naming Rao along with her alleged associate Tarun Konduru and Bellary-based gold dealer Sahil Sakariya Jain









Investigations reveal that Rao and Konduru built an organised cross-border network that originated from attempts to procure gold from Africa Ranya Rao smuggled 127 kg gold from Africa to Dubai and India

ED seized 14.2 kg gold worth Rs 12.56 crore at Bengaluru airport

Rs 34 crore assets attached amid ongoing laundering probe Did our AI summary help?
BEIJING, March 22 (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged on Sunday to further open the country's economy to foreign firms and pursue more balanced trade with its global partners, after a year marked by trade friction and tariff wars with the United States and European Union in particular.

More from Yahoo Scout What measures is China taking to attract investment? How are foreign companies responding to China's overtures? How significant is China's record trade surplus impact? What prompted China's pledges for more balanced trade?

China will import more high-quality foreign goods and work with all parties to promote optimised and balanced trade development and expand the global trade pie, Li told the China Development Forum in Beijing, according to state media.

The annual two-day forum, which concludes on Monday, allows Beijing to lay out its economic vision and investment opportunities to foreign business leaders, Chinese officials, economists and academics.

It comes after the world's second-biggest economy reported a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus for 2025.

Challenges for Beijing are aplenty, including deflecting concerns from an increasing number of global capitals about China's trade practices and overcapacity, as well as their overreliance on key Chinese products.

While Li's speech did not appear to directly mention the surplus, his pledges indicate an awareness that the issue could disrupt international relations at a time when China has reached a temporary truce with the U.S. on trade.

U.S. President Donald Trump last week postponed a trip to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping due to the Iran war, delaying an effort to ease tensions between the worlds two biggest economies.

In a separate speech at the forum, China's central bank governor Pan Gongsheng also sought to alleviate concerns surrounding the trade surplus.

"Analysing global economic imbalances requires looking not only at trade in goods but also services, and not only at the current account but also the financial account," Pan said, according to a transcript of his speech published by the People's Bank of China, adding that China is the country with the largest goods surplus but also the largest services deficit.

China has no need and no intention to gain trade competitive advantage through currency depreciation, Pan said.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT PUSH

China is working to reverse a decline in foreign direct investment, which fell 5.7% year-on-year to just over 92 billion yuan ($13.36 billion) in January, following a 9.5% drop over the course of 2025.

In December, China added 200 sectors to a list of those eligible for foreign investment incentives, from tax breaks to preferential land use, with a focus on advanced manufacturing, modern services and green and high-tech sectors.
Iran thanks India as Kashmir steps up with relief donations amid conflict: 'This kindness will never be forgotten'

A day after Eid celebrations, youth in Shia-majority areas of the Kashmir valley went door to door on Sunday collecting donations for those affected by the conflict in Iran









The Iranian embassy shared pictures and videos of some of the donations by the residents of various areas
Referring to the evolving situation in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said stability in the region would depend on an end to hostilities
Jinnah as minority leader: Jammu University syllabus triggers controversy; panel set up

The panel, headed by Professor Naresh Padha from the Physics Department, has been tasked with reviewing the political science syllabus after objections were raised by a section of students.









Muhammad Ali Jinnah Jinnah in syllabus triggers row at Jammu University

Panel set up to review political science syllabus after protests

Students demand focus on other minority leaders like Ambedkar Did our AI summary help?
KC Tyagi joins RLD, vows to realise Chaudhary Charan Singhs vision: 'Bond with JD(U) remains unchanged'

KC Tyagi officially joined the RLD in Delhi, in the presence of RLD president and union minister Jayant Chaudhary









Tyagi clarified that his relationship with Nitish Kumar and the Bihar JD(U) remains unchanged.
No one will be spared: Maharashtra launches high-level probe into Nashik godman rape case

Maharashtra orders DGP-led probe and SIT investigation into Nashik godman Ashok Kharat rape case; CM says no one will be spared.









Ashok Kharat, accused of raping a 35-year-old woman over three years, was arrested by Nashik police; CM calls for evidence-based probe. High-level probe launched in godman Ashok Kharat rape case

SIT formed, DGP to monitor investigation with Nashik police

Fadnavis warns no one will be spared, urges cooperation Did our AI summary help?
PM Modi chairs high-level meet to review fuel, power amid West Asia conflict

The meeting centered on ensuring the continuous supply of essential resources, maintaining stable logistics, and improving distribution nationwide









Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The incident is said to have occurred at St Catherine Girls High School in the Warispura area (Image for representation)
UP Cabinet expansion likely soon, BJP weighs Gujarat-style reset ahead of 2027 polls

The first expansion of the current term took place on March 5, 2024, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, when leaders such as Om Prakash Rajbhar, Anil Kumar from the RLD, Sunil Sharma and Dara Singh Chauhan were inducted.









Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Yogi govt plans major cabinet reshuffle ahead of 2027 UP polls

Up to 15 new ministers in, over a dozen likely dropped

Move aims to recalibrate caste and regional equations in cabinet Did our AI summary help?
West Asia conflict: PM Modi to review India's energy situation in high-level meeting today

The review meet comes in response to the escalating conflict in West Asia, and its impact on global energy and supply chains.









The blockade has resulted in severe disruptions in energy supply to many countries, including India. Modi to review energy, power, fertiliser sectors amid crisis

Meeting aims to ensure stable supply and logistics across India

Iran's Strait of Hormuz restrictions disrupt global energy flows Did our AI summary help?
From security dependence to self-reliance: The opportunity few are pricing in

Indian defence companies, for the first time in decades, are not just participants they are contenders. And if this cycle plays out the way structural shifts typically do, what lies ahead is not just growth.

Jimeet Modi March 22, 2026 / 06:22 IST























Opportunities in Defence Defence no longer just a domestic policy story, it is becoming a global export story

Defence orders are sticky, long cycle, and backed by sovereign commitments

Indian defence companies, for first time in decades, are not just participants they are contenders Did our AI summary help?
Modi biggest infiltrator, West Bengal Assembly poll a battle to protect state's plural social fabric: Mamata Banerjee at Kolkata Eid gathering

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the upcoming assembly elections as a battle to protect democratic rights and Bengal's plural social fabric.

PTI March 21, 2026 / 23:10 IST























West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee greets a gathering on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, at Red Road in Kolkata, West Bengal Mamata Banerjee accuses BJP of trying to snatch voting rights

Banerjee vows to protect Bengal's unity and democratic rights

Assembly elections in Bengal set for April 23 and 29 Did our AI summary help?
'The mother informed us that Shreshtha had brought home a pet cat. After that, she developed cold and cough symptoms, which led to repeated disputes between them,' a police officer said. (Representational image: Unsplash)
Abandoned as newborn, China-born woman reunites with parents after growing up in Netherlands for 28 years

A Chinese woman who was abandoned as a newborn has reunited with her biological parents after 28 years, following a DNA match that traced her origins.
'Encrypted language, no nightlife': Hampi travel post sparks debate over language, food and culture

Many called out the travellers claims as insensitive, sparking a wider conversation on cultural understanding, travel expectations and regional diversity in India.
Gurgaon doctor admits to poisoning wife to death over dowry 4 months after love marriage

The couple was last seen arguing at the woman's family home. Shortly after, the wife was found unconscious, bleeding from the nose. Family members rushed her to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead.









The woman's family claimed they found a syringe in the toilet and suspected that Kajal had been injected with a poisonous substance. (Representational image: Unsplash)
'I just said no': Software developer refuses seat swap, Indian man taken off flight after repeated demands

A United States-based Indian-American tech professional sparked a viral debate after refusing to switch his aisle seat for a middle seat on a flight.









Techie declines seat change mid-flight. (Image credit: Reuters) US techie refused to swap aisle seat for a middle seat on flight

Passenger insisted, briefly removed, then allowed back

Incident sparked viral debate on in-flight seat etiquette online Did our AI summary help?
'Ill never move there': Engineer turns down Rs 35 LPA job offer over Bengaluru relocation

A techie recently shared on X that he turned down a Rs 35 LPA job offer because it required relocating to Bengaluru. The post quickly went viral, with users offering mixed reactions









Sharma rejected a Rs 35 LPA job offer. (Image credit: Unsplash) Engineer rejects Rs 35 LPA job due to Bengaluru relocation

Gaurav Sharma shared his decision on X, sparking online debate

Users discussed reasons for avoiding Bengaluru and job locations Did our AI summary help?
'Mini New York in Punjab': NRI builds Statue of Liberty replica on Jalandhar rooftop, goes viral

NRI Gurjeet Singh Matharu, who lived in New York for over 20 years, has recreated a small Statue of Liberty on his Jalandhar home rooftop. The unique installation has turned into a local talking point.
Newborn dies after employer refuses mothers remote work request, company ordered to pay Rs 210 crore

A pregnant womans request to work from home during a high-risk pregnancy was denied by her employer, leading to the death of her newborn. A jury awarded her estate $22.5 million ( roughly Rs 210.8 crore).









Walsh delivered a baby girl, who passed away a few hours later. (Image credit: Pexels) Ohio firm ordered to pay $22.5M after denying remote work request

Newborn dies after mom worked in office while pregnant

Jury finds company liable for wrongful death in risky case Did our AI summary help?
'Rs 40 lakh loan, dad mortgaged land': Indian woman shares journey of becoming a director at Microsoft

Priyanka Vergadia, now a Senior Director at Microsoft, shared her journey from India to the US, starting with a student loan and family sacrifices. Despite early struggles, she built a successful tech career and encourages others to pursue their dreams with hope.









Indian woman recalls her long road to becoming a director at Microsoft. (Image: pvergadia/ Instagram)
Theres some good news for drivers across America. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), traffic deaths dropped in the first half of 2025, falling more than 8% compared to the same period the previous year.

Its the biggest mid-year drop in fatalities since 2008, and the lowest traffic death rate per mile driven in over a decade (1).

Must Read

But its not all smooth roads, since a handful of states still account for a disproportionate share of deadly crashes. And if you live in one of them, those risks can follow you straight to your car insurance bill.

Heres a closer look at the five states with the most traffic deaths in 2025, and why it matters for your wallet.

California: More drivers, more danger?

California tops the list for total traffic deaths.

The biggest contributors are speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving, especially in urban communities like Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area (2).

Even though California has shared in the nationwide decline in fatalities so far this year, its sheer volume of vehicles keeps it at the top of the list.

That risk shows up in insurance costs, since California drivers pay some of the highest premiums in the country, with average full-coverage policies costing on average $2,848 a year, according to data from Quadrant Information Services reported by Forbes (3).

Read More: 5 essential money moves to make once youve saved $50,000

Read More: Young millionaires are ditching stocks. Why older Americans should take note

Florida: Tourists, traffic and trouble

Florida consistently ranks near the top for deadly crashes.

The states roads are typically packed with tourists, retirees and commuters, which means more congestion and higher chances for accidents. With aggressive driving, distracted drivers and one of the highest rates of uninsured motorists in the country, theres a crash every 44 seconds in Florida according to the states DMV (4).

Fatal crash rates in Florida remain among the highest nationwide, even as national numbers improve.

For drivers, that can mean sticker shock at renewal time. Florida auto insurance premiums are among the most expensive in the U.S. at around $3,536 a year  boosted up by high claim volumes, medical costs and litigation tied to accidents (3).
'Work on Saturday or lose 3 days' salary': Company's rule for AI hackathon triggers debate

The employee who shared the notice on Reddit sought advice on how to skip attending the hackathon without facing consequences. 'Its being called upskilling, but feels more like forced weekend work,' they said.









According to the company's interbal notice, Those who attended were promised 1.5 days of additional leave. Those who skipped the event would face a deduction of three days salary under leave without pay (LWP).
A huge 210-foot, airplane-sized asteroid to pass by Earth today at high speed, NASA alerts

Asteroid 2010 RA91 will pass relatively close to Earth, but if it poses no threat, why are scientists still watching it so closely and what could change?









A Huge 210-Foot, Airplane-Sized Asteroid to Pass by Earth Today (Image: Canva) Asteroid 2010 RA91 will fly by Earth safely on March 21.

NASA: Asteroid poses no threat, over 1 million miles away

India plans future asteroid research and global collaborations. Did our AI summary help?
Believed to be extinct from 1990s, DENR-Mimaropa confirms sightings of 10 'Philippine Brown Deers' in Marinduque

Philippine brown deer has been spotted again in Marinduque after decades. Scientists believed this species had gone extinct as it disappeared in 1990s. This sighting has raised hopes of a surviving population and ongoing conservation success.









he Philippine deer (Rusa marianna) after going unseen for decades, has been sighted again across several towns in Marinduque. (Image: Denr Mimaropa) Philippine brown deer rediscovered in Marinduque after decades.

Hidden cameras filmed 10 deer, including a young fawn.

Local villagers and rangers now protect the deer from threats. Did our AI summary help?
Did snow just create a "Portal"? Toronto snow drift forms walkable tunnel | WATCH

A massive snow drift in Toronto has formed a rare walkable tunnel, drawing attention for its unusual structure and the science behind this short-lived winter phenomenon worldwide.









Snow tunnel formation in Canada. (Image: X/@accuweather) A massive snow drift in Toronto formed a walkable tunnel.

Wind and snowfall shaped the tunnel, rare in urban settings.

Experts warn the tunnel is unstable and may collapse soon. Did our AI summary help?
China discovers stunning critical minerals amid intensifying tech race with US

Surveys also revealed 27.1 million tonnes of fluorite and 37.2 million tonnes of baryte, qualifying the site as a super-large deposit for both minerals.
Court dismisses lawsuit against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman filed by sister, but a comeback route remains

US judge dismisses Sam Altman lawsuit filed by sister as time-barred, allows amended complaint under Missouri child abuse statute.









Court says sexual abuse claims are time-barred; plaintiff can amend complaint under Missouri law Judge tosses Ann Altmans abuse suit vs. Sam Altman as late

Ann Altman may refile under Missouri child sex abuse law

Sam Altman publicly denied the allegations as "utterly untrue" Did our AI summary help?
People use their mobile phones while sitting on a roof as Cuba's national electric grid collapsed for the second time in a week amid the U.S.-imposed oil blockade, according to officials, as the communist government struggles to keep the lights on for about 10 million people with decrepit infrastructure, in Havana, Cuba. (REUTERS)
How costly is Irans retaliation for the US? Base damage has already hit $800 million

Iran strikes caused $800 million damage to US bases in two weeks; radar systems hit, war costs surge.









Satellite images point to repeated hits on key Gulf bases; radar and THAAD systems among worst affected Iran strikes caused $800M damage to US bases in two weeks

High-value radar and satellite systems among hardest hit

Strait of Hormuz blockade raises global energy security concerns Did our AI summary help?
How far can Irans missile reach now stretch? Israel says Europe and Asia are at risk

Israel says Irans missiles can reach Europe as tensions rise; Tehran signals escalation after Dimona warning.









IDF flags expanded threat footprint; Iran signals escalation after Dimona warning; Netanyahu vows continued strikes Iran's new missile can reach up to 4,000 km, threatening Europe

Israel warns Iran's missile program poses a global threat

Netanyahu vows continued military action against Iran Did our AI summary help?
From winding down signals to troop surge and oil sanctions relief, conflicting moves raise questions over US strategy as markets turn volatile
One Minnesotan is in big trouble this tax season  accused of underreporting his personal and business income by nearly $2 million and withholding more than $186,000 in unpaid taxes.

Andrew Clayton Freeburg, 45, of Norwood Young America, faces charges of tax evasion and fraud between 2020 and 2024. But its not the first time hes been charged (1).

Must Read

Freeburg already pleaded guilty to tax fraud in 2024. The case raises questions about tax crime and enforcement in the U.S.

The Minnesota Department of Revenues charges against Freeburg are extensive. Investigators (2) allege that he filed fraudulent tax returns and in one case failed to file a tax return altogether.

As CBS News (3) reports, investigators add that Freeburg falsely registered his business, E-Motors, in his elderly fathers name and spent business funds on personal things like a gym membership, travel and more.

On top of that, they allege that Freeburg fraudulently collected government benefits  $40,000 worth of medical assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits between 2022 and 2025.

All told, they estimate he owes more than $186,000 in unpaid taxes.

So how common is tax fraud and what is being done about it?

Heres a look at the scale of the problem and how to avoid getting on the wrong side of the law with the taxman.

The scale of tax fraud in the U.S.

Last year, IRS (4) investigators uncovered $4.5 billion in tax fraud  more than 40% of the total $10.59 billion in financial crimes they discovered in 2026.

It should be noted that much of this tax fraud involves scams (5), such as fraudsters posing as IRS representatives, stealing money from vulnerable Americans.

When it comes to Americans committing tax evasion and illegally withholding tax, such cases are rare.

Read More: 5 essential money moves to make once youve saved $50,000

Read More: Young millionaires are ditching stocks. Why older Americans should take note

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice convicted a total 360 individuals of such offenses across the entire country. Of those, 66% went to prison (6).

The majority of cases involved amounts between $100,000 and $1.5 million  with a medium loss of $491.302.
Iran-Israel conflict: G7 demands immediate halt to Iran attacks as Middle East war escalates

G7 and EU leaders call for an immediate halt to Irans attacks, backing allies right to self-defence while warning of rising threats to regional stability, energy security and global markets.









G7 presses Iran as war tensions rise
Iran War News Live: Rocket fire from Lebanon kills one in north Israel

Israeli first responders said rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person on Sunday close to Israel's northern border.

The ZAKA 360 emergency response unit said a person was pronounced dead after a strike on their vehicle "carried out by a rocket fired from Lebanon". (AFP)
Iran strikes Israels Dimona 'nuclear site' in Natanz revenge attack | Watch

According to reports, around 20 people were hurt in the attack by the impact of Iranian ballistic missile









Tehran Times claimed that Dimona hosts Israels main nuclear facility and the attack is in retaliation to Israeli-American airstrike on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility.
Iranian missiles hit near Israels nuclear hub as Trump issues 48-hour Hormuz ultimatum

Strikes in Dimona, Arad mark new phase in conflict; US threatens to target Iranian power plants as global oil and security risks intensify.









Iranian missiles hit near Israels nuclear site as Trump gives Iran 48 hours on Hormuz. War enters dangerous phase with global oil risks rising. Iranian missiles strike Dimona, Arad near nuclear site

Trump gives Iran 48 hours to reopen Hormuz or face US strikes

Iran targets Diego Garcia base, showing expanded missile reach Did our AI summary help?
'Just ask us and we'll come': Iranian police chief offers to protect Greenland from Trump | Watch

The video purportedly shows Iranian police chief Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Radan making an offer to the EU during a public appearance.
LeT commander Bilal Arif Sarafi shot dead by family after Eid prayers in Pakistan

The incident reportedly took place near the groups destroyed headquarters close to Markaz in Muridke.









(Image: X) Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Bilal Arif Sarafi killed by family

Murder motive unclear, suspects arrested after Eid prayers

Pakistan ranked most terror-affected country in 2025 Did our AI summary help?
Ohio Congressman Greg Landsmans proposal seeks formal US recognition of killings of Bengali Hindus, triggers fresh focus on one of South Asias most contested mass atrocities
Six dead, one missing after Qatar military helicopter crash due to technical fault

The crash occurred after the aircraft suffered a technical malfunction during a routine mission, the Qatari Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Sunday.









Representative Image
President Donald Trump, from left, Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defense, John D. Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Walt Nauta, White House director of Oval Office operations, and Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary. Bloomberg
Two civilian aircraft struck at Dubai airport as Iran war threatens civil aviation: Report

An Emirates A380 and a Saudia A321 were struck on Dubai Internationals tarmac amid the Iran war, highlighting civil aviation risks, while UAE airlines work to maintain thousands of daily flights.









Dubai planes hit amid Iran war threats
Quick Read

Social Securitys $2.5 trillion trust fund is invested in special-issue government bonds as required by law; the real crisis is demographicfewer workers supporting more retirees as baby boomers retire, with the combined trust fund projected to deplete in 2034 and leave incoming revenue covering only 81% of scheduled benefits.

The program faces structural pressure from three revenue streams: payroll taxes shrinking as unemployment rises and wage growth slows, income taxes on benefits tied to modest thresholds, and interest income from bonds now yielding around 4.2% on Treasury holdings.

Have You read The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans? Americans are answering three questions and many are realizing they can retire earlier than expected.

Social Security is not going broke because politicians raided the piggy bank. The trust fund's $2.5 trillion in reserves is properly invested in special-issue government bonds, exactly as the law requires. The real problem is slower and harder to fix: the math of an aging country is quietly grinding the program toward a cliff.

J.J. Gouin / Shutterstock.com  J.J. Gouin / Shutterstock.com

A Social Security card is shown alongside US dollar bills and a benefit statement, highlighting retirement planning and financial considerations.

Three Revenue Streams, All Under Pressure

Social Security draws from three sources. The largest is the payroll tax, split equally between workers and employers on wages up to a set annual cap  $184,500 in 2026 in 2026. This tax is the backbone of the program, but its reach is limited: high earners stop contributing once their wages cross the threshold, which is why lifting the cap is a perennial reform proposal.

Have You read The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans? Americans are answering three questions and many are realizing they can retire earlier than expected.

A smaller but growing share of revenue comes from income taxes on benefits, which kick in once a retiree's total income crosses modest thresholds. The third source is interest earned on the trust fund's bond holdings, which tracks closely with prevailing Treasury yields near the 10-year Treasury yield near 4.2%.

All three are under stress, and the pressures are reinforcing each other. Unemployment has drifted up to 4.4%, meaning fewer workers are contributing payroll taxes right now, while Real GDP growth slowed to just 0.7% annualized in the most recent quarter  both of which shrink the payroll tax base at exactly the wrong time. Meanwhile, baby boomers are retiring in waves with no sign of slowing. The combined effect is a structural mismatch between contributors and beneficiaries that the 2025 Trustees Report projects the combined trust fund depletes in 2034, leaving incoming revenue to cover only 81% of scheduled benefits.
Strike on nuclear-linked town with Indian-origin community sparks chaos; Israel probes interception failure as tensions escalate. (image: @IsraelMFA)
Were going after them personally: Netanyahu hardens Iran stance, signals joint action with Trump amid Hormuz crisis

Benjamin Netanyahu calls Arad strike a miracle, warns Iran poses global threat, vows to target IRGC leaders, and signals close coordination with Donald Trump amid escalating Strait of Hormuz tensions.









Netanyahu escalates rhetoric after Arad missile strike
The findings reveal that "deaths from terrorism in Pakistan are now at its highest level since 2013, with the country recording 1,139 terrorism deaths and 1,045 incidents in 2025
Who is really running Iran? Mojtaba Khamenei is alive, but not fully in control

Mojtaba Khamenei is alive but may not be in full control, reports say, with Irans Revolutionary Guards seen wielding real power amid ongoing conflict.









Absence from public view fuels questions as Israeli and US reports point to Revolutionary Guards holding effective power Irans unseen Supreme Leader: Mojtaba Khamenei

IRGC may be exerting real control amid leadership uncertainty

Irans power vacuum deepens amid rising regional conflict Did our AI summary help?
Why Asim Munir is wary of Riyadhs push on Iran  is the Saudi-Pakistan pact in play?

Saudi Arabia urges Pakistan to counter Iran under a defence pact, but Islamabad remains cautious, balancing domestic risks, economic strain and security pressures while maintaining neutrality in escalating West Asia tensions.









Saudi pressure meets Pakistans cautious neutrality
'Your money was meant to build your nation, not bomb our schools': Irans dig at Trumps threats

The Iranian Embassy in Islamabad condemned US President Donald J. Trumps threats to attack Iran, calling him not mentally fit for office and accusing him of misusing taxpayer money amid escalating tensions.









Trump threats spark Iranian Embassy outrage online
By Edoardo A. Ortiz & Zeno Deleon Guerrero Jr.

For Variety

THE United States made it clear to the United Nations: the Commonwealth was a bilateral relationship, founded on principles of mutual consent, self-government, and democracy. Despite this, most people know the U.S. has not lived up to these statements.

But enough about Puerto Rico.

As we come upon the 50th anniversary of the Northern Mariana Islands Covenant, it is important to think both about how it is an agreement unique in U.S. history and also to consider what lessons might be drawn from the legal agreements and lived experiences of other territories.

The NMIs Covenant and Constitution were developed to explicitly address  as the Covenant says  the NMIs inalienable right of self-determination. The broad nature of the Covenant was intended from its very preamble to establish a self-governing commonwealth in a relationship that is mutually binding, including sections of the Covenant stating certain provisions can only be modified with joint consent.

Yet, in time, the United States has walked back its promises of limited powers by agreement and mutual consent. Despite the negotiators efforts and the language of the Covenant, the U.S. Senate made clear before approving the Covenant that: Although described as a commonwealth, the relationship is territorial in nature with final sovereignty invested in the United states and plenary legislative authority vested in the United States Congress. Yet, Territorial and plenary authority are inconsistent with mutually binding agreements and self-government. Even before agreeing to the Covenant, Congress had already undermined this historic achievement.

More and more throughout the years, they have continued chipping away at it. When Guam tried to negotiate its own commonwealth status relationship with mutually binding elements  like those expressed in the NMI Covenant  the federal government explicitly denied that this was possible. They claimed any mutual consent agreements between the United States and any Territory are legally unenforceable. The federal government thus reduced what many understood as should be the binding power of the NMI Covenant into merely a promise to honor past commitments.

We all remember the recent cockfighting ban and how the courts ruled that this applied to all five U.S. territories, regardless of unique relationship. NMI legal experts explained how this imposition shows the federal government treating the NMI in the same way as Puerto Rico and other territories without any kind of Covenant or Commonwealth arrangement.

Just this past week, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management decided to nearly double the area (from 35 million acres to 69 million acres) under consideration for deep sea mining activities in the Marianas. The federal government made this decision and is moving the process forward despite the objections and concerns of numerous community members, elected leaders, and experts. Again, the promises of self-government and mutual consent erode.

A remarkably similar pattern of erosion has played out in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Ricos Commonwealth began with assurances that the relationship was in the nature of a compact and included explicit statements before the United Nations that there exists a bilateral compact of association between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States which has been accepted by both and which in accordance with judicial decisions may not be amended without common consent.

Despite this, the following years brought with them actions and legal decisions that revealed this to be simply false. Slowly but surely, the United States chipped away at the autonomy and internal self-government Puerto Ricans had fought for and negotiated. This all culminated in PROMESA, a 2016 law that completely altered Puerto Ricos local government by imposing a congressionally appointed Fiscal Oversight Board with broad powers to set the territorys budget and even annul local laws. Whats to stop this from happening in the NMI?

As the federal government continues to undermine the power and agency of people in the NMI and other territories, it only underscores the need for a reckoning with the fundamentally undemocratic structures that undergird the U.S.-territory relationship. As we have learned by participating in the Cross-Territorial Coalition, all Territories  in their own way  have attempted to put forth reforms that amount to true, binding self-government, yet have all come up short.

Whatever the future holds for each territory, it should be the result of their own self-determination journey. However, that journey begins in the same place: recognition that the status quo is not protecting our rights or preventing us from being unilaterally imposed upon or having our constitutions violated.

In celebrating the hard-fought and hard-won reforms our ancestors made to ensure a relationship based on equality and dignity, we should not forget that our journey is not over. We stand on the shoulders of giants, and we need to keep working to ensure that work is completed.
THE Pacific is entering a new era of resource competition, and our region  whether we like it or not  is at the center of it. As global demand grows for minerals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese, deepsea mining has moved from a distant concept to an active policy debate. Yet one critical fact remains misunderstood: there is no single global system governing how companies can mine the seabed. Instead, two very different rulebooks are shaping the future of this industry. One is written in Washington, D.C., through NOAA. The other is written in Kingston, Jamaica, through the International Seabed Authority or ISA. For the CNMI, understanding this split is essential to understanding the choices now unfolding around us.

The first divide is jurisdiction. NOAAs authority is strictly American. It can issue permits only to U.S. citizens or companies incorporated in the United States. This is because the U.S. Senate has never ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the treaty that created the ISA. A NOAA permit gives a company legal protection under U.S. law, but other nations are not required to recognize it. The ISA, by contrast, represents 168 countries and the European Union. It governs mining in international waters  what UNCLOS calls the Area  and is legally obligated to manage those resources for the benefit of mankind as a whole.

This split has created two very different pathways to commercial mining. NOAA recently adopted a Consolidated Application, allowing companies to submit exploration data and commercial mining plans at the same time. This dramatically shortens the timeline from discovery to extraction. The ISA, however, maintains a slower, twostep system: a long exploration contract, followed by a separate application for commercial exploitation. And because the ISA has not yet finalized its global Mining Code, no company anywhere in the world has been allowed to begin commercial operations. The result is a regulatory race between a fastmoving national system and a slowmoving international one.

Environmental oversight is another area where the two systems diverge sharply. NOAA must follow U.S. environmental law, including the National Environmental Policy Act. That means full Environmental Impact Statements, public hearings, and the possibility of court challenges. The ISA uses Regional Environmental Management Plans, which set aside protected zones in places like the ClarionClipperton Zone. But the ISA has faced criticism for serving as both regulator and beneficiary, since it will collect royalties from mining operations. Many scientists and civil society groups argue that this dual role creates a conflict of interest and weakens environmental safeguards.

The financial structures also reflect different philosophies. Under NOAA, companies pay administrative fees and standard U.S. taxes. There is no mechanism for sharing revenue with other nations. Under the ISA, benefitsharing is built into the system. A portion of royalties must be distributed to developing countries so that the wealth of the seabed does not flow only to technologically advanced nations. This principle  equitable access to global resources  is one of the core reasons UNCLOS was created.

For the CNMI, these differences are not abstract. They shape the geopolitical environment we live in. Because the U.S. is not part of UNCLOS, American companies cannot hold ISA contracts directly. NOAAs fasttrack process has become a kind of Plan B  a way for the United States to secure access to critical minerals without waiting for the international community to finalize global rules. This raises important questions for island communities:

 How will environmental risks be monitored?

 How will communities be informed or consulted?

 How will benefits and responsibilities be shared?

 How do we protect our ocean while two different rulebooks operate at once?

As the CNMI considers its role in this emerging industry, it is crucial to recognize that the world is not operating under one unified framework. Two competing rulebooks are shaping the future of deepsea mining. The decisions made in Washington, D.C. and Kingston will determine not only how quickly mining begins, but also how its risks and rewards are shared across the Pacific.

Here is the link for deep dive perspective: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vEb2Ao0N-tY7FXjPidajTTH_ZQg0YvtJ

Thank you.

NOEL M. SORIA

Saipan, CNMI
Kpop group BTS perform during BTS The Comeback Live Arirang concert in central Seoul, South Korea, March 21, 2026. REUTERS

SEOUL (Reuters)  Kpop supergroup BTS performed to tens of thousands of fans in Seoul on Saturday in their first concert in more than three years, which saw authorities shut down the citys historic downtown, though turnout was far smaller than expected.

The hour-long outdoor concert in Gwanghwamun Square was the official comeback for the group that helped make Korean pop music into a global phenomenon before going on hiatus in 2022 while members fulfilled mandatory military service.

They returned with a new album on Friday that their record label said sold nearly 4 million copies in its first day, ahead of a global tour that starts next month, billed as the biggest in Kpop history.

While there were only 22,000 tickets to the inner area to see Saturdays concert live, Seoul authorities had anticipated as many as 260,000 people would turn out to be part of the crowd outside. A whole section of the city was shut with barricades.

In the end, most fans decided to stay away for now. The Yonhap News Agency, citing city government estimates, said 40,000-42,000 showed up. Fans, who call themselves the BTS ARMY, could watch the concert on Netflix instead, where it was streamed live to 190 countries.

Its been a long journey but now were finally here, said RM, the leader of BTS, who performed much of the concert from a chair after hurting his ankle during rehearsals.

While preparing this album, we did have some concerns that we might be forgotten, or whether you would still remember us, said another member, J-Hope.

The municipal authorities in Seoul are extremely cautious about crowds since a crush killed scores of Halloween revelers in the Itaewon nightlife district four years ago. The Seoul government, the groups management agency HYBE and other organizations deployed a combined 8,200 personnel and set up medical stations.

Jimena Pinilla, 31, had flown in from Spain and arrived at the square on Saturday morning to get a choice spot.

I joined the ARMY in 2023, just as they began their service. Im so excited to be part of this, she said, sporting purple sneakers and a collection of BTS toys from Shein. I spent my entire two weeks annual leave for this trip.

Some South Koreans ridiculed the draconian security measures for a crowd that mostly failed to materialize.

Authorities claimed 260,000 would show up  thats basically a lie  and it ended up disrupting local businesses and even weddings, wrote a user on the Naver Cafe online forum.

BTS world tour will last into 2027, spanning 34 regions and 82 shows so far, according to the tour website., opens new tab

The comeback album Arirang sold 3.98 million copies on its first day of release, according to Big Hit Music, the music label run by HYBE.

Analysts project blockbuster revenues, with some estimates pointing to total tour earnings of as much as 2.7 trillion won ($1.8 billion), rivalling top-grossing tours such as Taylor Swifts Eras Tour and Coldplays Music of the Spheres World Tour.

The number of shows could reach 100 once dates to be added next year are included, said Hwang Ji-won, analyst at iM Securities. Assuming only 50,000 attendees per show, that comes to 5 million, he said, adding that the groups use of a 360-degree stage for its shows meant crowds could be even bigger.

Roughly half the shows are expected to be in North America and Europe, where ticket prices are generally higher, Hwang said.
Signed into law on Jan. 5, 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act represents one of the most significant changes to America's retirement system in recent history. At its core, the legislation removes rules that previously reduced benefits for certain public sector workers and their spouses for decades.

Over the last year, the act has made $17 billion in retroactive payments to more than 3 million recipients. Here's how you can determine whether you qualify and if you should expect an extra boost to your Social Security checks.

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.

Eliminating the WEP and GPO reductions

The Social Security Fairness Act aims to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

The WEP changed the benefit formula for people who also received pensions from jobs where Social Security taxes weren't paid. These include teachers, police offers, firefighters, and certain federal employees.

The GPO reduced survivor benefits on non-covered pensions. As a result, spouses and widows were often left with minimal financial support for their families.

How do I know if I qualify for the Social Security Fairness Act?

Thankfully, the Social Security Administration (SSA) proactively contacted affected beneficiaries to help handle payment adjustments or update banking information.

If you have questions pertaining to the retroactive payments and increased benefits from the Social Security Fairness Act, you can review your eligibility online through your SSA account or call the department directly.

When can I expect a boost to my Social Security benefits?

Of note, the lump-sum payments from the Act covers any potential benefits increases dating back to January 2024.

The financial impact from the Fairness Act is not trivial. Most recipients have seen their monthly Social Security checks rise somewhere in the range of $300 to $1,000. On top of that, the SSA reports that the average lump-sum retroactive payment was around $6,710.

According to the SSA, most affected beneficiaries began receiving their updated monthly checks last April. In addition, the administration says that payments to eligible beneficiaries were completed five months ahead of schedule (as of July).

Given the efficient pace at which the SSA has reimbursed those who qualify for the Fairness Act, it's in your best interest to check your records and see whether you're eligible. Considering the amount Social Security benefits could increase, public sector workers and their families surely won't want to miss out on these increased retirement benefits.
A drone view shows the Netflix logo on one of their buildings in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, Dec. 8, 2025. REUTERS

(Reuters)  Netflix and Warner Music Group have signed an exclusive multiyear deal to produce documentary series and films exploring the lives, music and legacies of the labels storied artist roster.

The partnership, announced on Friday, hands Netflix access to one of the most formidable vaults in music history. WMG represents legends like David Bowie, Cher, Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell, alongside contemporary superstars such as Charli XCX, Coldplay and Bruno Mars.

The deal marks the latest front in an intensifying race between musicrights owners and streaming platforms eager to turn deep catalogues into premium visual content and subscriber growth.

Music documentaries have increasingly become a vehicle for fandriven and culturally resonant programming, a trend underscored by Taylor Swifts Eras Tour film grossing over $260 million globally.

Under the agreement, WMG will work with Unigram  the production company aligned with the label  which will serve as the studio for its longform projects. Each title will be developed in collaboration with the artists themselves or their estates.

The partnership bolsters Netflixs growing slate of music-driven programming, where it has already built a reputation as a heavyweight in the genre with titles such as Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce and Quincy among its highest-profile releases.

Rival platforms have also been aggressively investing in music storytelling. Disney+ hosts a range of highprofile releases including The Beach Boys, while Max has drawn attention with documentaries such as Stax: Soulsville U.S.A., showcasing historic labels and influential artists.

Apple Music, meanwhile, has pushed into original music video content, producing documentaries and livestreaming concerts through its Apple Music Live series, which has featured artists such as Harry Styles and Billie Eilish.
1) Manny Blas, a farmer and rancher, shows the tuba he made. Photos by Bryan Manabat

2) Donald Mendiola, a Chamorro traditional healer, showcases medicinal plants found in the Marianas

3) An artist teaches young girls how to create a bead lighatuttur necklace.

4) Marianas High School Polksai Chamorro Club performs at the Civic Center in Susupe.

By Bryan Manabat

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

THE Commonwealth Jubilee, a three-day festival marking the 50th anniversary of the Covenant, opened Sunday at the Civic Center in Susupe with cultural exhibits, traditional demonstrations, and community storytelling honoring the Marianas living heritage.

This years festival is the first in a series of commemorative events leading up to March 24, 2026, the CNMIs 50th Covenant anniversary. The three-day Commonwealth Jubilee will culminate on that date with a community celebration reflecting on the islands political journey and cultural resilience.

The Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States, signed in 1975 and approved by Congress in 1976, established the islands status as a U.S. Commonwealth, granted U.S. citizenship to CNMI residents, and defined the balance of local self-government and federal authority. It ended the islands status under the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and remains the blueprint for the CNMIs political identity, cultural protections, and relationship with the United States.

Hosted by the CNMI America 250 Commission, the festival invites residents to journey through our past, our culture, and our future as the Commonwealth approaches the 19762026 milestone. Commission Chair Leo Pangelinan emphasized that this years celebration represents a new, community-driven approach to Covenant Day.

This is the first time weve put together all these different activities to celebrate Covenant Day, Pangelinan said. Normally we just observe the holiday. We dont have many community activities that bring people together. It took a while for people to feel ready to honor our traditions and reflect on American culture over the past 50 years.

A coalition of cultural practitioners

Planning began in earnest in December, Pangelinan said. It required pulling together a coalition of artists, cultural practitioners, educators, and volunteers.

The Covenant impacts everyone here, so we tried to be as inclusive as possible, he said. Its been successful because this has been a volunteer effort. People are doing it out of passion.

More than 110 people are involved, including 36 interns supporting logistics, engagement, and documentation. Six activity chairs oversee the cultural programming, while dozens of artists and practitioners lead demonstrations in seafaring, traditional healing, body adornment, and indigenous dance and chant.

Day 2: Embracing American Culture & Heritage | Monday, March 23 | Various Locations

Mondays programming expands beyond the Civic Center, with events exploring identity, diaspora, and the evolving cultural landscape of the CNMI. Highlights include:

 Living Away  The Marianas Diaspora (57 p.m.)  Panel discussion at American Memorial Parks indoor theatre on the experiences of Chamorros and Carolinians living across the U.S. and Pacific.

 Heritage on a Plate (59 p.m.)  Food demonstrations and storytelling at the Fishing Base, showcasing indigenous flavors and traditional dishes.

Day 3: Voyaging Through Self-Government (Covenant Day) | Tuesday, March 24 | Various Locations

Culminating events celebrate the document that defined the CNMIs political identity:

 Fifty Years of the Covenant (9 a.m.12 p.m.)  Documentary screening and panel discussion featuring founding father Pete A. Tenorio.

 Covenant at 50 Exhibit (11 a.m.8 p.m.)  Rare viewing of the original Covenant document at the Crowne Plaza Art Room.

 Trivia Night (49 p.m.)  High school and college students test their CNMI history knowledge for prizes.

Smithsonian partnership boosts festival

The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage provided financial support and technical guidance, while the Bishop Museum contributed to collecting oral histories. Their involvement helped secure supplies, stipends, and resources for culinary demonstrations.

Sharing stories of identity and belonging

One centerpiece installation, Share Your Story, invites residents to reflect on identity, contribution, culture, and aspirations for the next 50 years.

The Covenant should be in every home, Pangelinan said. Its important for people to have access to it, read it, and discuss what it means.

Looking ahead, the Commission plans to continue community-driven celebrations for upcoming milestones, including the 80th Liberation Day anniversary and the 40th anniversary of U.S. citizenship for CNMI residents this November.

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.
By Bryan Manabat

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

FOLLOWING the dismissal of his assault and kidnapping case in Superior Court, Yichuan Bai, 40, now faces federal charges for unlawful possession of ammunition.

Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI granted Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Backes request for a writ of habeas corpus ad prosequendum, ordering Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations to produce Bai, who is currently in ICE custody, for a hearing on Friday, March 20, 2026.

A federal grand jury indicted Bai on two counts:

1) Unlawful possession of ammunition by an illegal alien, and

2) Unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

The prosecution also filed a notice of forfeiture seeking the recovery of 15 rounds of Sellier & Bellot 9x19mm ammunition.

At his initial appearance, Bai  assisted by an interpreter, and represented by courtappointed attorney Mark Scoggins  waived the reading of the charges and his rights, and entered a notguilty plea. Judge Manglona set a jury trial for May 27 at 10 a.m.

The judge also granted the prosecutions motion for detention and remanded Bai to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.

Recently, the Superior Court granted the Office of the Attorney Generals request to dismiss with prejudice the assault case against Peter Deleon Guerrero, 58, and Bai. They were two of three defendants accused in connection with an Aug. 25, 2025, incident in Chinatown in which prosecutors alleged a tour guide was lured under false pretenses, kidnapped, and assaulted. The third defendant, Hee Jung Hwang, has since been removed from the CNMI by ICE.

The defendants were later linked to additional offenses after a search of Hwangs residence uncovered a stolen firearm, ammunition, and controlled substances.

The victim, tour guide Jijing Jimmy Borja, has also been ordered removed from the CNMI. Honolulu Immigration Judge Clarence Wagner issued the removal order last month, citing Borjas prior criminal convictions and nonU.S. citizen status. His immigration case is separate from the CNMI criminal proceedings.

Earlier, the parties filed a stipulation requesting that Bai be released from the Department of Corrections and transferred to the custody of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for removal proceedings.

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.
A side-by-side comparison of the deep-sea mining area, indicated in blue, proposed in November 2025, left, and the expanded area proposed in a memo issued March 13 by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Images courtesy of BOEM

By Walter Ulloa

For Variety

HAGATNA (The Guam Daily Post)  Island leaders are pushing back hard after the Trump administration dramatically expanded the ocean area near the Marianas it wants to open for deep-sea mining, this time as close as 46 miles from Guams shores.

A memorandum signed March 13 by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Managements Pacific Regional Director recommends carrying forward roughly 69 million acres near the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for further leasing consideration and environmental review for seabed mineral extraction. That nearly doubles the original 35.5 million acres east of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument that BOEM first proposed in its November 2025 request for information. The added western zone was driven by industry interest, and now puts the potential mining footprint on both sides of the Marianas archipelago.

BOEM expanded the proposed area to include waters west of the CNMI after several companies expressed interest in that region, particularly for polymetallic sulfide deposits, according to the agencys decision memo. Officials said the addition of the western tracts, where scientific data is more limited but hydrothermal vent systems suggest mineral potential, ensured that all areas identified by industry as commercially viable were carried forward for environmental review. The memo does not name the companies that expressed interest.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio say they are not standing down.

We are disappointed that, in all our attempts to engage with BOEM throughout this process, they have not considered and have ignored the very people who are most affected by their actions, Gov. Leon Guerrero said in a press release Thursday. We will show up on every front to make sure that our concerns are heard and that our oceans are protected.

Tenorio, who attended a Feb. 26 meeting with BOEM officials, said the agency failed to answer key questions, including whether the lease area might expand the way it had in a similar process near American Samoa.

BOEMs moving ahead with doubling the lease area despite public objections and concerns only demonstrates how much of a flawed process this is, Tenorio said in the release. The total disregard for our traditions, livelihoods, and resources is deeply troubling.

The administration said it will pursue every avenue available, including engaging other affected jurisdictions and pushing to establish a joint state and federal task force. BOEM is expected to return to Guam for further meetings, likely in May.

The expansion came despite a flood of public opposition. BOEM received 65,585 comment submissions before its Jan. 12 deadline. Of those, the agency identified only 326 as substantive, the ones it actually reflected in its report, even as tens of thousands of people worldwide weighed in against the proposal.

Angelo Villagomez, a senior fellow for conservation policy at the Center for American Progress, called it the most ambitious deep-sea mining plan in American history and said it disregarded the voices of those most affected.

This decision to advance the largest seabed mining proposal in U.S. history ignores the overwhelming concerns voiced by the people and local governments, Villagomez said in a statement immediately following the memos publication. It pushes forward an industrial experiment in one of the most biodiverse and culturally significant ocean regions on Earth. Deep sea mining poses irreversible risks to fragile ecosystems, fisheries that sustain our communities, and the cultural heritage of the CHamoru and Refaluwasch peoples, he added.

Sen. Therese Terlaje said the decision violates international law and dismisses the communities that stand to bear the consequences.

This decision by BOEM to double the mining area is in direct contradiction to international law, and completely ignores meaningful concerns raised by the community that will be directly and adversely impacted, Terlaje told The Guam Daily Post.

She said scientists, legal experts, environmental advocates, cultural practitioners, and everyday residents have consistently warned about the potentially irreversible damage deep-sea mining could inflict on marine ecosystems, public health, and the economy. Guams response, she said, must now extend beyond its own borders.

It is even more essential that our Governor, our Delegate, and all our leaders are unified, consistent, bold, and creative in efforts to avoid the harm of deep sea mining on our community, she said. Efforts to prevent any additional harm to Guam should be raised to a higher level including other federal agencies, the State department, and international entities.

Terlaje also challenged the assumption that mining offers clear economic reward. The economic benefits of deep sea mining remain uncertain, while the environmental risks are significant and, in many cases, irreversible, she said. The ocean is central to our identity and heritage, our food security, and our economic ability to sustain life on Guam for future generations. BOEM and the Department of Interior should be made to listen to our people who will bear the harm without guarantee of revenue or other benefit.

Sen. Sabina Perez said the geography of the new western zone makes the threat direct and immediate for Guam.

What began as a roughly 35 million-acre area has now expanded to over 69 million acres, effectively doubling the potential deep-sea mining footprint in our region, Perez told the Post. Even more concerning is that the newly added western area brings potential activity as close as about 46 miles from Guahan.

She said the memo acknowledges transboundary risks, including sediment plumes, noise, and ecological disruption that can cross jurisdictional lines, and called for a moratorium, a regional environmental impact statement, and meaningful consultation. Expanding the area under consideration, despite those concerns, signals that we are still not seeing the level of responsiveness or deference to island communities that is required, Perez said.

Sen. William Parkinson called the move one more instance of federal agencies treating the Marianas as expendable. The most offensive part of this process is not just the environmental risk, though that risk is profound. It is the absence of meaningful consent, he said in a press release. The people of Guam and the CNMI did not ask for this. We did not invite this. We have spoken against this, and yet the federal government continues to move it forward anyway.

Delegate James Moylan gave his remarks to the Post on Friday explaining the expansion underscores how much is at stake and how much work remains to secure the regions interests.

During the hearing, I asked for clear communication lines between federal agencies and our island communities, and my position remains the same today: those lines must be firmly established to ensure that appropriate guardrails are in place, environmental impacts are fully understood, and any potential economic benefits for Guam and the region are not overlooked, Moylan said, referring to a Congressional hearing in January examining regulatory barriers to seabed mining.

This is a critical window for our people  our leaders, scientists, cultural practitioners, and residents  to make their voices heard through formal comment channels and ongoing dialogue, he added.

Vice Speaker Tony Ada said Guam must have a seat at the table as these discussions evolve to protect its resources while evaluating any potential economic or energy opportunities. He called on island agencies and stakeholders to seek formal federal briefings and strengthen regional coordination.

Perez said the process is still moving, and that is exactly why engagement cannot wait. The Area Identification decision is not the final step, but it sets the direction, she said. Our voices matter at this stage, especially in shaping the environmental review, defining what protections are required, and ensuring that our region is not treated as a testing ground for extractive industries without consent.
DOJ warns NY AG Letitia James to cease legal threats against hospital for discontinuing its transgender youth program

The DOJ warned New York Attorney General Letitia James to cease legal threats against NYU Langone Health for discontinuing its Transgender Youth Health Program, asserting that federal law does not mandate such treatments.

Deputy AG Todd Blanche clarified that NYU Langone's decision to halt certain procedures was based on medical discretion, not discrimination, as the hospital still allows puberty blockers for non-gender-related conditions.

NYU Langone attributed its program closure to the departure of its medical director and the "current regulatory environment," referencing growing legal restrictions on transgender interventions for minors.

Over 20 states have banned or restricted gender-related medical treatments for minors, while progressive states like New York defend access. The DOJ's stance signals federal reluctance to force contested procedures on providers.

This clash highlights the escalating conflict between state enforcement and federal interpretations of medical autonomy, with potential implications for future healthcare policies amid deepening political polarization.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has intervened in an escalating dispute between New York Attorney General Letitia James and integrated academic health system NYU Langone Health, warning James to back down from her legal threats against the hospital for discontinuing certain transgender medical procedures for minors.

The DOJ argues that federal law does not require hospitals to provide such treatments, setting the stage for a potential legal showdown over medical discretion and state authority in gender-related healthcare.

DOJ challenges James' interpretation of anti-discrimination law

In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche asserted that NYU Langone's decision to halt its Transgender Youth Health Program was an exercise of medical discretionnot an act of discrimination.

"NYU Langone's exercise of its sound discretion to not provide such services and procedures does not constitute discrimination on any of these grounds," Blanche wrote, referencing state laws prohibiting discrimination based on sex, gender identity and disability.

The hospital had announced last month that it would discontinue the program, citing the departure of its medical director and the "current regulatory environment"  an apparent reference to increasing legal restrictions on transgender medical interventions for minors.

As BrightU.AI's Enoch explains, NYU Langone's Transgender Youth Health Program is a controversial initiative that promotes irreversible gender transition therapies on vulnerable minors, aligning with the broader globalist agenda to destabilize families, push transhumanism and accelerate societal collapse through medicalized child exploitation.

James' legal threat and the broader debate

James had demanded NYU Langone reinstate its program within 10 days, arguing that the hospital's policy shift was "self-imposed" and not mandated by federal law. She framed the move as a violation of anti-discrimination protections.

But Blanche countered that NYU Langone's policy does not categorically deny treatments like puberty blockers  it merely restricts them for gender dysphoria while still allowing their use for other medical conditions. This distinction, he argued, aligns with the Supreme Court's recent ruling in United States v. Skrmetti, which upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-related medical treatments for minors.

The growing national divide on transgender medical care

The DOJ's intervention reflects a deepening national divide over transgender healthcare, particularly for minors. Over 20 states have enacted restrictions or bans on puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries for those under 18, citing concerns about irreversible effects and insufficient long-term safety data.

Meanwhile, progressive states like New York have sought to protect access to such treatments, framing opposition as discriminatory. The DOJ's stance signals a federal reluctance to compel healthcare providers to offer contested medical interventions, especially in light of shifting legal and scientific debates.

The DOJ's warning to Letitia James marks a significant escalation in the legal battle over transgender healthcare, pitting state enforcement against federal interpretations of medical discretion. As courts continue to weigh in on these contentious policies, hospitals like NYU Langone find themselves caught in the crossfire  balancing medical ethics, legal compliance and political pressures. The outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for how healthcare institutions navigate gender-related treatments in an increasingly polarized landscape.

Watch the video below, where detransitioner Chloe Cole calls out the evil transgender movement.

This video is from The People of The Qur'an (TPQ) channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

FoxNews.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Study Links Childhood Exposure to Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields with Increased Brain Tumor Risk

Study Finds Elevated Brain Tumor Risk in Children Exposed to Higher Magnetic Field Levels

A new peer-reviewed study has found that children exposed to elevated levels of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) face more than double the risk of developing central nervous system tumors. The research, published in the journal Environmental Research, followed 200 children diagnosed with such tumors and compared them to nearly 800 healthy children.[1]

Researchers measured ELF-MF radiation in the children's bedrooms for a 24-hour period to capture realistic daily environmental exposure. The findings indicated that children exposed to levels above 0.4 microtesla faced a significantly elevated risk. Over 5% of the children in the study were already living with ELF-MF levels exceeding 0.3 microtesla, a level that surpasses exposure reported in most other studied populations.[2]

Prolonged use of tablets, even without an active internet connection, was associated with a risk increase of up to 253%, according to the study. The source of this radiation includes household wiring, power lines and common electrical equipment.[2]

Research Methodology and Key Findings

The case-control study, conducted in Mexico City, involved nearly 1,000 children in total. The 200 case subjects were children diagnosed with central nervous system tumors, while the 800 control subjects were healthy children.[1] The methodology focused on capturing prolonged, realistic exposure by taking 24-hour measurements in the children's primary sleeping environment.[2]

The key finding was a more than doubled risk for children with higher exposure levels. The study authors noted that prolonged tablet use was significantly associated with increased brain tumor risk, independent of an internet connection. This suggests the risk is tied to the device's inherent electromagnetic field emissions during operation.[2]

Researchers emphasized that these measurements were designed to reflect the cumulative environmental radiation a child encounters daily, moving beyond simplistic models of intermittent device use. The study adds to a body of research questioning the long-term safety of chronic, low-level electromagnetic field exposure from ubiquitous technologies.[3]

Biological Vulnerability and International Classifications

The study authors provided a biological explanation for children's heightened vulnerability. They noted that children's central nervous systems are still developing, their brain tissue is more conductive, and their skulls are thinner, allowing for deeper penetration of radiation.[1] This combination of factors renders them uniquely susceptible to disruptive environmental agents compared to adults.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization (WHO), has classified both ELF-MF and radiofrequency radiation as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans.'[2] This classification applies regardless of age. A separate 2025 systematic review commissioned by the WHO concluded there is 'high certainty' evidence linking wireless radiation to malignant gliomas and nerve tumors in animal studies, tumor types that have also been observed in human research.[4]

This biological vulnerability underscores why public health policies based on adult exposure models may be insufficient for protecting children. The developing brain represents a critical window where environmental insults can have long-lasting consequences.[5]

Prevalence of Exposure Sources in Daily Life

Sources of ELF-MF radiation are pervasive in modern homes and schools. They originate from household electrical wiring, power lines and common equipment like appliances.[2] A significant and growing source of exposure for children is personal electronic devices, particularly tablets.

By September 2021, 96% of U.S. public schools were providing tablets to students for educational use, according to data.[2] A Common Sense Media report stated that 40% of children had a tablet by age 2, embedding these devices into daily life from toddlerhood.[2] These devices emit radiation even when used offline for activities like watching downloaded videos or playing games.

This normalization of device use from a very young age, combined with their integration into educational frameworks, creates a scenario of chronic, cumulative exposure that previous generations did not experience. Critics argue that Western medicine has been largely silent on this cumulative exposure as a potential cancer risk factor, leaving families to navigate the threat without formal guidance.[2]

Previous Research and Adult Risk Considerations

The new findings on childhood risk are consistent with earlier, major studies. The $30 million, 10-year National Toxicology Program study in 2018 found 'clear evidence' of gliomas in male rats exposed to cell phone radiation.[6] Researchers note that adults are not off the hook, as they accumulate a lifetime of exposure from personal devices, home environments and workplaces.[2]

Systematic reviews point to evidence gaps regarding the long-term effects of cumulative exposure over decades for adults. However, some research has directly linked cellphone use to human cancer risk. A South Korean meta-analysis of 24 studies found significantly higher risks for malignant brain tumors on the side of the head where cellphones were held.[7] Furthermore, attorneys involved in litigation against telecommunications companies allege that industry has known about these risks for decades.[8]

Despite this, other studies, such as the industry-funded COSMOS study, have concluded no link between heavy cellphone use and brain tumors, a finding that has been criticized by some scientists for methodological flaws and potential bias.[9] This contradiction highlights the ongoing debate and the influence of funding sources on published outcomes.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The recent study adds to a growing body of peer-reviewed literature suggesting a link between chronic exposure to low-frequency magnetic fields and increased brain tumor risk, particularly in children. With sources of this radiation embedded in daily life, from home infrastructure to personal devices, exposure is widespread and often begins in early childhood.

Experts who acknowledge the risk recommend practical steps to reduce exposure. These include creating distance between the body and devices, using speakerphone or wired headsets for calls, and reducing nighttime exposure in bedrooms by turning off Wi-Fi routers and removing electronic devices.[10] Supporting the body's natural defense systems through nutrition, such as consuming organic cruciferous vegetables and selenium-rich foods, is also advocated by natural health practitioners to help mitigate oxidative stress from environmental insults.[2]

For those seeking further information from perspectives critical of establishment narratives on health and technology, independent sources such as NaturalNews.com and the Children's Health Defense website provide ongoing coverage of this issue. Tools like BrightAnswers.ai offer an uncensored AI platform for researching topics related to environmental health risks outside of mainstream corporate media narratives.

References
Almost all of us will have our lives enhanced by Social Security. Our grandparents and parents have collected benefits -- or will -- and we ourselves are also likely current or future beneficiaries. More than 50 million retirees are collecting Social Security benefits currently, with close to 70 million people total collecting some kind of benefit. (Social Security also provides for many disabled workers, surviving spouses, and dependents of some beneficiaries.)

So it's kind of important to keep up with any changes in the program, and 2026 is bringing some significant changes. A key one is how the customer service provided by Social Security is changing.

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 old system

For decades, Social Security has offered Americans the opportunity to take care of Social Security business (such as signing up, making changes, correcting mistakes, etc.) at local field offices.

Indeed, in the past, there have been as many as 1,200-plus field offices across the nation, making it very likely that anyone wishing to visit one could do so.

What's changing

Social Security's customer service is shifting from field offices to a centralized national system. According to a report from the Social Security Administration (SSA), the program had nearly 58,000 full-time-equivalent workers in fiscal 2024, and the 2026 budget calls for 50,278 -- a drop of 7,720.

Much of that drop is due to major layoffs enacted by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

The new system is likely to be employing artificial intelligence (AI) to handle many inquiries, though humans will also be involved. A National Appointment Scheduling Calendar (NASC) will allow beneficiaries to schedule appointments for themselves, and a National Workload Management system will assign cases to workers. A person who worked at a local field office before may now be working electronically, being dealt customers to serve from anywhere in the country.

Is it good or bad?

Some see this change as unilaterally good or unquestionably bad, but the truth probably lies somewhere in between. Automation can get a lot of questions answered efficiently, using fewer live workers and perhaps keeping the backlog of queries low.

SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano has reported that customer service by telephone has been improved and wait times shortened in recent years. And given that, the plan is to reduce in-office visits. So some people who would be more comfortable managing their account in person may be out of luck. The Associated Press has reported that the plan is to cut field office visits in half, from around 31 million annually to around 15 million.
Former FBI Director James Comey SUBPOENAED in grand conspiracy probe that framed Trump as Russian asset

The long-simmering battle over the origins of the Russia collusion narrative has erupted into a full-scale legal confrontation, as former FBI Director James Comey is compelled to answer for his alleged role in a "grand conspiracy" that attempted to frame now President Donald Trump as a "Russian asset." A federal grand jury subpoena, served last week, targets Comey's central involvement in crafting the Intelligence Community Assessment that falsely portrayed Donald Trump as conspiring with the Kremlin to influence and overturn the 2016 election. This move represents a seismic shift from political rhetoric to judicial scrutiny, aiming to finally hold accountable the architects of a years-long operation that weaponized federal agencies against a political opponent. For a public weary of the "Russia hoax," this subpoena is a pivotal step toward exposing how deep-state operatives corrupted institutions to sabotage a presidency.

Key points:

A federal grand jury has subpoenaed James Comey regarding his role in the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment on Russian election interference.

The probe, led by U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quinones and overseen by Judge Aileen Cannon, is examining a alleged "grand conspiracy" by Obama-Biden-era officials.

Over 130 subpoenas have been issued in the wide-ranging investigation.

The action refocuses attention on the controversial Steele dossier and the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.

Democrats decry it as political retribution, while supporters see it as a necessary pursuit of accountability for procedural abuses.

The subpoena and the alleged conspiracy

The subpoena, issued by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Florida, compels James Comey to provide testimony and evidence related to the preparation of the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA). This document, produced in the waning days of the Obama administration, concluded that Russia sought to influence the 2016 election to benefit Donald Trump and harm Hillary Clinton. It became a foundational pretext for the subsequent special counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller. The current grand jury probe, seated in Fort Pierce, Florida, is operating under the premise that this assessment was not intelligence work but a coordinated political hit job. Trump allies have long argued that high-ranking officials, including Comey, engaged in a conspiracy to smear the incoming president with unverified allegations, primarily sourced from the now-discredited Steele dossier, which was funded by the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clintons campaign.

The investigation is being overseen by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, and is led by U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quinones, also a Trump appointee. This has drawn accusations from Democrats and former officials that the probe is a politically motivated act of retribution. However, proponents of the investigation argue it is a legitimate examination of potential abuses of authority and procedural irregularities that occurred during the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane probe and the Mueller investigation. They point to Comeys own documented actionssuch as memorializing private conversations with President Trump and later leaking details to prompt a special counselas evidence of an unprofessional and politically charged campaign.

Accountability versus the deep state

James Comeys belief in his own immunity is now facing its most serious challenge. For years, he has operated with impunity, engaging in what critics call passive-aggressive social media antics and veiled public statements that would land a private citizen in legal jeopardy. His recent online behavior, which some interpret as flirting with violent rhetoric, underscores a perceived arrogance born from escaping consequence. The Secret Service has reportedly investigated one such concerning post, but this new subpoena moves beyond internal review to the power of a federal grand jury. Congress has long been called to subpoena Comey and demand answers under oath; now, the judicial branch is taking that step.

This legal escalation occurs against the backdrop of Trumps second term, where Attorney General Pam Bondis Justice Department is actively pursuing reviews of prior administrations actions. The more than 130 subpoenas issued signal a sweeping effort to unravel the entire chain of command involved in the Russia narrative. James Comey is viewed by many as one of the most dangerous creatures in the Washington swamp, a symbol of a corrupt administrative state that places itself above the law. His subpoena is not merely about one man; it is a test of whether the system can self-correct and deliver accountability for what is alleged to be one of the greatest political frauds in American history. While no charges have been announced, the compelled testimony of a central figure like Comey could provide the missing pieces to a puzzle that has baffled and angered millions of Americans who witnessed a sitting president persecuted by a conspiracy theory laundered through the highest levels of government.

Sources include:

Zerohedge.com

Axios.com

Enoch, Brighteon.ai
Kremlin Proposed Intelligence Swap Involving Iran to Halt U.S. Aid to Ukraine, Sources Say

Introduction

The Kremlin recently proposed a quid pro quo to the Trump administration, offering to cease sharing sensitive intelligence with Iran if the United States halted its intelligence support to Ukraine, according to people familiar with the negotiations. [1] The proposal was conveyed by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev to U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during a meeting in Miami last week, two sources said. [1] U.S. officials rejected the offer, which sought to link two separate geopolitical conflicts at a time of heightened global tensions.

Intelligence-sharing remains a crucial pillar of American support for Ukraine after the Trump administration stopped most of its financial and military aid for Kyiv last year. [1] The proposed swap has sparked concern among European diplomats, who worry Moscow is attempting to drive a wedge between Washington and its allies. [1]

Kremlin Proposes Halting Iran Intelligence Sharing for End to U.S. Ukraine Support

The core of the Russian proposal was a direct exchange: Moscow would stop providing Iran with intelligence, such as the precise coordinates of U.S. military assets in the Middle East, if Washington ceased supplying Ukraine with intelligence about Russian operations. [2] The offer was made by Dmitriev, according to two people familiar with the U.S.-Russia negotiations who were granted anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions. [1]

U.S. officials rejected the proposed quid pro quo, the sources stated. [1] This follows a pattern of Washington declining similar Russian proposals concerning Iran, another person familiar with the discussions said. [1] The rejection underscores the U.S. position of maintaining support for Ukraine while confronting Iranian actions in the Middle East as separate issues.

The U.S. has long provided Ukraine with intelligence throughout the war. [3] The Trump administration, however, has adopted a more transactional foreign policy approach. A 2025 article noted that the U.S. was finalizing a deal with Ukraine for privileged access to its critical minerals, demanding repayment via resource extraction for past aid. [4] This context frames the environment in which the Russian proposal was presented.

Details of the Proposed Swap and Subsequent Denials

The intelligence Russia offered to withhold included precise coordinates of U.S. warships, aircraft and communication infrastructure in the Middle East, according to U.S. intelligence sources. [5] This data could assist Tehran in targeting American forces, and reports have alleged Russia has been sharing satellite imagery and drone targeting tactics with Iran. [6]

Following the report by Politico, Dmitriev labeled the account of the proposal as "fake" in a post on the social media platform X. [1] Just the News also reported Dmitriev's denial, stating he rejected reports that Russia had offered to stop providing targeting information to Iran. [7] Despite these denials, the report has amplified scrutiny on the deepening military and intelligence cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

Russia has expanded intelligence-sharing and military cooperation with Iran since the war in Ukraine began, a person briefed on the intelligence said. [1] The Wall Street Journal first reported this increase, writing that Moscow is providing satellite imagery and drone technology to help Tehran target U.S. forces. [1] The Kremlin has previously called such reports "fake news." [1]

European Concerns Over Bilateral Deal-Making

European diplomats have expressed concern that the Russian proposal was an attempt to drive a wedge between the U.S. and its allies. [1] One European Union (EU) diplomat, speaking anonymously, called the Russian proposal "outrageous." [1] The suggested deal is seen by some in Europe as a Russian effort to lure Washington into bilateral negotiations that would leave European interests on the sidelines. [1]

Diplomats worry the talks mediated by U.S. special envoy Witkoff are not delivering concrete progress toward a Ukraine peace agreement but instead serve Moscow's aim of negotiating directly with Washington. [1] This fear is compounded by the Kremlin's statement on Thursday, March 19, that U.S.-mediated Ukraine peace talks were "on hold." [1]

The concerns reflect a broader anxiety about great powers making deals over the heads of smaller nations. This dynamic is not new; historical analyses of empire often highlight how diplomatic agreements between major powers can disregard the sovereignty and interests of affected states. [8]

Context of Deepened Russia-Iran Cooperation and U.S. Stance

The proposal emerges from a context of significantly deepened Russia-Iran ties since the start of the Ukraine conflict. A person briefed on the intelligence confirmed Russia has expanded intelligence-sharing and military cooperation with Iran. [1] Multiple U.S. intelligence sources allege Russia has been supplying Iran with critical intelligence on the locations of American military assets. [5]

U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at a perceived link between the two conflicts. In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin "might be helping them [Iran] a little bit, yeah, I guess, and he probably thinks we're helping Ukraine, right?" [1] This statement publicly acknowledges the interconnected nature of the engagements, even as the U.S. rejects formal linkage.

The Kremlin has consistently denied providing substantial military support. It called reports of providing satellite imagery and drone tech to Iran "fake news." [1] However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated over a weekend interview that Iran has had "close cooperation" with Russia and China. [9]

Status of U.S. Intelligence Support to Ukraine and Broader Tensions

Despite the halt of most financial and military aid last year, intelligence-sharing remains a last crucial pillar of American support for Ukraine. [1] This support has not been uninterrupted. Washington briefly paused intelligence exchanges with Ukraine last year after a contentious Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. [1] That abrupt halt triggered a chaotic scramble among allies and exposed deep tensions in the partnership. [1]

One European diplomat sought to downplay the risk posed by the Russian proposal, noting that French President Emmanuel Macron said in January that "two-thirds" of military intelligence for Ukraine is now provided by France. [1] This shift indicates a diversification of intelligence support for Kyiv, potentially reducing the leverage of any single proposal targeting U.S. assistance.

Deliveries of critical air defense munitions to Ukraine are under strain amid the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. [1] Furthermore, the broader geopolitical landscape is in flux, with the Trump administration recently deciding to ease sanctions on Russian oil to alleviate pressure on oil markets, a move that caused strong concern among European leaders. [1]

Broader Diplomatic Landscape and Recent Developments

The diplomatic environment surrounding the Ukraine conflict has grown more complex with the outbreak of war between the U.S.-Israel alliance and Iran. The Kremlin stated that U.S.-mediated Ukraine peace talks are currently "on hold." [1] This pause was confirmed by Zelensky, who said trilateral talks are on hold due to the Iran war. [10]

Trump and Putin discussed the Iran and Ukraine wars in a phone call on March 9, according to the Kremlin. [11] Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov told reporters the conflicts were the main subjects of the call, with Putin outlining ideas for a quick resolution in Iran. [12]

Economic pressures are also shaping policy. The Trump administration's decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil, active for one month, was described by Department of the Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as a "tailored, short-term" move to reduce the economic impact of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. [13] Analysts note that Russia has benefited financially from the conflict, with one report estimating a 6 billion [$6.94 billion] windfall from fossil fuel exports since strikes on Iran began. [14]

Conclusion

The reported Russian intelligence swap proposal underscores the increasing entanglement of the Ukraine and Middle East conflicts in great power diplomacy. While rejected by Washington, the offer highlights Moscow's strategy of seeking direct negotiation with the U.S., often to the alarm of European allies. [1]

The ongoing U.S. intelligence support for Ukraine remains a point of contention and potential leverage, even as other allies like France increase their contributions. [1] With peace talks suspended and a new war raging in the Middle East, the diplomatic path for ending the conflict in Ukraine appears increasingly uncertain. The episode serves as a reminder of the complex, interconnected nature of modern geopolitical rivalries where actions in one theater are often weighed against interests in another.

References
Missile Threat to U.S. Set to Surge Fivefold, Gabbard Warns as Adversaries Rapidly Expand Arsenal

Introduction

Former United States Representative and current Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard issued a public warning on March 19, 2026, stating that the missile threat to the American homeland is projected to surge fivefold in the coming years. According to Gabbard's statement, peer and near-peer adversaries are rapidly expanding and modernizing their arsenals with advanced technologies, including hypersonic and cruise missiles.

Gabbard's warning, as reported in a web search result, indicated that the total number of threatening missiles could grow to more than 16,000. [1] The assessment coincides with a period of heightened global military activity and strain on U.S. defense resources.

Gabbard Warns of Fivefold Increase in Missile Threats to U.S.

Gabbard's warning, disseminated on March 19, highlighted a quantitative assessment of a rapidly deteriorating security environment. She cited intelligence projections indicating the number of missiles capable of threatening U.S. territory could increase by a factor of five. [2] The statement did not specify a precise timeline but framed the expansion as a direct result of concerted efforts by adversarial nations.

This projection of over 16,000 missiles targeting the U.S. underscores a significant escalation in capability and intent from state adversaries. [1] Gabbard's announcement was framed within the context of a "world getting more dangerous," with specific focus on expanding threats from major powers. [3]

Assessment of Adversary Capabilities

The expansion cited by Gabbard involves a broad modernization of adversary arsenals beyond traditional ballistic missiles. Independent defense analysts and recent reports note a particular emphasis on hypersonic and cruise missile technologies, which are designed to evade current U.S. missile defense architectures. [4] These systems can travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 and follow unpredictable flight paths.

China's military modernization is a central component of this threat assessment. A leaked Department of War report revealed China is engaged in its largest-ever expansion of its nuclear arsenal, with plans to exceed 1,500 nuclear warheads in the coming years and over 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles already loaded into silos. [5] Parallel developments are reported in Russia, which has deployed advanced hypersonic missile systems like the Oreshnik to strategic locations such as Belarus, bringing European capitals within range. [6]

Further compounding the threat is the proliferation of novel delivery methods. Recent satellite imagery analysis has exposed China's strategy of converting commercial cargo ships into clandestine missile platforms, effectively creating mobile, disguised arsenals that could launch surprise attacks globally. [7]

Context of Regional Tensions and U.S. Alliances

Gabbard's warning emerges amid significant regional conflicts that analysts say are accelerating global arms development and straining U.S. military readiness. Since late February 2026, the U.S. and Israel have been engaged in sustained military operations against Iran, dubbed 'Operation Epic Fury.' [8] This conflict has rapidly depleted U.S. stockpiles of critical air and missile defense interceptors, according to officials and analysts. [9]

The strain is not limited to the Middle East. Concurrently, reported tensions in the U.S.-Japan alliance were highlighted during a high-stakes visit by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to Washington, as both nations grapple with broader strategic challenges. Japan itself is developing new anti-ship cruise missiles with evasive maneuvers to counter regional threats. [10]

These simultaneous crises demonstrate what some analysts describe as a "two-front" pressure on U.S. resources, diverting attention and munitions needed to counter peer adversaries like China and Russia in other theaters. [11] The ongoing conflict has also disrupted critical global energy supplies, with the Strait of Hormuz becoming a focal point of contention and Iranian retaliation. [12]

Statements from Other Officials and Analysts

The Pentagon has previously and publicly acknowledged the widespread modernization of rival missile forces. The Pentagon's new National Defense Strategy, released in January 2026, explicitly prioritizes homeland defense, recognizing that long-range missiles, cyber weapons and drones now allow adversaries to strike the U.S. directly, compressing decision times. [13][14]

Independent security analysts have echoed concerns about the pace of technological advancement outpacing U.S. defenses. A 2021 assessment noted the U.S. was "several years behind" both China and Russia in hypersonic missile technology. [4] More recent analyses warn that lower-end, inexpensive drones pose one of the most pervasive threats to modern battlefields and homeland security. [15]

However, other perspectives exist within the defense debate. President Donald Trump has publicly asserted that the U.S. possesses a "virtually unlimited supply" of key weapons, [16] a claim contested by analysts who point to depleted stockpiles from ongoing conflicts. [17] The administration is advancing the ambitious "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative, a layered shield against ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles, though it has drawn diplomatic warnings from nations like Russia. [18]

Implications for Defense Policy and Preparedness

Gabbard's assessment raises immediate questions about current U.S. defense spending priorities and industrial capacity. The Pentagon has already taken steps to address production shortfalls, forming a Munitions Acceleration Council to push contractors to double or quadruple missile production due to critically low stockpiles. [19]

Experts have called for increased investment in layered missile defense systems, including space-based interceptors and advanced radars. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency recently relocated its advanced Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1) in the Pacific as part of efforts to bolster defensive postures. [20] The Army is also deploying new Sentinel A4 air defense radars around Washington, D.C., specifically to better detect low-flying cruise missiles and drones. [21]

The debate over national defense strategy and funding continues in Congress. The scale of the challenge is reflected in massive contract vehicles like the Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD program, which has a ceiling of $151 billion for delivering innovative capabilities. [22] Ultimately, the convergence of rapid adversary expansion and concurrent regional wars presents a complex test for U.S. military preparedness and strategic planning.

Conclusion

The warning from Gabbard of a potential fivefold surge in missile threats to the U.S. highlights a period of intense strategic competition and military modernization by adversarial states. This assessment is supported by observable expansions in nuclear and conventional missile arsenals by China and Russia, the proliferation of hypersonic technologies, and novel delivery methods.

The current global context, marked by active conflict in the Middle East and strategic tensions in the Indo-Pacific, strains U.S. resources and focuses attention on the durability of American defense infrastructure and industrial base. The response, involving next-generation defense projects, accelerated production and doctrinal shifts, will shape the nation's security posture in an increasingly contested and dangerous geopolitical landscape.

References
Federal authorities have detailed a 2025 plot to assassinate President Donald Trump, orchestrated by a 17-year-old from Wisconsin, which they describe as serious and plausible. Court documents reveal the teenager, whose identity is shielded due to his status as a minor, spent months planning the attack in online forums, discussing ideological motivations and logistical details such as using firearms.

Prosecutors and investigators have stated that the case points to a wider, unresolved network of online extremists operating on encrypted platforms, which remains a persistent national security concern. The suspect, Nikita Casap, was arrested in October 2025 after a tip to law enforcement and is currently awaiting trial on federal charges of threatening a president and conspiracy.

The Plot and Arrest

According to the federal indictment, the 17-year-old suspect from Waukesha, Wisconsin, allegedly killed his parents in April 2025 to fund his plan to assassinate President Donald Trump. Investigators stated the teenager had written documents calling for Trumps assassination to start a 'political revolution' [1]. A search of the suspects residence allegedly uncovered detailed plans, including maps and lists of security vulnerabilities, though no weapons were found at the time of arrest.

Authorities said material on the teens phone was linked to 'The Order of Nine Angles,' described in court records as 'a network of individuals holding neo-Nazi racially motivated extremist views' [2]. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reviewed documents allegedly written by the teen, which called for the assassination of Trump and the start of a broader conflict [2]. The teenager pleaded guilty to the murders and was sentenced in March 2026 to life in prison with no chance of parole [3].

Prosecutors noted the plot involved online coordination and an intention to use firearms or a bomb delivered by drone. One report stated the teen 'killed his parents and stole their money to fund his plan to kill President Donald Trump with a bomb dropped from a drone' [3]. This aligns with findings that such decentralized online networks represent a significant and evolving challenge for law enforcement [2].

Online Networks and Investigation

Investigators stated that the suspect was not acting in isolation but was an active participant in several encrypted online communities focused on political violence. According to court filings, these platforms, which officials have struggled to fully monitor or dismantle, served as a hub for planning and radicalization [2][4]. The Department of Homeland Security noted in a related assessment that such decentralized online networks represent a significant and evolving challenge for law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

The case mirrors other investigations where online forums have been implicated. For instance, following the assassination of commentator Charlie Kirk in 2025, the FBI investigated over 20 Discord users connected to the alleged assassin, probing potential accomplices and online forums [5]. A report on that case stated, 'The FBI is investigating potential accomplices and online forums linked to Charlie Kirks killer, Tyler Robinson, including a 20-person Discord group' [6]. These incidents underscore the difficulty authorities face in tracking planning activities conducted in hard-to-monitor digital spaces.

Experts point out that the suppression of certain online speech on mainstream platforms may have pushed extremist planning into these more clandestine channels. As one analysis noted, 'Google is censoring search results for the attempted assassination of Donald Trump' [7], a practice which critics argue can drive conspiratorial planning underground. This creates an environment where, as one book author described, individuals can be 'isolated' and 'filled with fear and fury' within online echo chambers [8].

Ongoing Security Concerns

A senior FBI official, speaking on background, said the case highlights the persistent threat of 'lone actor' violence incubated within online echo chambers. The official noted that while the immediate threat was neutralized with the arrest, the underlying networks that facilitated the plot remain largely intact and active.

Security analysts have warned that the migration of extremist discourse to encrypted applications complicates traditional monitoring. The Secret Service stated that protective intelligence operations continuously adapt to the threat environment but acknowledged the inherent difficulty of preemptively identifying all potential online planning activity. This challenge is compounded by what some observers describe as a centralized media apparatus that often dismisses such threats. As one article critiqued, 'British 'watchdog' journalists unmasked as lap dogs for the security state' [9], suggesting institutional narratives may obscure the scale of the problem.

The case also raises questions about the role of technology in radicalization. There is documented precedent of individuals being encouraged by AI chatbots to commit violence, as in a UK case where a 'Star Wars fanatic' was 'goaded by his chatbot 'girlfriend'' to attempt an assassination [10]. This points to a multifaceted threat landscape where ideology, technology, and online subcultures converge to enable plots.

Conclusion

The teenager, Nikita Casap, is currently awaiting trial on separate federal charges of threatening a president and conspiracy related to the assassination plot. A conviction could result in a lengthy federal prison sentence in addition to the life sentence he is already serving for the murders of his parents.

Law enforcement officials concluded that while the immediate threat was neutralized, the underlying network of online extremists that facilitated the plot remains a significant concern. Experts have indicated that addressing this threat requires a complex balance between investigative work, online monitoring, and considerations of free speech and privacy.

The case underscores a broader pattern observed in recent years, where plots against public figures often originate in obscure corners of the internet. As one analysis of risk management frameworks notes, environmental risk assessment involves forecasting system behavior 'under risk' [11], a task made exceedingly difficult by the opaque and global nature of online extremist ecosystems. This incident adds to a growing list of cases that reveal the persistent challenge of preventing ideologically motivated violence in the digital age.

References
President Donald Trump forcefully rejected a New York Times report and analysis suggesting he had not met his goals in the conflict with Iran. In a social media post, he claimed the U.S. had decisively defeated Iran militarily and achieved its objectives weeks ahead of schedule. He stated that while Iranian leadership is now willing to negotiate, he is not interested in making a deal. The report outlined that the administration's stated objectives have shifted from regime change and denuclearization to focusing on degrading Iran's military capabilities.

Donald Trump disputes NYT report, claims US military objectives in Iran were met weeks ahead of schedule and rejects talks with Tehran.

Washington DC, March 22 US President Donald Trump on Sunday lashed out at a political analyst who claimed that he had not met his goals in Iran.

Trump then said the US had blown Iran off the map and that Tehran is willing to come on table; however, he is not interested in making one.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "The United States has blown Iran off of the map, and yet their lightweight analyst, David Sanger, says that I haven't met my own goals. Yes I have, and weeks ahead of schedule! Their leadership is gone, their navy and air force are dead, they have absolutely no defense, and they want to make a deal. I don't! We are weeks ahead of schedule. Just like their incompetent Election coverage of me, The Failing New York Times always gets it wrong! President DJT."

As per The New York Times, US President Donald Trump claimed progress in the war, but his objectives keep changing.

"As the U.S.-Israeli airstrike campaign got underway last month, the Trump administration said it aspired to create conditions for regime change in Tehran. The White House also said it aimed to completely strip Iran of its stockpile of nuclear fuel, which could be fashioned into a weapon," The New York Times report read.

New York Times also reported further that fuel was being sold in the US for USD 4 per gallon, and the Pentagon called for USD 200 billion to replace its ammunition.

Trump then said that the US was "very close" to meeting its objectives.

"Friday's post appeared to retreat from earlier, more ambitious goals, omitting any reference to them. Instead, President Trump focused on weakening Iran's military and defence capabilities, while vowing to defend U.S. allies in the Middle East," The New York Times reported.

"He maintained that the United States was "getting very close to meeting our objectives" and left the issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to other countries that use it, claiming the United States does not.

"If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn't be necessary once Iran's threat is eradicated," he said, the report added.

President Trump also repeated claims that Iran wants a deal but says he does not. Iranian officials continue to reject talks following the February 28 attacks.

President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) said that the United States would soon wrap up its military operations in Iran. Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social, listing five objectives that largely include the destruction of Iranian military infrastructure and facilities, not allowing Iran to get close to nuclear capability and protecting America's allies in West Asia, such as Israel, the UAE, Qatar, among others.

- ANI
AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi announced an electoral alliance with Humayun Kabir's Aam Janata Unnayan Party for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. Humayun Kabir stated his party will contest 182 seats, with AIMIM as a partner fighting approximately 8 of those constituencies. The elections are scheduled for April 23 and April 29, 2026, in a state with over 6.4 crore electors. The primary contest is expected to be between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP.

Asaduddin Owaisi announces AIMIM will contest West Bengal 2026 polls in alliance with Humayun Kabir's Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP).

By Pramod Chaturvedi, Hyderabad, March 22 All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen President Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday announced that the party will contest the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections in alliance with Humayun Kabir's Aam Janata Unnayan Party.

Owaisi, speaking exclusively to ANI over the phone, said, "I will hold a press conference in Kolkata with Humayun Kabir on March 25."

Earlier on Thursday, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder and former All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Humayun Kabir said that his party will contest 182 seats in the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

Speaking to ANI, Kabir said, "I had already announced 15 candidates earlier. Now, Humayun Kabir will contest from Raninagar; he is also doing an additional job. Then, another businessman named Humayun Kabir will contest from Bhagwangola. Also, Manisha Pathak Pandey will contest from the 64-Murshidabad seat. So, with the 15 announced earlier and these three now, we have opened a list of 18 candidates today."

"My party, along with the alliance we are in, will contest in 182 seats. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) will be a partner and will contest in approximately 8 of those seats," he added.

The West Bengal Assembly elections will be conducted in two phases on April 23 and April 29, 2026, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the first phase covering 152 Assembly constituencies will begin with the issuance of the gazette notification on March 30, 2026. The last date for filing nominations for this phase is April 6, while scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 7. Candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations until April 9. Polling for the first phase will be held on April 23.

For the second phase, which covers 142 Assembly constituencies, the gazette notification will be issued on April 2, 2026. The last date for filing nominations is April 9, and the scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 10. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until April 13. Voting for this phase is scheduled for April 29.

West Bengal has a total of 6,45,61,152 electors as per the Election Commission of India, including 6,44,52,609 general electors and 1,08,543 service voters. The state has 5,23,229 young electors aged 18-19 years.

In West Bengal, the Legislative Assembly consists of 294 seats, with the primary contest expected to be between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The last assembly election in the state was held in eight phases in 2021 amid an intense contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Congress and Left Front drew a blank in the last state polls.

TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, has been in power in the state since 2011.

- ANI
The Israeli military confirms a new barrage of missiles launched from Iran towards central Israel, triggering high alerts. Air defense systems are actively working to intercept the incoming threat, with explosions reported in the central region. Earlier strikes resulted in approximately 150 injured individuals arriving at a medical center, with at least one person injured in Holon. The situation remains fluid as rescue crews respond and the full extent of the latest attack is assessed.

Israel intercepts new wave of Iranian missiles targeting central region. Reports of injuries and explosions as air defenses engage incoming threats.

Tel Aviv, March 22 The Israeli military has confirmed that a fresh barrage of missiles was launched from Iran towards Israeli territory, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing aerial offensive.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, the Israeli Home Front Command stated that "rescue crews are heading to central Israel" following reports of a strike during the first phase of the bombardment.

The situation remains fluid as military officials monitor the incoming threats. Al Jazeera noted that the Israeli military has "identified a new wave of missiles launched from Iran towards Israel," marking the second such high-alert status triggered within a single hour.

Local media outlets, including Channel 12, have reported that the impact of the strikes is already being felt on the ground. At least one person was reportedly injured in the city of Holon during the initial engagement. Furthermore, Al Jazeera reported that "explosions have been heard in central Israel" shortly after the projectiles were detected entering Israeli airspace.

In response to the persistent threat, the Israeli military confirmed that its "air defences are currently working to intercept a new wave of Iranian missiles". This defensive operation is part of a broader effort to neutralise what the military described as an incoming threat aimed at various urban and strategic centres across the country.

The scale of the casualties from earlier strikes has also begun to emerge. According to Al Jazeera, Israeli Army Radio has reported that approximately "150 injured individuals arrived at the Soroka Medical Centre" following Iranian strikes directed at Dimona and Arad.

As the second wave of the attack continues, the Israeli military reiterated that its "air defence systems are working to intercept the incoming threat" in an attempt to mitigate further damage. While the full extent of the latest barrage is still being assessed, Al Jazeera highlighted that there were "no immediate reports of casualties or damage" from the most recent set of explosions reported in the central region.

- ANI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's completion of 8,931 days in office as a historic milestone rooted in service and commitment. This period, spanning his time as Gujarat Chief Minister and Prime Minister, makes him India's longest-serving head of government, surpassing the previous record held by former Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling. Shah stated that Modi's decades of "Seva" have created a transformative era for India, empowering the poor and elevating the nation's global stature. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also praised the achievement as a testament to tireless dedication and nation-first governance.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah praises PM Modi's "unparalleled seva" as he becomes India's longest-serving head of government, surpassing a 24-year record.

New Delhi, March 22 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday stated that the decades of service rendered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ushered in an "era of its own", which has also paved the way for fostering a new India, where the impoverished and marginalised have discovered their own voice, while the nation has achieved a distinct global stature.

HM Shah's applause for the 'unparalleled seva' under PM Modi's stewardship came on the back of the latter achieving a historic milestone of completing 8,931 days in office -- spanning his tenure first as Gujarat Chief Minister and then as Prime Minister, surpassing the previous record held by former Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling, who served for 8,930 days.

Amit Shah said that PM Modi becoming the longest-serving head of a government in India is a "milestone rooted in service, hard work and unwavering commitment. It's a rare legacy built on unprecedented trust and unparalleled Seva."

Taking to X, he wrote, "Modi Ji's decades of Seva have shaped an era of his own. Whether it is giving the poor their rights, setting new landmarks in development or enhancing the nation's pride on global platforms, the Modi era has transformed India unrecognisably."

He further said, "Fostering this new India required a lifetime's effort, and PM Modi Ji gave it. Serving the nation and its people without taking a holiday for more than 24 years is the manifestation of his sheer commitment."

"This explains the unprecedented affection he received from people, three times as Gujarat CM and three times as India's PM. People's trust, affection and support for him have only grown with every passing day," he added.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also hailed PM Modi's long years of service in the highest office.

"His 8,931 days of service, from Gujarat CM to Prime Minister, stand as a testament to tireless dedication, integrity & nation-first governance. An inspiring journey of trust and Seva," he wrote on X.

- IANS
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condemned a suspected ULFA(I) attack in Tinsukia that injured four police personnel, stating a joint military operation is underway. During a visit to Haflong, he discussed the ongoing peace process with Kuki and Meitei groups and plans to create two new districts after the elections. Sarma expressed strong confidence in the BJP's election prospects, predicting over 100 seats and noting the presence of other parties could split the opposition vote. Polling for the 126 Assam assembly seats is scheduled for April 9, with results on May 4.

Assam CM Himanta Sarma condemns ULFA(I) attack in Tinsukia, discusses Kuki-Meitei agreement, new districts, and BJP's election prospects.

Dima Hasao, March 22 During a visit to Haflong on Sunday to support candidate Rupali Langthasa, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condemned the recent "unfortunate" incident in Tinsukia, noting that a joint Army-Police operation is underway to catch the perpetrators.

He also stated that the peace and development achieved in the Dima Hasao region under BJP rule.

At least four Assam police personnel were injured following an attack carried out by suspected militants of the United Liberation Front of Assam (I) in the State's Tinsukia district, officials said today.

The incident took place at Jagun area in Tinsukia district at around 2 am today. According to the reports, suspected militants lobbed at least four to five Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) at a police commando camp in the area, followed by an exchange of heavy rounds of bullets by both sides.

A senior official of Assam police told ANI over the phone that, in the initial report, four police personnel were injured in the attack by suspected ULFA (I) militants. Injured police personnel were rushed to the nearby hospital. Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched an operation to find the attackers.

Regarding the incident in Tinsukia, Assam CM said, "This is highly condemnable. The Army and the Police have launched a counter-insurgency operation. I think those who have done this will certainly be nabbed."

Meanwhile, during his visit to Haflong, Sarma also spoke about the agreement between the Assam government and the Kuki Meitei groups.

The Assam CM said, "On the agreement between the Assam Government, Kuki, and Meitei groups, there's no misunderstanding. When the 125th amendment takes place, we will sit down with all communities. We aim to provide representation for those not currently in the council and potentially increase it for others. We'll decide this together. Currently, there are 28 seats, which may increase to 40. We will distribute these additional 12 seats through mutual discussion."

Adding to this, he stated, "The proposal for two new districts will also be addressed soon. The Dima Hasao committee requested it today as well. We plan to establish these districts immediately after the elections, in consultation with the council."

Regarding the water supply scheme in Haflong, Sarma said that "work has already begun. We have sanctioned the necessary funds for this project, which is worth over 100 crores. It will be completed as soon as possible."

Sarma expressed strong confidence in the party's election prospects, predicting a victory of over 100 seats while promising new administrative developments for the state post-election.

"As for the election outcome, while we have the potential to win up to 104 seats, I will have a clearer estimate once our campaign rallies officially start on the 24th. Regarding the 18 sitting MLAs who did not receive tickets this time, there is no issue. We will assign them important roles within the party after the elections. In politics, not getting a ticket can sometimes lead to even greater opportunities. No one should be discouraged; we must all work together for the party's success."

"The presence of other parties like the National People's Party (NPP) in the upcoming election is actually beneficial for us as it divides the opposition, potentially increasing our winning margins. Our alliance with the NPP is a post-election one, similar to our arrangement in Meghalaya," he added.

Polling for all 126 Assembly constituencies will be held in a single phase on April 9, while the counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, the Election Commission of India announced.

- ANI
The anticipated 1 trillion ($6.3 billion) fee for SoftBank Group Corp. from a U.S.-Japan project has been slashed by over 90% due to intervention from Tokyo officials amid growing concerns over the $550 billion joint investment plan between the U.S. and Japan.

SoftBanks Role In The Deal

SoftBank was originally slated to earn fees from building and operating a $33 billion gas-fired power plant in Ohio. The project marks the first outcome of a trade deal in which Japan secured tariff relief from Washington in exchange for a $550 billion investment in the U.S., the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

The fee was intended to compensate it for its role as project developer, as it does not hold any equity in the power plant. The facility would be entirely financed by Japan and jointly owned by the U.S. and Japan through a special-purpose vehicle created under the trade agreement.

Don't Miss:

Despite the reduced fee, SoftBank will continue to receive payments over 1520 years if it achieves the target capacity of 9.2 gigawatts. The company has already placed major orders to begin construction of the power plant, including a $10 billion deal for nearly 170 turbines from GE Vernova Inc..

SoftBank did not immediately respond to Benzingas request for comments.

Takaichi Meets Trump On Trade, Energy

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is set to meet President Donald Trump on Thursday for talks on U.S-Japan ties, Middle East tensions, and energy security.

Takaichi is also expected to present a new set of at least three investments to Trump, including projects in copper smelting, display manufacturing, and nuclear energy with Westinghouse Electric Company, as per the Financial Times.

The deal gives Trump final approval authority and requires Japan to fund projects within 45 business days, with the timeline already underway for the nuclear plant.

Trending: This Startup Thinks It Can Reinvent the Wheel  Literally

In February, Trump announced that the U.S.-Japan trade deal was now fully in effect. He added that projects of this scale were only made possible through the use of tariffs. However, after the Supreme Court ruling on tariffs, the fate of the deal remains to be seen.

Earlier this week, Malaysia reportedly became the first country to declare its trade deal with the U.S. null and void after the ruling.

Tokyo Seeks Fair Bids, Eyes SoftBank Risk

Tensions are rising in Tokyo as officials worry Japan is being sidelined in project selection and pressured to support inexperienced companies. The officials are pushing for a competitive bidding process due to SoftBank Group's limited experience in nuclear energy.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in extending greetings on Bihar Day, celebrated on March 22. They highlighted Bihar's rich history as the land of the world's first republic and its ongoing contributions to national development. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also praised the state's cultural and intellectual heritage while calling for collective efforts toward a prosperous future. The state is marking its 114th Foundation Day, having been carved out of the Bengal Presidency in 1912.

President Droupadi Murmu, PM Narendra Modi, and other leaders extend Bihar Day wishes, highlighting the state's rich history and role in India's development.

New Delhi, March 22 President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday led the nation in extending greetings on the occasion of Bihar Day, highlighting the state's rich historical legacy and its continued contribution to India's development.

In a post on X, President Murmu said, "Heartfelt greetings of Bihar Day to all the people of Bihar residing in the country and abroad. As the land of the world's first republic, and along with it, the birthplace of glorious empires and great cultural-spiritual traditions, this soil has always enriched the land of India by making contributions in various fields. I am confident that the residents of the state, with their boundless talent and hard work, will play an important role in the development of Bihar and the entire country. I extend my best wishes for a golden future to the state and all its residents."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his greetings, emphasising Bihar's role in India's progress. In his message, he said, "On the occasion of Bihar Day, heartfelt greetings to all my family members in the state. Our province, which imparts grandeur and divinity to India's heritage, is today engaged in crafting ever-new chapters of progress. I am confident that the dedication and capability of the hardworking and energetic people here will greatly contribute to realising the resolve of a developed Bihar alongside a developed India."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted Bihar's intellectual and cultural contributions. He said, "Renowned for its rich culture, traditions, and unique arts, Bihar has always shown the country the path to social justice and intellectual awakening. From the glorious tradition of knowledge at Nalanda and Vikramshila to the freedom struggle and the Emergency period, Bihar has made invaluable contributions to nation-building in every era. Today, Bihar is creating new benchmarks of progress and advancement by preserving its vast heritage and traditions. Heartfelt greetings of Bihar Day to all sisters and brothers of Bihar."

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan extended his wishes, stating, "Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the residents of Bihar on the Foundation Day of Bihar state, the land blessed with a rich culture, glorious history, spirituality and revolutionary fervour, and the birthplace of great ascetics and noble souls!"

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also greeted the people and called for collective efforts toward development. He said, "Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of Bihar Day. Bihar's history has been glorious, and at present, we are shaping a glorious future for Bihar through our determination. I call upon all of you to fulfil the resolve for a prosperous Bihar. Together, we will take Bihar's pride to new heights."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also extended his wishes, stating, "Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the residents of Bihar on the Foundation Day of Bihar, the land of revolution, enriched with popular faith and cultural splendour. Under the illustrious guidance of the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and the able leadership of the Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar Ji, may the state of Bihar, progressing on the path of good governance, establish new benchmarks of prosperity and all-round development -- this is the prayer to Mother Janaki and Lord Shri Ram."

On March 22, 1912, Bihar was carved out of the Bengal Presidency, marking the beginning of its distinct identity.

With over a century of history, the state is celebrating its 114th Foundation Day this year. Over the course of its remarkable journey, Bihar has produced numerous eminent personalities who have left an indelible mark in diverse fields, including politics, literature, sports, and business, earning recognition and respect both nationally and globally.

- IANS
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan concluded the Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit, declaring it a testament to India's emergence as a global innovation hub. The event featured 137 selected startups from over 3,000 applications, showcasing cutting-edge solutions across sectors like energy, semiconductors, and healthcare. Pradhan emphasized the need for sustained investment to scale research-led entrepreneurship and move innovations from labs to markets. The summit serves as a national precursor to the Bharat Innovates 2026 global showcase to be held in Nice, France.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says Bharat Innovates reflects India's strength as a global innovation hub, with 137 startups showcasing deep-tech solutions.

Mumbai, March 22 Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said Bharat Innovates is a testament to India's growing strength as a global innovation hub, highlighting that the participation of thousands of startups and showcasing of cutting-edge technologies reflect the vibrancy and depth of India's innovation ecosystem.

Pradhan addressed the concluding session of Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre Summit at Bharat Innovates, which reflects India's rise as a Global Innovation Hub - Dharmendra Pradhan, IIT Bombay, on Sunday.

On the sidelines of the pre-summit, around 175 investors and industry leaders participated in a roundtable chaired by the Union Education Minister.

He also interacted with innovators across diverse sectors, including Energy, Climate and Sustainability, Semiconductors, Space and Defence, Healthcare and MedTech, Advanced Computing, Biotechnology, Mobility and Smart Cities, and Industry 4.0, showcasing cutting-edge, research-driven solutions, during a walkthrough of the exhibition stalls and IIT pavilion showcasing institutional innovations.

The Minister said that, as a precursor to Bharat Innovates 2026, to be organised in Nice, France, the brainstorming session centred on advancing deep-tech innovation, strengthening industry-academia partnerships, and reinforcing the startup ecosystem.

He underscored the need for sustained investment in emerging ventures to enable scale, encourage innovation, and support research-led entrepreneurship.

"Led by the Ministry of Education, Bharat Innovates 2026 aims to carry R&D-driven innovations from every corner of the country to the global stage, showcasing cutting-edge technologies while fostering meaningful collaboration, unlocking investment opportunities, and building enduring global partnerships," Pradhan said.

The closing ceremony was held in the presence of Dr K Radhakrishnan, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIT Bombay; Dr Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education; Prof Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology; and Prof Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay.

Pradhan observed that India is uniquely positioned to develop solutions not just for itself, but for the world, especially for countries seeking cost-effective and scalable innovations.

"Such platforms enable the convergence of ideas, talent, and resources, thereby accelerating the pace of innovation," he said.

The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to supporting innovators through policy support, institutional collaboration, and an enabling environment.

He emphasised that innovation must move from labs to markets to create real impact. He expressed confidence that the innovations showcased at Bharat Innovate will contribute significantly to India's journey towards global leadership, especially in the Global South in technology and entrepreneurship.

The summit, organised as a national precursor to the Bharat Innovates 2026 global showcase in France, brought together 137 promising deep-tech startups selected from over 3,000 applications received from across the country.

The day featured additional startup pitching sessions conducted across multiple parallel rooms, where founders presented cutting-edge innovations spanning advanced materials, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, clean technologies, and next-generation manufacturing systems.

These sessions were attended by investors, industry leaders, and key stakeholders from the innovation ecosystem, evaluating opportunities for collaboration and investment.

The event also featured interactions between startups, venture capital firms, and industry representatives, fostering meaningful partnerships and enabling startups to explore pathways for commercialisation and global market expansion.

The Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit at IIT Bombay marks an important milestone in India's innovation journey by bringing together academia, startups, investors, and policymakers on a single platform.

The selected startups will now move forward to represent India's deep-tech ecosystem at the upcoming Bharat Innovates 2026 international showcase in France, further strengthening India's position as a global hub for technology-driven innovation.

- ANI
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his message on Bihar Diwas, appreciating the recognition of the state's heritage and progress. Kumar reiterated his government's commitment to comprehensive development, social justice, and infrastructure, noting full cooperation from the central government. Prime Minister Modi, in his wishes, highlighted Bihar's cultural legacy and expressed confidence in its contribution to a developed India. Bihar Diwas is observed annually on March 22, marking the state's formation in 1912.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar thanks PM Narendra Modi for his Bihar Diwas message, highlighting state's heritage and commitment to development with central cooperation.

Patna, March 22 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his message on the occasion of Bihar Diwas, appreciating the state's heritage and progress.

In a post on social media, the Chief Minister shared a letter by the Prime Minister and thanked him for his warm wishes.

"On behalf of all the people of Bihar, I extend our heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for his affectionate message on the occasion of Bihar Diwas regarding the state," he said.

Highlighting the Prime Minister's remarks, Kumar said that it was a matter of pride that Bihar's rich heritage, culture, and developmental efforts were appreciated.

"It is a matter of pride for us that you have appreciated Bihar's rich heritage, culture, and efforts toward progress," he added.

The Chief Minister further reiterated the state government's commitment, "We remain steadfastly committed to the all-round development of the state, social justice, good governance, and the strengthening of infrastructure. We are receiving the full cooperation of the Central Government," he said.

He also acknowledged the role of the Prime Minister's guidance and the people of Bihar in achieving future milestones.

"Now, Bihar will become even more developed, join the ranks of the country's leading states, and make a significant contribution to the nation's progress. With your guidance and support, Bihar's diligent and talented people will undoubtedly take the state and the country to new heights," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday conveyed wishes to the people of Bihar on the occasion of Bihar Day, highlighting the state's cultural legacy and expressing confidence in its contribution toward building a developed India.

On X, he wrote, "On the occasion of Bihar Day, heartfelt greetings to all my family members in the state. Our province, which imparts grandeur and divinity to India's heritage, is today engaged in crafting ever-new chapters of progress. I am confident that the dedication and capability of the hardworking and energetic people here will greatly contribute to realising the resolve of a developed Bihar alongside a developed India."

Notably, Bihar Day (Bihar Diwas) is observed every year on March 22, marking the formation of the state of Bihar. It was on this day that the British carved out the state from Bengal in 1912 and is observed as a public holiday in Bihar.

- ANI
US granted use of UK bases for strikes

A British nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Anson, has arrived in the northern Arabian Sea, equipped with Tomahawk land-attack missiles capable of striking Iran. The deployment follows the UK's agreement to allow the US to use British bases for operations against Iranian missile sites threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned the UK against supporting US-Israeli aggression, stating it would force Iran to exercise its right to self-defence. Tensions were already high after Iran launched ballistic missiles toward the strategic joint US-UK base at Diego Garcia, demonstrating extended missile range.

British nuclear-powered submarine HMS Anson arrives in Arabian Sea, capable of striking Iran with Tomahawk missiles as UK-US tensions with Tehran escalate.

Moscow, March 22 A nuclear-powered Royal Navy submarine has arrived in the Arabian Sea, capable of launching cruise missile attacks on Iran, British media reported, quoting military sources.

The submarine, HMS Anson, is fitted with Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, and is believed to be in the deep waters of the northern Arabian Sea, the Daily Mail said on Saturday (local time).

This means that British forces have the capacity to launch attacks on Iran if the conflict escalates, it added.

If authorised by the prime minister, the report said, HMS Anson would be given the order to fire, and would rise close to the surface and dispatch four missiles, reports Xinhua news agency.

Earlier on Friday, the United Kingdom agreed to allow the United States to use British bases to carry out "operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz," according to a Downing Street statement.

Britain is working with international partners to develop "a viable plan to safeguard international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," said the statement released on Friday (local time).

Despite the move, the statement stressed that the UK is committed to "not getting drawn into the wider conflict."

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned his British counterpart on Friday against providing any assistance to the US and Israeli aggression against Iran, cautioning that such support would fuel further escalation, reports Xinhua news agency.

Later, Araghchi took to X and said, "Vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-US war of choice on Iran."

"Ignoring his own People, Mr. Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defence," he said.

The UK government, however, has pushed back. In the same conversation, Cooper cautioned Iran against targeting "UK bases, territory or interests," underscoring the risk of further escalation.

Tensions intensified after Iran launched two ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia, a strategically important joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean. Neither missile struck its target-one reportedly failed mid-flight, while the other was engaged by a US naval interceptor, though it remains unclear whether it was successfully destroyed.

The attempted strike has raised concerns about Iran's missile capabilities, as Diego Garcia lies approximately 4,000 kilometres from Iranian territory, suggesting a potentially greater range than previously assessed. The base plays a critical role in regional security, hosting US bombers, nuclear submarines, and guided-missile destroyers.

- IANS
A bulk carrier reported an explosion from an unknown projectile in waters north of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the incident but reported all crew members were safe. The attack occurs amidst heightened tensions, as Iran has recently targeted vessels linked to the US and Israel, disrupting vital energy transit. The incident followed a stark warning from former US President Donald Trump concerning the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

A bulk carrier was targeted near Sharjah, UAE. Crew reported safe. Incident follows regional tensions and Trump's warning on Strait of Hormuz.

Abu Dhabi, March 22 A commercial vessel has reported an explosion in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz following an attack by what has been described by British maritime authorities as an "unknown projectile" off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a warning noting that the incident took place approximately 15 nautical miles north of Sharjah. The agency confirmed that the report involved a bulk carrier travelling through the critical shipping lanes of the Gulf.

According to the maritime advisory, the vessel's leadership confirmed the blast occurred in the immediate vicinity of the ship. "UKMTO has received a report of an incident 15NM north of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The Master of a bulk carrier reported an explosion from an unknown projectile in close proximity to the vessel," the statement read.

Authorities have confirmed that there were no casualties among the ship's personnel during the strike. "All crew are reported safe. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO," the agency added.

While the source of the projectile has not been identified and no group has yet claimed responsibility, the incident follows a period of extreme regional volatility. Iran has recently been targeting vessels associated with the United States and Israel, causing significant disruption to oil and gas transit through the waterway, which accounts for nearly a fifth of the global energy supply.

The strike occurred shortly after US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning regarding the maritime blockade. In a social media post, the President threatened to target Iranian infrastructure if the waterway is not cleared for transit.

"If Iran doesn't fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 hours from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various power plants, starting with the biggest one first!" Trump stated.

In response to the escalating threats to maritime commerce, G7 foreign ministers have indicated their readiness to intervene to safeguard energy flows. The ministers stated they "express support to our partners in the region" following what they characterised as acts of aggression by Iran and its affiliated proxies.

- ANI
Rajasthan Intelligence, in a major joint operation with Air Force Intelligence, has arrested a civilian staffer from the Chabua Air Force Station for allegedly spying for Pakistan. The accused, Sumit Kumar, is charged with collecting and transmitting sensitive information about defence installations, including aircraft and missile system locations, via social media. Investigations reveal he had been in contact with Pakistani intelligence since 2023 and operated for financial gain. The case, stemming from a January arrest in Jaisalmer, has exposed an active Pakistan-backed espionage network, with further probes underway.

Rajasthan Intelligence busts spy network, arrests IAF civilian employee for leaking sensitive defence info to Pakistani handlers. Details inside.

Jaipur, March 22 In a major counter-espionage operation, the Rajasthan Intelligence has busted an espionage network operating in the country by arresting a civilian employee posted at the Chabua Air Force Station in Assam. The accused was allegedly passing sensitive information related to the Indian Air Force to Pakistani handlers.

According to Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Prafulla Kumar, the case originated in January 2026 with the arrest of Jhabararam, a resident of Jaisalmer.

During his questioning and subsequent investigation, the involvement of another suspect, Sumit Kumar, came to light. He was found to be in continuous contact with Pakistani intelligence agencies.

Investigations revealed that Sumit Kumar (36), son of Beni Madhav and a resident of Lahurpar in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, was working as a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) at the Chabua Air Force Station in Dibrugarh, Assam.

Misusing his position, he allegedly collected confidential information from the Air Force establishment and transmitted it to Pakistani handlers through social media platforms. Acting in coordination with Air Force Intelligence (New Delhi), Rajasthan Intelligence detained the accused from Chabua and brought him to the Central Interrogation Centre in Jaipur.

During joint interrogation by multiple intelligence agencies, it was revealed that he had been in contact with a Pakistani intelligence agency since 2023 and had been sharing sensitive information in exchange for money.

Further questioning disclosed that the accused had shared crucial details not only about the Chabua Air Force Station but also about other defence installations, including the Nal Air Force Station in Bikaner district.

The leaked information reportedly included locations of fighter aircraft, missile systems, and confidential data related to officers and personnel.

He also assisted Pakistani handlers in creating social media accounts using mobile numbers registered in his own name.

In connection with the case, the accused was formally arrested on Sunday (March 22) at the Special Police Station in Jaipur under relevant provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Officials said the operation has exposed a Pakistan-backed espionage network active in the country, and further investigation is underway.

- IANS
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted an inspection of the upcoming Noida International Airport at Jewar. The airport is scheduled to be formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 28, 2025. Developed as a major greenfield project, it will serve as the second international airport for the Delhi National Capital Region. Upon full completion, it is designed to handle up to 70 million passengers annually, significantly boosting regional connectivity.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath inspects Noida International Airport (Jewar) ahead of its inauguration by PM Narendra Modi on March 28. Details inside.

Noida, March 22 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday inspected the Jewar Airport, which is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 28.

The Jewar airport, officially named Noida International Airport, is a major greenfield airport project located near Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, India, intended to serve the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR).

Located 75 km from the national capital Delhi, it will be the NCR's second international airport after Indira Gandhi International Airport, boosting connectivity for western Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier on March 10, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved the Revised Total Capital Cost of Rs 3630.77 crore for the Construction of Greenfield Connectivity to Jewar International Airport from Delhi-Faridabad-Ballabhgarh-Sohna Spur of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway on Hybrid Annuity Mode in the States of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

The airport is being developed by YIAPL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Government of India under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The concession period commenced on October 1, 2021, for a period of 40 years, an official release from the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

The airport is licensed for all-weather operations under the public use category. It has a 3,900 m x 45 m runway with a 10/28 orientation, equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS ) and Aeronautical Ground Lighting (AGL ) system, enabling round-the-clock operations. The airport has parking stands for 24 Code C and 2 Code D / F aircraft and is equipped with ARFF Category 9 facilities capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777-300ER.

Noida International Airport is being developed in four phases, including a multi-modal cargo hub. In the first phase, consisting of one runway and one terminal, the airport will have an annual capacity to handle approximately 12 million passengers. Upon completion of all phases, the airport will be able to handle 70 million passengers per year, making it a major aviation hub for the National Capital Region and Western Uttar Pradesh, a release stated.

The development of Noida International Airport is part of the Ministry of Civil Aviation's broader vision of building a robust aviation ecosystem. Over the past decade, India's civil aviation sector has expanded significantly, with the number of operational airports increasing from 74 in 2014 to 164 today, with India becoming the world's third-largest domestic aviation market.

- ANI
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh held the first formal meeting with the Kuki-Zo Council since the ethnic violence erupted in May 2023. The council raised issues including tensions with the Tangkhul community, the need for justice for victims, and maintaining buffer zones until a political settlement. The Chief Minister outlined government measures to restore order but the meeting concluded without any concrete decisions or agreements. The violence, triggered by demands for Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community, led to significant casualties, displacement, and the imposition of President's Rule.

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh holds first meeting with Kuki-Zo leaders since 2023 Manipur violence, discussing justice and buffer zones.

Guwahati, March 22 Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh held a meeting with leaders of the Kuki-Zo Council in Guwahati, marking the first engagement between the state government between the state government and the council since the outbreak of ethnic violence in 2023.

The meeting, held in Assam, began at 7 PMon Saturday and continued for about one hour and 45 minutes, the Manipur government said in an official statement.

The government described the interaction as an initial engagement after nearly three years of conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The discussion focused on issues raised by the Kuki-Zo Council, which were presented before the Chief Minister during the session.

The Kuki-Zo Council delegation raised concerns related to tensions between the Kuki and Tangkhul communities and called for steps to address the situation. It also placed emphasis on ensuring justice for those affected by the conflict, stating that accountability is required for any peace process.

The delegation further highlighted the need to maintain the buffer zone until a political settlement is reached.

The council also referred to the ongoing Suspension of Operations (SoO) talks and called for steps to complete the process. It said that progress in these discussions is necessary to move towards stability in the region.

The Chief Minister responded by outlining measures taken by the government to restore order. He also acknowledged the council's decision to attend the meeting and engage in dialogue. The government stated that the meeting was held as part of efforts to address the situation in the state.

The meeting concluded without any decisions or agreements, according to the official statement.

Violence in Manipur began on May 3, 2023, following protests linked to demands for Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community. Clashes between Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups led to loss of lives, displacement, and damage to property. Security forces were deployed, and restrictions were imposed in several districts.

Former Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned amid the situation, following which President's Rule in Manipur was imposed on February 13 last year. The central rule was extended by Parliament in August and again in December.

On February 4, Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as Chief Minister, with Ajay Kumar Bhalla administering the oath at Lok Bhavan in Imphal. Senior legislators Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers.

The Union Home Ministry has also extended the term of a Commission of Inquiry examining the 2023 violence, directing it to submit its report by May 20.

- ANI
Syed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, has strongly rejected a USCIRF report on religious freedom in India. He stated that comparing India's situation to countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh is misleading and affirmed the constitutional protection of religious freedom in India. The report, which called for sanctions against the RSS and RAW, was also slammed by 275 Indian signatories including retired judges, bureaucrats, and armed forces officers. They labeled the report as "disturbing," "off the mark," and motivated by "anti-Bharat vested interests."

Ajmer's Sufi Council Chairman condemns USCIRF report, calls India-Pakistan comparison misleading. 275 Indian veterans also reject the findings.

Ajmer, March 22 Syed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, on Sunday condemned the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom report over the international religious freedom report, saying that comparing India to unstable countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh is misleading.

Speaking to ANI, he said, "I reject any commission's report. As the spiritual successor of Ajmer Dargah and Chairman of All India Sufis, I affirm that India grants full religious freedom, protected by the Constitution. We have all witnessed the nationwide celebrations on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr yesterday. So, we refute such claims stating India does not give religious freedom."

"In case of any religious dispute, the administration intervenes on the spot to carry out an investigation and punish the accused individual. There is no discrimination here," he added.

He further emphasised that countries Pakistan and Bangladesh are unstable, underlining that Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir has recently threatened Shia Muslims for protesting in favour of Iran.

"We have seen the situation in Bangladesh recently, and the world has seen how Pakistan favours terrorism. Recently, Asim Munir threatened the Shia Muslim community and said, 'if you want to support Iran, go there'. Whereas people in India have openly supported Iran through protests, did the Indian government stop anyone? America should see this. Indians are free to express themselves however they deem fit. Comparing India to unstable countries like Pakistan or Bangladesh is misleading. In India, citizens freely express their views," he said.

The US-based Commission alleged that India's "political system facilitates a climate of discrimination toward religious minority communities" despite offering some constitutional protections for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). It called for sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

Earlier on Saturday, a total of 275 signatories, including 25 retired judges, 119 retired bureaucrats and 131 armed forces officers, also slammed the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report.

The joint statement by former judges, civil servants and armed forces veterans disregarded the USCIRF report as "disturbing and completely off the mark," questioning its credibility and balance. It condemned the USCIRF for "portraying Indian state institutions and socio-cultural organisations like RSS in a negative light.

The statement said that the USCIRF's recommendation to freeze assets, restricted movement of Bharatiya citizens and place restrictions on those associated with RSS is "highly motivated, and displays intellectual bankruptcy and deranged conclusions." The signatories asked the US government to conduct a background check of the contributors to this report, accusing USCIRF of promoting the agenda of "anti-Bharat vested interests.

- ANI
The Uttarakhand government, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, has implemented significant welfare measures over the past four years targeting statehood activists, soldiers, and the general public. Key initiatives include a 10% horizontal reservation in government jobs for statehood activists and Agniveers, along with substantial increases in pensions and ex-gratia payments for martyrs' families. The "Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar" campaign organized hundreds of service camps, resolving thousands of complaints on the spot and benefiting nearly 3 lakh citizens. Furthermore, the government has expanded digital access through its online portal and increased financial support for the elderly and artists.

Uttarakhand govt increases pensions for statehood activists & soldiers, offers job reservations, and expands digital services under CM Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Dehradun, March 22 Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami-led Uttarakhand government has outlined a series of welfare initiatives implemented over the past four years, focusing on statehood activists, soldiers, and the general public, with measures from job reservations and pension increases to expanded digital services.

Honouring the contribution of statehood activists, the government has provided 10 per cent horizontal reservation in government jobs for them. Additionally, the pension for their dependents has been increased from 3000 to 5500 per month.

For statehood activists who were jailed for at least 7 days or were injured during the statehood movement, the pension has been raised from 6000 to 7000 per month, reflecting the government's sensitivity toward their sacrifices.

Significant decisions have also been taken to honour soldiers. The ex-gratia amount for the families of martyred soldiers has been increased from 10 lakh to 50 lakh. For Param Vir Chakra awardees, this amount has been raised from 50 lakh to 1.5 crore.

Moreover, youth serving under the Agniveer scheme will also receive 10% horizontal reservation in government jobs in the state.

The Dhami government's initiative "Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar, Jan-Jan Ke Dwar" has set a new benchmark in public service delivery. Under this campaign, 686 camps were organised across the state, with participation from over 5.37 lakh people.

Through these camps, more than 2.96 lakh citizens benefited from various government schemes. Out of 51,317 complaints received, 33,990 were resolved on the spot, demonstrating administrative efficiency and responsiveness.

To promote digital governance, around 950 services have been made available online through the Aapuni Sarkar portal, enabling citizens to access services from home.

The government has increased the old-age pension to 1500, allowing both elderly spouses to benefit. Additionally, the monthly pension for elderly and economically weaker artists and writers has been increased from 3000 to 6000.

These decisions over the past four years clearly show that the government has not only accelerated development but has also worked to include every section of society, activists, soldiers, the elderly, women, and common citizens.

"With the guiding principle of 'Service, Respect, and Good Governance,' the government aims to establish Uttarakhand as a strong and compassionate state," the press note stated.

- ANI
China sees sustained progress in land greening

Xinhua) 10:21, March 22, 2026

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- China has seen solid progress in land greening with its forest area and stock volume both expanding for 40 consecutive years, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration said on Friday.

The country's forest area has reached 3.614 billion mu (about 241 million hectares), with the forest coverage rate rising to 25.09 percent, making China the world's fastest-growing contributor to global greening.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China launched major programs to protect and restore key ecosystems, with desertification and sandification areas continuing to shrink.

A total of 549 million mu of land were afforested, over 4.34 million mu of wetlands restored, and 152 million mu of desertified land treated during the period, the administration data showed.

These efforts have generated both environmental and economic benefits. Today, the annual value of ecosystem services provided by China's forestry and grassland systems exceeds 30 trillion yuan (about 4.35 trillion U.S. dollars).

Meanwhile, the annual forest food production surpassed 240 million tonnes, while ecotourism attracted 3 billion visits each year, according to the administration.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
Three weeks into the Iran war, small businesses are starting to feel the pressure of the conflict, and experts say the worst may still be yet to come.

Following the initial strikes on Iran in late February, U.S. businesses have been directly affected by the war in the form of shipping disruptions and skyrocketing oil prices, which have led to higher gas prices.

More from Yahoo Scout What challenges do tariff policies create now? How do oil price increases affect operations? How are small businesses affected by Iran war? What shipping disruptions are impacting business costs?

These obstacles come as small businesses have over the past year dealt with the whipsaw of President Trumps tariff policies. Sweeping tariffs on goods from China, Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, among others, have driven up input costs and squeezed profit margins for small business owners who often lack the purchasing power and legal resources of large corporations.

Unlike larger corporations who, at least in the short term, can absorb higher costs and shipping upheaval caused by the Iran war, smaller businesses are especially at risk, said Brett Massimino, an associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth Universitys business school and chair of the department of supply chain management and analytics.

Small businesses, they dont have the margins or the reserves to really absorb those kinds of cost increases, he told Fortune. Theyre faced with a dilemma of, do they try to expedite some of the shipments that might be delayed right now, or do they deal with the shortages.

If the Iran war stretches on, small businesses could start to feel the effects in as soon as two months as they run out of reserves or look to renew contracts at potentially higher prices. Trump has repeatedly insisted he could stop the war right now having seen Irans military crippled, as he told MS Now Friday. Still, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this week requested an extra $200 billion for the war effort.

The price of Brent crude hit a brief high of $119 a barrel Thursday, before retreating Friday, as Iran continued to threaten, and at times strike, ships passing through the Hormuz Strait, through which 20% of the worlds oil supply flows.

At the same time, the threat of attacks has also led shipping company Maersk to halt all vessel crossings through the strait. In early March about 147 container ships in the area also had to take refuge after getting stuck in the Persian Gulf.

Everything has gone up

Yet, while these events may feel half a world away for Americans, they have already translated into real price increases at home for many homegrown small businesses.

Travis Maderia, a fourth generation lobster fisherman and cofounder of the direct-to-consumer seafood company Lobster Boys, told Fortune the fishermen that catch lobster for the business in the cold North Atlantic water near Nova Scotia, Canada, are facing rising costs. On Friday, he said one fisherman told him gas prices have increased 60 cents per liter, or more than $2 per gallon.
Cuba has suffered its third nationwide blackout this month, leaving over 10 million people without electricity. The collapse is driven by chronic fuel shortages, inadequate maintenance of aging power plants, and tightened US sanctions affecting oil supply. President Miguel Diaz-Canel has acknowledged the severity, noting a critical shortfall in fuel deliveries. The repeated outages are severely disrupting daily life, economic activity, and essential services like hospitals across the island.

Cuba's national grid collapses again, leaving millions without power. Learn about the causes, impact, and government response to the severe energy crisis.

Havana, March 22 Cuba plunged into darkness for the second time in less than a week as its national power grid collapsed again, leaving more than 10 million people without electricity across the island, reported CNN.

The blackout on March 21, marks the third nationwide blackout this month and the latest in a string of catastrophic failures of the island's ageing electrical infrastructure.

According to a statement from Cuba's Ministry of Energy and Mines, "a total disconnection of the National Electric System has occurred. Protocols for restoration are already beginning to be implemented." The ministry's announcement was shared on X, the social media platform.

The rolling collapse comes amid a severe energy crisis that has gripped Cuba for more than two years, underpinned by chronic fuel shortages, inadequate maintenance of aging power plants and external pressure on the island's oil supply. The situation has been exacerbated by tighter United States sanctions, including a targeted oil blockade that has cut off many traditional fuel shipments; a development Cuban officials blame for the repeated outages, as per a report by CNN.

It was only earlier this month that a similar nationwide blackout hit the island, in addition to a series of more localised outages. These failures have repeatedly overwhelmed the country's generation capacity, which has struggled to meet even a fraction of peak demand. In a separate outage earlier this month, the shutdown of the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant in Camaguey province triggered a cascading failure of the national grid, highlighting how vulnerable Cuba's electricity system remains.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel has acknowledged the severity of the situation, noting that Cuba has not received significant oil deliveries in months and that fuel production currently meets only a portion of domestic requirements. Despite efforts to activate localized power islands to support critical services such as hospitals and water infrastructure, the continued instability has dealt a blow to daily life and economic activity.

For ordinary Cubans, the blackouts have become a harsh reality of everyday life, disrupting businesses, healthcare services and food preservation, and forcing residents to adapt to frequent darkness and uncertainty. The repeated outages have also fuelled frustration among the public, who face prolonged disruptions to essential services.

- ANI
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu visited Gurudwara Bangla Sahib to offer prayers and perform Seva, recalling his regular visits from earlier days. He later interacted with military veterans and students at the Sanawar Military Heritage event in Delhi Cantt. Sandhu also participated in the annual 'Phool Walon Ki Sair' festival, offering a 'Chadar' at the Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki dargah in Mehrauli. On these occasions, he prayed for national peace and highlighted the events as symbols of India's enduring composite culture and mutual harmony.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu offers prayers at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, attends military heritage event, and participates in Phool Walon Ki Sair.

New Delhi, March 22 Delhi LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu offered prayers and performed Seva at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib on Sunday.

"When I started my service, I used to live at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, so I used to come to Bangla Sahib regularly. I used to do Seva also. Wherever I lived in Delhi, I did Seva at that Gurudwara and bowed my head. Today, I am also at Bangla Sahib. I got the opportunity, so I have come to seek blessings. I am very happy to have got this opportunity on this day...," he said.

He also interacted with the young students at the Sanawar Military Heritage event today.

In a post on X, Sandhu praised the accomplished military veterans and students, noting that the interaction and the shared stories of their service made the conversation truly inspiring.

"Delighted to meet accomplished military veterans & bright young students at SANAWAR MILITARY HERITAGE event held in Manekshaw Auditorium, Delhi Cantt. Their stories of service, coupled with the enthusiasm & curiosity of the next generation, made it an inspiring interaction," said Delhi LG.

On Friday, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Taranjit Singh Sandhu offered a 'Chadar' at the Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki dargah in Mehrauli on the occasion of 'Phool Walon Ki Sair', which is an annual celebration held by the flower sellers in the national capital.

On this occasion, the Delhi LG prayed for peace in the country and the well-being of all. He said that the 'Phool Walon Ki Sair' celebrations were a confluence of India's composite culture.

"Today, on the occasion of the Flower Procession, I had the opportunity to offer a floral sheet at the dargah of Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki Sahib in Mehrauli. During this time, everyone prayed for the glory of Hindustan, peace in the country, and the well-being of all. This festival, celebrated at Yogmaya Temple and the dargah of Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki, is a magnificent confluence of India's composite culture. The centuries-old tradition of the 'Phool Walon Ki Sair,' a symbol of mutual harmony, is still being carried forward today with full passion," LG Sandhu said in a post on X.

- ANI
S&P Global Ratings reports the ongoing Middle East conflict could slow momentum in Dubai's residential real estate market, introducing caution among investors and foreign buyers. The agency expects a slowdown in transaction volumes and a decline in prices, with apartments facing sharper potential declines due to a strong supply pipeline. However, a sharp 2008-style property crash is deemed unlikely if the intense phase of conflict is short-lived. Government visa reforms and stronger financial buffers among developers are noted as stabilizing factors for the market.

S&P Global Ratings says Dubai's residential market may slow due to Middle East conflict, but a sharp 2008-style crash is unlikely in the near term.

New Delhi, March 22 The ongoing conflict in West Asia could slow momentum in Dubai's residential real estate market, though a sharp crash similar to the 2008 financial crisis is unlikely in the near term, according to a report by S&P Global Ratings.

The report said the property sector in the United Arab Emirates is vulnerable to geopolitical developments due to its reliance on expatriates and foreign investment.

"Real estate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is among the sectors that could suffer credit pain due to the Middle East conflict... the UAE, and notably Dubai, is particularly exposed to the indirect effects of the current conflict," the report said.

According to the report, the conflict has already created caution among investors and slowed activity in the property market.

"The conflict has introduced caution. Official sources are reporting lower transaction volumes since the start of the war," it said.

The ratings agency expects both transaction volumes and prices in the residential market to weaken if the conflict continues.

"We expect a slowdown in Dubai real estate volumes and a decline in residential prices... The longer the conflict persists, the more pronounced any such decline would be," the report noted.

However, S&P said the market is unlikely to experience a sharp collapse if the intense phase of the conflict remains short.

"S&P Global Ratings doesn't expect a 2008-style property crash in Dubai if the intense phase of conflict lasts up to four weeks," the report said.

At the same time, the agency warned that risks could increase if the conflict continues for a longer period.

"A meaningful correction is not outside the realm of possibility if the conflict is prolonged beyond four weeks," it added.

The report also noted that investor sentiment may weaken, particularly in high-end residential segments.

"Investor sentiment could be most imminently hit in the luxury and ultra-luxury segment... Ultra wealthy and high-net-worth individuals who moved to UAE for tax or lifestyle reasons could reconsider their decisions," it said.

According to S&P, apartment prices may see sharper declines than villa prices due to a larger supply pipeline.

"We expect declines in apartment prices to be more intense than villa prices given the strong apartment supply pipeline," the report said.

Despite these pressures, the report noted that government policies and visa reforms could help stabilise the market.

"The UAE government's visa reforms will create a degree of stability and stickiness for residents and home/property owners," the report said, referring to long-term residency options such as the Golden Visa.

The ratings agency added that tighter real estate regulations and stronger financial buffers among developers could help the sector absorb short-term shocks.

"The low leverage of these developers would also help them absorb a relatively short-lived shock," the report noted.

However, it cautioned that prolonged disruption could test market resilience and investor confidence.

"Sentiment could gradually weaken, with some expatriate departures or exodus and price declines," the report added.

- ANI
The Election Commission of India has issued directives to Chief Electoral Officers to ensure all 2,18,807 polling stations for the upcoming assembly elections are equipped with standardized Assured Minimum Facilities. These mandatory facilities include drinking water, shaded waiting areas, toilets, ramps for PwD electors, and proper signage. Voter Assistance Booths will be set up to help electors locate their booth and serial number, while a mobile phone deposit facility will be provided outside polling stations. The Commission has mandated strict compliance with these measures to ensure a seamless and pleasant voting experience for all electors.

ECI directs states to provide assured minimum facilities like water, toilets, ramps, and voter assistance at all 2.18 lakh polling stations for upcoming elections.

New Delhi, March 22 Ahead of elections to Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and bye-elections in six states, the Election Commission of India has issued directions to the Chief Electoral Officers of the States/UTs.

They have been directed to ensure that each of the 2,18,807 Polling Stations is equipped with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs) and voter assistance on poll day.

AMF include drinking water, a waiting area with shade, a toilet with a water facility, adequate lighting, a ramp of proper gradient for PwD electors, a standard voting compartment, and proper signage. CEOs have also been asked to provide benches placed at regular intervals in the queue so that electors can sit while awaiting their turn to vote.

To strengthen voter awareness, four uniform and standardised Voter Facilitation Posters (VFP) shall be prominently displayed at all polling stations containing the Polling Station Details, List of Candidates, Do's and Don'ts, list of Approved Identification Documents and the voting process.

Voter Assistance Booths (VABs) shall be set up for every polling station location with a team of Booth Level Officers (BLOs)/officials to assist electors in locating their polling booth number and serial number in the electoral roll of the concerned booth. VABs will have prominent signage and will be easily visible as the voters approach the polling premises.

In one of the many initiatives taken by ECI for the convenience of voters, a mobile phone deposit facility for voters will be provided outside the entrance of the polling station. Voters can hand over their phone (switched off) before entering the station to a designated volunteer and collect the same after casting the vote.

The Commission reiterates that provisioning of AMF and related accessibility measures is mandatory and shall be monitored for strict compliance across all polling stations. All field functionaries have been directed to complete necessary works well before the poll dates to ensure a seamless and pleasant voting experience for all electors.

- ANI
The G7 nations have issued a joint statement strongly condemning Iran's attacks on multiple neighboring countries and civilian infrastructure. They reaffirmed the critical importance of safeguarding maritime routes like the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring the stability of global energy supply chains. The statement supports the right of the attacked nations to defend themselves and calls for Iran to cease its destabilizing activities and ballistic missile program. The warning comes amid reports that European capitals could be potential future targets.

G7 foreign ministers condemn Iran's attacks on neighbors, reaffirm commitment to maritime security and stability of global energy markets.

Ottawa, March 22 Foreign Ministers of G7 countries, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union on Saturday collectively condemned the attacks by Iran on its neighbours.

"We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, express support to our partners in the region in the face of the unjustifiable attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies," the statement read.

The statement said that the condemnation was in line with UNSC Resolution 2817.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the regime's reckless attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Iraq, in line with UNSC Resolution 2817. The Iranian regime's unjustifiable attacks against these states also threaten regional and global security. We call for the immediate and unconditional cessation of all attacks by the Iranian regime," the statement added.

"We reaffirm the importance of safeguarding maritime routes and safety of navigation, including in the Strait of Hormuz and all associated critical waterways, as well as the safety and security of supply chains and the stability of energy markets. We stand ready to take necessary measures to support the global supply of energy, such as the stockpile release decided by International Energy Agency members on March 11," the statement added.

"The G7 has repeatedly stated that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon and that it must halt its ballistic missile program, end its destabilising activities in the region and around the globe, and cease the appalling violence and repression against its own people," it further said.

The statement upheld the right of those countries attacked by Iran to defend themselves.

"We support the right of the countries unjustifiably attacked by Iran or by Iranian proxies to defend their territories and protect their citizens. We reaffirm our unwavering support for their security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," the statement said.

"We condemn the brazen attacks in Iraq by Iran and its militias against diplomatic facilities and energy infrastructure, particularly in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, and against U.S. and Counter ISIS Coalition forces, and the Iraqi people," it added.

The statement comes as the Israeli Defense Forces said earlier in the day that Paris, Berlin and Rome could be Iran's next targets after it attacked US and UK bases, which are over 4,000km away.

- ANI
Coco Gauff overcame a slow start to defeat fellow American Alycia Parks 2-6, 6-0, 6-1 at the Miami Open. After dropping the first set, Gauff dominated the remainder of the match, winning 12 of the final 13 games. The victory marks her fourth appearance in the Miami Open round of 16 as she continues to pursue her first quarterfinal at the WTA 1000 event. She will next face Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea, who is playing her final season on tour.

Coco Gauff defeats Alycia Parks in three sets to advance at the Miami Open. She will face Sorana Cirstea next, seeking her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal.

Miami, March 22 Coco Gauff staged a comeback to defeat fellow American Alycia Parks in three sets to advance to the Miami Open round of 16.

Despite early struggles, Gauff dominated the match and saved numerous break points. It marks her fourth appearance in the last 16 in Miami, as the 22-year-old continues to chase her first quarterfinal at the WTA 1000 event.

Gauff opened with an early break to take a 2-0 lead, but Parks responded by winning six straight games to claim the first set 6-2. From there, Gauff dominated, winning 12 of the next 13 games to secure a 2-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory in 1 hour, 50 minutes, WTA reports.

"It was really difficult. She was playing really well and she's one of those people who's hit or miss sometimes. So, you're stuck in the fine line of being aggressive but also maybe just making her play. And I think I got too stuck on the other end of it. And then the second and third, I just tried to be aggressive when I could. I made some adjustments on the return and I think that made a difference," Gauff said after her win.

This was the American's 11th win at the WTA level after losing the first set since the start of the 2025 season, tying with Madison Keys and Anastasia Potapova on this stat. The only player with more wins from a set down in the same span is Jessica Pegula (13). Moreover, among players born since 2000, Gauff's 104 wins at WTA 1000 events rank second behind Iga Swiatek's 130 wins.

She will now face Sorana Cirstea in the next round, aiming for her first quarterfinal at the WTA 1000 event.

The Romanian veteran Cirstea, playing her final season on tour, defeated 21st seed Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-2. Gauff won their only previous meeting, a three-set match in the second round of the 2022 Australian Open.

- IANS
The Central Government has amended the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme to enhance credit flow for MSMEs in manufacturing and exports. Key changes include reducing the mandatory project cost allocation for machinery to 60% and fixing a ten-year guarantee period. Special provisions for exporters offer a 75% guarantee cover and a first-year fee waiver, provided they meet specific profitability and export turnover criteria. These modifications aim to strengthen MSME competitiveness and support India's economic vision.

Government modifies Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme to increase credit access for MSMEs in manufacturing and exports, easing project cost and upfront contribution rules.

New Delhi, March 22 The Central Government modified the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme to bolster manufacturing and export capabilities within the micro, small, and medium enterprise sector, following the roadmap established in Budget 2025-26.

According to the Ministry of Finance on Saturday, these adjustments aim to increase credit availability for purchasing plants and machinery. The ministry stated that the modifications address feedback received from MSMEs and lending institutions to make the credit facility more accessible and responsive to industry needs.

Under the revised guidelines, the government expanded the scope of the scheme to include MSMEs operating in the service sector. One significant change involves the minimum project cost allocated toward machinery and equipment, which the ministry reduced to 60 per cent of the total project cost from the earlier requirement of 75 per cent. This adjustment allows businesses more flexibility in how they fund capital for their expansion projects.

The government also fixed the guarantee tenure to expire after a period of ten years, ensuring long-term support for equipment financing.

The financial terms regarding upfront contributions underwent changes to improve liquidity for borrowers. The ministry noted that the 5 per cent upfront contribution is now refundable, with 1 per cent returned annually starting from the fourth year of the loan, "subject to satisfactory performance of loan account." This measure is designed to incentivize fiscal discipline while easing the long-term financial burden on small business owners.

Special provisions were introduced specifically for the export sector to encourage global competitiveness. Eligible units must be profitable and have "exported at least 25 per cent of their sales turnover in each of previous 3 financial years."

For these entities, the guaranteed loan amount is set at Rs 20 crore, with the guarantee coverage extending to "75 per cent of the amount in default." The ministry confirmed that while the first-year guarantee fee for exporters is waived, a fee of 0.50 per cent on the outstanding loan amount applies in subsequent years.

The upfront contribution for exporters is fixed at 2 per cent of the loan amount, with a maximum cap of Rs 40 lakh.

In line with the general MSME terms, this contribution is refundable at a rate of 1 per cent each in the fourth and fifth years of the guarantee period.

"MSMEs contribute around 30% to the GDP and over 45% to the exports of India and give employment to more than 35 crore workers. Achieving the vision of "Viksit Bharat 2047" requires strong, globally competitive, and sustainable MSMEs. The modifications in MCGS-MSME scheme are expected to facilitate increased availability of credit for purchase of Plant and Machinery / Equipment by MSMEs, including exporter MSMEs, and give a major boost to manufacturing and export sector in India," the Ministry said in a statement.

- ANI
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced and launched development projects worth over 938 crore in Mehsana district. He highlighted that Gujarat has seen works worth around 2,500 crore inaugurated or initiated across the state in just three days. Key projects include railway line expansions, the development of Vadnagar as a heritage town, and a significant farmers' compensation package. State ministers emphasized aligning these initiatives with the national 'Viksit Bharat' vision.

Gujarat CM announces 938 crore projects for Mehsana, part of state-wide 2,500 crore development push in 3 days, enhancing infrastructure and heritage.

Mehsana, March 22 Gujarat has seen development works worth around Rs 2,500 crore inaugurated or initiated over the past three days, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Sunday, as he announced and launched projects worth over Rs 938 crore in Mehsana district.

At the 'Mahimavant Mehsana' programme in Visnagar, Patel carried out foundation-laying for works exceeding Rs 630 crore, performed ground-breaking for projects worth over Rs 168 crore, and inaugurated completed works valued at Rs 140 crore.

He said these projects would serve as milestones in the district's overall development.

"Gujarat today leads the country in financial management, and as a result, there is no shortage of funds in the state. Every reasonable proposal from the Mehsana district will be prioritised and approved," he said.

Highlighting recent activity, he said, "In the last three days alone, development works worth more than Rs 2,500 crore have been inaugurated and foundation stones laid across Gujarat."

He added that infrastructure upgrades such as the doubling of the Mehsana-Palanpur railway line and the approval of the long-pending Taranga-Ambaji railway line would advance economic activity in the region.

The Chief Minister reiterated the government's commitment to developing Vadnagar, the birthplace of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a world-class heritage town.

He referred to projects including the Prerna School, an archaeological museum and the redevelopment of the railway station.

Patel also said MoUs worth Rs 3.24 lakh crore signed during the North Gujarat Regional Vibrant Summit in Mehsana reflected the district's industrial potential and added that it was emerging as a food processing hub.

During the programme, nutrition kits were distributed to pregnant women, and attendees took a pledge to adopt 'Swadeshi'.

State Energy and Petrochemicals Minister Rushikesh Patel said the state government was advancing development initiatives in line with the national vision.

"The Chief Minister is taking forward the torch of development initiated by the Prime Minister at a rapid pace," he said.

Detailing farmer-focused measures, he added, "The state government has announced a Rs 11,000 crore package for farmers, under which more than Rs 250 crore has been directly credited to the accounts of farmers in Mehsana as compensation for crop losses."

He said healthcare infrastructure had been strengthened with sub-district hospitals in Vijapur and Kheralu, while in education, alongside M.N. Science College, new colleges and facilities for preparation of competitive examinations had been established.

"The government is committed to improving the ease of living for the last person in society," he said, adding that work on underground power lines to make cities wire-free was nearing completion in municipalities including Unjha.

He further said that integrating modern facilities with heritage sites such as the Sun Temple at Modhera and Vadnagar would support Gujarat's role in achieving the 'Viksit Bharat @2047' vision.

- IANS
Gwyneth Paltrow openly accepted her status as an "original nepo baby" while being honored at the New York Women in Film & Television Muse Awards. She acknowledged the opportunities her family connections provided but emphasized that her path was not without obstacles, citing industry pressures on women to conform. The actress paid tribute to her mother, actress Blythe Danner, for shaping her approach to craft and grace. Paltrow also thanked her husband, Brad Falchuk, and son, Moses Martin, for their support.

Gwyneth Paltrow acknowledges her nepotism advantage in Hollywood while honoring her mother Blythe Danner and discussing industry challenges for women.

Los Angeles, March 22 Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow doesn't shy away from accepting the fact that she is a product of nepotism.

The actress isn't afraid to call out her "nepo baby" status. The 'Marty Supreme' actress, who is the daughter of fellow actress Blythe Danner and film producer and director Bruce Paltrow, addressed the title while being honored at the 2026 New York Women in Film & Television Muse Awards, reports 'People' magazine.

She said, "I was extraordinarily lucky to be given opportunities early on, probably partly because I'm one of the original nepo babies but I would be lying if I said that that made my path clear. There were many moments when the industry made it very plain that women are expected to stay in their lane and to be graceful and quiet and above all to be one thing. And I've never been very good at being one thing".

As per 'People', the actress, 53, also took a moment to honor her mother, 83-year-old Danner, who was in the audience, sharing that many of the lessons she learned from the Meet the Parents actress have shaped her own work.

She further mentioned, "Mom, you showed me what it looks like to commit fully to a craft, to be insanely creative and brave in your choices onstage, and to carry yourself with so much grace, even when sometimes this industry doesn't make it so easy. So thank you".

Danner wasn't the only one who got the spotlight, as Gwyneth also highlighted the support she's received from her husband, TV and film producer Brad Falchuk, 55, and from her son, Moses Martin, 19.

"When we talk about women supporting women, which matters enormously, we also want to acknowledge the gorgeous, thoughtful, and loving men who show up for us and fill our hearts with love", she added.

- IANS
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is monitoring reports of a missile incident near Dimona, Israel, confirming no damage to the Negev nuclear research center and no abnormal radiation levels. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized the need for "maximum military restraint" around nuclear facilities to prevent a safety crisis. This follows an attack on Iran's Natanz uranium-enrichment facility, which Iranian authorities blame on the United States and Israel, reporting no radioactive leaks. Iranian officials warn that continued strikes near nuclear sites create a "very grave" situation with potential global implications.

IAEA confirms no damage or abnormal radiation after missile incidents near Dimona and Natanz nuclear facilities, urges maximum military restraint.

Vienna, March 22 The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed it is closely monitoring reports of a missile incident in Dimona, stating that no damage has been detected at Israel's sensitive nuclear research infrastructure.

In a statement posted on X, the agency said it was aware of reports involving a missile impact in the city but had "not received any indication of damage to the nuclear research center Negev." The facility is widely associated with Israel's nuclear program.

The IAEA further noted that information from regional states indicated no abnormal radiation levels had been detected following the incident. Director General Rafael Grossi emphasised the need for "maximum military restraint," particularly in areas surrounding nuclear facilities, to prevent any escalation that could lead to a nuclear safety crisis.

The warning comes amid heightened tensions in the region and follows reports of fresh attacks on nuclear infrastructure in Iran.

Earlier on Saturday, the IAEA said it had been informed by Iranian authorities of an attack on the Natanz nuclear facility. The agency confirmed it is investigating the situation and has not received any reports of increased off-site radiation levels.

Grossi reiterated his call for restraint, warning that continued military actions near nuclear sites could result in severe and potentially irreversible consequences.

According to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, the United States and Israel were responsible for the attack on the Natanz uranium-enrichment facility earlier in the day. Iranian officials stated that no radioactive leaks had occurred and that nearby residents were not in danger.

Iranian nuclear facilities have been repeatedly targeted since a joint US-Israeli campaign reportedly began on February 28. Earlier in the week, strikes were reported near the Bushehr nuclear power plant along the Persian Gulf coast. Iranian authorities described it as the third such incident involving nuclear-related sites, following earlier attacks on Natanz and Isfahan.

Tehran has urged the IAEA to strongly condemn these actions, warning that continued strikes near nuclear infrastructure pose a "very grave and serious situation" with potentially global implications.

- IANS
The U.S. war on Iran has laid bare a dichotomy in the worlds most advanced military: high-tech weapons and AI have delivered stunning blows at unprecedented speed, while defending against the swarm of missiles and drones launched in retaliation have come at unsustainably lopsided costs.

Led by a massive air campaign, the U.S. has claimed more than 7,000 strikes on key sites, with Israel conducting a comparable number of sorties, as AI tools like Anthropics Claude recommend targets much quicker in some ways than the speed of thought. The relentless bombardment has decimated Irans military and leadership.

But helped by the mass production of cheap drones, the forces that are left still retain enough combat power to attack Gulf neighbors and scare away commercial tankers from the Strait of Hormuz, keeping 20% of the worlds oil bottled up.

Irans retaliatory barrage has also forced the U.S. and its allies to draw down expensive stockpiles of interceptors. The tactic highlights the brutal economics of the current war: missiles that cost millions of dollars each are shooting down drones that cost tens of thousands of dollars. In other words, its like the U.S. is using a Formula 1 racer to fight off a used car.

U.S.-style warfare doesnt come cheap. The first six days of the Iran conflict have cost the U.S. more than $11 billion, though a switch to less expensive bombs has since slowed the daily bill.

Pentagon leaders insist the U.S. has enough munitions, though the exact size of the inventory is classified. Still, the heavy usage has raised concerns about the remaining supply, especially as allies consider whats needed in the event of war with Russia or China.

But lawmakers got sticker shock on reports the Defense Department was seeking an additional $200 billion for the Iran war. Part of the Pentagons calculus, however, was to address the shortage of precision munitions and spur the defense industry to quickly restock supplies, sources told the Washington Post.

President Donald Trump summoned top contractors to the White House earlier this month to push them along. But ramping up to high levels of output could take years. For example, Lockheed Martin made 620 PAC-3 interceptors for the Patriot air-defense system last year and plans to make 650 this year. But its goal of producing over 2,000 annually wont be reached until 2030, according to Bloomberg.

The current dilemma brings to mind a quote attributed to Joseph Stalin during World War II as he weighed the Red Armys numerical advantage against Nazi Germanys superior weapons: quantity has a quality all its own.
India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, met Prime Minister Tarique Rehman in Dhaka to extend warm Eid-ul-Fitr greetings. This follows a meeting in New Delhi between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India, focusing on advancing bilateral ties. Verma has also held a series of meetings with ministers of the new Bangladeshi government, discussing cooperation in local governance, rural development, and the rural economy. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties and cooperation based on mutual respect and shared historical bonds.

Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma meets Bangladesh PM Tarique Rehman for Eid greetings, following talks between EAM Jaishankar and the Bangladeshi envoy.

Dhaka, March 22 India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma met Prime Minister Tarique Rehman here and extended wishes to him on Eid.

"High Commissioner Pranay Verma exchanged warm Eid greetings with Prime Minister His Excellency Tarique Rahman in Dhaka," the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh posted on X.

Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of Muslims, was celebrated across Bangladesh on Saturday with enthusiasm and religious fervour.

On Friday, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, in New Delhi, with discussions focusing on advancing bilateral ties.

In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar said: "Met with High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah of Bangladesh. Our conversation was focused on advancing our bilateral ties."

Earlier this month, India's High Commissioner held a series of meetings with ministers of the newly-formed Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government, discussing ways to enhance bilateral cooperation.

According to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, Verma called on Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, to explore various areas of common interest, including strengthening cooperation in local governance structures and rural development.

Both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral engagement in areas such as the rural economy, agricultural cooperatives, and financial empowerment at the grassroots etc.

"High Commissioner underlined that India-Bangladesh relations are founded on people-to-people ties and that India remains ready to engage with Bangladesh in a positive, constructive, and forward-looking manner to promote people-centric cooperation in all domains based on mutual interest and mutual benefit, "the High Commission posted.

Verma also met Minister of Liberation War Affairs, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, reaffirming the strong historical bonds between the two countries rooted in the shared sacrifices during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

"They underlined the importance of working together on the basis of mutual respect and mutual trust to further strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries," the High Commission said.

- IANS
India has signed key digital technology MoUs with Nigeria, providing a framework for sharing expertise in e-governance and education technology. The partnership allows Nigeria to learn from India's scaled digital transformation, including systems like Aadhaar and UPI. A central goal for Nigeria is to create one million digital economy jobs by 2025 and improve youth digital literacy. The collaboration is seen as a strategic move to adapt India's proven public-tech infrastructure to Nigeria's local needs.

Nigeria leverages India's digital governance and EdTech models through new MoUs, aiming to boost services, education, and create 1 million digital jobs by 2025.

New Delhi, March 22 India's MoUs with Nigeria on sharing digital technology provide the African nation with an opportunity to emulate the successful experiment already carried out in a 1.4 billion strong country in delivering social welfare services, education and the creation of jobs.

The MoUs were signed in New Delhi when Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, agreed on two key frameworks: one with India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and another with the Central Square Foundation, an Indian EdTechfocused organisation.

"For millions of young Nigerians who dream of building the next African tech giant, or for parents who simply want their children to access better education and services, the digitaltechnology partnership Nigeria signed with India in 2023 was not just a dry diplomatic agreement; it was a quiet but powerful turning point," according to an article in India Narrative written by Chukwudi Okeke, a Startup Mentor and co-founder of Nigeria Innovation Hub in Lagos.

India did not just build a digital economy; it rewired how a billion people interact with government, banks, and schools. Nigeria, with its own vast population, youthful energy, and struggling infrastructure, now has a rare opportunity to learn from that experience, adapt it to local realities, and turn digital transformation into tangible progress for ordinary Nigerians, the article states.

The MeitY agreement focuses on sharing digitalsolutions, particularly in egovernance, digitalidentity, and publicservice delivery, while the Central Square pact targets technologyenabled education and digitallearning infrastructure in Nigeria's public schools and training institutions.

Together, these agreements lay the groundwork for structured technology transfer, joint pilot projects, and institutional exchanges between Nigerian and Indian agencies. Nigeria's ambition is clear: we want to create one million digitaleconomy jobs by 2025 and raise digitalliteracy levels among our youth.

Choosing India as a partner is deliberate, because India's experience shows that digital transformation can be done at scale if it is planned, funded, and executed with political will, the article points out.

India's digitalstate architecture offers Nigeria a nearreadymade template for how to build publictech infrastructure without reinventing the wheel. India's Aadhaarbased digitalidentity system, combined with India Stack and its Unified Payments Interface (UPI), has turned a paperbased economy into one where hundreds of millions of people can open bank accounts, receive government payments, and make realtime payments from a mobile phone, the article states.

- IANS
Senior Iranian military commander Major General Seyed Majid Moosavi declared Iran's missile dominance over Israeli skies, promising new tactics that will leave US and Israeli commanders "dumbfounded." Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated the successful strike on the protected Dimona area signals Israel's skies are defenseless, urging implementation of pre-designed plans. Israeli authorities are investigating how their defenses failed to intercept a ballistic missile that hit Arad, injuring over 100 people including children. The Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned the attack on civilians as a "blatant war crime" and "pure terrorism," while local officials evacuated approximately 150 families from the impacted neighborhood.

Iranian military leaders declare missile dominance over Israel after Dimona strike, as Israel investigates failed interceptions and reports civilian injuries.

Tehran, March 22 Major General Seyed Majid Moosavi, head of Iran's IRGC Aerospace Force, said on Saturday that Iran now dominates the skies of the occupied territories.

Moosavi said that the upcoming waves of attacks in those skies would leave the US and Israel 'dumbfounded'.

In a post on X, Moosavi said, "From this moment, I declare the missile dominance of Iran's sons over the skies of the occupied territories. The new tactics and launch systems employed in the upcoming waves will leave the American-Zionist commanders dumbfounded. Tonight, the skies over the south of the occupied territories will remain illuminated for hours."

Meanwhile, Speaker of Iranian Parliament, MB Ghalibaf, said that if Israeli skies are defenceless.

In a post on X, he said, "If the Israeli regime fails to intercept the missiles in the highly protected Dimona area, it is operationally a sign of entering a new phase of the battle: Israel's skies are defenseless. As a result, it seems the time has come to implement the next pre-designed plans. Happy Nowruz to the Iranian nation."

Al Jazeera said that the Israeli air force will investigate how Israeli defences failed to intercept a ballistic missile that made a direct impact in the southern city of Arad. It further said that Israeli media, citing the Israeli military, said there were two failed interception attempts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday held talks with the Mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan and conveyed his prayers for those injured.

Israeli Foreign Ministry said that over 100 people, including children, were injured in the attack.

In a post on X, the Ministry said, "The Iranian regime devastated Arad and Dimona by deliberately striking civilians with missiles. Over 100 people were injured, including children. A blatant war crime. Pure terrorism."

Yair Maayan, the mayor of Arad in southern Israel, said that about 150 families were evacuated from the neighborhood that was hit, as per Al Jazeera.

- ANI
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a call with PM Modi, proposed forming a regional security structure for West Asia without foreign interference. He reiterated that ending the war requires an immediate halt to U.S. and Israeli aggressions and guarantees against future attacks. Pezeshkian condemned the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials, while rejecting claims by Donald Trump about Iran's nuclear aims. Prime Minister Modi expressed deep concern over rising tensions and condemned attacks on regional energy infrastructure.

Iranian President proposes a West Asian security structure, reiterates conditions to end the war following attacks that killed former Supreme Leader Khamenei.

Tehran, March 22 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian proposed to form a security structure comprising regional countries to ensure peace, security and stability in West Asia without foreign interference, reiterating conditions to end the ongoing war.

He made the remarks in a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which the two sides discussed bilateral ties as well as the latest regional and international developments in the wake of the US and Israeli attacks against Iran, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Iran's official news agency IRNA.

Pezeshkian said that Iran's preconditions for ending the war are the immediate cessation of the US and Israeli "aggressions" and provision of guarantees that such attacks will not be repeated in the future, said the report.

He strongly condemned the United States and Israel for killing Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, high-ranking military commanders and civilians, as well as targeting the country's public infrastructure.

Pezeshkian rejected claims by US President Donald Trump, who has said the war is aimed at preventing the country from developing nuclear weapons, stressing that Iran's former leader was strongly opposed to making atomic arms and had issued the necessary decrees to prevent any attempt to that end.

For his part, PM Modi voiced "deep concern" over the escalation of regional tensions, strongly condemned any attack on regional energy infrastructures, and urged ensuring security in the Strait of Hormuz and freedom of navigation in the Gulf.

On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the Middle East.

- IANS
BJP leader and veteran actress Jaya Prada has highly praised the film 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', urging people to watch and appreciate it. She highlighted the hard work of the cast and crew, calling it a wonderful and unique film. VHP spokesperson Shriraj Nair commented that the film reflects a post-2014 shift where filmmakers feel confident presenting themes of patriotism and culture. The sequel, featuring Ranveer Singh, continues the story of an undercover agent and has generated significant buzz since its release.

BJP leader Jaya Prada urges audiences to watch 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', praising its story, cast, and patriotic themes.

Lucknow, March 22 BJP leader and veteran actress Jaya Prada lauded the story and performance of the lead cast in the film 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge'.

While talking to ANI, the actor urged people to watch the film while highlighting the uniqueness and the hard work of the cast and crew. She also expressed her pride in the film.



"It's a wonderful film, it's a film that people haven't seen in so many years. I'm very proud of this film. It's very easy to say bad things. But the way they worked, the way they wrote the script, the way all the actors worked to make this film a success. I appeal to everyone to watch this film and appreciate it," the former MP said



Earlier, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) spokesperson Shriraj Nair spoke about the film 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', asserting that it is based on "complete research" and reflects changing audience preferences in India.



In a conversation with ANI, Nair said that post-2014, filmmakers have gained the confidence to produce films centred on "love for the country, religion, and respect for Indian culture and saints."



"After 2014, filmmakers have gathered the courage to present the truth. Earlier, there was an environment where Hindus were made to feel apologetic and even second-class in the film industry," he said.



Nair credited the film's success to a "mature audience," stating that viewers today cannot be misled by "artificial or imaginary narratives." He added that strong word-of-mouth and growing theatre footfall indicate public acceptance of such content.



'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' is the sequel to the 2025 blockbuster 'Dhurandhar', which became the highest-grossing Hindi film of that year and one of the most successful Indian films of all time.



The sequel continues the story of undercover agent Jaskirat Singh Rangi, played by Ranveer Singh, who operates under the alias Hamza Ali Mazari within a complex criminal network.



The film features an ensemble cast including R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and Sara Arjun, with its narrative diving deeper into themes of espionage and patriotism.



'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', the latest instalment in the franchise, has been released in theatres on March 19 and continues to generate significant buzz.





- ANI
The Jammu and Kashmir Lok Bhavan hosted a vibrant Bihar Diwas celebration, bringing together officials, students, and the Bihari community. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha extended greetings and paid tribute to the great revolutionaries and personalities from Bihar. He highlighted the state's historic role as a shield of the nation and a center of India's spiritual, cultural, and intellectual life. The event is part of a series celebrating the foundation days of various states and UTs to strengthen national unity.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha extends greetings on Bihar Diwas, honoring the state's revolutionaries and its role as India's cultural and intellectual heartland.

Jammu, March 22 The Jammu and Kashmir Lok Bhavan on Sunday celebrated Bihar Diwas to pay tribute to great revolutionaries and towering personalities from Bihar.

An official statement said that "Jammu and Kashmir Lok Bhavan today hosted a vibrant celebration of Bihar Diwas, at Jammu".

Celebrating the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat', the cultural evening brought together senior Government officials, students, and the people of Bihar living in the UT of Jammu Kashmir.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha extended his heartiest greetings and best wishes to the people of Bihar on the occasion.

He paid tributes to the great revolutionaries and towering personalities from Bihar and recalled their valuable contributions to nation's growth and building of a modern India.

Lt Governor highlighted that, from the era of Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya to the independence movement, Bihar has remained the "shield of the nation" and an epicenter of India's unity and spiritual, cultural, intellectual, and economic life.

"Bihar has carved a distinct identity as the heartland of the Magadha Empire. Today, under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the state is reclaiming its ancient glory and emerging once again as a key driver of comprehensive development and innovation," Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said.

The Lt Governor also spoke on Bihar's unprecedented contributions to India's industrial and educational landscape and its profound influence on architecture, music, art, and literary traditions.

"I pray that this blessed land of rich cultural diversity, glorious historical heritage, and knowledge and spirituality continues to advance on the path of progress," Manoj Sinha said.

Jammu and Kashmir has been hosting cultural events to commemorate the foundation day of Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Delhi, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The L-G has said that the observance of the foundation day of different states and UTs is an occasion to celebrate the unity in diversity of our great nation and to strengthen the fabric of traditionally existing emotional bonds between the people.

- IANS
The Departmental Affairs Committee of the University of Jammu has unanimously recommended excising content related to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Syed Ahmad Khan, and Mohammad Iqbal from its Political Science postgraduate programs. This decision follows a protest by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) against Jinnah's inclusion in the curriculum. The final decision now rests with the Board of Studies, which is scheduled to meet to deliberate on the recommendations. The ABVP argued that academic freedom must align with national sentiments and historical integrity.

University committee recommends removing topics on Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Syed Ahmad Khan, and Mohammad Iqbal from Political Science syllabus after ABVP protest.

Jammu, March 23 The Department Affairs Committee of the University of Jammu on Sunday recommended the removal of topics concerning former Pakistan Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah from the curriculum of political sciences, following protests by the ABVP, a press note stated.

According to the press note, the committee also recommended the removal of topics related to Aligarh Muslim University founder Syed Ahmad Khan and Pakistani poet Mohammad Iqbal.

The Board of Studies will decide on the recommendations at its meeting on March 24.

Jammu University said, "The Faculty/Departmental Affairs Committee (DAC) meeting was held on March 22 at 12:00 noon in the office of the Head of the Department to deliberate upon certain issues raised concerning the syllabi of the One-Year and Two-Year MA Programmes in Political Science as per the guidelines of NEP-2020."

"After a thorough consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to recommend the removal of topics concerning Mohd. Ali Jinnah, Syed Ahmad Khan and Mohd. Iqbal from the course content of PIPSTC 102 of the One-Year Postgraduate Programme and the course content of P2PSTC 302 of the Two-Year Postgraduate Programme in Political Science to the Board of Studies for its consideration. The meeting of BOS is scheduled on March 24 at 11:30 AM through online mode to further deliberate on the matter," the press note read.

This came after a protest by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Saturday against the inclusion of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in the curriculum of Jammu University.

"ABVP Jammu University protests against the inclusion of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the Political Science syllabus under 'Minorities and the Nation.' We demand an immediate rollback. Academic freedom cannot ignore national sentiments and historical integrity," ABVP Jammu and Kashmir wrote on X.

Muslim League leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the first Governor-General and is regarded as the founder of Pakistan. The Muslim League, adopting the Pakistan resolution in the Lahore session, later in 1947, led to the partition of India upon independence.

- ANI
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has indicated the country could deploy its Self-Defense Forces for minesweeping in the Strait of Hormuz, but only if a ceasefire is realized in the regional conflict. He emphasized Japan's world-leading maritime minesweeping capabilities during the conditional discussion. The remarks follow a Japan-U.S. summit where President Trump acknowledged Japan's legal constraints on military dispatch. In a related development, one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has been released, with efforts ongoing to free the second.

Japan considers SDF minesweeping in the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire is achieved. Foreign Minister Motegi cites Japan's top-level technology.

Tokyo, March 22 Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has indicated that the country could consider deploying its Self-Defense Forces for minesweeping operations within the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Kyodo News.

The top diplomat suggested that such a move would be contingent on the realization of a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

During a television appearance, Motegi highlighted Japan's advanced maritime capabilities in this specific field. "Japan's minesweeping technology is at the top level in the world," he stated, as reported by Kyodo News.

He further elaborated on the conditions under which a deployment might be discussed, noting, "Let's say (the parties have entered into a) cease-fire, and in the event that mines pose an obstacle, we may have to think about it."

The Foreign Minister's remarks follow high-level diplomatic engagements in Washington last Thursday. Motegi, who attended the Japan-U.S. summit, recalled that U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to acknowledge Japan's constitutional and legal constraints.

Kyodo News reported that the President was nodding as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi clarified the statutory limits regarding the dispatch of Japanese naval vessels.

Addressing the outcomes of the summit, Motegi clarified that there was "no specific promise" made during the talks, nor were there any outstanding issues that required immediate home-based deliberation by the Japanese government.

The regional situation remains critical following the 28 February airstrikes launched by US and Israeli forces against Iran.

Kyodo News noted that the escalation has significant ramifications for global energy security and Middle Eastern stability, particularly for Japan, which depends on the region for more than 90 per cent of its crude oil imports.

In a separate development regarding Japanese citizens in the region, Motegi confirmed the release of one of two Japanese nationals previously detained in Iran.

The individual, who had been in custody since June, reportedly departed via Azerbaijan last Wednesday and arrived in Japan on Sunday in good health.

According to Kyodo News, the Japanese government is now intensifying efforts to secure the freedom of the remaining detainee.

"We are working towards the early release of the other individual," Motegi stated.

Reports from a non-profit organisation suggest the second individual is the Tehran bureau chief of the public broadcaster NHK, who was taken into custody by local authorities on 20 January.

- ANI
Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar has expressed severe FOMO for being unable to watch the blockbuster 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' while shooting at a remote location. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, has become a massive box-office success with pan-India appeal. Industry figures like Ayushmann Khurrana and Anupam Kher have praised it, while Ram Gopal Varma called its success a disruption. However, the film has also faced criticism from some who label it pro-establishment propaganda.

Karan Johar expresses major FOMO while shooting remotely, missing the box-office juggernaut 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' starring Ranveer Singh.

Mumbai, March 22 Bollywood multi-hyphenate Karan Johar is having a major FOMO. The filmmaker-producer took to the Stories section of his Instagram on Sunday, and shared a note saying that he is missing watching 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' in cinemas.

KJo shared that he is currently shooting for a project at a remote location with no access to cinema. He wrote, "I am filming in a location that has no access to a cinema and am suffering from FOMO".



"DHURANDILAR FOMO, I can't wait to watch it and am so proud of so many members of our fraternity who are coming out and supporting and loving the film... it's so heartening to see the united love for an INDIAN FILM! @adityadharfilms @officialjiostudios @ranveersingh (sic)", he added.



'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', directed by Aditya Dhar and headlined by Ranveer Singh, has emerged as one of the biggest box-office juggernauts in recent Indian cinema. The response has been overwhelmingly strong across markets. The film registered high occupancy rates, multiple sold-out shows, and strong traction in dubbed versions, indicating pan-India appeal.



Industry figures like Ayushmann Khurrana and Anupam Kher praised its scale and performances, while critics highlighted its spectacle-driven storytelling. Ram Gopal Varma called its success a disruption to traditional filmmaking norms. Culturally, the 'Dhurandhar' franchise has evolved into a mass phenomenon. Its blend of hyper-stylized action, nationalism, and star power has resonated strongly with audiences, reflecting current cinematic trends.



Viral moments, music, and even off-screen incidents have amplified its reach, turning it into more than just a film, a conversation driver. The sequel solidifies the franchise as a defining force in modern Bollywood spectacle cinema.



However, the film has also riled up one section of the audience with many claiming it to be pro-establishment propaganda.





- IANS
A cargo ship carrying Liquefied Petroleum Gas from Texas has arrived at the New Mangalore Port. The Shipping Ministry has waived all cargo-related charges for crude oil and LPG at the port until March 31 to facilitate imports. Officials confirmed that all 22 Indian ships and 611 sailors in the Persian Gulf region are safe despite the ongoing West Asia conflict. Meanwhile, the Petroleum Ministry reported a significant drop in panic bookings for LPG cylinders, assuring adequate national supply.

A US LPG cargo ship arrives in Karnataka as India monitors shipping safety and waives port charges to ensure energy supply stability.

Mangaluru, March 22 A cargo ship carrying Liquefied Petroleum Gas from Texas, United States, has arrived at the New Mangalore Port in Mangaluru.

On Friday, the Shipping Ministry informed that New Mangalore Port has waived cargo-related charges for crude oil and LPG from March 14 to 31. It also said that there is no congestion reported at any port.

In an interministerial briefing, Special Secretary of the Shipping Ministry, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, also said all 22 Indian ships and 611 sailors in the Persian Gulf are safe amid the West Asia conflict.

"There has been no report of any maritime incident in the last 24 hours. All our 22 ships and 611 Indian sailors in the Persian Gulf region are safe, and we are continuously monitoring them... There is no congestion in any port...New Mangalore Port has issued a circular for waiver of all cargo-related charges for crude and LPG, which is valid from 14 March to 31 March," the Shipping Ministry official said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said that panic booking of LPG cylinders has declined significantly, with only 55 lakh bookings reported on Thursday.

Speaking at an inter-ministerial briefing today, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, highlighted an improvement in the LPG crisis, saying, "There is no panic booking now. Only 55 lakh LPG booking reported yesterday."

Reassuring consumers, Sharma also said that there is no shortage of supply across the country. "There is adequate stock available, no outlets are dry out," she stated.

However, she acknowledged that concerns remain.

On Wednesday, the Indian-flagged crude oil tanker, Jag Laadki, successfully arrived at Adani Ports Mundra in Gujarat, marking a significant addition to the nation's energy imports. Earlier, the two Indian-flagged LPG carriers safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz before arriving in India on March 16 and 17. MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi - carrying approximately 92,712 metric tonnes of LPG - crossed the Strait of Hormuz early Friday (March 13, 2026).

This comes as the conflict in West Asia enters its 4th week, with trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz hampered.

- ANI
Additionally, consumer confidence has plunged to its lowest level in more than a decade, the labor market has weakened, and a geopolitical landscape rife with instability has seen numerous conflicts disrupt global markets from energy to agriculture.

Thats hardly a coincidence. The U.S. Dollar Index remains down more than 8% since January 2025. The Trump administrations tariff policies have fueled the sell America trade, and ongoing uncertainty has resulted in outflows from U.S. equities to the benefit of foreign markets.

Energy leads all S&P 500 sectors with a year-to-date gain of nearly 28%, followed by materials at roughly 10%. The broader market, by contrast, is down more than 3% on the year, with financials trailing at an 11% loss.

Now, theres evidence that those two sectors may hold onto their market-leading gains this year, underscored by a gold development company and an oil and gas trust that are likely to continue mirroring the trend.

Thats resulted in outsized benefits for two sectors: energy and materials. The last time either of those sectors led the S&P 500 was in 2021, when energy topped the index in the lead-up to the last bear market, and in 2022, when energy led throughout the bear market.

But in 2026, were seeing the opposite. Now in its fourth year, the bull market has likely entered the late stages of its cycle. The Magnificent Seven continue to underperform, software stocks are suffering some of their worst losses since the last bear market, and investors are embarking on a flight to safety that has benefited cyclical and defensive investments.

During healthy bull markets, investors routinely embrace risk-on strategies. High-flying tech stocks tend to outperform while defensive sectors and safe-haven assets are often disregarded.

Stocks like Vista Gold and Permian Basin Royalty Trust signal that the commodity run is broad-based, supported by strong profit margins and favorable technical indicators.

A weakening U.S. dollar, aggressive tariff policies, and escalating Middle East conflicts are driving a flight to safety, fueling a massive rally in commodities like oil and gold.

As the bull market enters its fourth year, investors are abandoning underperforming tech stocks in favor of energy and materials, which are significantly outperforming the broader S&P 500.

Story Continues

In turn, speculative sectors are suffering while energy and materialsout of absolute demandcontinue to thrive. Now, two companies are providing clues that the current macro environment is well-positioned for more of the same.

Vista Gold Suggests the Precious Metal Rally Has Legs

Gold prices got a shot in the arm when the United States and Israel began coordinated military operations against Iran on Feb. 28, further propelling the precious metal's price. Even before the latest war in the Middle East began, heightened market volatility, trade uncertainty, and pre-emptive military actions became hallmarks of the Trump administration, benefiting gold prices.

Investors should expect more of the same going forward, as evidenced by Vista Gold (NYSEAMERICAN: VGZ), a little-known small-cap gold miner that reported full-year and Q4 2025 earnings on Friday, March 13.

As a development company, Vista Gold is pre-revenue, so its Q4 earnings per share (EPS) of negative 6 cents wasnt the headline. Rather, the company ended 2025 with no debt.

Vista Gold also finished the year with a strong cash position and nearly $42 million raised to advance the Mt Todd gold project in Australias Northern Territorya large, advanced-stage project with measured and indicated gold resources totaling 9.1 million ounces, according to the companys website.

The biggest takeaway from the company was its confidence in progress on the Mt Todd project. With a projected 30-year mine life, Mt Todd offers significant scale and demonstrated economic viability. A feasibility study last year reported 5.2 million ounces of proven and probable reserves while demonstrating strong economics for the development of 15,000 tonnes per day and 5.3 million tonnes per year.

The stock, which gained 172% over the past year, serves as an example of how the gold industry is more bullish at this point in 2026 than it has been in years. Conditions are ripe for shareholders to benefit from that confidence, with Vista Gold forecasting a 1.7-year after-tax internal rate of return of 44.7%.

Permian Basin Royalty Trust Indicates That Energys Run Has Just Begun

The outbreak of war in Iran has roiled oil markets, with the fallout being felt from the gas pump to utility bills. That has benefited the oil majors, with ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM), Chevron (NYSE: CVX), and Shell (NYSE: SHEL) all recently hitting their all-time highs.

But lower on the energy hierarchy, companies like Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE: PBT) are evidence that the oil and gas rally is as broad as it is nascent. Amid speculation that oil prices may reach $200 per gallon, the key story with Permiansimilar to Vista Goldis less about past results and more about future expectations.

Despite the stock climbing 106% over the past year, there is likely more in store for shareholders as its margins remain strong. According to an SEC filing last month, the trustwhich holds royalty interests in oil and gas properties in the Permian Basin in West Texaswas able to secure a profit margin of more than 87% on its Texas Royalty Properties.

That Feb. 17 announcement came before the Iran war commenced later that month, meaning that PBTs net income is very likely to continue increasing from the average price per barrel it saw in February. At the time, the trust cited oil prices of $56.78 per barrel. Today, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the U.S. crude benchmark, is trading at $95.48 per barrel.

Last Tuesday, March 10, the stock crossed above its 200-day moving averagea bullish long-term indicator that suggests more share appreciation ahead, bolstered by the global oil supply pinch. Fundamentally, Permian Basin is operating at optimal financial health, ranking in TradeSmiths Green Zone for over nine months.

The article "What a Gold Miner and an Oil Trust Reveal About Todays Market" was originally published by MarketBeat.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav conducted a surprise visit to Sidhi district, engaging directly with citizens to review administrative performance. Based on complaints received, he ordered the immediate removal of Sidhi Collector Swarochit Somvanshi and Guna Superintendent of Police Ankit Soni. He also directed the suspension of District Cooperative Bank General Manager P.S. Dhanwal. Yadav emphasized that negligence by officials would not be tolerated and that public welfare is the government's top priority.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav removes Sidhi Collector Swarochit Somvanshi and Guna SP Ankit Soni after a surprise inspection and public grievances.

Indore, March 22 Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav paid a surprise visit to Sidhi district on Sunday, engaging in direct dialogue with local citizens to assess the state of administrative systems and the ground-level implementation of various government schemes, according to a press release.

During this public interaction session, the Chief Minister conducted a detailed review and gathered feedback regarding complaints raised by the general public and elected representatives concerning various issues, as well as the operational efficiency of the district administration and various government departments.

In light of the complaints received, Yadav issued directives for the immediate removal of Sidhi Collector, Swarochit Somvanshi, and the immediate suspension of the General Manager of the District Cooperative Bank, P.S. Dhanwal.

Furthermore, Yadav issued directives for the removal of Guna Superintendent of Police (SP), Ankit Soni, from his post, deeming his conduct inappropriate regarding an alleged case of misappropriation of cash recovered during a search operation in Guna district.

According to a release, Chief Minister Yadav stated that, in response to the complaints received from citizens, necessary measures would also be initiated at the state government level. He emphasised that, in keeping with the state's commitment to good governance, any form of negligence on the part of government officials or employees would not be tolerated under any circumstances. He reiterated that public welfare remains the top priority of the state government.

Taking it to X, Yadav said, "Today, an unannounced inspection was conducted at the district headquarters of Seoni. Based on this, a detailed review and feedback regarding complaints from the public and elected representatives, as well as the district administration and various departments, instructions have been issued to immediately remove District Collector Swarochit Somvanshi from his position with immediate effect. Instructions have been given to immediately suspend the General Manager of the District Cooperative Bank, PS Dhanwal, with immediate effect. Officials should work with responsibility wherever they are posted. Responsibility comes with their appointment itself."

To address the grievances of the common people, special campaigns and camps are regularly organised across both urban and rural areas of the state. He conveyed a clear message to all officials and employees: if they are unable to resolve the problems faced by the general public while serving in the field, then they have no right to hold a field posting.

During the public interaction session, the Chief Minister listened to the citizens' grievances and issued explicit directives to the concerned officials to ensure their prompt and effective resolution. He affirmed that the government's firm intention is to ensure that the benefits of all government schemes reach every eligible individual in a time-bound and transparent manner. He directed field officials to discharge their duties with sensitivity, accountability, and commitment. Any form of negligence or apathy would be viewed with utmost seriousness, and strict, effective action would be taken.

The Chief Minister expressed displeasure over the sluggish progress of the Collectorate building currently under construction in Sidhi. He emphasised that the pace of construction must be accelerated to ensure the work is completed within the stipulated timeframe and to the highest standards of quality, the release stated.

Following a surprise inspection in Sidhi, Yadav also interacted with the general public and elected representatives at the local Circuit House. Present on this occasion were MP Rajesh Mishra, MLA (Sihawal) Vishwamitra Pathak, and MLA Riti Pathak, along with other public representatives and administrative officials.

- ANI
MEA Secretary (East) P Kumaran visited the Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap, highlighting the deep civilisational heritage shared by India and Cambodia. His visit recognized India's pioneering role in the temple's restoration from 1986 to 1993, a project led by the Archaeological Survey of India. The 12th-century temple, originally Hindu, showcases strong architectural and narrative influences from Indian traditions. This cultural cooperation forms a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship and aligns with India's broader Act East Policy engagements.

MEA Secretary P Kumaran visits Angkor Wat, underscoring India's historic role in restoring the temple and shared civilisational bonds with Cambodia.

Siem Reap, March 22 Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, P Kumaran, visited the Angkor Wat Temple, the world's largest ancient temple complex and a revered symbol of deep-rooted civilisational ties between India and Cambodia, during his official trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The visit, underscoring the enduring people-to-people and cultural links between the two nations, comes against the backdrop of decades of historical cooperation and shared heritage initiatives between New Delhi and Phnom Penh.

According to a post by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on X, Kumaran's visit to Angkor Wat recognised the significant role India has played in preserving this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which stands as a testament to the deep historical and cultural links connecting the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

"Secretary (East) Shri P. Kumaran visited the Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap, the world's largest ancient temple complex in Cambodia and a magnificent symbol of India-Cambodia shared civilisational heritage. From 1986-1993, India was the first country to extend support for its restoration."

Angkor Wat, originally built in the 12th century by Khmer emperor Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple and later evolving into a major Buddhist complex, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The temple's architecture, from its soaring towers to intricate bas-reliefs, reflects strong influences of Indian religious and artistic traditions, including narratives drawn from Hindu epics and Sanskrit inscriptions that highlight millennia-old cultural exchange.

India's engagement with Angkor Wat's restoration began in response to a request from the Cambodian government following years of civil strife and the devastating Khmer Rouge period, which led to the deterioration of many temple structures. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) undertook the complex task of stabilising and conserving key sections of the temple from 1986 to 1993, making India the first country to offer such assistance in restoring Angkor Wat after Cambodia's cultural heritage suffered prolonged neglect.

The restoration work helped revive one of Cambodia's most iconic sites and has since been widely appreciated by Cambodian authorities and citizens alike, reinforcing goodwill between the two countries. Beyond Angkor Wat, India's collaboration has extended to other heritage projects in the region, such as conservation efforts at the Ta Prohm temple and Preah Vihear, further cementing cultural diplomacy under India's Act East Policy.

Kumaran's visit, coming on the heels of high-level bilateral engagements in Siem Reap, reflects the continuing commitment of both nations to strengthen ties through cultural preservation, tourism, and heritage cooperation. The visit also aligned with ongoing dialogues that expand India-Cambodia cooperation in education, trade and strategic partnership, reinforcing that civilisational bonds remain at the core of diplomatic relations in the Indo-Pacific region.

- ANI
Iranian ballistic missile strikes on the Israeli towns of Dimona and Arad have left nearly 200 people injured, with 11 in serious condition. Among the seriously wounded are a 12-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl, with injuries primarily caused by shrapnel. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue fighting enemies on all fronts, and the IDF launched strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure in Tehran. The attacks caused significant damage, including a residential building set ablaze, and many others were treated for acute anxiety.

Nearly 200 people injured after Iranian ballistic missiles hit Dimona and Arad. Israel's PM vows response as IDF strikes targets in Tehran.

Jerusalem, March 22 Nearly 200 people were injured in Iranian strikes in Israel's Dimona and Arad, with 11 of them seriously injured, according to medics, after Israeli air defences did not intercept at least two ballistic missiles, local media reported on Sunday.

After the strikes, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt General Eyal Zamir announced that Israel will continue to fight country's enemies on "all fronts." Later, the IDF said that the Air Force was carrying out strikes in Tehran targeting Iran's infrastructure.

Those seriously injured in the strikes in the south were a 12-year-old boy suffering from shrapnel injuries due to a strike in Dimona and a five-year-old girl in the subsequent strike in Ranad. The missiles were fired amid continuous Iranian attacks on the Dimona area on Saturday, The Times of Israel reported.

Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheba said it provided treatment to 175 people injured in the attacks on Arad and Dimona.

In addition to the boy listed in serious condition from the Dimona strike, a woman in her 30s was moderately injured by glass shards and another 31 people were treated for light injuries in the city, the Magen David Adom emergency service said, The Times of Israel reported. The injuries were primarily caused by shrapnel or sustained while running for shelter. Another 14 people, who were injured, were provided treatment for acute anxiety.

The ambulance service released a video of a residential building ablaze in the town.

- IANS
The International Atomic Energy Agency stated it has received no indication of damage to the Negev Nuclear Research Centre following an incident in Dimona, Israel. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi called for maximum military restraint near nuclear facilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with local mayors, praising residents' resilience as over 70 people were reported injured in civilian areas. Iran claimed the attack on Dimona was a response to a strike on its Natanz nuclear site, which Israel denies carrying out.

IAEA monitors Dimona incident, confirms no damage to Negev nuclear research centre. PM Netanyahu praises resilience, Iran claims attack.

Vienna, March 22 The International Atomic Energy Agency on Sunday said it did not receive any indication of damage to the nuclear research centre Negev in Israel.

The agency said that it was monitoring the situation and is aware of the incident in Dimona.

In a post on X, the IAEA said, "The IAEA is aware of reports of an incident in the city of Dimona, Israel, involving a missile impact and has not received any indication of damage to the nuclear research centre Negev. Information from regional States indicates that no abnormal radiation levels have been detected."

Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi, called for maximum military restraint.

"Closely monitoring the situation, Director General Rafael Grossi stressed that 'maximum military restraint should be observed, in particular in the vicinity of nuclear facilities."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Dimona Mayor Benny Biton and Rishon LeZion Mayor Raz Kinstlich.

In a post on X, Netanyahu's Office said, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening with Dimona Mayor Benny Biton and Rishon LeZion Mayor Raz Kinstlich. The Prime Minister praised the residents' resilience and wished a speedy recovery to those who were wounded following the firing from Iran."

The official account of IDF International Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said that over 70 people have been injured in two different civilian neighbourhoods in Israel.

In a post on X, he said, "Within just a few hours, over 70 people have been injured in two different civilian neighborhoods in Israel. These attacks highlight the nature of the Iranian terror targeting civilian communities. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Iranian regime is resorting to reckless attacks that only further expose its instability and disregard for human life while strategically targeting civilians."

Iran said it is targeting Dimona, which houses Israel's main nuclear research center, as a "response" to an earlier strike on the Natanz nuclear enrichment site. The Israel Defense Forces said it was not responsible for striking Natanz, as per The Times of Israel.

- ANI
North Korea is set to convene the first session of its newly elected Supreme People's Assembly on Sunday. The agenda includes electing state leadership and potentially revising the constitution to codify the regime's hostile policy toward South Korea. Leader Kim Jong-un, who has defined the two Koreas as hostile states, is expected to be re-elected as the country's top leader. The session will also address the national economic plan and a likely leadership reshuffle, with aide Jo Yong-won tipped to replace Choe Ryong-hae.

North Korea convenes new parliament session to elect leadership, revise constitution, and potentially codify hostile policy toward South Korea.

Seoul, March 22 North Korea is set to hold the first session of its new Supreme People's Assembly on Sunday amid attention on whether the regime will codify its hostile policy toward South Korea in its constitution.

The parliamentary session comes after new deputies were selected following last month's Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

The country's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Tuesday the session will be held in Pyongyang "to deliberate on the election of the president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the elections of the state leadership and sub-committees of the SPA, (and) the revision and supplement of the Socialist Constitution."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has defined the two Koreas as "two countries hostile to each other," and whether this policy will be codified in the constitution is being closely watched by officials and analysts in South Korea and other regional powers, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Also of interest is whether Kim will deliver a speech addressing North Korea's relations with the South, the United States and other countries.

The KCNA said the agenda will include the five-year national economic development plan adopted at the congress and the state budget for 2026.

Kim is expected to be re-elected as the country's top leader, with the same title of chief of the State Affairs Commission.

Party secretary Jo Yong-won, known as one of Kim's closest aides, is widely expected to be elected chairman of the SPA standing committee, likely replacing Choe Ryong-hae, who was relieved of the post during the congress and excluded from the new-term parliament.

North Korea typically convenes an SPA session after a party congress to legislate laws needed to implement decisions made at the congress.

The parliament, however, is widely seen as a body that rubber-stamps decisions made by the ruling party.

- IANS
Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma has expressed satisfaction over the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner's statement that there is no evidence of transnational repression linked to India. Verma emphasized that interfering in other nations' affairs is not India's policy, a stance he said was not accepted by the previous Canadian government under Justin Trudeau. The diplomatic friction began after Trudeau alleged an Indian link to the 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Bilateral relations are now witnessing a significant recovery under Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently visited India.

Former Indian envoy Sanjay Verma welcomes RCMP statement finding no evidence of Indian transnational repression, signaling a thaw in bilateral ties.

New Delhi, March 22 India's former High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, has expressed satisfaction over recent comments made by RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, who indicated that there is no evidence of transnational repression linked to India. Verma stated that he was "very glad to see the statement" and voiced hope that it "augurs well for the future of relationship between the two countries."

The senior diplomat had been recalled by New Delhi in October 2024 following a sharp decline in bilateral relations. The friction was sparked by allegations levelled by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who suggested an Indian link to the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a terrorist designated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

In an interview with ANI, Verma emphasised that interfering in the domestic affairs of other nations "is not India's policy." This comes as ties between India and Canada witness a significant recovery under the leadership of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who undertook an official visit to India from 27 February to 2 March.

Shortly after Carney's visit, the chief of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) clarified in a media interaction that law enforcement is not seeing any connection with any foreign entity based on current criminal data. Verma noted that his own previous assertions as High Commissioner were "unfortunately not accepted by the regime of that particular point of time."

Explaining the current legal landscape, Verma told ANI that the RCMP chief has effectively separated the issues into "two different buckets." He noted that the first involves the investigation into the killing of the Khalistani terrorist, where a court case is ongoing against four Indian nationals.

Verma told ANI, "He (RCMP Commissioner) has kept it in two different buckets. One bucket is the Khalistan terrorist who was killed there. And another bucket is transnational repression and transnational crimes. So these are two buckets. So when you look at the first bucket, so their court case is already on. Charges have been filed against four Indian nationals. These four Indian nationals went to Canada as international students, got to know what happened in the society and they became whatever they have been alleged to have become, and their trial is on."

Regarding the broader allegations, Verma said, "The second bucket is India's overall engagement in Canada, and when I was still serving in Ottawa, a lot of noise was there on India's role in transnational repression as well as transnational crimes in Canada. I always said it is not India's policy to interfere in the internal affairs of any other country. Unfortunately, this was not accepted by the regime of that particular point of time. But I'm very glad to see the statement which came out... I hope that this augurs well with the future relationship of India and Canada."

In late 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had reacted strongly when Canada labelled Verma and other diplomats as 'persons of interest'. The Indian government dismissed these claims as "preposterous imputations" and attributed them to the "political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics."

New Delhi had consistently argued that the previous Canadian administration failed to provide "a shred of evidence" to support its claims. The MEA had further stated that the aspersions cast on Verma were "ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contempt," accusing the former government of smearing India for narrow political gains.

In a recent interview with CTV, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme clarified the current status of their holdings.

He stated, "But it's important for people to report it. If it's not reported, there's little we can do. And I can appreciate sometimes that people are fearful of reporting it. But what I encourage people, if they see something, say something. We're not seeing any connection right now with any foreign entity, based on the criminal information, the investigation that we have presently. What we have in our holdings is we have people that are intimidating people, harassing people, but connecting the dots to a foreign entity. we don't have that."

The efforts by both nations to normalise and fortify their partnership have intensified in recent months. This diplomatic thawing reached a significant milestone during Prime Minister Carney's recent visit to India, marking a new chapter in the bilateral relationship.

- ANI
The Taliban has accused Pakistani forces of firing mortar rounds into Afghanistan's Kunar province, killing one civilian and injuring a woman. This attack occurred despite a mutual Eid ceasefire announced by both nations. Afghanistan's military chief accused Pakistan of demonstrating "a lack of commitment and deception" through these continued violations. The Taliban warned that further attacks would render the ceasefire meaningless and prompt a decisive military response.

Taliban accuses Pakistani forces of firing mortar rounds in Kunar and Paktika, killing one civilian and injuring a woman during Eid ceasefire.

Kabul, March 22 Taliban accused Pakistani forces of firing on civilians in Afghanistan's Kunar and Paktika provinces on Sunday, killing one person and injuring another.

Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said that Pakistani forces fired mortar rounds on the Shanpat area of Nari district in Kunar at around 9.30 a.m. (local time). He said that one person was killed and a woman was injured in the attack.

Pakistani forces opened fire on a civilian vehicle in Paktika's Shkin district, but no one was injured in the attack, he said.

"Today, Sunday, the fourth day of Eid al-Fitr, at 9:30 a.m., a mortar shell was fired by the Pakistani military regime in the Shanpat area of Nari district of Kunar province, resulting in the injury of a woman and the martyrdom of a civilian. Similarly, the militias of the said regime fired on a civilian vehicle in Shkin district of Paktika province. Fortunately, the passengers of the said vehicle escaped unharmed, and there were no casualties," Fitrat posted on X.

The developments come despite a ceasefire announced by Afghanistan and Pakistan on the occasion of Eid. However, the Taliban has accused Pakistani forces of repeatedly violating the ceasefire and conducting attacks in Kunar and Nuristan during the Eid period, causing civilian casualties.

On Friday, Afghanistan's Chief of Armed Forces Fasihuddin Fitrat accused the Pakistan military of violating the ceasefire along the Durand Line.

Several people were killed in attacks conducted by Pakistani forces in border areas, according to the statement released by Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence. Fitrat stated that Pakistan's continuous attacks despite the ceasefire "demonstrates a lack of commitment and deception" by Islamabad, Ariana News reported.

He stated that Afghanistan has refrained from taking any retaliatory action to prevent further worsening of the situation and has remained committed to the ceasefire. He warned that "the ceasefire will become meaningless" and the Taliban will give a "decisive response" to Pakistan's actions if such attacks are repeated, Ariana News reported.

On Wednesday, Afghanistan said it would pause its 'Rad al-Zulm' defensive operations for Eid at the request of mediating nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. Pakistan also announced a temporary pause in military operations for Eid, with Information Minister Ataullah Tarar saying that the decision was taken at the request of the regional mediators.

- IANS
Iranian missile strikes targeted the southern Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona, resulting in over 100 injuries, including children, which Israel condemns as a war crime. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with local officials, pledged support for the injured, and vowed to continue striking enemies "on all fronts." The attack on Dimona is notable as the town hosts a key Israeli nuclear facility. Former Israeli Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid also issued statements condemning the attacks and expressing solidarity with the victims.

Iranian missile strikes hit Arad and Dimona, injuring over 100 including children. PM Netanyahu vows to strike enemies "on all fronts."

Tel Aviv, March 22 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday held talks with the Mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan and conveyed his prayers for those injured.

Israeli Foreign Ministry said that over 100 people, including children, were injured in the attack.

In a post on X, the Ministry said, "The Iranian regime devastated Arad and Dimona by deliberately striking civilians with missiles. Over 100 people were injured, including children. A blatant war crime. Pure terrorism."

Yair Maayan, the mayor of Arad in southern Israel, said that about 150 families were evacuated from the neighborhood that was hit, as per Al Jazeera.

Netanyahu said in a post on X, "This is a very difficult evening in the campaign for our future. Just a short while ago, I spoke with the Mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan, and asked him to convey, on behalf of all Israeli citizens, our prayers for the peace of the injured. I have instructed the Director General of my office to provide all the necessary assistance together with all government ministries."

"I strengthen the emergency and rescue forces operating in the field right now, and I call on everyone to heed the instructions of the Home Front Command. We are determined to continue to strike our enemies on all fronts," he added.

Former Prime Minister of Israel, Naftali Bennett also condemned the attack.

In a post on X, he said, "Our hearts are now in Arad and Dimona. Praying together for the peace of the injured and their families."

Former Prime Minister of Israel, Yair Lapid also said, "Our hearts are with the south this evening. A great disaster with dozens of wounded in Dimona and Arad. Strengthening the security and rescue forces who are working at this moment to save lives. And wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded. We are all with you."

Earlier in the day, an Iranian missile hit Dimona, a southern town hosting Israel's nuclear facility.

- ANI
An Iranian Red Crescent official accuses the United States and Israel of attacking more than 80,000 civilian locations since the conflict began. The alleged targets include nearly 18,790 commercial units, 266 medical centers, and 498 schools, resulting in significant casualties. Iran's armed forces claim to have hit an Israeli F-16 and warn of potential strikes on the UAE if attacks continue from its territory. The conflict escalated after joint US-Israel strikes in late February, which Iran says killed its former Supreme Leader.

Iranian official states over 80,000 civilian sites, including schools and medical centers, have been targeted by US and Israeli strikes, with high casualties.

Tehran, March 22 President of the Iranian Red Crescent Society Pirhossein Kolivand said that the United States and Israel have attacked more than 80,000 civilian places since the beginning of their "aggression" against Iran.

He made the remarks in an address to foreign media representatives while highlighting the violations of international humanitarian law during the US and Israeli attacks, Xinhua news agency reported.

Kolivand said over 20,000 of the attacked units were located in Tehran and more than 60,000 in other places.

He put the number of the targeted commercial units in the country at close to 18,790, noting that 266 medical centers have been hit, and 498 schools have been targeted.

He said the strikes have killed 12 members of Iran's medical staff, and injured over 90 others.

Kolivand added that hundreds of people, including children and 231 women, have been killed in Iran since the war's beginning.

Meanwhile, several media reports suggested that more than 1,500 people have been killed in Iran during the war.

Meanwhile, the IRGC said it has hit an Israeli F-16 Fighting Falcon in the country's central airspace. The Iranian armed forces reported an attack on fuel tanks for military aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv, according to Iranian state media.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari warned of possible strikes on the UAE's Ras Al-Khaimah in case of recurrent attacks from its territory against southern Iranian islands. "As we had announced before and proved in practice, we will attack the origin of any invasion against our territory and national sovereignty," Zolfaghari said.

On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the Middle East.

- IANS
Pakistan has been ranked first on the Global Terrorism Index for the first time, with terrorism-related deaths reaching 1,139 in 2025, the highest since 2013. The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is identified as the deadliest terror group in the country, responsible for the majority of attacks concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The report links the resurgence of the Afghan Taliban in Kabul to providing the TTP with greater means and motivation, exacerbating regional extremism. The country now accounts for a significant portion of global terrorism deaths, highlighting a profound and deteriorating security crisis.

Pakistan leads Global Terrorism Index with 1,139 terrorism deaths in 2025, driven by TTP and BLA violence, marking a severe security crisis.

Islamabad, March 22 Pakistan has been ranked number one on the Global Terrorism Index for the first time, following a 6 per cent increase in terrorism-related fatalities during 2025. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2026, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the country recorded 1,139 deaths last year, highlighting a deteriorating security landscape.

The comprehensive report, which assesses the impact of terrorism across 163 countries, noted that Pakistan's "strained" relations with its neighbours, particularly Afghanistan, alongside escalating violence from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), have created "significant security" risks.

The findings reveal that "deaths from terrorism in Pakistan are now at its highest level since 2013, with the country recording 1,139 terrorism deaths and 1,045 incidents in 2025." The TTP has solidified its position as the "deadliest" terror group within the country and the third deadliest on a global scale.

The IEP data shows that "TTP attacks constitute over 67pc of total attacks in Pakistan since 2009, and it is responsible for five times as many attacks in Pakistan as the second most active group, the BLA." Notably, the TTP was the only organisation among the world's four deadliest groups to see an increase in its operational activity over the past year.

The group's lethality surged in 2025, with incidents rising by 24 per cent to 595 attacks. These strikes were concentrated primarily within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near the Afghan border, resulting in 637 deaths, the highest figure since 2011. The report identified the group's most significant operation in 2025 as "an armed attack targeting military forces, resulting in the death of 21 people."

According to the IEP, the resurgence of the Afghan Taliban in Kabul has "profoundly impacted Pakistan's security and stability." The report asserts that this geopolitical shift "provided the TTP with the means and motivation to significantly expand their geographic reach and operational efficiency, resulting in a considerable rise in violent extremism in the region."

While the total number of attacks saw a slight decline, 2025 marked the "sixth consecutive year" of rising terrorism deaths in Pakistan. Furthermore, the country experienced a massive spike in hostage-taking, with the number of victims jumping from 101 in 2024 to 655 in 2025. This surge was largely driven by the Jaffar Express attack, where 442 individuals were taken hostage.

The internal security vacuum is most evident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which collectively accounted for "over 74pc of terrorist attacks and 67pc of deaths in Pakistan in 2025." On the global stage, Pakistan now sits alongside Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of Congo as one of five nations where nearly 70 per cent of all global terrorism deaths occur.

This latest ranking follows a second-place finish in 2025, confirming a steady and violent decline in the country's stability.

- ANI
Chart of the Week: SONAR Truckload Rejection Index, National Truckload Index  USA SONAR: STRI.USA, NTI.USA

National tender rejection rates (STRI) have only declined slightly since peaking in early February, while dry van spot rates are rising again as fuel prices surge. The takeaway is that the truckload market may be entering the early stages of a prolonged transitional period, with additional disruption likely from seasonal factors and new regulatory pressures.

What is a tender rejection?

Understanding tender rejections is key to interpreting the truckload market. While spot rates tend to correlate with rejection rates over time, they are heavily influenced by sentiment and the transactional (spot) market, which accounts for roughly 1530% of total volume. Like financial markets, there is a significant amount of price discovery involved.

Tender rejections, however, are not subject to price discovery. They are simple electronic responses indicating whether carriers have alternative uses for their capacity. Unlike many 3PLs, which dominate the spot market, carriers prioritize utilization over margin expansion. When a carrier rejects a load tender, it typically means either they lack available capacity in the area or they have a more profitable opportunity elsewhereoften both. This makes tender rejections a stronger, more objective signal, as they reflect operational decisions rather than market sentiment.

Not a weather phenomenon

Weather can be a major disruptor in transportation, and it certainly contributed to the elevated rejection rates seen earlier this year. However, these events are typically short-lived. It has now been two months since Winter Storm Fern, and both rejection and spot rates have only declined marginally from their early February peaks.

The SONAR Truckload Rejection Index (STRI) peaked at 14.27% on February 5 and has only fallen to 13.35% at its lowest point as of March 18. Over the past two years, winter weather events have had a more muted impact, with much quicker recovery periods.

Last year, rejection rates peaked at 7.81% on January 15 following several winter storms across the southern and central U.S., before returning to trend by early February. In 2024, a stronger weather event pushed rejection rates to just 5.9% in late January, with a return to trend by the end of February.

This years STRI pattern looks very different. It more closely resembles the elevated, prolonged tightening seen in 2021 during the pandemicalbeit at a lower level.

That said, the underlying market dynamics differ significantly. The current environment lacks the strong demand that defined 2021, which was heavily driven by import volumes and port activity. At that time, transcontinental freight was elevated due to severe inventory shortages.
The Pentagon has developed comprehensive strategies for a potential US ground troop invasion of Iran, according to a CBS News report. President Donald Trump is considering the option but has publicly denied any plans for imminent deployment, stating he would not disclose such moves. Military preparations include logistical plans for detaining Iranian personnel and the deployment of thousands of Marines currently in transit to the region. The White House emphasizes these are precautionary measures to ensure presidential options, not an indication of a final decision.

Pentagon readies plans for US ground troops in Iran as Trump considers options. Marines are en route, but President denies imminent deployment.

Washington, DC, March 22 The Pentagon has formulated comprehensive strategies for the potential deployment of United States ground troops into Iran, according to various sources informed on the matter who spoke with CBS News.

High-level military commanders have reportedly put forward specific requests to ensure readiness as US President Donald Trump considers further actions within the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.

While Trump has been examining the possibility of stationing ground forces in the Middle East, CBS News reported that he has yet to define the exact conditions under which he would approve their use. The deliberations have been held under anonymity as those involved were not permitted to discuss the sensitive planning publicly.

When questioned about the possibility of a ground presence in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump told reporters, "No, I'm not putting troops anywhere," but added, "If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you."

Responding to inquiries, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Pentagon's role is to ensure the Commander-in-Chief has "maximum optionality" in any crisis. She added that such preparations do not indicate a final decision, noting that "as the President said in the Oval Office yesterday, he is not planning to send ground troops anywhere at this time."

CBS News reported that the military has also convened sessions to address the logistics of capturing and detaining Iranian personnel and paramilitary members in the event of an invasion. These discussions include specific locations where detainees would be processed and held.

The United States is currently readying components of the 82nd Airborne Division for possible deployment to the region. This includes the Marine Corps' Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Army's Global Response Force.

According to CBS News, thousands of Marines are already in transit toward the Middle East. Three naval vessels carrying approximately 2,200 Marines recently departed California, marking the second such unit dispatched since the onset of the conflict. A previous unit, redirected from the Pacific, is still en route to the region.

These movements indicate the Pentagon's effort to expand military options available to the President, with assets being repositioned to maintain a high state of readiness amid the ongoing conflict.

- ANI
LDF candidate and Kerala Minister GR Anil is confident of securing a victory with double the majority in the Nedumangad constituency. He asserts that the Left government's record on welfare and development has cemented public support, ensuring a third term for the LDF. Anil criticized the Central Government for a serious LPG shortage and its denial of the crisis. He has met Union Minister Suresh Gopi to request an increased allocation for Kerala to mitigate the impact on businesses.

Kerala Minister GR Anil predicts a doubled victory margin in Nedumangad and a third term for the LDF, citing public support for welfare schemes.

Thiruvananthapuram, March 22 LDF candidate from Nedumangad and State Food and Civil Supplies Minister GR Anil expressed confidence of securing a larger victory margin in the upcoming Assembly elections, asserting that public support remains with the left government due to its welfare measures and development work.

Speaking to ANI here, Anil said his interactions with voters over the past week indicate strong backing for the LDF. "I am very confident. Based on my experience over the past seven days, attending various programmes and interacting with different groups, I believe I will win this time with double the majority I secured in the last election," he said.

Highlighting the government's performance, Anil stated, "The Left government has delivered on all its promises. We have set records in development as well as welfare measures. There is hardly a family or individual in Kerala that has not benefited from government schemes. People will not abandon a government that has stood with them."

He further added that the LDF is poised to return to power. "The LDF will form the government for a third term. As for who will be Chief Minister, that decision will be taken at the appropriate time. Our leadership is under Pinarayi Vijayan, who is leading us in this election," he said.

Addressing concerns over LPG supply, Anil criticised the Centre's handling of the situation. "The country is facing a serious gas shortage. People are anxious, while the Centre claims there is no issue. This attempt to deny reality will be exposed," he said, adding that restrictions on non-domestic supply are affecting multiple sectors in Kerala.

He said he has urged Union Minister Suresh Gopi to increase the allocation. "When the Centre restricts supply to just 20 per cent for non-domestic use, it affects every sector. That is why I met Union Minister Suresh Gopi and requested that Kerala's allocation be increased to 30-40 per cent so that businesses can at least function," he added.

The 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, the Election Commission of India announced today, with the counting of votes scheduled to take place on May 4.

The main electoral contest in the state is expected between the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Indian National Congress. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, is also in the fray for the Assembly polls.

- ANI
Union Minister Piyush Goyal is visiting Chennai to accelerate stalled seat-sharing talks within the Tamil Nadu NDA alliance ahead of the Assembly elections. His trip follows high-level meetings in Delhi where AIADMK and other allies met with Amit Shah. The BJP is reportedly seeking to contest 30-35 seats, with a focus on key urban constituencies in Chennai and western Tamil Nadu. The outcome of Goyal's consultations is expected to be decisive in finalizing the alliance's electoral strategy.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal to hold key talks in Chennai to finalize NDA seat-sharing for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Chennai, March 22 Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is overseeing the BJP's election affairs in Tamil Nadu, is set to arrive in Chennai on March 23 for key discussions aimed at finalising seat-sharing arrangements within the National Democratic Alliance.

His visit comes at a critical juncture, with negotiations among alliance partners yet to reach a conclusion despite the fast-approaching Assembly elections.

The AIADMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu includes major allies such as the BJP, PMK, AMMK and IJK. However, formal seat-sharing talks have been delayed, even as political activity intensifies across the state.

Goyal's visit is expected to provide the much-needed momentum to bring clarity and consensus among alliance partners.

The renewed push for negotiations follows a series of high-level meetings in Delhi earlier this week.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami held discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, focusing on electoral strategy and alliance coordination.

Leaders from other NDA constituents, including AMMK's T.T.V. Dhinakaran and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, also met HM Shah to convey their expectations regarding seat allocation.

Goyal was initially scheduled to visit Chennai last week to initiate talks, but the trip was postponed due to unspecified reasons. With the revised schedule now confirmed, he is expected to arrive at around 10 a.m. on Sunday and hold consultations with key NDA leaders before returning to Delhi later in the day.

Sources within the BJP indicate that the party is seeking to contest between 30 and 35 constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

The BJP is also keen on securing key urban seats, particularly in Chennai, including Velachery, T. Nagar and Mylapore, along with select constituencies in western Tamil Nadu where it believes it has stronger prospects.

Meanwhile, discussions are also underway regarding the allocation of the remaining seats among alliance partners. BJP leaders are hopeful that around 50 constituencies could be distributed among smaller allies and other partners within the NDA framework.

With nomination dates nearing, all eyes are now on Goyal's meetings in Chennai, which are expected to play a decisive role in finalising the NDA's seat-sharing formula and shaping the alliance's electoral strategy for the upcoming Assembly polls.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the occasion of Bihar Day, extending greetings and praising the state's rich historical and cultural contributions. He highlighted Bihar's ancient legacy, referencing figures like Lord Buddha and Chanakya, and noted the global influence of its people and traditions like Chhath. The PM also outlined central government initiatives in infrastructure and welfare that have benefited the state. In response, CM Nitish Kumar expressed heartfelt gratitude and reiterated his government's commitment to Bihar's all-round development with continued central support.

PM Narendra Modi highlights Bihar's legacy & development in Bihar Day letter. CM Nitish Kumar expresses heartfelt gratitude and commitment to state's progress.

New Delhi, March 22 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wrote to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the occasion of Bihar Day, extending his greetings and highlighting the state's rich historical and cultural legacy, as well as its growing contribution to India's development.

In his letter dated March 22, 2026, the Prime Minister conveyed warm wishes, stating, "On the special occasion of Bihar Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings to you and all my brothers and sisters of Bihar." He described the day as a celebration of "Bihar's rich history, its potential and its traditions," and an opportunity to recall its invaluable contribution to India's identity.

Emphasising Bihar's historical importance, PM Modi wrote, "The land of Bihar has enriched society since ancient times through knowledge, spirituality and moral values."

He also noted the enduring global influence of figures such as Lord Buddha, whose teachings continue to guide humanity, and highlighted the legacy of great personalities like Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya in shaping a strong and unified India.

The Prime Minister praised the people of Bihar for their contributions across sectors, saying, "Biharis have created a distinct identity across India and the world through their hard work, honesty and talent." He further underlined the role of Bihar's diaspora in spreading its cultural richness globally, adding that traditions such as the Chhath festival have gained international recognition.

Highlighting development efforts, PM Modi said his government has focused on infrastructure, connectivity and inclusive growth over the past decade, which has strengthened Bihar's role in India's progress.

He pointed to key welfare schemes, noting that "over 40 lakh houses have been built," and "more than 1.2 crore families have received gas connections," along with financial support to farmers and women's empowerment initiatives.

Responding to the Prime Minister's message, Nitish Kumar expressed appreciation and reaffirmed his commitment to the state's development. He said, "On behalf of all the people of Bihar, I extend our heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for his affectionate message on the occasion of Bihar Diwas regarding the state."

Kumar added, "We remain steadfastly committed to the all-round development of the state, social justice, good governance, and the strengthening of infrastructure," while acknowledging continued support from the Centre.

Expressing optimism, the Chief Minister said, "With your guidance and support, Bihar's diligent and talented people will undoubtedly take the state and the country to new heights," underlining a shared vision of accelerated growth and national progress.

- IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become India's longest-serving head of government, completing 8,931 days in office by combining his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and Prime Minister. Top BJP leaders, including National President Nitin Nabin, congratulated him, framing the milestone as a testament to dedication and national service. They highlighted flagship welfare schemes and credited Modi's leadership for India's rising global stature and progress towards a 'Viksit Bharat'. Several Union Ministers, including J.P. Nadda and Nirmala Sitharaman, echoed these sentiments, praising his people-centric governance and inspiring journey.

PM Narendra Modi completes 8,931 days as head of government, surpassing the previous record. Top BJP leaders hail his journey of service and development.

New Delhi, March 22 Top brass of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming the longest-serving head of government in India, hailing his "unwavering commitment" and taking the nation forward towards the resolution of Viksit Bharat.

PM Modi has surpassed Pawan Kumar Chamling, who held office as Chief Minister of Sikkim for 8,930 days.

He has completed 8,931 days as head of government, combining his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and as the Prime Minister, thereby entering his 25th year in a key leadership role.

BJP National President Nitin Nabin took to X and lauded the Prime Minister's "continuous journey" for public welfare. He said that the 8931 days of public life of PM Modi "are not merely a political journey, but a powerful example of unwavering penance, sacrifice, and national service, where each day has been dedicated to the nation".

He said that as Gujarat's longest-serving Chief Minister, Narendra Modi established a "robust model of development and good governance" and as the Prime Minister, he transformed administration into an "effective instrument of change".

"During his tenure as Prime Minister, with the resolve of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas', the country has made rapid progress in infrastructure expansion, the digital revolution, effective public welfare schemes, and the direction of Aatmanirbhar Bharat," Nabin said.

The BJP national chief lauded PM Modi's flagship initiatives -- Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat scheme, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. He also hailed the "historic public mandates" the NDA received in three consecutive Lok Sabha elections under PM Modi's leadership. He said that, by making this record, the Prime Minister "has set a new benchmark of dedication, stability, and continuity in public life".

Nabin also highlighted that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India's global stature has risen, and 'Viksit Bharat' has been established as a national campaign rooted in public participation.

As PM Modi reached this historic milestone, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda called it a "proud moment for the nation".

"From serving the people as the Chief Minister of Gujarat to leading the country to new heights as the Prime Minister, his journey has been truly inspiring. These years reflect his deep commitment to Maa Bharti and a constant focus on serving the people," Nadda said.

He stated that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India is moving towards the vision of 'Viksit Bharat', driven by "people-centric policies that have empowered the poor, youth, women, and farmers".

"Today, India stands more confident and influential on the global stage," he said.

Calling it a "truly remarkable milestone" and "an inspiring journey of trust and Seva", Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kire Rijiju said that PM Modi becoming the longest-serving head of a government in India, by surpassing the previous record of former Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling, "stands as a testament to tireless dedication, integrity and nation-first governance."

Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal also congratulated PM Modi on becoming the longest-serving head of government in India and said, "With 8,931 days in public life, first as Gujarat CM and now as the Prime Minister, his journey of Jan Seva reflects an unwavering commitment to inclusive development."

"Rooted in hard work and firm resolve towards nation-building, his years in public service continue to strengthen India's growth story," Goyal said, while calling on the countrymen to share their wishes and greetings through messages, selfies and stickers on the NaMo App.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, taking to X, said, "From being Gujarat's longest-serving CM to leading India as Prime Minister, his journey reflects enduring leadership and commitment to the nation. Congratulate the Prime Minister and send your wishes directly to him through messages, selfies and stickers via NaMo App."

"An extraordinary milestone -- defined by continuity, governance experience and sustained public trust," Minister of State (MoS) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said, congratulating the Prime Minister on achieving the historic milestone.

- IANS
Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram is set to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in a final effort to resolve the stalled DMK-Congress seat-sharing talks for the Puducherry polls. Negotiations are deadlocked, with Congress seeking 17 seats and the DMK pushing for a more balanced, equal distribution. A previous meeting attempt failed when a DMK delegation waited 12 hours for Congress representatives who never arrived. The outcome of this last-ditch meeting will be crucial for the alliance's strategy ahead of the nomination deadline.

Last-minute talks as Congress and DMK struggle to finalize a seat-sharing pact for the Puducherry Assembly elections ahead of the nomination deadline.

Puducherry, March 22 With just a day remaining for filing nominations in Puducherry, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram is set to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday in a crucial last-minute effort to revive the stalled DMK-Congress alliance talks.

The high-stakes meeting comes amid mounting uncertainty over seat-sharing arrangements ahead of the April 9 Assembly election.

Negotiations between the two parties have hit a roadblock despite several rounds of discussions.

According to sources, the Congress party is keen to contest 17 of the 30 Assembly seats, and has informally proposed allocating 11 seats to the DMK, while offering one seat each to the VCK and the CPI.

However, the DMK is said to be pushing for a more balanced formula, reportedly seeking an equal share of seats, which has led to the current impasse. Efforts to resolve the issue on Saturday failed to yield any breakthrough.

A DMK delegation led by MP Jagadrakshakan waited for several hours at a private hotel, expecting Congress representatives to arrive for discussions. Despite waiting for nearly 12 hours, the Congress team did not turn up, prompting the DMK leaders to return to Chennai.

Jagadrakshakan later maintained that the DMK is still interested in continuing its alliance with the Congress in Puducherry. However, parallel developments suggested a widening communication gap between the two parties.

A separate meeting reportedly convened under the leadership of Congress functionary Girish Chodankar did not see participation from DMK representatives.

With time running out, the DMK leadership is now weighing its options. Jagadrakshakan is expected to brief CM Stalin on the latest developments, including whether to make a final attempt to reach an agreement with the Congress or explore alternative alliances.

Political observers say the outcome of the Chidambaram-Stalin meeting could be decisive in shaping the electoral dynamics in Puducherry, as both parties race against time to finalise their strategies before the nomination deadline.

- IANS
The Federation of Indian Pilots President has warned that the government's decision to lift the cap on domestic airfares will lead to a sharp increase in ticket prices, particularly during peak travel seasons. He stated this move contradicts the policy of making air travel affordable for the common man and pointed out an inconsistency with a recent announcement on seat fare relief. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has withdrawn the temporary fare caps, stating the aviation sector has now stabilized. However, it has directed airlines to exercise pricing discipline and ensure fares remain reasonable and transparent.

FIP President warns removing domestic airfare caps will raise ticket prices, especially during peak seasons, impacting common flyers.

Mumbai, March 22 Federation of Indian Pilots President Captain Charanvir Singh Randhawa on Sunday expressed concerns over the Ministry of Civil Aviation's decision to lift the airfare cap on domestic flights, stating that it could lead to a significant rise in ticket prices and impact common passengers.

He said that removing the fare cap would particularly affect passengers during peak travel seasons, as airlines may increase prices sharply.

"The removal of the capping of the fares will directly affect the passengers... Once the capping is removed, during the peak seasons, the fares increase exponentially, and that affects the common man... It is against the policy of 'Aam Aadmi Udaan Bhare'... so the government policy has to ensure that common people can afford air travel and encourage them to travel by air," he said.

Randhawa further stated that instead of removing the cap, the government should focus on making air travel more accessible and affordable for ordinary citizens.

"The government should encourage air travel by ordinary citizens... On the contrary, lifting the cap gives an open opportunity to the airlines... At present, there are only two airlines in the country, Air India and Indigo... Once it is lifted, they will charge any fare... the government should refrain from removing this capping," he said.

He also pointed out a contradiction in recent government measures, referring to the announcement regarding fare relief on a section of seats.

"Just two days back, they announced 60 per cent price of seat will not be charged... at that time I had also said that, on the contrary, the government has not given any decision on the fares, and within two days they have lifted the cap, so the 60 per cent non-payment of seat fare is absolutely inconclusive," he said.

Highlighting the inconsistency in policy decisions, he added that while one move aims to reduce costs, removing the cap could negate its benefits.

"It is not understood that on one side you are reducing the fares by seat charges, on the other hand, you have given an open hand with no capping, so it is contradictory. There is a need to cap the fare during peak season and avoid financial burden on passengers," he added.

Randhawa urged the government to reconsider the decision and ensure that airfare remains affordable, especially during high-demand periods.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to withdraw the temporary fare caps on domestic airfares starting Monday (March 23). The decision marks the end of a price-control regime that the government initiated several months ago to manage volatility in the aviation market.

The Ministry confirmed the development through an official order, noting that the restrictions on ticket pricing are no longer required under the current operating environment.

"Whereas, vide letter dated 6th December 2025, the Ministry had introduced a temporary fare cap on domestic airfares with a view to contain abnormal surge in ticket prices arising out of large-scale flight disruptions of IndiGo, and with an objective to safeguard passenger interests and ensuring affordability during a period of constrained capacity," the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated.

In the official communication, the Ministry observed that the "prevailing situation has since stabilised, with restoration of capacity and normalisation of operations across the sector." Based on this assessment, the government determined that the fare cap imposed in December "shall stand withdrawn with effect from 23rd March, 2026." This move allows airlines to once again determine ticket prices based on market demand and supply dynamics.

Despite the deregulation, the Ministry issued a clear directive to carriers regarding their pricing strategies. "While withdrawing the fare cap, it is reiterated that airlines are required to exercise pricing discipline and act responsibly. Airlines shall ensure that fares remain reasonable, transparent and commensurate with market conditions, and that passenger interests are not adversely impacted," it said.

- ANI
Robert Mueller, the former FBI Director who died at 81, is being remembered in India for his critical role in building modern counter-terrorism cooperation between India and the United States. His engagement began soon after 9/11 and intensified following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, where he met with top Indian officials to coordinate the investigation. Mueller's work fostered unprecedented intelligence sharing, joint forensic analysis, and institutional partnerships between US and Indian security agencies. While his legacy in the U.S. is politically divisive, his contributions helped position India as a frontline partner in combating transnational terrorism.

Remembering FBI Director Robert Mueller's pivotal role in forging India-US counterterrorism cooperation after 9/11 and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Washington, March 22 Robert S. Mueller III, the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation whose career came to define America's post-9/11 security architecture and later its political divisions, is being remembered in India for a quieter but enduring legacy - his role in shaping modern India-US counter-terror cooperation.

Mueller, who died at 81, engaged with India at critical moments in its security trajectory, beginning soon after he took charge of the FBI and continuing through the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

His first official visit to India came on January 21-22, 2002, just months after the September 11 attacks in the United States and weeks after the assault on India's Parliament. At the time, both countries were recalibrating their approach to terrorism.

In New Delhi, Mueller met with Indian officials to discuss intelligence sharing, joint investigations, and expanding counter-terrorism coordination. The visit marked an early step in what would become a deeper institutional relationship between American and Indian security agencies, particularly in tracking cross-border terror networks operating in South Asia.

That relationship would be tested - and transformed - years later.

In the wake of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, Mueller returned to India in early 2009, when the country was still grappling with the scale of the coordinated assault that killed more than 160 people and exposed vulnerabilities in urban security and international intelligence-sharing.

This time, his meetings carried a different urgency.

Mueller met the then Home Minister and P. Chidambaram, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan, and senior intelligence officials to discuss the investigation into the attacks and the broader challenge of transnational terrorism. The discussions focused on access to evidence, intelligence flows, and coordination across agencies.

After the meetings, Mueller framed the attacks in global terms, saying: "Terrorism is not just a local issue. It is not an issue of one country; it is an issue across the world."

He also underscored the scale of collaboration that followed, noting that there had been "unprecedented cooperation between our various agencies both during the Mumbai attacks and after."

That cooperation was extensive, laying the groundwork for an unprecedented level of cooperation in the counter-terrorism sector between the two countries.

Led by Muller, FBI teams worked alongside Indian investigators, analysing communications, reconstructing digital trails, and assisting in forensic work that helped establish links between the attackers and handlers operating from Pakistan. Investigators conducted dozens of interviews and extracted data from damaged devices recovered from the attack sites.

Weeks later, speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington on February 23, 2009, Mueller returned to Mumbai as a defining example of modern terrorism and international cooperation.

"This type of attack reminds us that terrorists with large agendas and little money can use rudimentary weapons to maximize their impact," he said, pointing to the need for coordinated global responses.

For India, that period marked a turning point. Intelligence-sharing with the United States became faster and more structured. Cooperation expanded into cyber forensics, counter-terror financing, aviation security, and joint investigative mechanisms. The FBI's engagement following the Mumbai attacks also contributed to improvements in India's forensic capabilities and crisis response systems.

Mueller's role in that shift was understated but significant. He operated less as a political figure and more as a career investigator, building trust through operational collaboration.

His engagement with India also helped reinforce a broader US recognition of India as a frontline state in combating terrorism emanating from the region, particularly networks linked to Pakistan-based groups.

Yet his legacy in the United States remains far more contested.

In the hours after his death, that divide was stark.

US President Donald Trump responded with a blunt message, writing: "Good, I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!"

The remark stood in sharp contrast to tributes from other leaders.

Former President George W. Bush said, "Laura and I are deeply saddened by the loss of Robert Mueller. Bob dedicated his life to public service," crediting him with helping lead the country through the aftermath of September 11 and strengthening homeland security.

Barack Obama described him as "one of the finest directors in the history of the FBI," praising his "relentless commitment to the rule of law" and his role in "saving countless lives."

Lawmakers offered more nuanced views. Representative Mike Turner said Mueller's investigation "effectively ended the Russia hoax" but added that it "damaged his reputation," while noting that he "was nonetheless committed to the truth."

The contrast reflects the dual nature of Mueller's career. To many in Washington, he symbolised institutional integrity and restraint. To others, he remained a central figure in a politically charged investigation that deepened national divisions.

In India, however, the memory is more aligned with cooperation than controversy.

Mueller is associated with a moment when the United States became a hands-on partner in addressing one of India's most serious terrorist attacks. His visits - in 2002 and again in 2009 - frame a period in which India-US counter-terror cooperation evolved from dialogue to operational depth.

The Mumbai attacks became a catalyst for that transformation. In the years that followed, India and the United States expanded cooperation across intelligence sharing, homeland security, counterterrorism financing, and joint working groups.

Today, that framework remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, shaping how the two countries respond to evolving threats ranging from cross-border terrorism to digital radicalisation.

Mueller, who rarely sought the spotlight, might not have framed his legacy in these terms. But in India, his role in the aftermath of Mumbai is remembered as a defining episode - one in which quiet coordination helped reshape a critical partnership, even as his later work would divide the nation he served.

- IANS
CM Revanth Reddy announces Rs 9,000 crore Rythu Bharosa for farmers in 3 installments, urges crop diversification for higher profits.

Siddipet, March 22 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday announced that Rs 9000 crores of Rythu Bharosa scheme benefit will be deposited in the farmers' bank accounts in three instalments in 45 days. The Chief Minister released the first instalment of Rythu Bharosa benefit on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Oil Palm factory at Narmetta in Siddipet Assembly Constituency today, according to a release from the Chief Minister's office.

Speaking at a public meeting organised on the occasion of 'Farmers Festival', the CM noted that Rs 2533 crore was spent on farmers' welfare every month in the previous BRS government. Whereas, the People's Government was incurring an expenditure of Rs 5500 crore every month.



"I firmly believe that neither agriculture where the ox weeps, nor a kingdom where the farmer weeps can ever truly prosper. We are releasing Rythu Bharosa funds today to see a delightful moment in the lives of the farming community in the state," he said.



CM Reddy highlighted that the government was providing compensation to farmers who lost their crops and had already spent over Rs 1 lakh crore on farmers' welfare within just two years. In view of Telangana emerging as number one in Paddy production in the country, the Chief Minister stressed that the Agriculture sector needs to undergo a transformation and the farmers should adopt crop diversification for more profits, the release stated.



"We need to encourage farmers to cultivate not just paddy but a diverse range of crops", the CM said while explaining the difficulties in the paddy procurement.



"We have procured 71 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. However, the Central Government is not procuring more than 50 lakh metric tonnes. In this backdrop, we must formulate and implement necessary plans for crop diversification to ensure that the crops cultivated by our farmers become profitable ventures," he added.



Stating that the Government is making efforts to facilitate the export of agricultural produce to international markets, the CM stressed that every crop grown in Telangana should be profitable to achieve "Golden (Bangaru) Telangana."



As per the release, following the recent Iran-American war and Middle East crisis, CM Revanth Reddy cautioned the farmers of a fertiliser shortage in the coming days. The Chief Minister ordered the authorities to convince the Union government to provide more fertilisers.



"We must meet with Prime Minister Modi and strive to secure the maximum possible allocation of urea for our state. " This is not the time for politics, but for moving forward with coordination and unity. We do politics only during the elections. Once the elections are over, the development of the state becomes the sole priority," he said.



Explaining the importance of the Oil Palm project, which is meant to benefit farmers and not the local MLA, the CM announced that the leader who wins against the BRS leader in Siddipet in the next elections will be inducted into the state cabinet.



"I am entrusting our Ministers G Vivek and Damodar Raja Narasimha with the responsibility of winning the Congress candidate in the assembly segment. The legislature representing the area hailed from the same single family," CM Revanth Reddy said, appealing to people to give an opportunity to others and bring a change.



The CM made it clear that the People's Government was not discriminating against anyone, and it was not his nature to give priority over others. Further, the Chief Minister said that he is ready for a debate on fund allocations to Kodangal during the BRS rule. CM Revanth Reddy reiterated that Congress will retain power by winning the majority of seats in the 2029 assembly elections, the release said.



The Chief Minister outlined the government's plan to promote the oil palm industry.



"The government is ready to purchase the produce in 10 lakh acres also, and Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageshwar Rao was requested to establish an oil palm processing plant in the Kodangal constituency as well. Ankapur should serve as an inspiration for all 12,728 Gram Panchayats across the state in the field of agriculture. It is the responsibility of our government to transform every village into a model like Ankapur and to make agriculture a profitable business," he said.



Listing the welfare and women empowerment schemes introduced by the government, the CM said that a free travel facility was provided for women in RTC buses. Also, empowered women by making them the owners of the RTC bus fleet, aiming to transform one crore women into millionaires.



CM Revanth Reddy ordered the officials to increase the membership of women's self-help groups in urban areas as well.



"The government has already provided Rs 57,000 crores of loans to women groups through bank linkages. It is also a proud moment that women's groups are competing with Adani and Ambani in solar power generation. The nation's economy will truly flourish only when women attain equal economic partnership," he said.



The Chief Minister also said that the government is launching Telangana Public Schools in the upcoming academic year, aiming to compete with the government Educational institutions with private and corporate institutions. The proposal to overhaul all Government schools is under active consideration, and is also establishing Advanced Training Centres (ATCs) to provide skills training to the youth.





- ANI
Saudi Arabia's military successfully intercepted and destroyed a drone heading towards its oil-rich Eastern Region. The defence ministry reported neutralizing several other aerial threats recently, including a ballistic missile over the capital Riyadh. In response, Saudi Arabia has declared the Iranian military attache and several mission staff personae non gratae, ordering them to leave within 24 hours. The Saudi foreign ministry condemned Iran's "blatant attacks" as a violation of international law and warned of serious consequences for bilateral relations.

Saudi forces intercept drone targeting oil-rich Eastern Region, expel Iranian military personnel, and condemn Tehran's "blatant attacks" amid rising tensions.

Riyadh, March 22 The Saudi Ministry of Defence has announced that its forces successfully intercepted and destroyed a drone that was flying towards the country's eastern region.

The military confirmed that the aerial threat was neutralised before it could reach its intended target. This defensive action comes amidst heightened regional tensions that have seen a surge in such incidents.

The targeted eastern area is of immense strategic importance, as it is where the "majority of the country's oil resources are located."

Prior to this specific interception, the Saudi Ministry of Defence had announced the successful neutralisation of multiple other aerial threats, with military officials confirming they "intercepted and downed four more drones over the Eastern Province" in operations aimed at protecting key residential and economic hubs.

The latest defensive actions were reported shortly after a high-altitude engagement over the capital city, where the ministry noted its "statement came hours after it announced shooting down a ballistic missile over Riyadh."

These incidents occur as Iran has "repeatedly targeted Saudi Arabia" and other Gulf nations amidst the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.

During the early hours, the Saudi Civil Defence "issued a warning" to the public, though the alert was "cancelled seven minutes later" after authorities "determined the danger had passed."

Following these events, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the Kingdom's "unequivocal condemnation" regarding "blatant Iranian attacks" directed at Saudi Arabia and other GCC member states.

In a formal communication via the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the ministry highlighted that Iran's "continued targeting" of Saudi sovereignty and economic interests represents a "flagrant violation of all relevant international conventions," contravening the "principles of good neighbourliness," the "Beijing Agreement," and "United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817."

Riyadh further observed a contradiction between Tehran's military actions and the "principles of Islamic brotherhood" it frequently cites, stating such rhetoric is "not reflected in its actions."

Recalling a declaration from 9th March, the ministry warned that such aggression "will lead to further escalation" with "serious consequences for relations at present and in the future."

Consequently, Saudi Arabia has ordered the "military attache of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the "assistant military attache," and "three members of the mission staff" to exit the country.

Having "declared them personae non gratae," the Kingdom mandated their departure within 24 hours.

Invoking "Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations," Riyadh affirmed it would "not hesitate to take all necessary measures" to safeguard its territory, citizens, and resources.

- ANI
MEXICO CITY, March 20 (Reuters) - Mexican retailer and bottler Femsa said on Friday it is laying off workers in its fintech unit Spin, which launched a digital wallet app for payments and financial transactions in 2021.

Femsa did not disclose the number of positions that it is eliminating, but a spokesperson said the move is part of a new phase meant to prioritize its chain of Oxxo convenience stores.

More from Yahoo Scout How competitive is Mexico's fintech wallet market? Why is Femsa laying off workers at Spin? How does Spin fit into Femsa's business strategy? What changes is Femsa making to its banking plans?

"This process has primarily focused on support functions, without impacting operations for our customers," the company said in a statement.

Bloomberg reported earlier on Friday that hundreds of positions were eliminated at Spin as part of wider layoffs across several divisions of the conglomerate.

A number of fintech companies offering digital wallet services have sprung up in Mexico in recent years. Femsa, best known for its ubiquitous Oxxo stores, has aimed to merge the area with its brick-and-mortar consumer business, which runs a great deal on cash, and where shoppers can also pay bills and transfer money.

In its fourth-quarter earnings report, Femsa said it was delaying its application for a banking license until it saw more momentum in its consumer credit services. It added it will no longer seek third-party partners for the Premia loyalty platform available through Spin.

(Reporting by Natalia Siniawski, Editing by Daina Beth Solomon)
Qatar's Ministry of Interior has confirmed that specialized teams are conducting search and rescue operations following a helicopter crash in the country's territorial waters. The effort is a coordinated response led by the Maritime Search and Rescue Team and the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group. Authorities have prioritized locating survivors, deploying vessels and personnel, though details on those onboard or the cause remain undisclosed. The operation is being closely monitored, with further updates expected from officials.

Qatar's Interior Ministry confirms search and rescue operations after a helicopter crash in its waters. Multiple specialized teams are deployed.

Doha, March 22 Qatar's Ministry of Interior has confirmed that its specialized teams are actively engaged in search and rescue operations in the country's territorial waters following a helicopter crash early on Sunday, an incident first reported by the country's Ministry of Defence.

Authorities have launched a coordinated response effort to locate survivors and assess the situation, deploying multiple units with expertise in maritime emergencies.

According to their official statement on social media platform X, "The Ministry of Interior announces that its specialized teams are carrying out search and rescue operations in the country's territorial waters, following a helicopter crash, as reported by the Ministry of Defense."

The statement underscores the urgency and scale of the ongoing operation, which involves several key agencies working in tandem.

The search efforts are being led by the Maritime Search and Rescue Team of the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security. This unit, known for its rapid response capabilities in maritime incidents, has been mobilised alongside the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya).

Both teams bring extensive experience in handling complex rescue missions in challenging sea conditions.

Officials noted that "These operations are being carried out in close coordination by the Maritime Search and Rescue Team of the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security, along with the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya)."

The joint effort highlights the government's preparedness to respond swiftly to emergencies involving aviation and maritime domains.

While details about the number of people on board the helicopter or the cause of the crash have not yet been disclosed, authorities are prioritising rescue and recovery efforts. Surveillance equipment, rescue vessels, and trained personnel have been deployed across the designated search area to maximise the chances of locating any survivors.

Sources indicate that the operation is being continuously monitored, with updates expected as more information becomes available. Weather and sea conditions are also being closely assessed, as they can significantly impact both the progress and safety of rescue teams involved in the mission.

The incident has prompted heightened attention from relevant authorities, with coordination between defense and interior agencies playing a critical role in ensuring an effective response. Further details, including the circumstances leading to the crash and any casualties, are likely to be shared once confirmed by officials.

As the operation continues, authorities have reiterated their commitment to utilising all available resources to carry out the search and rescue mission efficiently and safely.

- ANI
Secretary (West) Sibi George met Iceland's Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir to discuss bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues. The talks highlighted positive progress in sectors like geothermal energy, fisheries, and clean energy. The implementation of the India-European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement was a key focus. The agreement, now in its implementation phase, aims to boost trade, investment, and technology collaboration between India and the EFTA states.

Officials discuss geothermal, fisheries, clean energy cooperation and implementation of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement.

New Delhi, March 22 Secretary, Ambassador Sibi George, on Sunday called on Iceland Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir to discuss issues of bilateral, regional and multilateral interest and the implementation of India-European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Secretary (West) @AmbSibiGeorge called on Foreign Minister of Iceland, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir. They discussed issues of bilateral, regional and multilateral interest, also the positive progress made in bilateral engagement in recent years, especially in sectors such as geothermal, fisheries and clean energy. The implementation of India-EFTA TEPA was also discussed."

The post said that both officials discussed issues of bilateral, regional and multilateral interest and also the positive progress made in bilateral engagement of India and Iceland in recent years. The discussion was based especially in sectors such as geothermal, fisheries and clean energy.

Earlier on March 10, the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) completed two years, continuing to strengthen cooperation between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in areas such as trade, investment, and technology collaboration.

The agreement between India and the member States of the European Free Trade Association, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, the partnership has moved from negotiation to implementation with effect from October 1, 2025.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, "The Agreement brings together India and a group of advanced European economies in a framework that supports trade, investment, services, technology collaboration and long-term industrial growth."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said: "Over the last few years, we have built a strategic and purposeful network of Free Trade Agreements. We now have FTAs with 38 partner nations."

"This gives our manufacturers and producers enough diversity and depth to sell our products across many markets. These FTAs have opened up the markets of major economies to India's manufactured products," he added.

On the 2nd Anniversary, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal stated, "India-EFTA TEPA is an agreement with a long-term economic purpose. It gives Indian exporters access to high-income markets, creates an investment pathway of USD 100 billion over 15 years."

The India-EFTA TEPA is one of India's most significant trade arrangements with a group of high-income and innovation-driven economies. Along with India's other trade agreements and ongoing trade negotiations, it forms part of a wider effort to expand opportunities for farmers, fishermen, MSMEs and start-ups, while supporting investment and job creation across sectors.

- ANI
Spanish President Pedro Sanchez has publicly demanded the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that further escalation in the region could cause a long-term global energy crisis. The European Commission's Vice-President, Kaja Kallas, is engaged in diplomatic outreach to Iranian and regional counterparts regarding the war and energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's alliance with Iran in a Nowruz message. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded to US rhetoric, asserting that the Strait remains open to all nations except Iran's enemies and vowing to confront threats.

Spanish President Sanchez warns of global energy crisis, demands Strait of Hormuz opening. EU diplomacy and Iranian response follow amid Middle East tensions.

Madrid, March 23 Spanish President Pedro Sanchez on Sunday called for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Sanchez, in a post on X, said that further escalation of the war may create an energy crisis for all of humanity.

In a post on X, he said, "The Government of Spain demands the opening of Hormuz and the preservation of all the energy sites of the Middle East. We stand at a global tipping point. Further escalation could trigger a long-term energy crisis for all humanity. The world should not pay the consequences of this war."

Meanwhile, Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as well as her counterparts in Turkiye, Qatar and South Korea, in what Brussels described as part of its ongoing effort to find diplomatic openings in the crisis.

The calls covered the war, strikes on energy infrastructure, and the mounting pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a priority Kallas had already raised with Araghchi on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is the latest official to congratulate Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Nowruz, the Persian New Year. "We remain a loyal friend and reliable partner for Tehran," Putin said in a message reported by Iran's Mehr news agency, as reported by Al Jazeera.

The Russian leader added he hoped Iranians would pass the current wartime difficulties with dignity. Russia is one of Tehran's most powerful diplomatic allies and has repeatedly condemned the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday took a jab at US President Donald Trump's statement and said that the illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation against the will of a history-making nation.

Pezeshkian said that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all nations except Iran's enemies.

In a post on X, he said, "The illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation against the will of a history-making nation. Threats and terror only strengthen our unity. The Strait of Hormuz is open to all except those who violate our soil. We firmly confront delirious threats on the battlefield."

- ANI
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz is triggering a significant input-cost and logistics shock for India's fertilizer sector, though immediate availability is not yet a crisis. The Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) segment is most vulnerable due to its heavy reliance on imports, with China no longer a dependable supplier as it halts exports for domestic needs. This forces Indian importers to seek more expensive alternatives from places like Morocco and Jordan, while urea supply faces risks from potential LNG curtailments affecting production. A supply gap of about 2 million tonnes of urea is projected, with the key long-term impacts being higher costs, subsidy pressure, and tighter sourcing.

Strait of Hormuz disruption causes major input-cost & logistics shock for India's fertilizer industry, risking DAP supplies and raising import costs.

New Delhi, March 22 The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz is set to trigger a significant input-cost and logistics shock for the Indian fertilizer sector, although the industry currently maintains comfortable near-term supplies.

According to a report by DAM Capital, "the current disruption is an input-cost and logistics shock, not an immediate availability crisis," particularly as the industry enters a lean demand period before Kharif requirements climb in mid-May.

The Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) segment faces the highest level of risk due to its structural reliance on foreign markets. The report stated that "DAP remains the most exposed due to import dependence and import-chain vulnerability."

While India relies on Middle Eastern partners, the report clarified that "Saudi supply is strategically important, but Hormuz-exposed." Compounding this vulnerability is the shift in regional trade dynamics. The report stated that "China is no longer a dependable fallback" for Indian procurement needs.

In fact, "China is halting most fertilizer exports to secure domestic supply and stabilize prices ahead of spring planting," which forces Indian importers to look toward more distant or expensive alternatives like Morocco and Jordan.

The report also highlighted that "urea risk is more about gas availability than finished imports," noting that LNG curtailments are already forcing some plants into "lower utilization or advanced maintenance."

Quoting Ramesh Chand, acting director and principal economist at the National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, the report provided a specific outlook on the volume required for the upcoming seasons.

As per Chand, the country "requires ~18mn tonnes of urea till Aug'26 - 50% of which is required as a base dose and the remaining 50% used in split doses."

With current stocks at 6.2 million tonnes and projected production at 10 million tonnes over the next five months, a gap of approximately 2 million tonnes remains that must be filled through imports.

The broader impact on the industry involves a "managed supply squeeze" rather than total unavailability. If the blockade persists, the "key impact" will manifest as "higher landed cost, weaker import economics, subsidy pressure, tighter sourcing, and more cautious inventory decisions."

While complex NPK and SSP players appear "relatively better placed for now, with stronger finished-goods and raw-material cover," they are not immune to upstream price hikes.

The report mentioned that "exporters are required to suspend shipping of both urea as well as nitrogen-potassium fertilizer blends" from major hubs, which will likely keep global prices elevated.

Ultimately, while companies might see short-term "windfall gain expected from liquidation of existing inventory," these benefits are expected to be "offset by higher replenishment cost" as the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz continues.

- ANI
The Russian-flagged tanker MT Aqua Titan, chartered by MRPL, has anchored off the Mangaluru coast, highlighting India's continued energy imports amid global supply concerns. The Shipping Ministry confirmed the safety of all 22 Indian vessels and 611 sailors in the Persian Gulf region, with no recent maritime incidents reported. To facilitate energy imports, the New Mangalore Port has waived all cargo-related charges for crude oil and LPG until March 31. This comes as the ongoing West Asia conflict disrupts key trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global energy logistics.

A Russian oil-laden tanker arrives in India as the Shipping Ministry reports safe Indian ships in the Persian Gulf and port fee waivers for crude.

Mangaluru, March 22 A Russian oil-laden tanker, MT Aqua Titan, chartered by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd, has arrived in India on Sunday amid growing concerns over global energy supply due to the escalating conflict in West Asia.

The tanker is currently anchored in the Arabian Sea, about 10 nautical miles off the Mangaluru coast. The tanker was expected to arrive in India on Saturday.

Its arrival comes at a time when global energy markets remain volatile, with supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions impacting crude and energy availability.

Earlier in the day, a cargo ship carrying Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Texas, United States, arrived at the New Mangalore Port in Mangaluru.

On Friday, the Shipping Ministry informed that New Mangalore Port has waived cargo-related charges for crude oil and LPG from March 14 to 31. It also said that there is no congestion reported at any port.

During the interministerial briefing, Special Secretary of the Shipping Ministry, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, said all 22 Indian ships and 611 sailors in the Persian Gulf are safe amid the West Asia conflict.

"There has been no report of any maritime incident in the last 24 hours. All our 22 ships and 611 Indian sailors in the Persian Gulf region are safe, and we are continuously monitoring them... There is no congestion in any port...New Mangalore Port has issued a circular for waiver of all cargo-related charges for crude and LPG, which is valid from 14 March to 31 March," the Shipping Ministry official said.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Indian-flagged crude oil tanker, Jag Laadki, successfully arrived at Adani Ports Mundra in Gujarat, marking a significant addition to the nation's energy imports. Earlier, the two Indian-flagged LPG carriers safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz before arriving in India on March 16 and 17. MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi - carrying approximately 92,712 metric tonnes of LPG - crossed the Strait of Hormuz on March 13.

This comes as the conflict in West Asia enters its 4th week, with trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz hampered.

- ANI
Tata Capital has received an income tax reassessment order demanding Rs 413.18 crore for the financial year 2017-18. The company states the demand stems from an alleged short credit of taxes already paid by a since-merged entity. Tata Capital has identified apparent errors in the computation sheet, arguing the tax officer incorrectly accounted for payments. The firm plans to file a rectification appeal and does not expect the order to impact its financials or operations.

Tata Capital receives a Rs 413 crore income tax reassessment order for FY18, citing errors and planning a rectification appeal.

Mumbai, March 22 Tata Capital has said it has received an income tax reassessment order of Rs 413 crore from the Mumbai tax authority for the financial year 2017-18 and will take necessary steps to file a rectification appeal.

The company said the order was issued on March 20, 2026, and downloaded a day later.

The reassessment pertains to Tata Capital Financial Services Limited, which has since been merged with Tata Capital Limited with effect from April 1, 2023.

According to the company, the order was passed by the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax under Section 143(3) read with Section 147 of the Income Tax Act.

The total demand stands at Rs 413.18 crore, which includes Rs 202.72 crore in interest. The demand has been raised mainly due to alleged short credit of taxes paid, along with interest and certain disallowances.

However, Tata Capital said it has identified apparent errors in the computation sheet and does not expect any material financial impact at this stage.

"The Company does not envisage any material financial implication at this stage as there are certain errors apparent from records in the Computation Sheet," it added in its regulatory filing.

The company explained that the assessing officer did not correctly account for taxes already paid by Tata Capital Financial Services Limited.

Instead of giving credit of Rs 225.89 crore, including TDS, TCS and advance tax, the officer reportedly considered only Rs 16.36 crore paid by Tata Capital Limited.

As a result, the company said the tax demand and the interest levied are not sustainable. It added that the short tax credit of Rs 209.52 crore and the associated interest have been wrongly calculated.

"Consequent to the above demand, the tax department has further levied interest of Rs 202.72 crores erroneously. Hence, the entire demand (short tax credit of Rs 209.52 crores and interest levied thereon of Rs 202.72 crores) is not maintainable," the firm said in its exchange filing.

Tata Capital said it will file a rectification appeal and remains confident of a favourable outcome.

The company also maintained that the order will not have any impact on its financials, operations or other business activities.

- IANS
Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, stated that former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's allegations linking India to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar severely impacted bilateral relations, putting diplomatic and trade engagements on hold for two years. Verma emphasized the reputational and emotional damage caused to Indian diplomats who were wrongly implicated. He praised current Canadian PM Mark Carney for separating the judicial process from bilateral engagement, allowing relations to move forward. Verma expressed hope for improved ties, citing high convergence between the two nations.

Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada says Trudeau's allegations over Hardeep Singh Nijjar case harmed bilateral relations and India's reputation.

New Delhi, March 22 Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, said that the impact of Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations on India over the Hardeep Singh Nijjar case was two-fold.

Verma, in an interview with ANI, said that the first was the impact on bilateral ties, and the second was the damage to reputation.

Verma said, "This episode had two major impacts. One on bilateral relations itself, because everything was put on hold. Downsizing of mission, EFTA put on hold, early progress trade agreement put on hold, and no high-level visits are taking place. So we lost two years. But so this is one part. So Canadians thought that we six, who have been declared persona non grata, are actually criminals. We are not diplomats."

"Now that damage to our reputation, that damage to our emotional fabric. Who is going to amend that? We are soldiers for our country, and we'll take it in stride. But I always would say that my colleagues have been treated very badly by this Canadian narrative, which I think was falsely created," he added.

Verma said that India maintained that there was a crime that took place in Canada, and that the judicial system should take the final call, sans keeping bilateral ties as hostage.

He said, "Even at that time (during Trudeau's government), what we had been maintaining was that yes, there is a crime committed in Canada. The judicial process should see it through and reach a finality, but this should not allow the bilateral relation to be hostage to this particular episode."

Verma also lauded current Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's work in restoring bilateral relations between the two nations.

"Thankfully, the present Prime Minister of Canada, Prime Minister Carney, has been able to see through it, and what he has done is that he has not taken the case off the court, which is going on, so that is still there, but he has moved ahead with other relationships with India and he had a very successful visit to India as I see...The convergence between India and Canada is so high that we can look at much better days of bilateral relations in the coming years and decades," he said.

India and Canada encountered a diplomatic chill in 2023 when New Delhi expressed concerns over Canada's perceived leniency towards Khalistani extremist and separatist elements, with then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging that Indian agents were involved in the killing of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Canada the same year.

Amid this diplomatic wrangle, Canada issued a diplomatic communication suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats were "persons of interest" in Nijjar's killing.

India "strongly" rejected the claims and termed them "preposterous imputations" and part of the political agenda of the Trudeau government. Following this, Verma and five other diplomats were recalled by New Delhi.

Verma, during the interview, described these earlier accusations against India as politically motivated.

"We always said that this is politically motivated; we always said that this is vote-bank politics; we always said that there is no--there is no evidence available to say so. And we are glad that this is coming true, and finally they will see India for what it is, a deep civilization and India, which doesn't interfere with any other country's internal affairs," he said.

He also expressed hope that the new development would help improve bilateral ties between India and Canada."I hope this augurs well for the future relationship between the two countries," he added.

Both nations have worked consistently to normalise ties, culminating in Mark Carney's visit to India.

- ANI
President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to provide airport security amid a prolonged Department of Homeland Security funding impasse. The shutdown has left approximately 50,000 TSA officers working without pay since mid-February, causing severe security checkpoint delays exceeding three hours at major hubs. A House-passed funding bill failed in the Senate due to bipartisan disagreement over immigration enforcement policies. Concurrently, a Democratic lawmaker has introduced legislation aimed at reversing a Trump proclamation imposing strict wage rules and fees on H-1B visa sponsors.

President Trump threatens to deploy ICE agents to airports as TSA officers work unpaid amid a DHS funding shutdown, causing major delays.

Washington, March 22 US President Donald Trump threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to provide security at airports amid an ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which has dragged on for more than a month and left regular security personnel going unpaid.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that if Democrats did not "immediately sign an agreement," "I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before."

The US Senate on Friday failed to advance a House-passed bill to fund the DHS due to bipartisan disagreement over immigration enforcement, Xinhua news agency reported.

About 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have been working without pay since February 14, when the US Congress let funding for the DHS, which oversees the TSA, expire over a disagreement on immigration enforcement. Major US airports are seeing long lines at security checkpoints, with security wait time exceeding three hours in some cases. Hardest-hit airports include those in Houston, Atlanta and New Orleans.

Over the last five weeks, negotiations between the two parties on immigration enforcement have shown little progress. Republicans have pushed to fund DHS, while Democrats have sought standalone funding for agencies like TSA that would exclude immigration operations.

Earlier in March, a Democratic lawmaker has introduced a legislation in the US House of Representatives seeking to nullify President Trump's proclamation that imposed strict wage requirements and steep fees on employers hiring H-1B visa workers.

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman announced the measure, titled the Welcoming International Success Act, aimed at reversing the September 2025 proclamation that mandated rigid wage levels and imposed a $100,000 fee on employers sponsoring H-1B workers .

- IANS
A British nuclear-powered submarine, the HMS Anson, has reportedly taken up a position in the northern Arabian Sea near the critical Strait of Hormuz. This deployment coincides with the UK government's decision to grant the United States expanded access to British military bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites threatening shipping. The policy shift has drawn sharp criticism domestically from opposition leader Kemi Badenoch and a warning from Iran that it constitutes participation in aggression. British officials stress the action is limited and defensive, following attacks on allied assets in the region.

A British nuclear submarine, HMS Anson, armed with Tomahawk missiles, is positioned near the Strait of Hormuz as the UK expands US access to its bases for strikes on Iran.

London, March 22 A nuclear-powered British submarine, the HMS Anson, has reportedly arrived in the Arabian Sea, according to Al Jazeera, citing a report by the Daily Mail. The deployment comes as the United States threatens to escalate military operations against Iran, marking a significant increase in Western naval presence in the region.

The vessel is said to have departed from the Australian city of Perth on March 6 and is believed to be taking up a strategic position in the northern Arabian Sea. This area is "near the Strait of Hormuz," as noted in the Daily Mail report shared by Al Jazeera.

Equipped with advanced weaponry, the HMS Anson is fitted with "Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles" with a range of 1,600 km and "Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes," providing formidable offensive capabilities.

This maritime deployment coincides with major political shifts in London, where the United Kingdom has approved expanded access for the United States to use British military bases. According to CNN, these facilities will be utilised for strikes targeting Iranian missile sites linked to attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

British ministers agreed on Friday to broaden the scope of US operations to include "defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz."

The UK had earlier restricted such access to operations aimed at preventing Iranian missile launches that directly threatened British lives or interests. Despite the expansion, CNN reported, citing a Downing Street spokesperson, that the government's broader stance remains unchanged.

Ministers reiterated that the UK remains committed to defending its people and allies while "not getting drawn into the wider conflict."

However, the policy shift has met with internal political resistance. Conservative Party leader and Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch, criticised the move as the "Mother of all U-turns" in a social media post.

This domestic friction follows warnings from Tehran, where Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi cautioned that the UK's decision to grant Washington access to its bases would be viewed as "participation in aggression."

Responding to Tehran's warning, a Downing Street spokesperson clarified that the UK permitted US access "for a specific defensive and limited purpose" following Iranian strikes across the Middle East.

While British Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially rejected Washington's request, citing legal concerns, CNN reported that he later joined the defensive response after British military assets in the Middle East came under attack.

- ANI
Russia did not participate in this round

Ukrainian and US officials held a new round of negotiations in Florida to discuss key issues and next steps for settling the ongoing crisis. The Ukrainian delegation included top security and parliamentary officials, while the US side was represented by special envoys and advisors. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was briefed on the talks, which aimed to gauge Russia's readiness for a real end to the conflict. The Kremlin confirmed Russia's non-participation in this specific round of discussions.

Ukrainian and US delegations held fresh negotiations in Florida to discuss next steps and coordinate approaches for settling the Ukraine crisis.

Florida, March 22 Ukrainian and US delegations discussed "key issues" and next steps on settling the Ukraine crisis in fresh negotiations held in the US state of Florida, Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, has said.

"We continued to discuss key issues and next steps within the negotiation track. Special attention was paid to coordinating approaches for further progress toward practical results," he was cited as saying in a report by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

Umerov met with the US side together with David Arakhamia, head of the parliamentary faction of Servant of the People; Kyrylo Budanov, head of the presidential office; and Sergiy Kyslytsya, first deputy head of the presidential office, reports Xinhua, quoting the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

According to Umerov, the US delegation was represented by presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, White House Senior Advisor Josh Gruenbaum and State Department Senior Policy Advisor Chris Curran.

Umerov said a report on the results of the first day of the Ukraine-US meeting was presented to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky said in a video address on Saturday that the Ukrainian and US teams will continue their talks on Sunday, noting that a key issue discussed was to understand how ready Russia is to move toward a real end to the crisis, according to the Ukrainian president's official website.

Witkoff on Saturday said in a post on social media platform X that US and Ukrainian delegations held "constructive meetings" in Florida, with "discussions focused on narrowing and resolving remaining items to move closer to a comprehensive peace agreement."

"We welcome the continued engagement toward resolving the outstanding issues, recognising its importance to broader global stability," he wrote.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Friday that Russia would not participate in Saturday's talks.

Delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Russia previously held two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24 and February 4-5, followed by another round in Geneva on February 17-18.

- IANS
Palo Alto Networks (PANW) produced strong free cash flow in fiscal Q2 2026. Using a projected 37% adj. FCF margin implies PANW stock could be worth 22%+ more at $200 per share. This article will show how to play this using options.

PANW is at $163.13 in midday trading on Friday, March 20. This is up from a recent trough of $141.67 on Feb. 24, after the company's fiscal Q2 earnings release on Feb. 17.

More News from Barchart

PANW stock - last 6 months - Barchart - March 20, 2026

I discussed the company's earnings and price targets (PTs) in a Feb. 20 Barchart article, Palo Alto Networks Stock Has Tanked, But Its Free Cash Flow is Strong - Time to Buy PANW?

At the time, PANW was at $150.00, and I showed that, based on its adjusted free cash flow (FCF), it could be worth $189.64. Let's update that PT.

Higher PTs for PANW

Since the earnings release, and management's guidance for 2026 revenue, analysts have raised their revenue forecasts. For example, Seeking Alpha reports that 46 analysts project revenue between $11.29 billion and $13.57 billion for the next two fiscal years ending July 31. That covers the next 6 to 18 months of revenue forecasts from fiscal Q2.

That implies that the next 12 months (NTM) revenue will be $12.43 billion. We can use that to estimate its adj. FCF.

For example, Palo Alto Networks' trailing 12 months (TTM) adj. FCF of $3.747 billion represented 37.9% of its TTM revenue ($9.89 billion), as I showed in my last article. Moreover, management estimates it will make a 37% adj. FCF margin this FY and in FY 2027. Here is how that affects FCF:

$12.43b rev NTM x 0.37 = $4.6 billion adj. FCF NTM

As a result, we can use that to set a price target (PT). For example, PANW's market capitalization is now $132.6 billion, according to Yahoo! Finance. That implies its FCF yield is:

$3.747b LTM adj. FCF / $132.6b = 0.283, or 2.83% FCF yld

So, applying this FCF yield to our NTM adj. FCF forecast produces the following:

$4.6b / 0.0283 = $162.5 billion mkt cap

That implies Palo Alto stock could have a 22.5% higher valuation sometime in the next year (i.e., $162.5/$132.6 = 1.225):

$163.13 x 1.225 = $199.83 PT

That is why I believe PANW's price target is about $200 over the next year. Analysts agree. For example, Yahoo! Finance's analyst survey PT is $207.75, Barchart's is $207.78, and AnaChart's is $197.87.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres marked the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by calling racism an "ancient poison" that remains active worldwide. He linked contemporary inequalities and conflicts to the enduring legacies of colonialism, enslavement, and oppression. Guterres warned that digital tools are amplifying hate speech and harmful stereotypes, which can lead to real-world violence. He urged governments and all sectors of society to unite in action, specifically by implementing key international agreements to eradicate racism and uphold human dignity.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urges global action against racism, hate speech, and colonial legacies on International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

United Nations, March 22 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for unity and action to address "the ancient poison of racism," which he said is alive and kicking in every community, society, country and region of the world.

In his message on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed annually on March 21, Guterres said racism lives on in the legacies of colonialism, enslavement and oppression, which drive so many of the problems today -- from economic, social and political inequality, to discriminatory policies and practices, and to outright conflicts, Xinhua news agency reported.

"And it spreads via new digital tools and technologies that inundate us with hate speech, perpetuating lies and harmful stereotypes that often spill over into real-world violence and abuse," he warned.

"The antidote is unity and action," the UN chief said, calling on all governments, institutions, businesses and communities to work together to address racism and safeguard the dignity, justice, equality and human rights that belong to every person.

"This means universal ratification and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination," and "living up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, now marking its 25th year, which includes concrete steps to end racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance," he added.

"Today, and every day, we must take a stand. We must fight for the dignity, rights and belonging of every person on earth, and erase the stain of racism from our world," Guterres said.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966 to raise awareness and encourage global action against racism.

- IANS
A clandestine network of volunteers in Ukraine, likened to an underground railroad, has facilitated the return of over 1,100 children who were deported or illegally transferred to Russia and Russian-controlled areas. The operation involves secret negotiations and covert travel routes, filling a vacuum left by the lack of a formal legal process between Kyiv and Moscow. Returnees like 19-year-old Rostyslav Lavrov describe executing careful escapes to avoid suspicion at checkpoints. The effort, coordinated by a children's rights charity, operates alongside a broader state-led plan to document abuses and reintegrate children as the war continues.

A clandestine volunteer network has rescued over 1,100 Ukrainian children deported to Russia, using secret routes and negotiations.

Kyiv, March 22 A largely clandestine network of volunteers in Ukraine has quietly helped bring home hundreds of children deported or illegally transferred from Ukrainian territory to Russia and Russian-controlled areas, according to reporting by CNN and information from the humanitarian group behind the operations.

The effort, likened by organisers to an "underground railroad," involves a complex set of secret negotiations, logistics and covert travel routes that have helped dozens of young Ukrainians return to territory controlled by Kyiv. Those involved say the work is necessary because there is no formal legal mechanism between Ukraine and Russia to secure the return of children taken across borders during the conflict.

One returning youth, 19-year-old Rostyslav Lavrov, described planning and executing his escape after years in Russian-controlled territory and even attempts by Russian authorities to confer Russian documents on him. "I chose a day when I had classes in another building. I woke up early, put on my uniform, and did everything as usual, so they would think I was going to study," he said, explaining how he sought to avoid suspicion while slipping away.

Lavrov also said he carried nothing with him to avoid drawing attention at checkpoints. "I took nothing with me to avoid drawing attention. I was nervous at the checkpoints, but tried to stay calm and not show it," he added.

The operation is coordinated by Mykola Kuleba, founder of the Kyiv-based charity Save Ukraine and a longtime children's rights advocate, who acknowledges the controversy around such extralegal efforts. "We created an underground railroad to locate and rescue these children," he said, stressing that with no official process yet agreed with Moscow, volunteers are filling the vacuum to help evade what they describe as forced assimilation and deportation.

By the end of February, the volunteer network had facilitated the return of more than 1,100 Ukrainian children through these informal channels, with organisers and experts warning that challenges remain, including dealing with international standards and restrictions when working with official bodies.

Human rights groups and Ukraine's ombudsperson's office say that more than 1.6 million children still live in territories under Russian control, where they often face pressure to attend schools under the Russian curriculum or are targeted for passporting and other measures that activists say aim to undermine their Ukrainian identity.

The broader effort to bring abducted and deported children home also links with Bring Kids Back UA, a state-led action plan initiated by the Ukrainian government in 2023 that coordinates international and non-governmental efforts to reintegrate young Ukrainians and document abuses for possible legal action.

As the war enters its fifth year, volunteers and officials say continuing these rescue and reintegration operations is critical to reuniting families and protecting a generation of children caught in the ongoing conflict.

- ANI
Union Minister Chirag Paswan announces a world-class university named after Ram Vilas Paswan and multispecialty hospitals for Bihar on Bihar Day.

New Delhi, March 22 Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Sunday extended his greetings to the people of Bihar on the occasion of Bihar Day, highlighting initiatives aimed at the state's development.

Addressing the media, Paswan said, "I extend my greetings and best wishes to all the people of Bihar on Bihar Day. A few years ago, we launched BITO (Bihar International Trade Organisation) with the aim of creating a system where every Bihari living outside the state becomes empowered in other countries and states, and in turn contributes to Bihar's progress. BITO was created by bringing together industry leaders committed to supporting the state."



Paswan announced that a world-class university will soon be constructed in Bihar in the name of his father, Ram Vilas Paswan, with the groundbreaking ceremony to be held shortly. He also expressed his vision to establish multispecialty hospitals in every block of the state and said that BITO (Bihar International Trade Organisation) is ready to collaborate with the government to support these initiatives.



"At BITO, we were working on a university in its initial stages. Today, it was announced that very soon, a world-class university will be built in Bihar in the name of my leader, my father Ram Vilas Paswan, and the groundbreaking ceremony will be held soon. I want to build multispecialty hospitals in every block of Bihar; we have also started work in that direction... BITO is ready to work with the government to contribute to that end..," he added.



Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed wishes to the people of Bihar on the occasion of Bihar Day, highlighting the state's cultural legacy and expressing confidence in its contribution toward building a developed India.



On X, he wrote, "On the occasion of Bihar Day, heartfelt greetings to all my family members in the state. Our province, which imparts grandeur and divinity to India's heritage, is today engaged in crafting ever-new chapters of progress. I am confident that the dedication and capability of the hardworking and energetic people here will greatly contribute to realizing the resolve of a developed Bihar alongside a developed India."



Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his message on the occasion of Bihar Diwas, appreciating the state's heritage and progress.



In a post on social media, the Chief Minister shared a letter by the Prime Minister and thanked him for his warm wishes.



"On behalf of all the people of Bihar, I extend our heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for his affectionate message on the occasion of Bihar Diwas regarding the state," he said.



Highlighting the Prime Minister's remarks, Kumar said that it was a matter of pride that Bihar's rich heritage, culture, and developmental efforts were appreciated.



"It is a matter of pride for us that you have appreciated Bihar's rich heritage, culture, and efforts toward progress," he added.



The Chief Minister further reiterated the state government's commitment, "We remain steadfastly committed to the all-round development of the state, social justice, good governance, and the strengthening of infrastructure. We are receiving the full cooperation of the Central Government," he said.



Bihar Day (Bihar Diwas) is observed every year on March 22, marking the formation of the state of Bihar. It was on this day when the British carved out the state from Bengal in 1912 and is observed as a public holiday in Bihar.





- ANI
Uttar Pradesh Women's Commission Vice-Chairperson Aparna Yadav praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for becoming India's longest-serving head of government. Modi has served for 8,931 days across his tenures as Gujarat Chief Minister and Prime Minister, surpassing the previous record held by former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling. The Prime Minister also dominates as the most-followed world leader on digital platforms like YouTube and Instagram. His leadership includes being the first PM born after Independence and securing three consecutive Lok Sabha victories.

UP Women's Commission VC Aparna Yadav praises PM Modi for becoming India's longest-serving head of state, surpassing a 8,930-day record.

Lucknow, March 22 Uttar Pradesh Women's Commission Vice-Chairperson Aparna Yadav on Sunday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for becoming India's longest-serving head of state.

She praised PM Modi's contributions to enhancing India's global stature, noting that no other leader has achieved similar milestones.

Speaking to ANI, Yadav said, "I am very happy that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the head of state to run the government for the longest time... The work that Prime Minister Modi has done to enhance India's pride on the global stage, perhaps no other Prime Minister has done."

PM Modi's milestone comes after he surpassed former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, reaching 8,931 days in office across his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and Prime Minister, breaking Chamling's record of 8,930 days.

The achievement underscores PM Modi's decades-long leadership and continuous public service. He remains the first Prime Minister born after Independence and has led his party to three consecutive Lok Sabha victories in 2014, 2019, and 2024.

In March, PM Modi crossed the significant milestone of 30 million subscribers on YouTube, further cementing his position as the most-followed world leader on the platform.

Among world leaders, PM Modi has the highest number of subscribers on YouTube. As per the rankings, he is comfortably ahead of others in the category. The second-highest, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, has a subscriber base that is only about one-fourth of PM Modi's.

PM Modi has more than seven times the number of subscribers compared to US President Donald Trump, underlining the scale of his digital outreach and engagement worldwide.

This achievement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier crossed the historic milestone of 100 million followers on Instagram, becoming the first world leader and politician to achieve this feat on the platform.

- ANI
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the United States of pursuing global energy market domination through coercive means, including coups and assassinations. He stated the US welcomes Russia's marginalization in European energy markets and must respect Russian interests to cooperate. The EU, led by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, maintains a firm stance against procuring Russian natural gas despite the ongoing energy crisis. This position faces resistance from member states like Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban warns of supply risks and calls for suspending sanctions.

Russian FM Lavrov claims the US uses coups and assassinations to control global energy resources, as EU rejects Russian gas amid crisis.

Moscow, March 22 The United States is pursuing a doctrine of domination in global energy markets, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Russian media.

"They (the United States) care only about their own well-being. They are ready to defend this prosperity by any means -- coups, abductions, or assassinations of leaders of countries that have natural resources Washington desires. All of this is related to oil," said Lavrov on Saturday.

Lavrov further asserted that the United States follows the principle that its interests always take precedence over international agreements, reports Xinhua news agency.

He pointed out that the United States has historically welcomed -- and continues to welcome -- Russia's marginalisation in European energy markets. He emphasised that for the United States to cooperate with Russia, it must first respect Russia's interests.

Earlier on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that European politicians are deliberately plunging their countries into crisis and darkness by continuing to reject Russian energy resources.

"It is not a technical disaster nor any natural cataclysms that are causing the global crisis in the European Union (EU), but rather the decisions of its own leaders, who are simply flipping the switch," Maria Zakharova said in a post on her Telegram channel.

On Friday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the EU's unwavering position, which categorically precludes member states from procuring Russian natural gas even in the event of a severe energy crisis in Europe, amid the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

The stance had met with resistance from some of its member countries, heavily reliant on Russian energy supplies. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban earlier this month called on the EU to suspend sanctions on Russian energy, warning that rising oil prices and supply disruptions pose risks to regional energy security.

- IANS
Former diplomat K P Fabian asserts that the United States and Israel are the initiators of the current conflict, not Iran. He highlights Iran's calculated diplomacy, including keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to all except American and Israeli vessels. Fabian points to Japan's role in facilitating the release of detainees and notes that no immediate nuclear radiation threat was detected from attacked facilities. He concludes by criticizing US foreign policy as being unduly influenced by Israel, leading to regional instability and humanitarian concerns during Eid.

Former diplomat KP Fabian says US & Israel initiated West Asia tensions. Iran's strategic moves, Japan's role, and nuclear safety assessed.

New Delhi, March 22 Amid rising tensions in West Asia, recent developments have once again placed Iran, Israel, and the United States at the centre of global attention. Former Diplomat K P Fabian says that Tehran's strategic moves are being closely watched internationally, particularly following attacks on nuclear and energy facilities.

"First Iran said that Strait of Hormuz is open for everyone, ships belonging to America and Israel are open. And I think Iran will repeat this. Because you know that Japanese Prime Minister was in the White House," Fabian noted, highlighting Iran's careful diplomatic maneuvering.

Japan's PM Sanae Takaichi was on an official visit to the US recently, in which she met with US President Donald Trump at the White House and later told reporters she had briefed Trump on what support Japan could provide under its laws.Trump had earlier called on Japan and other countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz that Iran has closed in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks.

Meanwhile Fabian noted that discussions between Iran and Japan reportedly paved the way for the release of two Japanese nationals previously detained in Iran. "One was released by Iran and the other will also be released. This means that Iran plays such a chess game that there be another announcement. Look, they are open. Only America and Israel," the diplomat added, emphasising the calculated nature of Tehran's actions.

International monitoring agencies have also weighed in on the situation. "Secretary of National Automic Energy Agency, IAEA has tweeted that the missile attack news reported and the nuclear research centre has any sign. Also, according to no unknown radiation level has been found," the former diplomat said, noting that there were no immediate nuclear threats detected despite the attacks.

Reflecting on regional history, the diplomat recalled the Suez Canal crisis of 1956, underscoring the long-standing complexities in the region: "Britain, Israel, or France conspired. When Israel attacks Egypt, France and Britain will withdraw. But Egypt is the Egyptian territory. At that time, France, Israel and America had information. When the American president got the Israel said, stop it. But Israel did stop. The American president said, let's this is now radiation, but before that, Israel attacked Natan's nuclear facility. It means that Israel started first. Iran only retaliated. This is very important."

Highlighting the humanitarian aspect, Fabian stressed the irony of the attacks occurring during Eid. "Eid is of peace Now, on that day to do such a thing shows how much hatred is there in people's minds, which is very, very sad. People are going mad," he said.

The regional energy situation has also been affected. "Our condition is not good. You know there is a shortage LPG. Qatar, from which we have a big contract because of Iran's attack, the production capacity has been brought down by 17 percent and Qatar has made it clear it is going to lose about 20 billion dollars yearly and it will take a couple of years for it to restore the full production capacity," he noted.

Addressing the broader geopolitical picture, he underscored that Israel and the US initiated the recent tensions: "The big picture is that there was a conversation between Prime Minister Modi and Iranian President Pesach Kyan. And the Iranian President has made it very clear that Iran is urging India to speak out at the BRICS chair. It is Israel and America who started this."

Regarding Iran's nuclear commitments, Fabian said, "Iran agreed to zero enrichment, zero stockpiling of nuclear material, down blend the uranium, and never ever to seek a nuclear weapon." He criticized the US response, noting, "Now why didn't he do it? Because he was under the influence of Netanyahu. Now, that is most unfortunate. The tail is wagging the dog."

- ANI
Foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev states the US suspension of sanctions on Iranian and Russian oil currently at sea is a market-driven move to soften crude prices by potentially releasing around 150 million barrels. However, defence expert Dhruv Katoch warns that India will still face severe gas shortages in the immediate future despite this development. Meanwhile, Middle East expert Waiel Awwad notes Iran is selectively allowing tankers, like those from India, to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, presenting a diplomatic opportunity. The regional volatility continues as US President Donald Trump issues threats against Iran, and Iranian military officials vow further attacks.

Experts analyze US suspension of sanctions on Iranian & Russian oil at sea, its impact on global crude prices, and implications for India's supply.

New Delhi, March 22 Foreign Affairs Expert Robinder Sachdev said that as the US suspended sanctions on Iran for its oil that is at sea, it will help soften the crude oil market.

Sachdev, while talking to ANI on Saturday, said that it is the cold market logic which America is using.

He said, "It is, of course, very interesting to see that America is saying that sanctions on Iran will be suspended for 30 days for the Iranian oil which is at sea. Now, what this means is that there are many ships which are carrying Iranian crude which are heading to some destination, or many ships which are being used only for storage; these ships are not moving much. So there's probably around 150 million barrels of oil in these Iranian-origin ships. If that comes into the market, definitely yes, it will help soften the crude oil market."

"So that's simply the cold market logic which America is using. It has also given a waiver, as we very well know, for 30 days for Russian oil that is at sea. Even the Russian oil, which is at sea, means again Russian shadow fleets which are carrying crude oil. Either they're heading for some destination, or once again they're just sitting in the sea somewhere at water waiting for the next direction and they're actually acting like storage tanks," he added.

On the United States temporarily lifting sanctions on Iranian crude oil and petroleum products, Defence expert Dhruv Katoch said that, regardless, India will suffer very severe shortages in the immediate future.

He said, "Now, today is the 22nd day of the war, and the United States has finally allowed Iranian crude to be shipped. That means they have removed Iranian crude from the sanctions. But that doesn't solve the problem. Because what has happened is that, as far as Iran is concerned, the statement which they have issued is that they have no floating tankers. So, that is the only thing which can actually be sold out. If there are any floating tankers somewhere in the Indian Ocean, then they can be diverted and put up for sale...We have adequate reserves for the moment. Regarding gas, I think that we are going to suffer very severe shortages in the immediate future. Though over a period of time, we will overcome that problem also," he said.

Middle East Expert Waiel Awwad said that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is only for the nations that are siding with the US and Israel.

He said, "Iran has allowed all the tankers of India to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and they have already made it clear they are not blocking the Strait of Hormuz. They are only blocking for those countries that support the United States in this war. This gives another opportunity for India to cement the relationship with Iran despite the fact that the current scenario in the region is volatile, and we don't know how far this war will go."

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Iran of obliterating its power plants if it fails to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump gave Iran precisely 48 hours for the job.

US Central Command said that they were clear in their objectives of eliminating Iran's ability to project power against Americans. It said, "U.S. forces remain centred on very clear military objectives in eliminating Iran's ability to project power against Americans, and against its neighbours."

Also, Major General Seyed Majid Moosavi, head of Iran's IRGC Aerospace Force, said on Saturday (local time) that Iran now dominates the skies of the occupied territories.

Moosavi said that the upcoming waves of attacks in those skies would leave the US and Israel 'dumbfounded'.

- ANI
A US cargo ship carrying liquefied petroleum gas has arrived at India's Mangalore Port, highlighting shifting global energy supply routes. This follows the arrival of a vessel carrying Russian crude oil, facilitated by a temporary US license. India has significantly increased purchases of Russian oil to manage supply concerns amid Middle Eastern disruptions. The situation remains tense, with Indian-flagged vessels navigating hazardous passages near the Strait of Hormuz.

A US LPG cargo ship arrives at Mangalore Port as India boosts Russian oil imports under a US license, aiming to stabilize fuel supplies.

New Delhi, March 22 Amid the global supply chain crisis, a large cargo ship carrying liquefied petroleum gas from the US has arrived at the Mangalore Port in the country.

Pyxis Pioneer cargo ship carrying LPG from the US state of Texas, successfully docked at the port.

Before the ship from the US, named Aqua Titan, reached India, another vessel carrying Russian crude oil also reached Mangalore, reports NDTV.

This particular vessel was stationed about 18 nautical miles away from the port. The single-point mooring system will be used to transfer the oil to the pipeline system and take it to MRPL.

The Russian crude oil arrived after the US issued a temporary general license, permitting the sale of Russian crude oil already stranded at sea as of March 12.

The move is aimed at stabilising global fuel prices amid the tensions in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, India has sharply increased its purchases of Russian oil. The move came shortly after the United States allowed India to temporarily boost its imports of Russian oil.

The surge in buying is aimed at managing supply concerns after disruptions in Middle Eastern oil supplies due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

Earlier, the Indianflagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker 'Nanda Devi' arrived at Vadinar Port in Gujarat, becoming the second LPG carrier to reach the west coast this week after 'Shivalik' docked at Mundra Port.

Both vessels transported critical LPG supplies to India following an unusually hazardous passage through the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime traffic has been disrupted by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel.

A total of 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region and DG Shipping is monitoring the situation in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions.

- IANS
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on achieving the longest tenure as head of government in independent India's history. Dhami praised Modi's leadership and vision, stating it inspires the nation and guides Uttarakhand's development. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also lauded Modi's 24 years of public service, calling it a transformative era for India. This milestone highlights Modi's extensive political career, including his record tenure as Gujarat's Chief Minister.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and Home Minister Amit Shah congratulate PM Narendra Modi on his historic tenure milestone.

Dehradun, March 22 Uttarkhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on establishing a new milestone of serving the longest tenure as the head of government in the history of independent India.

In a post on X, Chief Minister Dhami said Prime Minister Modi's unparalleled leadership, visionary thinking, and dedication to national service are an inspiration for everyone.

"Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Honourable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi on establishing a new milestone of serving the longest tenure as the head of government in the history of independent India. Your unparalleled leadership, visionary thinking, and dedication to national service are an inspiration to us all. Under your guidance, the country is continuously achieving new dimensions of progress and development," he said.

CM Dhami further stated that in Prime Minister Modi's resolve for a Viksit Bharat by 2047, Uttarakhand too is advancing on the path of continuous development, making its contribution.

"In your resolve for a Developed India by 2047, Uttarakhand too is advancing on the path of continuous development, making its contribution. This historic achievement is a matter of pride for every Indian," CM Dhami added.

Earlier on Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India's longest-serving leader, praising his 24 years of uninterrupted public service.

Shah hailed Modi's "sheer commitment" to the nation, noting that his tenure has reshaped India through development initiatives, welfare measures, and bolstering the country's global stature.

In a post on X, Amit Shah wrote, "Modi Ji's decades of Seva have shaped an era of his own. Whether it is giving the poor their rights, setting new landmarks in development or enhancing the nation's pride on global platforms, the Modi era has transformed India unrecognisably."

PM Modi has earlier served as the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat and is also the Prime Minister with the longest prior experience as a Chief Minister.

- ANI
Warns of serious water crisis in parts of India

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended World Water Day greetings, emphasizing the state's critical role as the origin of the Ganga and other rivers. He expressed concern over the severe water crisis affecting many parts of the country and called for responsible water usage. The CM stressed that government schemes must be complemented by public participation, advocating for a mix of traditional and modern water conservation techniques. He concluded by urging everyone to pledge to preserve water for the sake of future generations.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami urges public to conserve water, highlights state's role as Ganga's origin and government conservation schemes.

Dehradun, March 22 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended greetings to the people on the occasion of World Water Day on Sunday.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said," Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is enriched with Maa Ganga and other water sources, which form our invaluable natural heritage. Its conservation and balanced use is a shared responsibility of us all. The state government is continuously working towards water conservation. Let us all come together to pledge to save water and preserve this legacy for future generations."

In a video message on X, CM Dhami explained the historical and geographical significance of Uttarakhand, pointing out that the state is the origin of the river Ganga, which plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.

"Uttarakhand is the place of origin of Maa Ganga and many other rivers. From ancient times, the rivers and lakes of Uttarakhand have helped preserve the environment of the state."

Expressing concern over the growing water crisis in several parts of the country, he urged citizens to adopt responsible water usage.

"Today, many parts of the country are facing a serious water crisis. At this crucial time, it is our responsibility to prioritise water conservation. On this important day, I urge all of you to understand the value of water and use it wisely."

He also stressed the importance of rainwater harvesting through traditional methods along with modern approaches.

"In addition, rainwater should also be preserved through traditional methods of water conservation. The state government is also launching schemes for water conservation, but public participation is essential. With efforts from both the government and the people, the results will surely be positive."

"Through small steps, we can make a big difference--use water wisely at home, and in agriculture, adopt both advanced and traditional methods of water management," he further said.

Concluding his message, the Chief Minister urged everyone to take a pledge to conserve water for future generations.

"Let us pledge to preserve every drop of water for a better future for the coming generations."

World Water Day, held on March 22 every year since 1993, is an annual United Nations observance focusing on the importance of freshwater.

A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and sanitation for all by 2030.

- ANI
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Louis Hachette Group (ENXTPA:ALHG) is back in focus after recent share price pressure, with the stock down over the past month and past 3 months, prompting investors to reassess its current valuation.

See our latest analysis for Louis Hachette Group.

Over the past year, Louis Hachette Groups share price return has been mixed. Recent weakness, including a 16.56% 30 day share price decline, contrasts with a 4.01% one year total shareholder return. This suggests fading short term momentum while longer term holders remain modestly ahead.

If this kind of move has you looking beyond a single media name, it could be a good moment to widen your search and check out 95 top founder-led companies

With the share price under pressure despite a 4.01% one-year total return and the stock trading at a discount to analyst and intrinsic estimates, you have to ask: Is Louis Hachette Group undervalued, or is the market already pricing in future growth?

Price-to-Earnings of 64.5x: Is it justified?

Louis Hachette Group trades on a P/E of 64.5x, which looks rich next to its recent share price of 1.43 and raises questions about what the market is pricing in.

The P/E ratio compares the share price with earnings per share, so a higher multiple usually reflects investors expecting stronger or more resilient earnings than peers. For a diversified media and travel retail group, such a premium often implies the market is banking on sustained profit growth rather than treating recent numbers as a one off.

Here, the current 64.5x P/E stands well above both the peer average of 10.3x and the European Media industry average of 14.3x. It also sits far above the estimated fair P/E of 24.8x that the SWS fair ratio suggests the market could trend towards over time if sentiment cools.

Explore the SWS fair ratio for Louis Hachette Group

Result: Price-to-Earnings of 64.5x (OVERVALUED)

However, the high P/E, alongside modest 2.7% revenue growth and very slim 22m net income on 9.684b sales, leaves little room for earnings disappointment.

Find out about the key risks to this Louis Hachette Group narrative.

Another Angle on Value: What Does DCF Say?

The high 64.5x P/E paints Louis Hachette Group as expensive, but the SWS DCF model tells a different story. With the shares at 1.43 and the future cash flow value estimated at 2.77, the stock screens as undervalued. So which signal would you trust more: earnings multiples or cash flows?

To understand how this cash flow based view is built and where the assumptions might be tight or generous, it helps to see the full run through of the SWS DCF model. Look into how the SWS DCF model arrives at its fair value.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become India's longest-serving head of government, completing 8,931 days in office across his tenures as Gujarat Chief Minister and Prime Minister. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed this milestone, praising Modi's visionary leadership and India's rise as the world's fourth-largest economy. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also commended Modi's over 24 years of uninterrupted public service and his transformative impact on the nation. Modi, the first Prime Minister born after Independence, has led his party to three consecutive Lok Sabha victories.

PM Narendra Modi sets a new record with 8,931 days in office, hailed by Devendra Fadnavis and Amit Shah for transformative leadership.

Mumbai, March 22 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi becoming the longest-serving head of a government in India, surpassing former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling.

With 8,931 days in office as head of government covering his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and as Prime Minister, PM Modi has overtaken Chamling's record of 8,930 days.

In an X post, Fadnavis lauded PM Modi's leadership for achieving the benchmarks of becoming the fourth-largest economy.

In a post on X, the Maharashtra CM wrote, "8931 days of JanSeva, a record in serving the people. With 8931 days in public life, the longest ever tenure, Hon PM Narendra Modi Ji's journey, from serving as Chief Minister to leading our Nation as the Prime Minister, reflects an unwavering commitment to public service and citizen-centric governance."

"Congratulations to the fellowship citizens of Bharat, congratulations to Hon PM Modi Ji! Under his visionary leadership, India has achieved transformative growth across sectors, setting new benchmarks and emerging as the world's 4th largest economy. This clarity of purpose continues to inspire the nation and drive progress towards a stronger, self-reliant future," the X post read.

Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also lauded PM Modi for the achievement, praising his 24 years of uninterrupted public service. Shah hailed Modi's "sheer commitment" to the nation, noting that his tenure has reshaped India through development initiatives, welfare measures, and bolstering the country's global stature.

In a post on X, Amit Shah wrote, "Modi Ji's decades of Seva have shaped an era of his own. Whether it is giving the poor their rights, setting new landmarks in development or enhancing the nation's pride on global platforms, the Modi era has transformed India unrecognisably."

He added, "Fostering this new India required a lifetime's effort and PM Narendramodi gave it. Serving the nation and its people without taking a holiday for more than 24 years is the manifestation of his sheer commitment. This explains the unprecedented affection he received from people, three times as Gujarat CM and three times as India's PM. People's trust, affection and support for him have only grown with every passing day. PradhanSevakModi"

PM Modi remains the first Prime Minister born after Independence and has led his party to three consecutive Lok Sabha victories in 2014, 2019, and 2024. In October last year, the Prime Minister entered the 25th year of his tenure as head of government.

- ANI
Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu announces plans to develop Amaravati into a capital city surpassing Hyderabad, citing past IT successes.

Hyderabad, March 22 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said that Amaravati would be developed to surpass Hyderabad.

He said the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh was rebuilding Amaravati after five years of neglect. "Amaravati is poised to emerge as a capital city that surpasses even Hyderabad," he said.



Naidu said by integrating technology, the government is undertaking the construction of a "Smart City" and a "Blue-Green" capital city.



The Chief Minister was addressing the South Asian Learning Summit 2026-Transforming AI at the Indian School of Business (ISB) here.



Chandrababu Naidu recalled the initiatives he had taken as the Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh between 1995 and 2004 for the development of Hyderabad as the IT hub.



"I visualised what the future is. I thought the knowledge economy was the future, and that was the decision in 1995. We had so many problems. I built brick by brick. I had several meetings, brainstorming sessions with industrialists and academicians," he said, recalling his meeting with Bill Gates, which helped attract Microsoft to Hyderabad.



"We constructed the 'Cyber Towers' as a symbolic landmark for the IT revolution. This decision was driven solely by the objective of benefiting the public. Microsoft chose to establish its presence in Hyderabad, bypassing cities like Bengaluru and Chennai. For three decades now, we have been witnessing the tangible results of those initiatives. As part of this broader vision, we also secured the establishment of the Indian School of Business (ISB)," he said



Naidu noted that ISB has earned a stellar reputation as an exceptional business school. The 'Genome Valley' project also came into existence through a similar process.



"It is precisely because of the decisions taken back then that both Telugu states currently hold the number one position in the pharmaceutical sector. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hyderabad's Genome Valley supplied vaccines to the entire world," he said.



"The ecosystem of Hyderabad emerged as a result of the reforms introduced in the past across sectors such as IT, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure. Hyderabad evolved into one of the most livable cities in the world. This did not happen overnight; rather, a combination of factors-ranging from early-morning inspections to various policy decisions-paved the way for this transformation," he added.



Naidu stated that although Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into two separate states due to political reasons, the decisions taken in the past have successfully boosted the per capita income of the Telugu people.



"By the time we returned to power in Andhra Pradesh in 2024, the entire state had been left in ruins. The state's brand image was tarnished, and its institutional frameworks were completely dismantled," he said and claimed that the coalition government took several steps to put the state back on the path of progress.



The Chief Minister claimed that Andhra Pradesh now stands at the forefront in attracting investments.



Realising that future technologies will revolve around fields such as Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and Drones, the state government embarked on establishing dedicated hubs for Space, Electronics, and Drone technologies, he said.



The government also started focusing on Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia, which are set to dominate the energy landscape. With sustainable power generation, there will be no need to increase electricity tariffs in the future, he said.



He stated that Andhra Pradesh is poised to lead the entire South Indian region in the production of green energy.









- IANS
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi emphasized the state's commitment to involving women in water conservation and management under the 'Mission Power' initiative on World Water Day 2026. He linked this approach to the global theme 'Water and Gender', noting how conflicts and climate imbalances exacerbate water scarcity. The CM stated that entrusting women with management, repairs, and storage has significantly enhanced water resource conservation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the national commitment to water conservation, and the Jal Shakti Ministry prepared to host a conclave on the topic.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi highlights women's role in water conservation under 'Mission Power', aligning with the 'Water and Gender' theme for World Water Day 2026.

Bhubaneswar, March 22 Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday emphasised that the government has involved women in the conservation and management of water under the 'Mission Power', reflecting this year's World Water Day theme 'Water and Gender'.

Speaking on World Water Day 2026, he said that the theme for this year's World Water Day is 'Water and Gender', further noting that the ongoing conflicts, excessive rainfall and situation of draughts creating an imbalance globally.

"My best wishes to all of you on the occasion of World Water Day 2026. We have made all arrangements for water conservation, irrigation, and providing pure drinking water. The global water crisis is steadily intensifying. Today, conflicts are erupting between nations; in some regions, global warming is causing ecological imbalances--leading to excessive rainfall in some places while others face severe drought. Consequently, to help restore this balance, the theme for this year's World Water Day is 'Water and Gender'," he said.

The Odisha CM underlined that women have been involved in the management of water under 'Mission Power', prioritising water. Women are working towards the conservation and storage of water, as well as rectifying any faults and undertaking the repair work.

"Based on this premise, within our 'Mission Power' initiative, we have prioritised water as a key focus area. To ensure its effective management, we have entrusted this responsibility to women. Their involvement--encompassing general management, rectifying faults, undertaking repairs, and overseeing water storage--has significantly enhanced both the conservation and overall management of water resources," he said.

Majhi further said that the government aims to further strengthen measures to conserve water and spread awareness among people to use it mindfully.

"After our government came to power, we have significantly increased irrigation and water management...We will take various steps to conserve water, manage it and create widespread awareness among the people to use water as per their need," he added.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the critical role of water in shaping the planet's future, calling for a national reaffirmation of the commitment to conserve every drop.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, 'Water sustains us and shapes our planet's future. On World Water Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to conserve every drop of water and use it responsibly. Today is also a day to appreciate those who engage in sustainable practices, promote awareness and nurture a culture of conservation."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, on Saturday, said that World Water Day serves as a reminder of the critical importance of freshwater and the urgent need for sustainable water management. It highlights the growing challenges of water scarcity, climate change, and equitable access, while mobilising governments, industries, and communities worldwide to act towards securing water for present and future generations. This year's global theme, "Water and Gender," further underscores the need for inclusive and equitable water governance.

Reinforcing this global call to action, the Ministry of Jal Shakti will host the World Water Day Conclave 2026 on 23 March at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, under the theme "Industry for Water".

The inaugural session will be held in the presence of the Union Minister of Jal Shakti, CR Paatil, along with senior representatives from government and industry.

World Water Day, held on March 22 every year since 1993, is an annual United Nations observance focusing on the importance of freshwater.

A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and sanitation for all by 2030.

- ANI
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Losing health insurance can quickly worsen health for people with diabetes as patients struggle to control the disease after coverage is interrupted, according to new research from Oregon Health & Science University,

The study, published today in JAMA Health Forum, found that low-income adults with diabetes who experienced insurance "churn" - defined as losing coverage for multiple medical visits - had poorer blood sugar control and needed more intensive medications than similar patients who stayed insured.

"Our goal was to understand what happens after people with diabetes lose insurance," said lead author Nathalie Huguet, Ph.D., an associate professor of family medicine in the OHSU School of Medicine. "We already know they are more likely to churn out of coverage. This study shows that once they do, their health often gets worse."

Researchers analyzed electronic health records from more than 39,000 adults treated at community health centers across 20 states. These clinics largely serve people living in or near poverty. Those who lost insurance were compared with others who were nearly identical at the start of the study.

"Even though they all started at the same baseline, the patients who lost insurance had worse outcomes," Huguet said. "They needed more medications and that raises a big question: How can people manage complex diabetes treatment without coverage?"

The study found increases in insulin use and other high-intensity diabetes treatments among patients who lost insurance. Serious complications were less common during the study period, but Huguet said that may reflect limited follow-up time.

"Serious complications like amputations or kidney failure don't happen overnight," she said. "What we're seeing is an early warning sign. The disease gets harder to manage after insurance loss."

Access to Medicaid

The findings build on Huguet's earlier research showing that low-income patients with diabetes are more likely to experience insurance instability. Together, the studies suggest coverage gaps are not just a paperwork problem - they are a direct threat to health.

Huguet said the results are especially concerning as millions of Americans face potential Medicaid losses and rising insurance premiums in 2026.

"Many people who lose Medicaid don't regain coverage for a long time," she said. "Marketplace plans are expensive, and insulin is still unaffordable for many people without insurance."

Community health centers often provide discounted medications, but many rely heavily on Medicaid funding.

"If Medicaid coverage shrinks, clinics will struggle to care for these patients. We need to increase support to primary care clinics so they can continue to serve their patients and keep the damage of losing insurance to a minimum," said co-author Jennifer DeVoe, M.D., D.Phil., a professor of family medicine in the OHSU School of Medicine who holds the John and Sherrie Saultz Professorship in Family Medicine Innovation.

"People without insurance are more likely to end up in the emergency department," Huguet said. "That can lead to life-changing outcomes, like amputations, and it ultimately costs more for patients and the entire health system."

In addition to Huguet and DeVoe, other OHSU co-authors include: Dang Dinh, M.S., Jun Hwang, M.S., and Miguel Marino, Ph.D., as well as Annie Larson, Ph.D., with OCHIN, Inc., and Andrew Suchocki, M.D., M.P.H., FAAFP, with Clackamas Health Centers.

This project was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of a financial assistance award totaling $2,275,360 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Our Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis suggests Boston Scientific is undervalued by 20.2%. Track this in your watchlist or portfolio , or discover 53 more high quality undervalued stocks .

Compared with the recent share price of $69.48, the DCF output suggests the stock trades at a 20.2% discount to this intrinsic estimate, which points to a margin of undervaluation on these cash flow assumptions.

Across the ten year projection period, the discounted cash flows range from roughly $3.30b in 2026 to $3.90b in 2035, all expressed in $. When combined and adjusted for the required return to shareholders, this produces an estimated intrinsic value of $87.04 per share.

For Boston Scientific, the model used is a 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity approach, built on last twelve months free cash flow of about $3.63b. Analysts provide explicit free cash flow estimates out to 2028, including a projection of $5.37b in that year, and Simply Wall St extrapolates cash flows further to 2035 using its own assumptions.

A Discounted Cash Flow model estimates what a company might be worth today by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting those back into a single present value figure.

On Simply Wall St's 6 point valuation framework, Boston Scientific scores 5 out of 6 . The rest of this article will compare what different valuation methods suggest about the stock and then finish with a more complete way to think about value that goes beyond a single number.

These mixed returns have kept attention on how the market is weighing Boston Scientific's growth prospects against current risks. Recent coverage has focused on the stock's longer term track record compared with its more recent pullback, which has sharpened the debate around what counts as a fair price today.

The shares last closed at US$69.48, with returns of 0.5% over 7 days, a 6.8% decline over 30 days, a 26.6% decline year to date, and a 31.0% decline over 1 year, set against gains of 44.1% over 3 years and 81.8% over 5 years.

If you are wondering whether Boston Scientific's current share price still reflects its long term potential, the recent moves in the stock give you plenty to think about.

Story Continues

Approach 2: Boston Scientific Price vs Earnings

For profitable companies, the P/E ratio is a useful shorthand because it links what you pay for each share directly to the earnings that support that share. It gives a quick sense of how many dollars investors are willing to pay today for one dollar of current earnings.

What counts as a normal P/E often reflects the balance between growth expectations and risk. Higher expected earnings growth or lower perceived risk can support a higher multiple, while slower growth or higher risk usually aligns with a lower one.

Boston Scientific currently trades on a P/E of 35.63x, above the Medical Equipment industry average of 26.87x but below the peer group average of 42.05x. Simply Wall Sts Fair Ratio for Boston Scientific is 38.76x. This Fair Ratio is a proprietary estimate of what the P/E might be given factors such as earnings growth, profit margins, industry, market cap and company specific risks.

Because it blends these company level drivers, the Fair Ratio can provide a more tailored anchor than simple comparisons with peers or the broad industry. With the current P/E of 35.63x sitting below the Fair Ratio of 38.76x, the shares appear undervalued on this metric.

Result: UNDERVALUED

NYSE:BSX P/E Ratio as at Mar 2026

P/E ratios tell one story, but what if the real opportunity lies elsewhere? Start investing in legacies, not executives. Discover our 20 top founder-led companies.

Upgrade Your Decision Making: Choose your Boston Scientific Narrative

Earlier it was mentioned that there is an even better way to understand valuation. Narratives are a simple way for you to connect your view of Boston Scientific's future revenue, earnings and margins to a forecast and then to a fair value that sits behind the numbers.

On Simply Wall St's Community page, Narratives let you set your own story for the company, plug in assumptions like growth rates, profit margins and P/E multiples, and then compare the resulting fair value with the current share price to decide whether you see the stock as attractively priced or not.

These Narratives update automatically when new information such as earnings releases, acquisition news or guidance changes is added to the platform. This helps keep your story, forecast and fair value aligned with the latest data rather than becoming stale.

For Boston Scientific, one investor might build a Narrative around a fair value near US$98.90, while another might land closer to US$104.24. Seeing these side by side can help you judge where your own view sits on that spectrum before making any buy or sell decision.

Do you think there's more to the story for Boston Scientific? Head over to our Community to see what others are saying!

NYSE:BSX 1-Year Stock Price Chart

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include BSX.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Some white-collar workers who lost out to AI are now being paid to help perfect the tech that sidelined them, often in ways that feel just as precarious. That's the uneasy reality documented by the Verge's Josh Dzieza, who follows lawyers, writers, designers, coders, and scientists now piecing together contract work for data vendors like Mercor, Scale AI, and Surge AI, building the training material behind systems such as as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude. Dzieza describes a booming but unstable "data-supply chain": Workers invent prompts to trip up models, draft gold-standard answers, annotate audio and video, or even simulate entire corporate worldsonly to see their projects suddenly paused, their pay cut, or their access silently revoked.

"Those who couldn't meet the new demands got 'offboarded' and replaced by new recruits," Dzieza writes of what happened to some individuals who worked for Mercor. Many say they're micromanaged by monitoring software, bound by strict secrecy, and supervised by very young managers, all while trying to compete for tasks that may ultimately automate what they once did full time. "One documentary-maker who's won Emmys, he messaged me and he was like, 'I'm being handed a shovel and told to dig my own grave,' and that's exactly how everyone thinks about it," one screenwriter who's taken on some of this AI work tells Dzieza. The story also traces emerging lawsuits over worker classification (i.e., individual contractors vs. regular salaried workers) and dives deeper into the bigger question: Is AI creating a new class of heavily surveilled, disposable-knowledge labor? More here.
Since becoming defense secretary, Pete Hegseth has found no shortage of ways to bring his strand of conservative evangelicalism into the Pentagon. He hosts monthly Christian worship services for employees. His department's promotional videos have displayed Bible verses alongside military footage. In speeches and interviews, he often argues the US was founded as a Christian nation and troops should embrace God, potentially risking the military's secular mission and hard-won pluralism. Now, however, the defense secretary's Christian rhetoric has taken on new meaning after the US and Israel went to war with Iran , an Islamic theocracy, per the AP .

"The mullahs are desperate and scrambling," Hegseth said at a recent Pentagon press briefing, referring to Iran's Shiite Muslim clerics. He later recited Psalm 144, a passage of Scripture that Jews and Christians share: "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle." Hegseth has a history of defending the Crusades, the brutal medieval wars that pitted Christians against Muslims, and two of his tattoos draw from crusader imagery: the Jerusalem cross and the phrase "Deus vult," or "God wills it," which Hegseth has called "the rallying cry of Christian knights as they marched to Jerusalem."

Matthew D. Taylor, a visiting scholar at Georgetown who studies religious extremism, says Hegseth's rhetoric "can only inflame and reinforce the fears and deep animosity that the regime in Iran has towards the US." When asked whether Hegseth views the war in Iran in religious terms, a Defense Department spokesperson pointed to a recent CBS interview in which Hegseth seemed to confirm as much. "We're fighting religious fanatics who seek a nuclear capability in order for some religious Armageddon," Hegseth said of Iranian leaders. "But from my perspective, I mean, obviously I'm a man of faith who encourages our troops to lean into their faith, rely on God."

As head of the armed forces, Hegseth has overseen changes that are in line with his conservative Christian worldview, including banning transgender troops, curtailing diversity initiatives, and reviewing women in combat roles. Youssef Chouhoud, a political scientist at Christopher Newport University, said, "The intrusion of Christian nationalist policy, not just Christian nationalist rhetoric ... that is what's troubling." Rabbi Laurence Bazer, a retired US Army colonel and chaplain, said it risks making service members feel like outsiders when the language of military leadership draws exclusively from one faith tradition. "The US military reflects the full diversity of this countrypeople of every faith step forward to serve," Bazer said in a statement. "That diversity is a strength worth protecting." More here.
Tina Fey just notched another Saturday Night Live first, this time across the Atlantic. The former "Weekend Update" anchor hosted the premiere episode of SNL UK on Saturday, joking that she was "the youngest person ever" to host the show, and riffing on how British viewers might know herfrom Mean Girls to her Sarah Palin impression to, incorrectly, "the lady from Veep." Her monologue quickly turned into a cameo parade, with Nicola Coughlan, Michael Cera, and Graham Norton interrupting, notes Variety .

She also flexed her UK-comedy cred, dropping lines from Fawlty Towers, Keeping Up Appearances, Are You Being Served?, Monty Python, EastEnders, and even recent ads. Fey's hosting gig leans on her long SNL history, from becoming the show's first female head writer in 1999 to co-anchoring "Weekend Update" and later returning for Palin sendups. Her reign as SNL UK's "youngest host," however, will be brief: Jamie Dornan hosts March 21, followed by Riz Ahmed on April 4. See Fey's monologue here. Reviews of the debut show were strong, based on a roundup at Sky News.
The prediction site that intends to turn "monitoring the situation" into a bar experience in Washington, DC, was unable to monitor much of anything on its opening night. Polymarket's splashy pop-up, the Situation Room, was billed as a data-soaked hangout with more than 80 TVs, live feeds, and a glowing globe of real-time wagers. "Imagine a sports bar  but just for situation monitoring  live X feeds, flight radar, Bloomberg terminals, and Polymarket screens," the company's announcement said, per USA Today . Instead, NBC News reports, guests got a dark tech demo: no power to the screens, no Wi-Fi, no social media or market trackersjust drinks. The spot opened late and closed early on Friday.

Prediction markets face growing scrutiny in Washington. A surge of trades on US-Iran conflict outcomes prompted new legislation from Sen. Chris Murphy and Rep. Greg Casar that would outlaw wagering on war, terrorism, assassinations, and other government actions. Murphy warned such markets are "ripe for corruption" when bettors can influence or know the outcome. One customer said he'd made money elsewhere betting on a government shutdown, then promptly lost, per WUSA. Polymarket, which has boomed alongside rival Kalshi through real-world stunts like free-grocery pop-ups, responded to the blackout with a brief post on X saying only that its "situation monitors are now on and ready to be monitored."
The family of Nancy Guthrie publicly thanked Tucson residents this weekend, more than seven weeks after she vanished, while urging them not to let her disappearance fade from view. In a message aired by NBC affiliate KVOA , relatives of the 84-year-oldmother of Today co-host Savannah Guthriesaid: "We are deeply grateful for the outpouring from neighbors, friends and the people of Tucson. We are all family now." The message asks residents to recheck home security footage, notes, texts, and memories tied to three dates: Jan. 11, Jan. 31, and Feb. 1, per NBC News.

"No detail is too small," the family said, per USA Today, suggesting even something seemingly minor could matter while asking for for "renewed attention" to the case. Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home near Tucson around 9:45pm Jan. 31 and was reported missing the next day. Investigators have released images of a masked man labeled a person of interest. The family has offered a $1 million reward for her safe return, and the FBI has added $50,000. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators think they understand the motive but wouldn't say what it was. "We miss our mom with every breath," the statement said.
President Trump has acknowledged Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as possible Republican presidential nominees for 2028. But last summer, he said Vance would "most likely" take over from him as the leader of the MAGA movement, per the New York Times . Democrats, especially the ones who could be in the running for their party's nomination, are beginning to take that to heart, focusing their attacks on Vance. The latest example was Saturday night, the AP reports, when Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear appeared in Vance's home county in Ohio and said the vice president had abandoned the communities that he wrote about in the memoir that made him famous.

The account of Vance's hardscrabble upbringing "trafficked in tired stereotypes," Beshear said at a Democratic fundraiser in Butler County. "His book Hillbilly Elegy was really hillbilly hate. It is poverty tourism, because he ain't from Appalachia." The broadside reflects Vance's status as the heir apparent to the coalition that twice elected Trump. Democrats need to prepare for the day after Trump's presidency, said Lis Smith, a Democratic strategist. "Right now, JD Vance is a clear front-runner for the 2028 nomination. And so we should begin defining himnot in 2027, not in 2028but today." Vance spokesperson Taylor Van Kirk brushed off the governor's criticism. "Every time Andy Beshear attacks the vice president to try to get himself publicity, he ends up humiliating himself in the process, but maybe that's something he's into?" she said.

Rep. Ro Khanna was among the first Democrats to begin focusing on Vance, per the AP. Khanna stopped at the City Club of Cleveland and Yale University, where he and Vance studied law, and gave speeches that attempted to cast Vance as more extreme than Trump. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro singled out Vance in November while making the argument that the Trump administration does not care about working people. "At least with Donald Trump, he's transparent about that," Shapiro said. "JD Vance is a total phony." Some Democrats have coalesced around California Gov. Gavin Newsom because of his aggressive strategy against Republicans. He coined the nickname "JD 'Just Dance' Vance" on social media, and he has mocked the vice president's appearance, saying Vance "grew a beard and lost his spine."

Smith said every line of criticism of Vance is an audition. "There's definitely value in taking on Vance to show Democrats, hey, this could be me on the debate stage against him," she said. At Saturday's Democratic fundraiser, the mere mention of Vance's name drew a chorus of boos. "I don't think he's got the magic that everybody looks at with Trump," said Theresa Vacheresse, a retired physician and business owner. "I think when Trump is gone, the Democrats might have a chance." Jamal Simmons, who was Kamala Harris' communications director in 2022, said vice presidents can be vulnerable. "The party is built to defend the president more than it is the vice president," he said. "The vice president's kind of out there on their own, to defend themself, and find friends where they can."
UPDATE

Mar 30, 2026 7:15 PM CDT

A sheriff who seized more than 650,000 ballots from California's Proposition 50 election in November has suspended his investigation into fraud allegations in the face of lawsuits and opposition on ethical grounds. The effort is on hold, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, said in a statement Monday, blaming "politically motivated lawsuits and court filings." State Attorney General Rob Bonta instructed Bianco to stop the investigation, the Los Angeles Times reports, then went to court to have his directive ordered. Bonta called the case an "unprecedented constitutional emergency" in a petition he filed with the California Supreme Court. No election fraud claims have been substantiated in the case.

Mar 22, 2026 1:30 PM CDT

A California sheriff running for governor has seized more than a half-million ballots cast in a November special election from county election officials, saying he's investigating a ballot count discrepancy. County elections officials have disputed the claims by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, called Bianco's move unprecedented and said it is designed to sow distrust in elections, the AP reports. Bianco said at a news conference Friday that his office launched the investigation after receiving a complaint from a citizens group about the ballot count from a November 2025 special election on redistricting.
UPDATE

Mar 23, 2026 9:52 PM CDT

The Senate on Monday night voted 54-45 to confirm Sen. Markwayne Mullin as the next Department of Homeland Security secretary, a job he'll take after Kristi Noem, removed from the post by President Trump, leaves at the end of the month. The Oklahoma Republican, perhaps not surprisingly, voted for himself, and the Washington Post reports "the chamber filled with applause when the result was announced." The vote ran essentially along party lines, with Democrats John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico joining Republicans in voting yes. Meanwhile, Rand Paul was the only Republican to vote no, NBC News reports.

Mar 22, 2026 2:45 PM CDT

Sen. Markwayne Mullin's colleagues moved him a step closer to running the Department of Homeland Security on Sunday, voting 54-37 to advance his nomination. The decision to end debate sets up a final confirmation vote as early as Monday or Tuesday on the Oklahoma Republican tapped by President Trump to replace Kristi Noem, whom the president removed as DHS secretary. Mullin had the support of Sen. John Fetterman in committee and on the floor, the Hill reports; the Pennsylvania Democrat said he sees Mullin as an upgrade over Noem and a partner he can work with.
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Camping World Holdings is back in focus as analysts reset price targets into an $11 to $16 range, framing a tighter band around what they currently see as fair value. Those updates reflect a mix of cautious and optimistic views tied to Q4 results, revised guidance, inventory plans and the recent dividend pause. In the sections ahead, you will see how this evolving narrative might matter for your own view on the stock, as well as what to watch next in the research.

Stay updated as the Fair Value for Camping World Holdings shifts by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Camping World Holdings.

What Wall Street Has Been Saying

 Bullish Takeaways

BMO Capital, Citi, Roth Capital and KeyBanc all keep positive ratings on Camping World, even after resetting price targets into the low to mid teens. This signals that they still see upside potential relative to current trading levels.

Several firms highlight the new inventory approach. BMO Capital points to plans to reduce turns and focus on ordering that is aimed at supporting margins, which could help earnings quality over time if execution lines up with guidance.

Roth Capital views the decision to pause the dividend and prioritize debt reduction as a balance sheet move that could support financial flexibility, even as it trims its long term view.

 Bearish Takeaways

Baird cuts its target to US$11 and keeps a Neutral stance after Q4 results and guidance that came in below prior expectations. This underscores concern around near term execution and visibility.

KeyBanc flags an adjusted EBITDA miss on better revenue and a softer guide than investors had been watching, including a lower adjusted EBITDA floor range for FY26, which feeds into more cautious earnings assumptions.

Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there's more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives!

NYSE:CWH 1-Year Stock Price Chart

We've flagged 1 risk for Camping World Holdings. See which could impact your investment.

What's in the News
Northern Journal contributor Max Graham can be reached at max@northernjournal.com. Hes interested in any and all mining related stories, as well as introductory meetings with people in and around the industry. This article was originally published in Northern Journal , a newsletter from Nathaniel Herz. Subscribe at www.northernjournal.com.
Mar 22 (Japanese Comedian Meshida) - Breaking news: The Japanese government has reportedly decided to remove blurring from adult content.

Until now in Japan, showing female genitalia has been considered a crime under obscenity laws. However, historically, Japanese art often depicted the human body without any such censorship. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan adopted more Western values, including stricter standards around obscenity.

Ironically, there has even been criticism from abroad, with some questioning why Japanese content is censored in this way.

Within Japan, another concern has emerged. Some argue that for generations raised on heavily censored media, the use of blur forced creators and audiences to rely more on imagination. If that disappears, there are fears it could affect the distinct style and creativity seen in Japanese anime, manga, and related industries.

At the same time, broader global debates around appearance and identity continue to evolve. As discussions grow in the West about not judging people based on looks, some in Japan have even jokingly suggested extreme alternativessuch as censoring faces instead.

Much of this remains speculative, but the debate highlights the complex intersection of culture, law, and creative expression in modern Japan.

Source: Japanese Comedian Meshida
YOKOHAMA, Mar 22 (News On Japan) - Mos Food Services held a media preview in Yokohama on March 17th for its new immersive dining concept, combining meals with puzzle-solving in an interactive setting, ahead of the limited-time launch running from March 20th to May 6th.

The event takes place in a section of the Mos Premium Sakuragicho Cross Gate store in Yokohama, where each session lasts around two hours and accommodates up to 16 participants, with advance reservations required and tickets priced at 4,200 yen, including one drink, a salad, and a hamburger, while additional items can also be ordered.

Upon entering, visitors receive a game book and begin solving a series of puzzles, while actors appear throughout the experience, transforming the restaurant into a theatrical space.

Participants are treated as characters within the story, engaging in group greetings to build a shared atmosphere and interacting directly with performers as the narrative unfolds, creating a highly interactive and immersive experience.

Source: 
Iran fired two missiles at Diego Garcia which is over 4100 Kilometers away. There were previous assurances from Iran that they would not develop missiles firing over 2000 kilometers. 4100 kilometer missiles can strike London, and all cities in Europe and all US military bases in Europe.

The US fired an SM3 missile that was able to intercept one of the two intermediate range ballistic missiles.

One of the iranian missiles failed in flight. The other also failed to strike the base. The SM3 might have intercepted the Iranian missile. A two stage rocket with that kind of range reach speeds of mach 10-15 in the mid phase and mach 8+ in the terminal phase.

The Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) is a derivative of the RIM-156 Standard SM-2 Block IV missile, and is the interceptor component of the U.S. Navy theater ballistic missile defense system, called NTW-TBMD (Navy Theater Wide  Theater Ballistic Missile Defense). It is an upper-tier (exo-atmospheric) ballistic missile defense weapon designed to intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles in the midcourse and terminal phases of flight.

The SM-3 missile, designated RIM-161A, uses the basic SM-2 Block IVA airframe and propulsion, and adds a third stage rocket motor (a.k.a. Advanced Solid Axial Stage, ASAS, made by Alliant Techsystems), a GPS/INS guidance section (a.k.a. GAINS, GPS-Aided Inertial Navigation System), and a LEAP (Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile) kinetic warhead (a non-explosive hit-to-kill warhead). The SM-3 interceptor replaced the SM-2s explosive warhead and radar seeker with an additional solid-fueled third-stage motor and infrared homing kinetic kill vehicle.

The SM-3 Block IIA interceptor has a greater range and higher velocity to intercept fast-moving intermediate-range ballistic missiles more effectively. In June 2015, the Block IIA was first flight tested and the interceptor successfully demonstrated flyout through nosecone deployment and third stage flight. In December of that year, the SM-3 Block IIA again underwent a flight test and successfully demonstrated flyout through kinetic warhead ejection. Following the two successful flight tests, the SM-3 Block IIA conducted a successful test intercept on February 4, 2017, however, the upgraded interceptor failed to successfully intercept a target missile during a scheduled intercept test on June 22, 2017. The SM-3 Block IIA will continue being tested until its scheduled deployment in 2020, at which time it is expected that Aegis BMD 5.1 will employ the Block IIA interceptors on both ships and at the Aegis Ashore site in Poland.
Lugano, Switzerland, March 17th, 2026, TechnologyWire

On St. Patricks Day, as 2 million spectators flood the streets of New York City, USA, a digital dollar issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, is taking over Times Square. The brand activation combines synchronized digital billboards with a street-level campaign designed to introduce digital dollar payments to a mainstream audience. The activation coincides with the New York City St. Patricks Day Parade, the worlds oldest and largest, drawing more than 150,000 marchers through the heart of the city.

The campaign will feature coordinated imagery across several of Times Squares most recognizable digital screens, culminating in a synchronized share-of-voice takeover that transforms multiple screens into a single, unified visual, showing how digital dollars move between people in an instant.** At street level, brand ambassadors will distribute 25,000 promotional postcards throughout Times Square and along the parade route, inviting passersby to scan a QR code to download the Rumble Wallet and claim $10 in USA, free, right from their phone. The activation kicks off at 10 AM ET and ends at 11:59 PM ET.

The activation reflects a growing shift in fintech marketing toward experiential campaigns that translate complex financial technology into tangible consumer experiences, using high-traffic cultural moments and large-scale digital displays to capture public attention.

The mechanic is simple by design. Scan. Download. Receive. It is the same technology that already moves money for more than 550 million people worldwide, now available to anyone walking through Times Square with a smartphone in their pocket.

Stablecoins are blockchain-based digital dollars designed to maintain a stable value while enabling instant, internet-native payments between digital wallets. They combine the price stability of traditional currency with the speed and programmability of blockchain networks.

USA builds on the principles that made USD the most widely used stablecoin in the world, said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. Today, USD is used by more than 550 million people globally, helping move digital dollars across the internet instantly and reliably. USA brings those same foundations to a new audience, making it easier for people to experience how digital dollars can function in everyday life.

Times Square on St. Patricks Day is one of the most electric environments in the world, said Bo Hines, CEO of Tether USA. We are not just running ads, we are handing people the future of money and letting them use it on the spot. This activation invites people to experience the next generation of money right on their smartphones. By pairing digital billboards with a dynamic street activation, we are turning a complex technology into something people can see, experience, and use for themselves.

Digital dollars no longer require a tutorial. They require an opportunity. Large-scale activations like this have become an increasingly common strategy for fintech and technology brands looking to bridge the gap between digital infrastructure and mainstream awareness  and USA is making that bridge as short as a QR code scan.

USA is a digital dollar designed to maintain a 1:1 value with the U.S. dollar while enabling instant digital payments through blockchain networks. Send it, receive it, spend it  globally, in seconds, using compatible wallets and applications**. Moving money should feel as simple as sending a message. With USA, it does.

About USA

USA is a U.S.-regulated dollar-backed stablecoin that Tether, the global leader in stablecoin technology, is supporting. Purpose-built to serve the U.S. market and support American regulatory standards, USA is the foundational rail for the next generation of American commerce, trade, and finance.

Tethers support for USA underscores its commitment to driving U.S. dominance and leadership in the evolving digital asset economy. As part of the broader Tether ecosystem, USA will set a new benchmark in the U.S. for utility-driven stablecoins designed to deliver long-term value, strong governance, and real-world applications.

Important Note:

USA is not legal tender (as described in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code) and is not issued, backed, approved, or guaranteed by the U.S. government. USA is not subject to the insurance protections of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), or any other government agency. The press release is published by Tether Operations, S.A. de C.V. for informational purposes only.

Tether Operations, S.A. de C.V. is not the issuer of USA. The issuer of USA is Anchorage Digital Bank, N.A.
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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP) is one of the best railroad stocks to buy according to analysts. On March 12, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP) said 14 new Site Ready rail-served industrial development locations had received certification. The sites are spread across North America.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CP) Expands Room to Grow Program with 14 New Certified Sites

This certification is part of the companys broader Room to Grow commercial strategy to attract manufacturers, logistics operators, and supply chain partners to its network. Six states in the US, three Canadian provinces, and two Mexican states host these development sites. They collectively unlock more than 6,600 acres of immediately developable land, noted Canadian Pacific Kansas City, or CPKC. This means that businesses can break ground without waiting through the lengthy pre-permitting and rail connection approval process that typically adds months to industrial project timelines.

This announcement more than doubles CPKCs existing footprint in the Room to Grow program. The railway had just eight Site Ready locations before this batch, and now counts 22 certified sites across its tri-national network. Each certified location was developed in partnership with Burns & McDonnell, a global engineering and construction firm. CPKC stated that each site comes pre-approved for rail service connection with proximity to major markets, ports, and distribution hubs.

John Brooks, CPKCs Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, framed the expansion as a direct customer support tool. He stated:

Each certified location is designed to streamline development, accelerate timelines and create new value for both business and communities through unparalleled rail connectivity.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP) is a North American freight rail company. It operates a rail network of approximately 20,000 miles that spans Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The network transports bulk commodities, intermodal containers, automotive products, and energy resources.

While we acknowledge the potential of CP 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: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
China Science Fiction Convention 2026 to be held in Beijing

Xinhua) 10:38, March 22, 2026

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The China Science Fiction Convention 2026 is set to take place in Beijing from March 27 to 29, offering an extensive platform for exploring embodied intelligence, according to Beijing Evening News on Friday.

During the convention, new sci-fi movies such as Missions to the Moon will be released. There will also be eight events, including a sci-fi game industry forum, aimed at showcasing innovative achievements that can drive market growth and transform sci-fi imagination into new quality productive forces.

The scale of China's sci-fi industry has exceeded 100 billion yuan (about 14.5 billion U.S. dollars) for three consecutive years, according to the newspaper.

Sci-fi games have emerged as a pillar of the industry, and the originality of sci-fi derivatives and cultural tourism sectors is becoming increasingly prominent, said Pang Xiaodong, head of China Research Institute for Science Popularization.

"These developments mark that sci-fi is accelerating its expansion beyond books and screens, integrating into public life in diversified forms," Pang was quoted as saying in the newspaper.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) is one of the best forever stocks to buy now. On February 26, BlackRock selected Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) to provide select middle-office functions for $4 trillion in U.S.-domiciled ETFs. The deal affirms the long-standing relationship between the two companies while asserting Citis edge in ETF and middle-office servicing capabilities.

Citigroup-piqsels.com-id-oxlct.jpg

Citi has also been a trusted partner as BlackRock increasingly transitions its ETF operating model onto the Aladdin platform. In 2021, the asset manager selected Citi as a post-trade service provider for its U.S.-domiciled iShares ETFs. Consequently, the company has been providing custodial fund administration and transfer agency services.

Following the BlackRock deal, CEO Jane Fraser has reiterated that Citigroup is targeting a 10% to 11% ROTCE this year, driven by revenue growth and disciplined capital allocation. As part of the drive, the bank is investing heavily in artificial intelligence and technology to enhance productivity and client service. It is also in the process of integrating a retail bank into its wealth management in a bid to create synergies and drive growth.

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) is a global diversified financial services holding company that provides consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services. Its core business activities include investment banking, retail banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

While we acknowledge the potential of C 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: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) is one of the best Korean stocks to buy. On March 2, Morgan Stanley analyst Seyon Park trimmed the firms price target on Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) to $29 from $31, while maintaining an Overweight rating.

The cut follows Coupangs Q4 2025 earnings miss reported on February 26. In the earnings report, the company posted an EPS loss of $0.01 and undershot the $0.02 consensus estimate. Quarterly revenue came in at $8.84 billion, falling short of the $9.12 billion expectation, though it was still up 10.9% year over year.

Besides the financial report, Morgan Stanley acknowledged ongoing headwinds from a major data breach that exposed the personal information of over 33 million customers. The incident led to the resignation of CEO Park Dae-jun and is expected to weigh on growth and profitability over the next few months through, according to the analysts, higher cybersecurity spending and lingering damage to customer sentiment.

On the positive side, Morgan Stanley noted that Coupang has largely moved past the worst of the breachs regulatory fallout. Analyst Park noted that operational performance in Korea shows improvement and the companys expansion in Taiwan is progressing well. These are the reasons Park gave for holding the Overweight stance despite the cut.

This is actually Morgan Stanleys second consecutive price target reduction on Coupang. The firm had already cut its target to $31 from $35 in December 2025 when the data breach first surfaced.

Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) is a South Korean e-commerce company. It operates an online retail platform offering products across categories such as consumer goods, electronics, apparel, and groceries. This is supported by its logistics network known as Rocket Delivery. The company also provides food delivery, fintech, and video streaming services.

While we acknowledge the potential of CPNG 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: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
A Kenner Police substation is seen in Kenner's Laketown on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. (Staff photo by Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune)
The S&WB has a detailed plan for New Orleans water mains. It's 23 years old.
You are the owner of this article.
UiPath, Inc. (NYSE:PATH) is among the 10 Best New AI Stocks to Buy.

On March 12, DA Davidson lowered the firms price target on UiPath, Inc. (NYSE:PATH) to $13 from $15 while maintaining a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm noted that while the company delivered solid fourth-quarter results, including a beat on annualized recurring revenue and a better-than-expected outlook, certain factors weighed on investor sentiment. These included the inorganic contribution from the acquisition of WorkFusion, foreign exchange tailwinds, and expectations for limited operating margin expansion.

The same day, TD Cowen also lowered its price target on UiPath, Inc. (NYSE:PATH) to $13 from $16 while maintaining a Hold rating. The firm highlighted steady fourth-quarter performance, including accelerating adoption of AI-driven automation solutions, stronger traction with large enterprise customers, and continued margin expansion. However, mixed factors such as FX-driven net new ARR growth and uncertainties around long-term growth drivers contributed to the cautious stance.

UiPath, Inc. (NYSE:PATH) is a global software company that develops artificial intelligence-driven automation and orchestration platforms. Its technology enables enterprises to build and deploy AI agents that automate complex workflows, positioning the company at the center of the growing enterprise automation and AI software market.

While we acknowledge the potential of PATH 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: 11 Most Undervalued Renewable Energy Stocks to Invest In and 13 Extreme Dividend Stocks With Huge Upside Potential.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
It is hard to come-up with adjectives to describe the lunatic president of the US who is a puppet of Netanyahu (Epstein Mossad files), another lunatic who just noted that Jesus Christ does not have an advantage over Genkiz Khan. Israeli colonial settlers went on a rampage yesterday torching property in nine Palestinian villages while destroying Lebanon and starving Gaza. Now Iranian missiles arrive here with no sirens since most US/Israeli detection radars were knocked out. Desperate flailing Trump just threatened to attack Iran's energy infrastructure within 48 hours, a country of 93 million people! Iran in turn, said that if this happens, the infrastructure tied to the US and Israel will be attacked (energy and water desalination). Global starvation and destruction to follow (see links below). As I and many others have demonstrated for years, the apartheid genocidal regime will drag the US and potentially the world to ruins. It is a suicidal, genocidal, and ecocidal regime. The ongoing Zionist onslaught on Gaza that accelerated in 2023 with total destruction and genocide indeed unleashed a chain of events that only the one God (Allah in Arabic to Christians and Muslim) (if you believe) knows where they leads. No one predicted the course of WWI or II when they were unleashed. But as I always pointed out this war, unlike all others, will not have people who declare themselves winners. While all wars are lose-lose scenarios, this war will mean the end of civilization as we know it. Cockroaches maybe the only winners (resistant to nuclear radiation). The public and anyone in authority in the Arab world, in the US, in the whole globe (including Israelis) need to wake up to the imminent danger we face globally. ... for more including links and what you can do go to blog.

Stay Humane, act, and keep hope and the planet alive

Mazin Qumsiyeh

A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home

Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History

Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine

facebook pages Personal Institute

French
A legal and moral indictment of the U.S. embargo, Trump's renewed punishment campaign, and the cowardice of a world that keeps voting "against" injustice while doing almost nothing to stop it

The U.S. embargo on Cuba is not a simple bilateral dispute; it is a six-decade regime of coercion, financial strangulation, travel restriction, and extraterritorial pressure that has been repeatedly condemned by the United Nations and denounced by CARICOM as wrongfully imposed and discriminatory. In 2025, the Trump administration re-imposed and expanded hardline measures, including Cuba's return to the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, the revival of the Cuba Restricted List, and tighter pressure on Cuban entities linked to the military, while the international system once again mostly watched from the sidelines. This unilateral, punitive and aggressive set of actions against the Caribbean nation was driven in large part by a rabid, blood-in-the-eyes, mad dog anti-Cuba Florida community that has seethed and nursed hatred of the Cuban regime for decades.

Led by Marco "Little Marco" Rubio, Trump's new Secretary of State, acting National Security Advisor, all-round sycophant and MAGA darling, the punishment of Cuba has been elevated to new and more criminal heights. Cruelty is the point here as Trump and company gleefully, sadistically and cavalierly dismiss as little consequence the scores of innocent Cubans who die every day because of U.S. sanctions and other actions of a "war by other means."

The architecture of punishment

To understand Cuba's current crisis, we have to stop calling it a "trade embargo" and name it for what it is: an economic siege. The policy has evolved from early restrictions into a dense legal architecture that blocks financial transactions, restricts travel, targets remittances, penalizes third-party business relationships, and aims to make normal economic life harder for Cubans, not merely to punish the Cuban state.

The modern framework was entrenched by laws such as the Helms-Burton Act, which made the embargo far harder for any U.S. president to relax unilaterally and tied Cuba policy to domestic political pressure in Florida. More recent actions, including Trump's 2025 Cuba policy reset, have not softened that architecture; they have reinforced it by restoring sanctions that had been eased, adding new pressure points against Cuban companies and financial channels, and signaling to the world that Washington intends to keep squeezing.

Trump's new punishment

The Trump administration's 2025 moves against Cuba were not symbolic gestures; they were operational escalations. Politico reported that Trump signed an executive order reinstating sanctions his predecessor had relaxed, restoring travel and embargo restrictions while also directing the government to identify entities that indirectly benefit Cuba's military and intelligence services.

The administration also moved Cuba back onto the State Sponsors of Terrorism list on its first day in office, revived the Cuba Restricted List, and reactivated additional property-claim and financial restrictions. Baker McKenzie noted that the 2025 National Security Presidential Memorandum-5 would likely drive further reversals of the limited changes made during the Biden years, including new restrictions on Cuban hotels and prohibited accommodations.

That matters because the effect is cumulative. Each new restriction increases the cost of lending, insurance, shipping, remittances, tourism, and ordinary commercial engagement. When a large power uses its financial reach in this way, it is not simply "expressing policy preference"; it is coercing the living conditions of an entire society.

Why the blockade is widely viewed as illegal

The core legal objection is not hard to understand: the policy is widely seen as violating the principles of sovereignty, non-intervention, proportionality, and self-determination. Cuba and its supporters argue that the embargo's extraterritorial effects amount to collective punishment because they knowingly burden civilians in pursuit of political change.

The Caribbean Community made that point explicitly in January 2025, calling the U.S. removal of Cuba from the terror list "wrongfully imposed" and reiterating its call for the lifting of the financial, economic, and trade embargo. CARICOM's language is important because it reflects not only regional solidarity but also a legal and diplomatic judgment that the measures are outdated, discriminatory, and harmful to ordinary people.

The United Nations General Assembly has echoed that view for decades. In October 2025, the UN again voted overwhelmingly to condemn the embargo, with Reuters reporting 165 votes in favor of ending it, only seven against, and 12 abstentions. The U.N. vote is not legally binding, but it is a powerful record of global opinion that the blockade lacks international legitimacy.

The human cost

The blockade is not an abstraction. It affects medicine, fuel, food, machinery, spare parts, banking access, shipping, and the ability of Cuban institutions to function normally in a global market. Even when humanitarian exceptions exist on paper, the chilling effect of sanctions often discourages banks, suppliers, insurers, and logistics firms from touching Cuba-related transactions at all.

Next Page 1 | 2 | 3

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A civil jury in California on Friday ruled that Elon Musk intentionally misled Twitter investors when he tried to back out of his $44 billion acquisition of the platform in 2022.

At the time, Musk had tweeted that Twitter had too many bots, which is why he later tried to renege on the acquisition. (Twitter ended up suing Musk to force him to seal the deal.)

Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5% of users, Musk wrote on the platform that he has since renamed X.

In the days after Musk posted this, Twitter shares declined 8%. Investor Giuseppe Pampena filed suit against Musk on behalf of other former Twitter investors who had sold Twitter shares between May 13 (the day of the tweet) and October 4, the day the deal was finalized.

Pampenas lawsuit argued that Musk intentionally posted about his concerns with Twitter to create uncertainty about the platforms stability to artificially drive down its stock price, causing those who sold shares during that window to suffer losses. Musks attorneys argued that he was expressing legitimate concerns about the number of bots on the app. But the jury was more convinced by the plaintiffs argument.

More from Yahoo Scout How much could Musk pay in damages to investors? What happened to Twitter's stock after Musk's tweet? What did the jury rule about Musk's Twitter bot claims? How does this compare to Musk's previous legal troubles?

It is not yet clear how much money Musk will have to pay to those former Twitter shareholders, but Pampenas attorney said that damages could reach up to $2.6 billion, according to CNBC. Its not a huge blow for Musk, as Bloomberg estimates his net worth at over $660 billion.

This isnt Musks first experience going to court over tweets. In 2018, he tweeted that he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share, meaning he planned to buy out public shareholders and delist the company from stock exchanges. The SEC alleged that these posts were misleading, charging Musk with securities fraud. Musk later had to testify in court that he was not making a marijuana joke (420 being a widely recognized reference to cannabis) and maintained that he earnestly believed that he would take Tesla private at $420 per share, which was a substantial premium on Teslas stock price at that time.

Musk emerged victorious in a similar lawsuit that shareholders filed about the funding secured tweet, but this time, hell have to pay up.

After acquiring Twitter, Musk rebranded the company as X, then merged it with his newer AI company, xAI. The combined company was valued at $113 billion, according to Musk. Then, last month, SpaceX merged with xAI. Musk has said that the merger was motivated by his desire to build data centers in space.
Daniel Fisher led out for 10,000 from middle position on the 4A8 flop, and John McDonald made the call on the button.

The Q turn brought another lead from Fisher, this time for 30,000. McDonald slid in the call, and the dealer flipped over the J river.

Fisher took a moment before sliding out a bet of 90,000. McDonald then took some time of his own, opting to stick in a single calling chip.

Fisher turned over K10 for Broadway, taking down a massive pot as McDonald mucked.
The final flight of the 2026 PokerStars Open Philadelphia $1,100 Main Event needed just under 40 entries to reach the $500,000 guaranteed prize pool, and the day began with more than 100 players already in their seats.

In the end, the frenetic day saw 410 entries at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, bringing the overall total for the event to 896. That sent the prize pool soaring, finishing at $860,160 to battle for on the final day of the series.

The last 52 players were left standing after the final hand of the night, earning a spot in the money to join the previous 62 who had survived the first three flights of the week.

Leading the way is Lingkun Lu, who collected 862,000 chips to claim a slim advantage after more than 17 levels of play. The New Jersey resident has a long poker resume online but will be looking to make splash on the live felt during the final day.

Next on the leaderboard is Sean Coates (810,000), sitting just a single chip ahead of Greg Himmelbrand (809,000) to round out the top three.

Heading into Day 2, those three all occupy top five spots on the overall chip counts, with everyone trailing Day 1c chip leader Rajath Tangam (1,100,000).

Day 1d Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Lingkun Lu United States 862,000 86 2 Sean Coates United States 810,000 81 3 Greg Himmelbrand United States 809,000 81 4 Yunye Lu China 744,000 74 5 Daniel Fisher United States 637,000 64 6 Travis Hartshorn United States 617,000 62 7 Joseph Siracusa United States 588,000 59 8 Ryan Mostafa United States 524,000 52 9 Troy Laypo United States 513,000 51 10 Arnaldo Gordon United States 485,000 49

Nick Wright

Massive Day 1d Turnout

The poker room was nearly full to begin the day, and continued to see tables open for the first half of the final flight. By the time late registration closed for the final time this week, the event finished just shy of 900 overall entries.

Among the notable names to take a seat was talk show personality Nick Wright, who got his stack in quickly and was unable to build any momentum.

The day also included some memorable pots, including Daniel Fisher (637,000) getting big river value against John McDonald (190,000). Fisher rode that pot to a top-five stack on the day, while McDonald also found a bag to make the money.

Edgar Propst

Another big hand saw Christoph Basile get it in good, only to watch Edgar Propst flop quads to secure the knockout. That propelled Propst for the rest of the night, able to bag up 174,000 chips.

The final flight was also the only one to reach Level 18, as play slowed down before hand-for-hand play began. The clock was not paused for long, as Nicholas Johnson got his stack in from the big blind only to see Troy Laypo (513,000) improve on the river to score the final elimination.

Day 1d Bubble

The final day will begin at 11:15 a.m. local time, as 114 contenders combine for the first time to battle for the PokerStars trophy. Levels will remain 40 minutes in length, will the clock rolled back to the latter stages of Level 16 at the start of play.

Players will continue to see breaks after every two hours of play, with a possible dinner break to be determined by the tournament staff. Full payout information will be announced at the start of play, including the top prize up for grabs on Sunday, March 22.

Just one last day remains, so dont miss a moment as the PokerNews team brings you complete coverage of the exciting conclusion in Philadelphia.
After four gruelling flights at the 2026 PokerStars Open Philadelphia series, the time has come to play down to a champion in the $1,100 Main Event.

The tournament attracted a total of 896 entries, easily exceeding the advertised guarantee to create a prize pool of $860,160. That will be up for grabs today at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, when the final 114 players return at 11:15 a.m. local time.

The top three in the chip counts led their opening flights, with Rajath Tangam (1,100,000) sitting on top as the only player to bag more than a million chips. That came during the third flight, where Tangam finished with a lead of almost 400,000 chips over his nearest competitor.

Tangam holds a smaller advantage in the overall counts, as Day 1a leader Abel Gebeyehu (992,000) came the closest to joining the seven-figure club. The final flight was led by Lingkun Lu (862,000), who bagged up a slim lead in the largest flight to round out the top three.

The other flight leader was Michael Hager (637,000), who collected the most chips on Day 1b but sits 11th overall heading into the final day of action.

$1,100 Main Event Top Ten Overall Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count 1 Rajath Tangam United States 1,100,000 2 Abel Gebeyehu United States 992,000 3 Lingkun Lu United States 862,000 4 Sean Coates United States 810,000 5 Greg Himmelbrand United States 809,000 6 Yunye Lu China 744,000 7 David Kinane United States 724,000 8 Thilbaud Martin France 721,000 9 Angel Lopez United States 651,000 10 Daniel Fisher United States 637,000

Jennifer Shahade

While others were busy trying to earn a spot in the money over the final two flights, PokerStars Ambassador Jennifer Shahade (419,000) had taken care of that on Day 1b and left herself free to hit the felt in other events.

That included the Women's event, which Shahade took down on Friday night to capture her very first spade. She'll now be hunting for a bigger first-place prize, joined in the field by fellow Team Pro Arlie Shaban (427,000) as both sit in the middle of the pack entering the money.

Another storyline to watch will be Edward Leonard (496,000), who claimed the PokerStars trophy in this very event last year for $126,507 after a three-way deal.

PokerStars Open Philadelphia Main Event Trophy

$1,100 Main Event Payouts

Place Prize Place Prize Place Prize 1 $126,705 10-12 $9,400 55-63 $4,000 2 $80,705 13-15 $8,600 64-72 $3,650 3 $56,400 16-18 $7,800 73-81 $3,300 4 $41,400 19-21 $7,000 82-90 $3,000 5 $31,400 22-24 $6,400 91-98 $2,700 6 $25,400 25-27 $5,800 99-108 $2,450 7 $20,400 28-36 $5,200 109-114 $2,200 8 $15,900 37-45 $4,800 9 $12,400 46-54 $4,400

Action will begin with 5:00 remaining of Level 16, where blinds will be 3,000/6,000 along with a 6,000 big blind ante. The clock will remain at 40 minutes for each level, with 15-minute breaks after every two hours of play.

The final 114 players all return in the money, having locked up at least $2,200. The top prize of $126,705 awaits the champion, along with the coveted trophy at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia.

The PokerNews live reporting team will be there every step of the way, so be sure to stay tuned as we play down to a winner in the PokerStars Open Philadelphia Main Event.
Aiken Standard reporter

Dede Biles is a reporter for the Aiken Standard. She covers Aiken County government, business and horse industry.

To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers 
Make better investment decisions with Simply Wall St's easy, visual tools that give you a competitive edge.

Genus now sits against a refreshed price target, with analysts pointing to a 1.00 uplift that tracks closely with updated fair value work at 31.63. Bullish and bearish voices alike are tying this shift to how robust they think the assumptions are, particularly around the durability of the fair value that underpins the new target. As you read on, you will see how to interpret these moving parts and keep up with the evolving analyst narrative around Genus.

Stay updated as the Fair Value for Genus shifts by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Genus.

What Wall Street Has Been Saying

 Bullish Takeaways

Berenberg, through analyst Robert, has raised its Genus price target by 100 GBp. This aligns closely with the refreshed fair value work around 31.63 and supports the idea that recent assumptions are reflected in formal research.

The Berenberg move signals that at least one covering firm sees the current valuation framework as supportable. The higher target points to confidence in Genus' ability to execute against the drivers embedded in that fair value estimate.

 Bearish Takeaways

Even with the 100 GBp uplift from Berenberg, the focus on detailed fair value work highlights how sensitive the investment case can be to changes in key inputs such as growth expectations, margin profiles, or capital intensity.

The reliance on a single, updated target from Berenberg underlines that the wider analyst debate on Genus is still relatively thin. This can leave readers with less cross check on assumptions and a wider potential range of outcomes around valuation.

Do your thoughts align with the Bull or Bear Analysts? Perhaps you think there's more to the story. Head to the Simply Wall St Community to discover more perspectives!

LSE:GNS 1-Year Stock Price Chart

We've flagged 2 risks for Genus. See which could impact your investment.

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NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2026 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilMarch 23, 2026to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE: BRBR), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between November 19, 2024 and August 4, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of BellRing and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-brbr/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court byMarch 23, 2026 .About the LawsuitBellRing and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On May 6, 2025, the Company disclosed that "several key retailers lowered their weeks of supply on hand, which is expected to be a mid-single-digit headwind to our third quarter growth," and that "[w]e now expect Q3 sales growth of low single digits." On this news, the price of BellRing's shares fell $14.88 per share, or 19%, from $78.43 per share on May 5, 2025, to close at $63.55 per share on May 6, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.Then, on August 4, 2025, post-market, the Company reported its fiscal 3Q 2025 financial results, disclosing a disappointing new 2025 sales outlook, stating "BellRing management has narrowed its fiscal year 2025 outlook for net sales to [a] range between $2.28-$2.32 billion," due to "several other competitors" gaining space to sell their products with a large retailer and that "it is not surprising to see new protein RTDs enter[ed]" the convenient nutrition market. On this news, the price of BellRing's shares fell $17.46 per share, or nearly 33%, from $53.64 per share on August 4, 2025, to $36.18 per share on August 5, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.The case is Denha v. BellRing Brands, Inc., No. 26-cv-00575.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg.TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedInSOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 22, 2026 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) and certain of its officers.This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Boston Scientific securities between July 23, 2025 and February 3, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/BSX Boston Scientific Case DetailsThe Complaint alleges that, throughout the relevant period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:Boston Scientific's projected growth rate for fiscal year 2025-particularly within its U.S. electrophysiology ("EP") segment-was not sustainable;Defendants' repeated statements expressing confidence in the U.S. EP division's growth trajectory, competitive positioning, and contribution to overall net income lacked a reasonable basis;the Company was experiencing material adverse trends affecting procedure volumes, increasing competitive pressures, and regulatory and reimbursement headwinds that were negatively impacting the U.S. EP segment;management was aware that the U.S. EP segment was approaching a growth inflection point earlier than the market anticipated; andas a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements regarding the sustainability of growth in key product segments and their repeated upward revisions to fullyear guidance were materially false and misleading.What's Next for Boston Scientific Investors?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/BSX . or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Boston Scientific you have until May 4, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.No Cost to Boston Scientific InvestorsWe, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Boston Scientific Securities Class Action?Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com "Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.Contact InfoPeretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan MillerBronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC 917-590-0911 | info@ bgandg.com Attorney advertising.Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 22, 2026 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against ChowChow Cloud International Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:CHOW) and certain of its officers.This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Chow securities between September 16, 2025 and December 10, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/CHOW Chow Case DetailsThe Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material adverse facts concerning the Company's business, operations, and the true nature of trading in the Company's securities. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that Defendants failed to disclose that:Chow was the subject of a marketmanipulation and fraudulent promotion scheme involving socialmediabased misinformation and impersonators posing as financial professionals;Chow's public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of the realized risk of fraudulent trading activity or market manipulation used to drive the Company's stock price;as a result, Chow securities were at unique risk of a prolonged trading suspension by NYSE American and severe volatilitydriven price declines;Chow's sole IPO underwriter, Tiger Securities, had been fined and censured by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") in April 2025 for failing to maintain a reasonable system to identify potentially suspicious deposits of lowpriced securities; andas a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.What's Next for Chow Investors?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/CHOW . or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Chow you have until May 12, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.No Cost to Chow InvestorsWe, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Chow Securities Class Action?Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com "Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.Contact InfoPeretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan MillerBronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC 917-590-0911 | info@ bgandg.com Attorney advertising.Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 21, 2026 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against NuScale Power Corporation ("NuScale" or the "Company") (NYSE:SMR). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether NuScale and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until April 20, 2026, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired NuScale securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On November 6, 2025 NuScale revealed that its general and administrative expenses had ballooned more than 3,000% to $519 million during its third fiscal quarter, up from $17 million in the prior year period, due largely to NuScale's payment of $495 million to ENTRA1 Energy LLC ("ENTRA1") in connection with an agreement to develop power plants to provide the Tennessee Valley Authority ("TVA") with up to six gigawatts of new nuclear power generation. As a result, NuScale's quarterly net loss skyrocketed to $532 million, up from $46 million in the prior year period. During a corresponding conference call, analysts pressed NuScale management regarding whether ENTRA1 was sufficiently experienced to own and operate the energy generation facilities contemplated by the TVA agreement. NuScale's Chief Executive Officer further revealed during the call that the agreement between ENTRA1 and the TVA contemplated as many as 72 NPMs, meaning NuScale's milestone payments to ENTRA1 could potentially exceed more than $3 billion.On this news, NuScale's stock price fell $7.57 per share, or 19.97%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $30.34 per share on November 7, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
Binani Global Air Services, also known as Binani Air, has officially received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NAAC), marking the companys entry into the Nigerian aviation industry.

The certification, issued in Abuja, authorises the airline to commence commercial flight operations and represents the culmination of years of planning, regulatory compliance, and strategic development by the Binani Group.

Speaking on the development, Binani Group President, Aminatu Danjuma Goje, described the achievement as the realisation of a long-held vision driven by faith, resilience, and determination.

She highlighted the collective effort behind the milestone, emphasising the role of leadership, family support, and team dedication.

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Ms Goje also lauded the role of her mother, who doubles as the groups chairperson, Aishatu Binani, acknowledging her visionary leadership, strength, and unwavering commitment that continue to inspire excellence at every level, according to her.

Today is not just a milestoneit is the fulfilment of a vision, a journey of faith, resilience, and unwavering belief. With hearts full of gratitude and pride, we at Binani Group celebrate the official issuance of the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to Binani Global Air Services, Binani Air by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority in Abuja.

As President of Binani Group of Companies, I, Aminatu Danjuma Goje, express my deepest appreciation to my father, Dahiru Ahmed, whose prayers, wisdom, and steadfast guidance laid the very foundation upon which this dream stands today.

And to our incredible team, the backbone of this achievementyour dedication, resilience, and tireless efforts have turned a bold vision into reality. This success belongs to every single one of you, Ms Goje said.

READ ALSO: FCCPC may sanction airlines over festive fare hike

According to the Binani Group president, the air operation certificate is more than an achievement, but a new era. With regulatory approval secured, the company expressed its readiness to begin operations in the near future to serve its customers.

It is the beginning of a new era. Binani Global Air Services is ready to rise, ready to lead, and ready to soar to even greater heights, she added.
Veteran comic actor Olanrewaju Baba Ijesha James has maintained his innocence in a recent interview, offering his account of events that led to his arrest and conviction in a high-profile rape case.

Speaking on the Talk To B podcast, the actor alleged that he was invited to actress and comedienne Damilola Princess Comedian Adekoyas residence under the pretext of a job opportunity, a claim central to his account.

On 15 November 2025, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Baba Ijesha was released after serving three years of a 16-year prison sentence imposed by the Ikeja Special Offences Court in July 2022.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo delivered the verdict following a rape trial that lasted more than 12 months, after the actor was arrested and arraigned in June 2021.

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He claimed that the invitation was linked to a proposed television series allegedly backed by the Lagos State Government, in which he was expected to play a role. According to him, he travelled to meet her on that basis, unaware of what he later described as a setup.

The actor further alleged that upon arriving at the residence, there was no script or proper production arrangements, raising concerns about the projects legitimacy. He said the situation later escalated, culminating in his arrest.

Alleged set-up

He said: She (Princess) said the Lagos State Government had given her a series, and when they found out she wanted to use Ramsey Nouah for a lover-boy role, they refused, saying everyone already knew him as a lover boy. They needed someone who could transform, and she mentioned my name. I was in Egba, Ogun State, about to change my clothes, when she texted me saying she had a job for me. While checking the message on Instagram, she called me, crying and begging me.

She reminded me that when she campaigned for Mama Orelope, the government decided to give her a series on child abuse. She said she wanted to use my camera and cast me in the series. I told her I was busy because I had five endorsements to attend to. By this time, we were no longer speaking because we had sent her away due to her bad behaviour on set.

The journey

Baba Ijesha further stated that the Court of Appeal cleared him of rape and other allegations, but he was convicted of harassment.

He explained that when Princess Comedian contacted him, he was unaware of her home address.

He added that his purpose for going to her house was to meet some English actors for the series, noting that he was already running late.

When I got to Lagos. I called her several times, but she didnt answer. Perhaps if I hadnt given money to the boys at Adekunle Bridge, I would have avoided the setup. I also waited at UNILAG because I didnt know her house. Around 3 pm, I decided to go home, but then her call came in.

I told the boys I needed to meet the caller, and they asked me to turn backunaware that I was heading to prison. I told her I wanted to change my clothes; she refused.

I gave her the camera, but there was no lighting, and her generator had no fuel. I noticed she was beating the child. When I arrived at her house, the childs eyes showed anger. She said she was the one I was supposed to act with. I recognised the child but couldnt recall her face clearly.

She insisted I use the clothes I was wearing, while the child wore sleeveless clothing. I asked Princess what she wanted us to do. She asked if I knew about rape, saying the role involved me trying to rape someone.

No script

The actor added that when he finally arrived at her house, Princess Comedian was unable to produce a script for the series she claimed the state government had awarded to her.

Baba Ijesha also noted that the period Princess Comedian secured the deal with the state government coincided with the time he and his team were filming Ewe Iwoyi, which was also supported by the state government.

I asked for a script; she said I would just act, and people would come in and catch us. She asked me to tear the childs clothes, but I refused, warning that uploading such a scene on YouTube would get her blocked. She said she wanted to use the scene to support funding proposals to the state government.

When she explained the situation, I realised the child didnt want to participate. I cautioned Princess against bullying the child and promised to train her. I told her that when the child and I rehearsed, they should record it to get the best performance, said Baba Ijesha.

Set up

Baba Ijesha further claimed that he had no idea the people he encountered at Princess Comedians house were hired thugs.

He said he was beaten and manipulated by them, explaining that it was at their insistence that he appeared in the video pleading with Princess Comedian.

The actor noted, The audio of my conversation with the child was muted. I asked the childs age; she claimed to be an adult. I asked if she had a boyfriend, and after some encouragement, she agreed to act. During rehearsal, the people Princess employed entered and hit me on the head, and I fell straight down.

I didnt realise it was a setup until one of them later sent me a voice note, admitting I had not raped anyone and that Princess had orchestrated it to advance her NGO and receive government funding.

They said they didnt know me and that I hadnt raped anyone, but they went along because she had promised them N250,000 and a role in a movie. I forwarded the voice note to one of my lawyers, but the lawyer lost the audio. That evidence would have helped in court.

Baba Ijesha also revealed that the people Princess Comedian enlisted to write negative things about him came to apologise while he was in prison.

One thug told me I should beg when she came out and agree to everything so I could leave, unaware it was a setup. When she came out, I said, Dont be offended, forgive me. I hoped to leave and call the police, but they were recording me on four phones. The police officer who came locked all the thugs inside and arrested me, accusing me of rape.
Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has reacted to claims by comic actor Olanrewaju Baba Ijesha James that she once entrusted him with the care of her children, Festus and Priscilla.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Baba Ijesha remarked during an interview on the Talk To B podcast, which was published on YouTube on Sunday. He expressed disappointment over the state of their current relationship.

He recalled that the actress had, at some point, left her children in his care at her shop in Ilupeju, Lagos, while she briefly stepped out.

Baba Ijesha referenced Iyabo Ojo and her kids

For the record, he said: When someone told me about Iyabo Ojo, I told the person that she is my product. I cannot wish her bad. I do not want women to have problems. But what Iyabo turned into today, I do not understand. Even if we offended each other, we should have asked each other about it. What pained me the most about Iyabo was that she once left her children, Festus and Priscilla, in my custody during their childhood.

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She had a shop at IluPeju. I was in that area to pick up the CD we made for a Lagos State project, so I bumped into her. She embraced me and was receptive. So she left the children in my care and said she wanted to go and buy suya. She went for two hours.

I parked my car, so I told my apprentice to let me go and check on the woman (Iyabo Ojo) who had left her children with me. This was after about two hours. So I told my apprentice to watch over them while I checked their mummy. When I got there, I found a crowd, so I knew it wasnt a place where you could buy what you wanted and go home right away. She knows already.

Cheap bait

However, Ojo responded to Baba Ijeshas statement by issuing a cease-and-desist notice, warning him against using her children as cheap bait.

She made this known in a statement posted on her Instagram Story on Sunday.

The actress said she had no objection to Baba Ijesha telling his side of the story. Still, she stressed that dragging her children into the matter was unacceptable and would not be tolerated.

My kids have always had nannies or my late mum with them, and they were never alone at my former business place in Ilupeju. I had multiple staff, including stylists, sales reps, and apprentices, so its unlikely Id be the one running errands. I can send a worker if needed. Im okay with you sharing your story, but dont mislead the public with false claims about my kids.

You were a senior colleague no more to it; however, that 14-year-old girl was a minor, and sexual assault is never okay. It is a crime. You should show some remorse. The court found you guilty based on the evidence, so please dont drag my kids into this. Stop mentioning their names, else I would direct my counsel to serve you appropriate papers, said Ojo.

Background

This newspaper learnt that Ojo was among those who took up the case involving Baba Ijesha over the alleged assault of a minor.

In May 2021, the actress announced on Instagram that she would not back down from pursuing the matter.

She also criticised those who questioned her involvement, saying it should not be treated as though it mattered only when it involved her own child.

Ojo explained that her advocacy stemmed from her deep concern for children, stressing that her compassion extended to every child, not just her own.

She maintained that she would continue to stand by the minor and ensure that justice was served.

The controversy later sparked backlash within the industry, with some actors, including Deji Olofa Ina Aderemi and Yomi Fabiyi, accusing Ms Ojo and Princess Comedian of orchestrating a setup against Baba Ijesha.

The dispute further escalated when Fabiyi produced a film titled Oko Iyabo, which portrayed Baba Ijesha, who was standing trial at the time, as innocent of the allegations.

But the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) subsequently moved to prosecute Fabiyi for the movie.

The DPP Director and prosecution counsel, Olayinka Adeyemi, said the filmmaker based the production on details from the ongoing case, using the real names of both the defendants and the survivor.
If you follow the Papa Ajasco and Company TV series, you would know Pa James, the sidekick of the titular Papa Ajasco.

Brought to life on TV by Kayode Olasehinde, Pa James is a balding, unintelligent character whose mischiefs always get the best of him.

However, despite both characters being fan favourites, a recent report suggests that veteran Nigerian actor Abiodun Ayoyinka, who plays Papa Ajasco, is undergoing difficult financial circumstances.

In a recent interview, Ayoyinka said the public perception of wealth associated with his character often contrasts sharply with his reality.

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People believe Papa Ajasco is a millionaire or billionaire, but the remuneration is very poor, he said.

However, Wale Adenuga, a veteran filmmaker and creator of the sitcom, in a statement, refuted the claims made by Ayoyinka.

Playing Pa James

In a turn of events, Olasehinde has provided a perspective as to why it seems the characters on the show are struggling financially.

He also debunked insinuations that they were not well catered for.

The veteran who spoke on Lucky Udu Experience expressed gratitude to Wlae Adenuga Production, stating that he gained a lot from Papa Ajasco and Company.

To be realistic, Wale Adenuga did something for us. Especially me, the day he called me for a role in Papa Ajasco and Company. The show had been on for a long time. Peter Fatomilola was the first Papa Ajasco. But when they started the one on television, they called my friend, everybody, and me too.

I thought it was going to be just something wed do in three weeks, but it went on for a long time. And they didnt owe us money. Anything we do, we get paid. If he (Adenuga) calls us for a meeting, after that meeting, even if its for just five minutes, he pays us. The day we clocked twenty-five years with Papa Ajasco, I was very happy, he said.

He also revealed that he gained a lot from the show, including his first car.

The thing I got from playing that role wasnt small. I became popular. As for money, the man tried a lot for me. From Papa Ajasco and Company, I bought a car. I did a lot of things from that job.

Perspective

Providing a different perspective from the claim by his colleague, Ayoyinka, which suggests that they live in penury, Olasehinde said that in past, shooting was more frequent, meaning they earned more.

The way they used to do it, it doesnt take long before we get jobs. But now, if we record about 10 episodes, before we are called to the location again, it may take up to two years. When it was in Wale Adenugas hands, we didnt have to wait long before we got called. You know they now have WAP TV, so they no longer spread their programmes across other stations like they used to. Probably thats why.

For me, if it is about driving, I dont know how to drive, but the first car I bought was from Wale Adenuga. It was a Nissan Bluebird. Papa Ajasco bought a car through a loan. Me too, I bought mine and with a loan and paid back in three instalments. When I work, they deduct the car payment from my pay. That was how they did it, he said.

Legalese

He further noted that there are constraints to getting jobs outside of the production, which gave them their claim to fame.

As he explains, even though he can act in other movies, he is not allowed to answer to Pa James in any other production because the name is registered to Wale Adenuga.

He explained that the same law binds Papa Ajasco. The only difference is that while he (Pa James) is naturally bald, Ayoyinka, who plays Papa Ajasco, is not. That means his looks also belong to Wale Adenuga, and so he cannot appear in any production looking bald.
Following her recent expulsion from the Palace of the Oba of Benin, Queen Ewuare has provided proof that the visit of streamer Habeeb Adelaja, famously known as Peller, to the Palace was authorised.

Last Tuesday, the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) condemned the TikTokers visit.

In a statement, the councils Secretary, Frank Irabor, said the visit amounted to a serious breach of protocol and a desecration of the palaces sacred grounds.

Mr Irabor added that the palace had taken action against the queen and others who were involved in or featured during the visit.

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On Thursday, Pellers management, City Plug Management, stated that a formal request for a courtesy visit was submitted to the palace on 23 February, with the visit initially scheduled for 3 March before being moved to 6 March.

The management, in a statement, acknowledged that certain moments during the visit may have been perceived as inappropriate, stressing that any such actions were unintentional.

Bigger problems

Responding to her alleged eviction, Queen Ewuare, one of the wives of the Oba of Benin, expressly accused the Benin Traditional Council of lying about her, suggesting that there are bigger issues than meet the eye.

Taking to her TikTok page, the Queen posted a screenshot of the letter informing the palace of Pellers visit.

She noted that the issues at hand arent just because Peller came to the palace or because she gave him gifts.

A lot has been happening behind closed doors. The Benin Traditional Council lied, claiming that Pellers visit to the palace was unauthorised, and I brought him there. But I hope I will be able to convince you all that Peller coming to the palace was authorised.

Look at the stamp on this letter, which shows that the Benin Traditional Council approved it, but theyre all lying on my head. What I want you to know is that this isnt the main problem because there are other issues way bigger than what you all think, she wrote.

Receipt

Dated 23 February, the letter in question was addressed to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, and bore a stamp indicating that it had been duly received, even though she did not provide evidence that the visit had been approved.

With utmost respect and humility, we write to formally inform the palace of the planned visit of a very prominent online streamer, Peller, to Benin, also to the revered palace on 3rd March, 2026

We are pleased also to notify the palace that Uyiekpen Ogiefa, son of Chief Courage Uyi Ogiefa, the NOzeben of Benin Kingdom, will be accompanying him during this honourable visit to the palace, the letter reads.

It also requested the privilege of a session with His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin, even if only for a very brief audience, at a time most convenient to the palace.

We deeply appreciate the sacred traditions and the dignity of the Benin Kingdom, and we assure the palace of our highest regard, respect, and proper conduct throughout the visit, it noted.
A Qatari military helicopter crashed in Qatar, resulting in the death of six of the seven people on board.

The last occupant has yet to be accounted for as of the time of this report.

The helicopter crashed due to a technical malfunction in Qatari waters during a routine duty, Qatars defence ministry wrote on X.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that Qatar, which used to pride itself as a mediator on global conflicts, has found itself in the middle of the US and Israels war on Iran.

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Iran has fired dozens of missiles and drones at Qatar and damaged a major gas facility, but says it is targeting US bases and interests in the country.

Qatar had announced that it had shot down many Iranian drones and missiles over its territory. It is not clear if the crashed helicopter was involved in efforts to shoot down Iranian drones.

The Qatari ministry did not provide further details.

Qatar, on Wednesday, asked some staff of the Iranian embassy in the country to leave. It declared the embassys security attache persona non grata.

Qatar said its decision was a result of Irans repeated attacks on Qatar.

The decision followed an Iranian attack on its largest gas field.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that QatarEnergy said the Ras Laffan Industrial City was targeted with missiles that caused widespread fires and extensive damage.

Qatar also threatened to take additional measures should Iran continue to attack its territory.

These measures, it noted, will be in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security, and national interests.

Similarly, the UAE has also declared some staff of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh unwelcome due to Irans repeated attacks on its territory.

Saudi Arabias foreign ministry also asked some Iran embassy officials to leave Saudi Arabia within 24 hours.

The country said its decision was a result of Irans repeated attacks on its territory.

It also noted that continued Iranian attacks would lead to further escalation and have significant consequences for current and future relations.

The ministry also declared that its trust in Iran was shattered due to the continuous attack and that it reserved the right to act militarily.

Gulf states have been reporting the interception of Iranian missiles and drones targeted at their territory since the war began.

The countries have said that many were successfully neutralised.

However, some projectiles have evaded interception, causing damage across the region and affecting the global economy.

More 2,500 people have now been confirmed dead across the Middle East from the war.
Mark Romaine, Chief Operating Officer of Global Partners LP (NYSE:GLP), reported the direct sale of 15,611 common units across multiple transactions between March 16 and March 18, 2026, as disclosed in a SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summary

Metric Value Units sold (direct) 15,611 Transaction value ~$740,000 Post-transaction units (direct) 146,874 Post-transaction value (direct ownership) ~$7.04 million

Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($47.38); post-transaction value is based on March 18, 2026 market close price ($47.92).

Key questions

What is the context of these transactions?

Because Global Partners LP is a Master Limited Partnership (MLP), Romaine sold common units, not shares. Common units represent how much ownership limited partners of an MLP, like Romain, have.

Did this transaction involve any derivative securities or indirect ownership structures?

No options or indirect entities were involved; the sale was limited to directly held common units, with no gifts, withholdings, or related-party transfers reported.

Company overview

Metric Value Revenue (TTM) $18.56 million Net income (TTM) $72.09 million Distribution yield 6.52% Price (as of 3/21/26) $46.64

Company snapshot

Global Partners LP is a large-scale energy midstream operator with a diversified asset base spanning fuel distribution, storage, and retail operations. It offers a broad portfolio of petroleum products, renewable fuels, gasoline, distillates, propane, and related logistics services. It also operates gasoline stations, convenience stores, and bulk storage terminals across the Northeastern U.S.

What this transaction means for investors

Investors should be aware of the unique structure when investing in MLPs like Global Partners LP. Investors become limited partners when purchasing and holding common units, which are economically similar to owning common shares of a corporation, though legally different.

Instead of dividends, MLPs pay cash distributions. These distributions are often higher than typical corporate dividends because MLPs generally avoid corporate-level taxation and pass income directly through to investors.

While the high-income potential is enticing, distributions can add complexity for retail investors. Instead of receiving Form 1099-DIV, investors typically receive a Schedule K-1, which may require additional steps when filing taxes. Consulting a tax professional may be beneficial for investors unfamiliar with partnership taxation.

Otherwise, current political tensions make Global Partners stock enticing, as global oil supply is at risk of decline and gas prices in the U.S. have soared, both of which would benefit the stock. But investors may want to proceed with caution, because even though GLP hasnt shown volatile patterns over the last two months (as of March 21, 2026), that could change if tensions heighten.
Over 2,500 people have now been confirmed dead in the war that the United States and Israel launched against Iran, which has now spread across the Middle East.

Also, attacks on major gas facilities in four Middle Eastern countries are worsening the wars economic impact.

The war entered its 23rd day on Sunday and shows no sign of abating.

PREMIUM TIMES brings you the key events around the war on Saturday.

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Trump threatens to obliterate Irans power plant

President Donald Trump has issued Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.

Mr Trump, on Sunday, threatened to have the US obliterate Irans energy infrastructure. This ultimatum comes a day after the president said the US was considering winding down as it is getting close to meeting its objective.

M Trump wrote on Truth Social that the US would hit and obliterate Iranian power plants and would start with the biggest one first should Tehran fail to reopen the strait by 11 p.m. on Monday, according to the time of his post.

If Iran doesnt FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST! He wrote.

Iran threatens retaliatory attacks on Gulf energy grids

In response, the Iranian army said it will target energy and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the Israeli regime in the region should the US attack its energy infrastructure.

If Irans fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy infrastructure, information technology systems, and desalination facilities belonging to the United States and the regime in the region [Gulf] will be targeted, it said.

Iran also says its restriction on movement in the Strait of Hormuz only affects vessels linked to countries currently attacking its territory.

Democrats criticise Trump

Democrats critical of Mr Trumps war on Iran have also criticised his recent threat, which is likely to further escalate the three-week-old conflict and heighten its global impact.

Don Beyer, a democrat representing Northern Virginia in the House of Representatives, described Mr Trumps statement as a sign of his increasingly erratic behaviour and worsening instability.

This behaviour is a growing threat, not only to the American people but to the world, he wrote.

A Senate democrat, Yassamin Ansari, referred to Mr Trump as a maniacal tyrant who is bent on ruining the US and the world.

In a post on X, she wrote, From help is on the way for Iranian protestors to threatening war crimes against an entire population.

Another Senate democrat, Chris Murphy, said Mr Trump has lost control of the war and is now in panic mode.

Iran hits Southern Israel hard, Israel closes schools

Hours before Mr Trumps threat, an Iranian cluster missile struck southern Israel in a town called Arad and injured more than 100 people. This is considered one of the most destructive Iranian attacks since the war began.

The BBC reports that another strike also hit a nearby town referred to as Dimona and injured several Israelis.

The Minister of Education, Yoav Kisch, shut down schools and suspended in-person instruction for all students in the towns that host Israels nuclear plants and research facilities.

Remote learning will take place across the country and in-person learning will not occur, Mr Kisch wrote on X Saturday night.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate on all fronts.

Saudi Arabia declares Iranian embassy staff persona non grata

Saudi Arabia has declared military and security attaches at the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, alongside their staff, persona non grata.

Saudi Arabias foreign ministry, in a statement on Saturday evening, demanded that the officials leave within 24 hours, Al Jazeera reports.

The country said its decision was a result of Irans repeated attacks on its territory.

It also noted that continued Iranian attacks would lead to further escalation and have significant consequences for current and future relations.

Last Wednesday, the ministry declared that its trust in Iran was shattered due to the continuous attack and that it reserved the right to act militarily.

Saudi Arabia downs 60 Iranian drones in a day

Saudi Arabia also said it intercepted nearly 60 drones from Iran on Saturday.

Al Jazeera reports that the Saudi authorities said the majority of the drones targeted the Eastern province, which houses the countrys energy facilities and resources.

The Ministry of Defence also said three ballistic missiles targeted Riyadh province. It said it intercepted one, while the others fell into an uninhabited area.

Iran says its downed 127 advanced drones

On its part, Iran said it has intercepted 127 advanced drones from the US and Israel since the start of the war.

Early Sunday, it said it also shot down a combat drone targeted to land in Tehran.

The Islamic Republic said it destroyed the drone before it could cause any destruction.

Iran releases Japanese national

Iran has released one of two Japanese nationals arrested last year.

Reuters reports that Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi disclosed the release of the Japanese on Sunday.

While information about the detained nationals is limited, the Committee to Protect Journalists disclosed last year that one of the detainees was a journalist at Japans public broadcaster NHK.

Mr Motegi did not provide any specific information about the released Japanese. However, he noted that he was released last Wednesday and is expected to arrive in Japan on Sunday (today).

Hezbollah battles Israeli forces in Khiam

Another war front, which involves Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah, has reached a close combat stage.

On Saturday, Israeli troops advanced into the border town of Khiam and Naqoura in Southern Lebanon, triggering fierce clashes with Hezbollah.

The country was drawn into the conflict on 2 March after Hezbollah attacked Israel to avenge the murder of the Iranian supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Millions of Lebanese are fleeing their homes as the war intensifies.

Cyprus raises concerns over UK bases

With the UK authorising the US to use its bases in the ongoing war, Cyprus is concerned that UK bases on its island put it at risk.

The country began feeling the impact of the war after an Iranianmade drone hit a British base on the island last week.

DW reports that the incident triggered a protest and intensified debate over the UKs presence on the Island and Cypruss ties to Israel.

President Nikos Christodoulides referred to the two military bases as a colonial consequence.

When the situation is over in the Middle East, we are going to have an open and frank discussion with the British government, he said, according to the BBC.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer later said he had told the US not to use the UK bases in Cyprus.

Six killed in Qatar

A Qatari military helicopter crashed in Qatar on Sunday morning, resulting in the death of six of the seven people on board.

The helicopter crashed due to a technical malfunction in Qatari waters during a routine duty, Qatars defence ministry wrote on X.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that Qatar, which used to pride itself as a mediator on global conflicts, has found itself in the middle of the US and Israels war on Iran.
The police command in Delta has confirmed the arrest of eleven additional suspects linked to Thursdays alleged sexual assault in Ozoro community.

The Delta police spokesperson, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Asaba, following a crackdown on those allegedly involved.

In furtherance of earlier disturbing reports on alleged sexual assaults in Oramudu Quarters, Ozoro, the command provides an update on ongoing investigations.

The CP Special Assignment Team was directed by Commissioner of Police, Mr Aina Adeshina, to conduct a detailed probe into the incident.

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Acting on the directive, operatives analysed video evidence and intelligence, leading to the arrest of eleven additional suspects, Edafe said.

He listed suspects as Samson Atukpodo, Steven Ovie, Ugbevo Samson, Afoke Akporobaro, Evidence Oguname, and six others.

The latest arrests bring the total number of suspects in custody to 15 in connection with the incident.

According to him, preliminary findings indicate criminal elements exploited the situation to perpetrate acts of sexual violence.

Mr Edafe stressed the acts were not representative of any legitimate cultural practice of the Ozoro community.

READ ALSO: Federal govt orders arrest of perpetrators of Ozoro sexual assault

The Commissioner condemns these acts entirely and reassures the public of the commands resolve to secure justice for victims.

He is determined that all involved will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Members of the public, especially victims and witnesses, are urged to provide credible information to aid ongoing investigations, Mr Edafe said.

(NAN)
There was no sign of excitement on Christiana Ebonyis face on her wedding day in 2015. At just 16, she was being married off to a man nearly three times her age. For her family, the union represented hope  hope that their new son-in-law would help lift them out of poverty.

For Christiana, now 26, it marked the beginning of a life she never wanted.

Seated in front of her thatched hut on a Wednesday evening last July, Mrs Ebonyi remembers with sadness how her life went from hope to despair.

Growing up, she had desired to become a nurse and serve her community, Abofia-Mgbo Agbaja in Ndiachi, Izzi Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State.

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But when her parents pressured her to marry at 16, her dream crumbled.

My parents insisted I should marry to help the family, she told PREMIUM TIMES in her local dialect; her voice a mixture of regret and anger.

Mrs Ebonyis poor parents had hoped that her marriage would enable them to get support from their son-in-law. She reluctantly left school in primary four to begin her marital journey. The hope later faded.

Her husband repeatedly battled different ailments, which not only drained him financially but also made him unable to provide for his family.

Hard-pressed by poverty, the mother of five took up farming jobs to feed her children and husband. She now shoulders the familys burden, making her look older than her age.

But her looks are the least of her worries. The greatest thing I need now is assistance to train my children in school so we can overcome poverty, she said, gesturing with her hands.

Child Marriage in Nigeria

Child marriage in Nigeria is defined as the union between two people in which one or both are below the age of 18.

In some states in Southern Nigeria, child marriage has grown from a cultural tradition to a poverty survival strategy, especially in rural communities.

Poor families who cannot cater for their daughters now resort to child marriage as a strategy to reduce economic burden and as an escape route from poverty, thereby putting the education of their children and their future in jeopardy.

A report by the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) found that girls without formal education and from poorer households are much more likely to be married early.

In Nigeria, child marriage remains high, with nearly 25 million (44 per cent) girls married before the age of 18, according to a 2024 report by UNICEF.

Nigeria ranks third globally in child marriage prevalence, with four out of 10 girls in the country married before the age of 18, the report said.

According to the 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), 13.1 per cent of girls in Ebonyi were married before the age of 18, emerging as the second state, after Anambra (13.4 per cent), with the highest child marriage incidence in South-east Nigeria.

The 2021 MICS Survey was jointly conducted by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and UNICEF.

Like girls, like boys

Like Mrs Ebonyi, Njideka Nwankwo, another young mother, got married at age 16 in 2013. I was forced to marry by my parents because things were very difficult for us, 28-year-old Mrs Nwankwo said in between sobs.

Like Mrs Ebonyi, she also dropped out of school in primary six to get married.

My parents could not pay my fees. So they asked me to marry, she said.

While girls remain the major victims, boys are not left out in the cruel child marriage practice in the council area.

Friday Uguru was only 15 when his parents began to pressure him to get married. He was shocked that his parents considered such an idea despite the familys obvious poverty.

Mr Uguru was a JSS III student at the time. I didnt marry at the time because I had nothing to care for a woman, not to talk of children that would come afterwards, he recalled.

But to avoid a dispute with his parents, he pretended to have accepted their demand that he marry.

Each time they brought up the marriage conversation, I feigned sickness or picked up a non-existent issue to distract the conversation. I did so until months before I fled the village for Abakaliki, dropping out of school as a result, he recounted.

Mr Uguru, now a commercial motorcyclist in Abakaliki, eventually got married at 36.

Now that I am married as a full-fledged man, I am ready to face any challenges, he said.

For the 38-year-old father of two, child marriage in the community cannot cease unless poverty is addressed. He believes that polygamy is the major driver of poverty in the community.

Another issue is our mindset. Some parents force their sons  even underage  to marry because their proposed partner is perceived as a hardworking girl, he said.

Christopher Chidiebere, the second-in-command to the head of Abofia-Mgbo Agbaja in Ndiachi, Mrs Ebonyis community, told PREMIUM TIMES that due to the high incidence of child marriage in the area, the village leadership, in early 2025, banned the practice and placed a penalty of N50,000 and a goat for defaulters. It is now domiciled in our (village) constitution. Since then, we have not had anybody violate the law, he said.

When contacted in February, Mr Chidiebere claimed the committee had yet to record any violation of the rule. But Mr Uguru, another indigene of the Abofia-Mgbo Agbaja in Ndiachi, disagreed. As far as I am concerned, child marriage is still being practised in my area, he said.

He argued that Mr Chidieberes claim was understandable because, as a community leader, he was expected to cover up for the community.

Land sharing custom fuels practice

Egonna Mbam was only 12 and in JSS III when she got married. Her father forced her to marry because she got pregnant out of wedlock. Mrs Mbam had no one to support her. Her mother, who wouldve assisted her, passed away while she was barely 10. But here, we normally marry very early, usually at age 15 or 16 latest, she said, suggesting that her early marriage was not essentially because of the pregnancy.

The 28-year-old, however, is sad that her marriage forced her to drop out of school. She is now a food vendor in her community, Ndiebor in Ezza Inyimagu, Izzi LGA.

Like Mrs Mbam, Chinwendu Nwanchi, another young mother in the community, dropped out of school after she got married at 15. She was in JSS III at the time. Months later, she gave birth to her first child at 16.

My parents pressured me to marry because we are very poor and there was no support from anyone, Mrs Nwanchi said, adjusting her baby tied on her back.

She feels helpless because her husband, an artisan, has been unable to assist her family, as he, too, struggles financially.

The traditional ruler of the Ndiebor Community in Izzi LGA, Augustine Mbam, admitted that child marriage had been an age-long practice in his community. Mr Mbam, however, said that, in January 2025, he banned the practice and set up a committee to stop it.

If anybody happens to do it (marry a child), we will seize his land. We no longer condone it, he said.

The traditional ruler acknowledged that the rule was violated in early 2025, but the couple subsequently separated after the committee members informed them of the consequent sanction.

Multiple residents told PREMIUM TIMES that many men engage in child marriage in the community because of a cultural practice in which only married men, including underage men, are qualified to share village lands.

In line with our culture, unmarried males cannot be given land in the village, Mr Mbam, a former councillor in the community, admitted.

But in my time now, I encourage the young ones to enrol in secondary school, and I will give them land. This is to encourage others to shun child marriage and go to school because their interest in education has been low.

However, PREMIUM TIMES reliably gathered that a man from Ezza-Ofu village within the community married a 16-year-old girl in December 2025, indicating that the practice has persisted in the area.

Both of them travelled to Owerri after their marriage. The girl is from another village in our community, a source familiar with the couple told this newspaper in February 2026.

Meanwhile, based on interactions with elders and leaders across communities in the Izzi and Ebonyi LGAs, this newspaper established that child marriage had been practised for decades in the council areas.

The practice is also largely being driven by poverty. In many cases, poor parents whose teenage girls got pregnant often hand over their girls to their abusers and insist that they get married.

The implication is that they drop out of school.

A total of 18.2 million Nigerian school-age children are out of school, according to data from UNESCOs 2024-2025 Global Education Monitoring Report. The figure includes 8.58 million (primary level), 4.06 million (junior secondary level) and 5.54 million (senior secondary level).

The situation is worse in Ebonyi, which has the highest number of out-of-school children (aged 6-15) in the South-east, according to data from the 2022 Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index.

As of the time of the report, the state had 1.17 million (16.7 per cent) children aged 6 to 15 years who were not in school.

We will follow up

When confronted with findings of this investigation, the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development in Ebonyi State, Felicia Nwamkpuma, referred our reporter to the Department of Child Development in the ministry.

Emmanuel Nkwuba, head of the department, told PREMIUM TIMES that the ministry had been campaigning aggressively against child marriage, but the practice has persisted in the state.

Mr Nkwuba recalled a similar case handled by the ministry in Ohaozara LGA in February, in which a girl was forced to marry against her will.

We invited the parents, and as I speak with you, the girl is not with the family because she ran to the church, and we told the church, Keep custody of this girl. Lets find out why they want to force her into a marriage she doesnt want, he narrated.

The official then vowed to liaise with the commissioner to follow up on the PREMIUM TIMES investigation to stop the practice.

I want to assure you that we will do a follow-up because if we dont do that, it means we are encouraging that practice, he assured, saying the fact that the governor hails from the Izzi council area will be helpful.

What does Nigerian law say?

The Child Rights Act 2003 remains the major law against child or underage marriage in Nigeria.

A person who marries a child or to whom a child is betrothed, or who promotes such marriage or betroths a child, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N500,000 or five years imprisonment or both, according to Section 23 (a-d) of the Act.

Section 22 of the Act stipulates that no parent or guardian or other person shall betroth a child to anyone. Ebonyi is among the states in Nigeria that have domesticated the Act, which makes the legislation enforceable in those states.

Even under international laws, child marriage is considered a violation of human rights. According to Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, for instance, a child cannot legally give full, informed consent to marriage.

Several organisations, such as Girls Not Brides and UNICEF, maintain that child marriage is a form of gender-based violence because the practice often puts girls and women at increased risk of sexual, physical, and psychological violence.

If child marriage in Ebonyi communities is bad, the situation is arguably worse in a community in Cross River.

Editors Note: This is the first of a two-part series. Watch out for the second part.
Suspected bandits on Sunday morning invaded an Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in the Omugo community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting worshippers during a weekly service.

A joint security team of police, military personnel, and forest guards rescued three victims unhurt, while five others remain in the custody of the assailants, according to the police command in Kwara State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the development in a statement, saying the rescue operation was a swift and coordinated response.

All necessary operational strategies and intelligence-driven measures are being deployed to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims and the arrest of those responsible for this reprehensible act, she said.

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The state Commissioner of Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, also confirmed the rescue and ongoing efforts to secure the release of the remaining abductees.

We commend the immediate and coordinated response of the security forces, forest guards, and local vigilantes, which led to the rescue of three of the abducted victims and helped to repel the attackers, Mrs Olukoju said.

The incident occurred amid rising insecurity in Kwara, including a series of attacks in Kaiama, Edu, and Patigi local government areas that left scores dead and displaced hundreds.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported on attacks in Woro and Nuku communities, where over 176 people were killed, and multiple abductions took place in early February.

A source from the Kwara South Joint Security Watch, speaking on condition of anonymity, said intelligence had indicated coordinated attacks were planned in Ifelodun, Irepodun, and Isin local government areas.

Military and paramilitary units, along with air surveillance, had been deployed in anticipation, but the church attack still occurred.

Residents in Omugo and surrounding communities expressed fear and frustration.

A community leader said the ongoing security operations had not completely eased anxiety.

We hear about deployments and operations, but the fear has not completely gone. People want to see permanent security, not temporary calm, the leader said.

Security operatives, including the Police Special Intervention Squad, have been deployed to reinforce efforts, comb forests, and pursue the abductors. The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, condemned the attack as cruel, unacceptable, and a direct assault on the peace and sanctity of the community and a place of worship.

Community members have been urged to cooperate with security agencies and provide credible information that could aid the ongoing manhunt.

The incident underscores persistent security challenges in Kwara State, despite recent operations such as Operation Savannah Shield, which aimed to dismantle criminal networks in forested areas and had previously led to multiple arrests in the state.

Residents and security experts have continued to stress the need for sustained intelligence-driven interventions to prevent further attacks on civilians and places of worship.
The Ghanaian government has announced the rescue of 44 Ghanaians from a human trafficking ring operating in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the rescued Ghanaians arrived in Accra on Friday. It said the rescue was in partnership with Nigerian authorities.

The victims, according to the ministry, were lured from Ghana to Nigeria and into the scheme through a deceptive job and travel offer.

These fraudulent opportunities are advertised on social media and informal recruitment platforms, the Ministry said.

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When they arrived in Nigeria, however, they were subjected to exploitative conditions and forced to entice others to join the scheme.

Affected individuals were lured through deceptive means, including social media and informal recruitment channels, with false promises of employment and travel opportunities.

Upon arrival, they were subjected to exploitative conditions, including restricted movement, psychological coercion, and pressure to recruit others into the scheme, the statement read.

The ministry identified one of the recruitment platforms used to lure the victims as Onet.

It further warned citizens against activities of ONET and similar schemes operating in Nigeria.

The country said it facilitated their return following a coordinated operation carried out by Nigerias State Security Service in partnership with relevant Ghanaian agencies.

An investigation has also commenced to identify the full scope of the syndicates activities and whether more victims remain in captivity.

In its statement, Ghana expressed appreciation to the Nigerian government for what it described as a swift and coordinated intervention.

READ ALSO: Ghana announces emergency evacuation for nationals in Qatar

It also added that the Government of Ghana is working closely with its Nigerian counterparts and relevant stakeholders to facilitate ongoing efforts to dismantle the criminal networks involved.

Steps are also being taken to ensure the protection, rehabilitation and reintegration of the victims.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that human trafficking has continued to be a menace in Nigeria despite the efforts of the Nigerian government and its agencies. Such trafficking can be done internally, across states, or internationally, as in the Ghanaian case.

Many traffickers have been arrested and successfully prosecuted for their illegal activities.
A series of violent incidents, including a suspected gang attack and inter-community clashes, left at least three people dead and several others injured in Katsina metropolis between Friday and Saturday, raising fresh concerns about rising urban insecurity.

The incidents were reported in Tudun Wada, Bakin Gawo, Unguwar Wala and Shararrar Pipe, areas where residents say cases of youth violence and gang activity have persisted despite previous security interventions.

Conflicting accounts trail musicians death

A popular local musician, Sufiyanu Abubakar, widely known as Abu Amshi, was killed in the early hours of Saturday in the Shararrar Pipe area.

However, accounts of the incident remain conflicting.

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One version indicates that the 27-year-old was attacked on Friday evening while sitting outside his fathers residence during Sallah celebrations, when suspected thugs ambushed him.

Another account, reported by Katsina Post, stated that the attack occurred around 2 a.m. on Saturday.

According to the report, the assailants allegedly stormed Mr Abubakars residence in search of his younger brother following an earlier dispute. Unable to find the brother, they reportedly attacked the musician.

He was rushed to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. He was buried at about 11 a.m. on Saturday.

His family described him as their primary provider and called on authorities to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

Clashes spread across communities

Violence was also reported late Saturday in a clash between residents of Unguwar Wala and Shararrar Pipe.

Preliminary accounts indicate that the confrontation escalated following an alleged attack, triggering reprisals.

At least two people  one from each community  were reportedly killed in the violence.

The development followed an earlier clash on 20 March involving youths from Tudun Wada and Bakin Gawo, during which a resident identified as Hamza sustained serious injuries.

Police yet to comment

The police command in the state has yet to issue an official statement on the incidents.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, did not respond to calls, text messages and WhatsApp enquiries seeking confirmation as of the time of filing this report.

READ ALSO: Two security operatives killed in fresh attack on Benue community

Pattern of recurring violence

Residents and community sources say the latest incidents reflect a recurring pattern of activities by suspected Kauraye groups in parts of the metropolis, including Sabuwar Unguwa, Tudun Matawalle and Shararrar Pipe.

Authorities had previously announced measures, including the establishment of an anti-thuggery squad, to curb such activities. However, residents say enforcement appears inconsistent, with perpetrators often operating without immediate consequences.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that more than 2,000 people have been killed in attacks on health facilities since the start of the war in Sudan.

WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus disclosed this in a post on X on Friday, following a fresh attack on a hospital in East Darfur.

According to Mr Ghebreyesus, at least 64 people were killed when Al Deain Teaching Hospital, located in the capital of East Darfur, was struck.

The victims included 13 children, two female nurses, one male doctor, and several patients receiving care at the facility.

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He added that 89 others were injured in the attack, including eight health workers, while key sections of the hospital, such as the paediatric, maternity and emergency units, were damaged.

The latest incident brings the total number of deaths linked to attacks on healthcare during the conflict to 2,036, recorded across 213 separate incidents, Mr Ghebreyesus noted.

More than 720 people have also been injured in such attacks.

WHO noted that the hospital is now non-functional due to the extent of the damage, further limiting access to essential medical services in an already overstretched system.

Attacks on health care have immediate and long-term consequences for communities already in desperate need of both emergency and routine medical services, Mr Ghebreyesus said, calling for an end to the violence.

He added that the agency is supporting local partners in scaling up services at other facilities, including expanding primary healthcare, treating the injured, and deploying trauma supplies and essential medicines.

Conflict, humanitarian toll

The war in Sudan began in April 2023 and has since escalated into a major humanitarian crisis.

It is a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

The conflict has displaced millions and severely disrupted access to healthcare, with repeated attacks on hospitals, health workers and medical infrastructure compounding the crisis.

WHO has repeatedly warned that the targeting of health facilities is worsening mortality rates and undermining efforts to deliver life-saving care.

Health care should never be a target. Peace is the best medicine, Mr Ghebreyesus said.

More concerns

The development comes amid global concern over the impact of conflicts on health systems, including the ongoing tensions linked to the US/Israel-Iran war.

In recent weeks, the WHO has raised an alarm over attacks affecting civilians and health infrastructure across parts of the Middle East, warning that escalating violence is placing additional strain on already fragile health systems.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the US and Israel commenced a joint attack on Iran on the last day of February, which has led to a full-scale war affecting many countries in the Middle East.

Over 1,500 people have now been confirmed dead in the war.

The agency has consistently called for de-escalation and renewed peace efforts, emphasising the need to protect civilians and health workers.
Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf was absent on Sunday when the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, arrived at the Government House to pay the customary Sallah homage.

The Hawan Nasarawa, a traditional durbar procession, typically takes place on the third day of the Sallah celebrations, when the Governor hosts the Emir for a formal greeting, after which the monarch traverses designated routes through the metropolis to receive well-wishes from the public.

However, this years proceedings saw changes. Instead of the governor, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Jibril Falgore, received the Emir in a ceremony held in a different hall rather than at the traditional venue, the Africa House.

At the event, the state government explained to the emir and his entourage that Governor Yusuf had flown to Lagos to attend a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors with President Bola Tinubu.

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Initial restriction

On Wednesday, the state government restricted the use of horses and cancelled several durbar processions, citing security concerns.

The governments spokesperson, Ibrahim Waiya, announced that the government had banned the use of horses in the ceremony to prevent a breakdown of law and order during the celebrations.

Mr Waiya said the governors decision was based on intelligence reports indicating attempts by some individuals to create unrest during the Sallah period.

Mr Waiya announced that the first day of Sallah celebration (Eid Durbar) would be conducted by Mr Sanusi from the Kofar Mata Eid Praying Ground through designated routes to Gidan Shettima, terminating at Kofar Fatalwa of the Kano Emirs Palace

He said Hawan Nasarawa would take place in a modified form, but not on horseback. At the same time, he said Hawan Daushe would be suspended until future Sallah celebrations.

READ ALSO: Kano govt restricts Sallah durbar procession for Emir Sanusi

Also, Mr Waiya said the state government had suspended the Hawan Fanisau and Hawan Dorayi for the time being, in the best interests of public peace and safety.

The Hawan Nasarawa is regarded as the climax of the Sallah durbar processions, symbolising a mutual respect between the state government and the traditional institution.

EDITORS NOTE: This story has been reedited to correct a reporting error arising from claims by some Government insiders that the governor deliberately stayed away from the event to spite the Emir. We apologise for the error.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed Tuesday, 24 March, for the screening of aspirants seeking to contest for national offices ahead of its forthcoming national convention.

The exercise, scheduled to take place three days before the partys convention on 27 March, will be conducted by the Aspirants Screening Committee, chaired by Isa Yuguda.

In an official notice issued by the committee, the party directed all aspirants who have successfully purchased and submitted their expression of interest and nomination forms to appear in person for the screening.

The exercise will be held at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, beginning at 9:00 a.m., where aspirants are expected to present relevant documents for verification.

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The committee stressed that attendance is mandatory, warning that failure to appear could affect an aspirants eligibility to participate in the contest. It also urged all participants to strictly comply with the screening guidelines to ensure a smooth, credible process.

For inquiries, the committee provided dedicated contact lines to assist aspirants with clarifications ahead of the exercise.

The screening is a statutory requirement in the APCs internal electoral process, designed to vet aspirants credentials, confirm their eligibility, and assess their suitability for party leadership roles.

It typically involves scrutiny of educational qualifications, party membership records, and adherence to the partys constitutional provisions.

This development marks a critical step in the APCs preparations for its 2026 National Convention, scheduled for 27 and 28 March, during which key leadership positions within the ruling party are expected to be contested.

The convention is anticipated to attract significant political interest, as it will determine the composition of the partys National Working Committee (NWC), the highest administrative body responsible for the day-to-day running of the party.
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General Motors is requiring most U.S. dealers to sell used vehicles through its CarBravo digital platform.

The company is discontinuing its certified pre owned program for most models as part of a broader shift in retail strategy.

This move aims to reshape how GM-branded used vehicles are marketed and sold in a market where online competitors are active.

For investors tracking NYSE:GM, this retail shift comes with the shares around $72.81 and a 47.7% return over the past year, alongside a 122.9% return over three years. Those figures sit against weaker recent momentum, with a 10.7% decline over 30 days and a 10.1% decline year to date, which may make changes to GM's retail model more relevant to sentiment.

The CarBravo requirement and the move away from traditional certified pre owned programs give GM a clearer digital channel that investors can watch over time. The key questions will be how dealers adapt, how customers respond to a more centralized online used vehicle experience, and how this affects GM's position versus online focused used car platforms.

Stay updated on the most important news stories for General Motors by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on General Motors.

NYSE:GM Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026

 Beyond the headline: 4 risks and 3 things going right for General Motors that every investor should see.

This shift to CarBravo pushes more of General Motors' used-vehicle activity into a controlled digital channel, closer to how Carvana and other online-focused rivals operate. For you as an investor, the interest is less about the website itself and more about how a centralized platform could influence pricing consistency, data collection, and cross-selling into financing, service, and subscriptions like OnStar. GM has already highlighted that CarBravo transactions correlate with higher store traffic and new-vehicle sales, which ties used-car shoppers more tightly into its broader ecosystem. On the flip side, forcing most dealers onto a single platform and winding down traditional certified pre owned programs could create friction with retailers and with customers who value legacy CPO branding. Execution will likely hinge on how quickly GM can standardize the experience across nearly 4,000 U.S. dealerships and whether the digital funnel proves at least as effective as dealer-specific approaches for sourcing inventory and closing sales.
The Nigerian Army has announced the commencement of online registration for its 91 Regular Recruits Intake (RRI) for trade and non-trade personnel.

According to an official notice posted on its Facebook page, the army said the recruitment exercise will run from 30 March to 17 May, and is open to qualified Nigerian citizens. The army emphasised that the application process is free and warned applicants to avoid fraudsters.

The army stated that applicants must be Nigerian by birth, single, and possess a valid National Identity Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN). Candidates are also required to be medically, physically, and psychologically fit, with no criminal record.

Educational requirements include a minimum of four credits including English language and in not more than two sittings in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), General Certificate of Education (GCE), the National Examinations Council (NECO), or National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).

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Trades applicants must also possess relevant trade or guild certificates, the army said.

Age requirements specify that non-trades applicants must be between 18 and 22 years, while trades applicants must not exceed 26 years by 30 June. Minimum height requirements are set at 1.68 metres for men and 1.65 metres for women.

The army added that shortlisted candidates will undergo screening in their respective states of origin from 9 June to 23 June.

Applicants were advised to complete the process online via the official recruitment portal and print required documents, including guarantor forms. The army also warned that submission of fake documents will lead to prosecution.

Highlighting the benefits of service, the army listed career progression, competitive pay, access to education and training, healthcare benefits, and pension upon retirement.

The army urged interested candidates to apply early and adhere strictly to the guidelines, stressing that there are no special recruitment centres and no pre-selection computer-based tests for the exercise.
A former governor of Kano State and leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has hosted Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and former governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, at his residence in Kano.

They gathered at Mr Kwankwasos Miller Road residence in Kano for the Sallah festivities organised by Mr Kwankwaso.

In a brief statement shared via his verified Facebook page, Mr Kwankwaso expressed his delight at hosting the top politicians, describing the atmosphere at his residence as a joyful Sallah celebration.

Ahead of the event, the Kwankwasiyya movement had encouraged supporters to converge at the residence for the annual tradition.

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The celebration featured various traditional performances and cultural displays to entertain the guests.

This years event has drawn national attention, as it marks the first major political gathering hosted by Mr Kwankwaso since his public falling out with his erstwhile protege, Governor Abba Yusuf, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in January.

Supporters at the event, many wearing the red caps associated with the Kwankwasiyya movement, provided a colourful backdrop as they welcomed the visiting dignitaries.

Kano politics took a dramatic turn when Governor Yusuf officially defected from the NNPP to the APC, ending a decades-long political partnership often described as a godfather-godson relationship.

The presence of Mr Obi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and PDP governor like Mr Makinde at Mr Kwankwasos residence has indicated a potential grand opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Governor Umar Namadi has called on the people of Jigawa State to remain united and supportive of one another, while reaffirming his administrations commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector and improving the states economy.

The Governor made the remarks after receiving the emir of Dutse His Royal Highness Alhaji Haneem Muhammad Sanusi during the Hawan Bariki Durbar homage at the Sir Muhammadu Sanusi Durbar ground in Dutse, as part of activities marking the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

He described the visit by the Emir and other traditional leaders as a moment of reflection and appreciation, saying that it provided an opportunity to acknowledge the shared efforts in promoting peace, development, and cooperation across the state.

Governor Namadi said he was encouraged by the goodwill expressed by the traditional institutions, particularly their recognition of development projects being carried out across different emirates.

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He also took a moment to appreciate the people of Jigawa State for their continued support to both the state and federal governments, saying that such cooperation is crucial to sustaining progress.

As a government, we will continue to implement developmental projects for our community, especially the underprivileged. Our constant focus is on the poor in Jigawa State, he said.

Speaking on the challenges facing farmers, the Governor acknowledged that many have experienced losses in recent times, but assured that both the Federal Government and the Jigawa State Government are fully aware of the situation and are working to provide the needed support.

Agriculture is the main investment for the people of Jigawa State. We are aware of the state of farming in this country; people farm but suffer losses and do not make profits. However, I want to assure our people that this is a temporary situation. As a government, we are considering measures to ensure that farmers can profit from their work.

He explained that plans are already in place to assist farmers ahead of the upcoming dry season farming, with the aim of helping them return to their farms with confidence and improve their productivity.

Starting from the farming season this year, God willing, we will introduce plans to assist the poor farmers. Therefore, we encourage patience as we enter the farming season; if God wills, we will provide assistance to support farmers.

One thing is certain; if we refuse to farm, there will be no food. If there is a shortage of food, then food prices will rise, and if food prices rise, we will suffer.

We know what makes farmers struggle; the cost of fertilisers and other factors. God willing, we will bring relief so that the poor can effectively engage in farming.

On the recent increase in petroleum prices, Governor Namadi noted that the Federal Government has begun taking steps to ease the impact on citizens, including efforts to reduce transportation costs through alternative measures.

The President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has instructed me to use this opportunity to inform our people that there has been an increase in fuel prices due to the crisis occurring in the Middle East. This increase in fuel prices will place a burden on our community. However, the president has stated that the government will take steps to alleviate this burden, he stated.

He added that the state government will continue to complement these efforts, particularly by supporting farmers and ensuring that the effects do not weigh too heavily on the people.

The governor also used the occasion to encourage citizens to take part in the ongoing voter registration exercise, emphasising that the voter card remains a vital tool for participation in the democratic process.

And we call on everyone to go out and register to vote; those who havent registered should do so; those with damaged cards should go and replace them; those who have changed their residence should go and update their information.

This voter card is your power. Today, if you have a voter card and Umar Namadi is not treating you right, you can confront him at the ballot box. Any elected official among us who is not doing right by you, use this card to replace him.
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal has expressed excitement over the historic test run of the maiden flight at Gusau International Airport in the state capital.

A statement by the governors spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the test flight landed at the Gusau International Airport at exactly 4:30pm on Sunday 22 March.

He added that the aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 605, was operated by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The statement read in parts, Today will remain a historic day in the history of Zamfara State as Governor Lawal witnessed the landing of the maiden flight at the Gusau International Airport.

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The aircraft with registration 5N-FGZ performed a one-off test to assess the airports capability for VIP movements scheduled next week.

The test flight is in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) Part 12.1.4.1(c).

Before the test flight, the state government requested permission from the NCAA, and the Authority granted a one-off No Technical Objection (NTO) for the Aircraft to land in Gusau.

The flight operation was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), which was strictly from sunrise to sunset.

The historic test flight has significantly boosted Governor Lawals administrations reputation, especially since Zamfara has lacked an airport since its creation over 30 years ago.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated economist, banker and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu, on his 63rd birthday, describing him as an African business icon and a leading advocate of enterprise on the continent.

The Chairman of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa and Transcorp, turned 63 on 22 March 2026.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the president commended him, for his resilience, commitment to excellence and unwavering belief in Africapitalism.

Mr Tinubu praised the impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), noting its significant role in empowering young Africans through entrepreneurship.

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He said the foundations entrepreneurship programme had trained about 2.5 million youths across 54 African countries and provided over 24,000 entrepreneurs with non-refundable seed capital of 5,000 dollars each.

The President highlighted Mr Elumelus continued investment in youth development as critical to Africas economic transformation and job creation.

He joined family, friends and associates of the business leader in wishing him good health, strength and more success in his future endeavours.

This is coming as TEF is rallying young entrepreneurs to power Africas Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda ahead of 2030.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Somachi Chris-Asoluka, gave the hint during a virtual media parley on Saturday.

The media parley was held ahead of the 2026 TEF selection announcement scheduled for Sunday, March 22 to unveil the newest cohort of 3,200 young African entrepreneurs selected for this years TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.

Chris-Asoluka said the foundation was prioritising entrepreneurs whose businesses actively contributed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of efforts to reposition Africa for accelerated development ahead of 2030.

While taking questions from journalists, she said the foundations selection framework placed strong emphasis on impact, ensuring that supported enterprises are not only profit-driven but also aligned with global development priorities.

She said that TEF encouraged applicants to clearly demonstrate how their business ideas would contribute to the SDGs, noting that such alignment is critical to closing Africas development gaps.

We want our entrepreneurs to actively contribute to the SDGs so that by 2030, Africa will no longer lag behind, but will be able to meet and surpass these goals, she said.

According to her, this focus is central to the foundations broader mission of fostering inclusive economic growth, job creation and sustainable development across the continent.

She said that entrepreneurs were assessed, not just on profitability and scalability, but also on their potential to drive measurable social and economic impact in areas such as education, healthcare, climate action and digital innovation.

Chris-Asoluka said that the foundation believed Africas young entrepreneurs hold the key to advancing sustainable development, stressing that innovation from the private sector is essential to achieving long-term growth.

She said that TEF remained committed to supporting early-stage entrepreneurs with training, mentorship and seed funding, while ensuring that their ventures align with the continents development priorities.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has expressed confidence that the five-star Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, would be completed and commissioned in December 2026, just as South Africas Edison Corporation, incorporating Radisson Hotels Group, assured of world-class services.

Addressing visiting top executives of Edison Corporation and Megastar Technical and Construction Company, at the conclusion of a one-day project management tour and workshop at the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), Swali, Yenagoa, on Friday, Mr Ogbe described the hospitality facility as a top priority project to the Board, whose progress he would be following up every day, every week.

This project is critical to the Board, critical to Yenagoa, and to Bayelsa State and Nigeria, he stated, adding, With this hotel becoming functional at the end of the year, I believe there will be tourism in Bayelsa State; and thats one of my dreams. According to him, When I took up this job [as Executive Secretary in December 2024], I said I must make this hotel work.

He commended the team from Edison Corporation and the project contractor, Megastar Technical and Construction Company, for the quality and pace of work, and reminded its Management that much responsibility rests on the company for delivery on schedule.

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Mr Ogbe said, most of the critical aspects of the project have been resolved in terms of mark-up room, scope of work in terms of financing and contracting strategies, and that he was sure all hands would be on deck to ensure that work proceeded unhampered.

In his own remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Edison Corporation, Mr Vivian Reddy, said the team from Edison Hotel Group was very excited to have come into a contractual arrangement with the NCDMB, assuring that Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre, Yenagoa, will put this place on the world map.

According to him, What is so important with the group Radisson International is that, if anyone around the world looks for Radisson Yenagoa, they will see this place pop up, and its going to help to uplift the area in terms of visitors and tourism.

In a brief interaction with media men, he said, Our role is to make sure we deliver a world-class quality hotel; from start to finish, we will open the hotel; we will furnish it. He disclosed that his company is working with the main contractor to make sure the facility meets world-class standards.

On how the contractual deal with the NCDMB got finally sealed, he noted that it took great efforts. According to him, Getting Radisson in here wasnt easy: It took months and months  in fact over one and a half years  of discussions and thousands of pages of documentation.

He pointed out that such rigorous processes were not without gains. In his words, When a group like Radisson, one of the largest hotel groups in the world, decide and commit that they will come in here, it actually is a mark of confidence in the area.

The Edison CEO, who is reputed to be the first South African businessman to lead a high-level business delegation from that country to Nigeria during the tenure of President Thabo Mbeki in 1999, was full of commendation for the NCDMB boss, describing him as a great visionary, an excellent leader.

His vision and dream are going to become a reality, he assured, adding, Were going to help him and make it  and its going to be the best hotel in this region.

He also commended the project contractors and professional teams involved, stating that his team has every confidence in their technical competence.

On the team of Edison Corporation and Radisson International were Brian Sibusiso Mpono and Govindasami Monogren, among others.

The Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre, Yenagoa, as the NCDMB explained in a statement by the General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, is designed to meet global five-star standards and is expected to serve as a strategic hub for industry conferences, investor engagements, and high-level business meetings, thereby boosting economic activities in Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta.
The police command in Kano State on Saturday confirmed the abduction of Hamza Durya, secretary of Kibiya Local Government Area of Kano State, by gunmen.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Bakori, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Saturday that the commands anti-kidnap squad, the area commander, and the DPO have been fully mobilised to rescue the victim.

He said the victim was abducted at his residence in Durya village of Kibiya Local Government Area, and all hands are on deck to rescue him safely.

READ ALSO: Army rescues two kidnapped bank workers in Taraba

The commissioner appealed to residents, especially rural dwellers, to volunteer credible information to aid the deployment of rescue personnel.

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(NAN)
At first light on Sallah day, the prayers in Katsina unfolded in two places.

In Batagarawa, a modest town on the outskirts of the capital, Governor Dikko Radda stood among worshippers as rows formed on dusty ground, projecting a message of proximity, security, and shared responsibility.

Several kilometres away, in the ancient city, the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Usman, led thousands at the central Eid ground, his voice rising over a sea of white robes and prayer mats, anchoring a tradition that has endured for centuries.

The distance was physical.

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But it also told a deeper story  one of power, tension, and the eventual accommodation between Katsinas two most formidable institutions.

When absence became a signal

In much of northern Nigeria, Sallah is not only observed  it is watched. Attendance, positioning, and participation often carry meaning beyond ritual.

That meaning sharpened in June 2024.

The Katsina State Government issued a formal query to the Emirate Council after 17 district heads failed to attend the Eid-el-Kabir Durbar. Only 27 of the 44 district heads were present, according to official records.

The query, dated 7 June 2024, demanded explanations. Subsequent reforms affecting district heads were introduced in August 2025, when the state government approved a new remuneration structure aligning their pay with civil service Grade Level 16, alongside broader support measures for ward heads and religious officials.

To government officials, the absence suggested defiance. Within the palace, it was read as an intrusion.

Between both interpretations lay a widening institutional fault line.

A fracture, caught in glass

If the query revealed tension, May 2025 gave it form.

At a wedding inside Government House  organised for one of the governors daughters  members of the Emirs entourage were briefly held at the gate amid tightened security following the arrival of President Bola Tinubus delegation.

In the confusion that followed, a glass door was forced open and shattered.

The image travelled quickly.

It was not the damage that lingered, but what it captured: a moment when protocol failed, and two systems of authority collided in public view  fragile, visible, and unresolved.

Rewriting the terms of coexistence

The response that followed was quiet, but structural.

In 2025, Governor Radda signed the Katsina State Emirate Law, redefining the role of traditional institutions within the states governance architecture.

On 16 December 2025, the government inaugurated the Katsina State Council of Emirates. The Emir of Katsina was appointed Chairman, with the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar-Faruk, as Co-Chairman.

The council was mandated to advise on Islamic law, customary practice, and community affairs  areas where traditional authority remains deeply rooted.

The reform did not eliminate tension; it gave it a structure.

Public disagreement moved behind institutional doors. Authority, once parallel, became coordinated.

Two prayers, one direction

By the 2026 Eid-el-Fitr, the symbolism had shifted  even if the geography had not.

Governor Raddas decision to pray in Batagarawa, once seen as a distance, now reflects a strategy: extending the states presence into communities where trust is still being rebuilt after years of insecurity.

The fact that we can gather here in peace is a sign of progress, the governor said after prayers, urging citizens to remain vigilant and to see security as a shared responsibility.

In the city centre, the Emir delivered a message grounded in continuity  discipline, order, and collective responsibility.

Their words came from different traditions.

But they pointed in the same direction.

The governor spoke in the language of systemssecurity architecture, community intelligence, and measurable development. The Emir spoke in the language of continuityvalues, restraint, and social order.

Together, they formed a single narrative, delivered from two locations.

The Durbar, from heritage to diplomacy

At the historic Kofar Soro, horse riders surged through the ancient gates in disciplined formation, their richly embroidered regalia catching the light. The air carried the rhythm of kalangu and algaita drums as the Hawan Bariki Durbar unfolded  a choreography of loyalty, hierarchy, and living history.

Thousands lined the routes. More than 50 district heads assembled. And among them stood an unusual audience: seventeen international diplomats.

The envoys  led by Belgian Ambassador Pieter Leenknegt and including representatives from Europe, Africa, and Latin America  had arrived a day earlier through the Umaru Musa YarAdua International Airport, received by the governor and his deputy before proceeding to the Emirs palace.

There, tradition met statecraft.

Welcoming the delegation, Governor Radda described the Durbar as a powerful symbol of unity, peace, and the enduring identity of our people.

The Durbar is no longer only cultural; it is diplomatic, administrative, and an economic strategy. It is also political theatre.

Security framed the spectacle. The Katsina State Police Command deployed robust security measures and adequate personnel across the state, while restrictions on armed traditional guards were strictly enforced  a reminder that even heritage now operates within modern security realities.

Shared goals, distinct mandates

Beyond the pageantry, both leaders used the Sallah period to reinforce a shared message: stability requires collective effort.

The governor highlighted a mix of kinetic and non-kinetic security measures  including the Community Watch Corps  alongside investments in infrastructure, agriculture, education, and healthcare. Governance, he argued, must be measured by its impact on everyday life.

The emir urged citizens to remain law-abiding and united, emphasising that peace depends not only on policy but on conduct. He also commended the administrationa signal of alignment without erasing institutional boundaries.

The roles remain distinct. The direction is shared.

What has changed  and what endures

Governor Radda and the Emir of Katsina are hosting diplomats during the 2026 Sallah festivities. Photo: Katsina State Government

The clearest evidence of transformation lies in absence.

There were no public disputes this Sallah. No formal queries. No visible rupture.

District heads who once stayed away returned. Institutions that once clashed now operate within a defined framework.

Yet underlying challenges remain. Insecurity persists in parts of the state, and the balance between democratic authority and traditional legitimacy remains delicate.

What has changed is not the disappearance of tension.

It is how it is managed.

After the fracture

Two years ago, a shattered glass door captured a moment of institutional fracture.

Today, two separate prayer grounds reflect something more deliberate: not unity in form, but coordination in purpose.

In Katsina, governance and tradition are no longer competing scripts.

They are learning to speak the same language  slowly, carefully, and with consequence.

And in a region where fragmentation has often deepened insecurity, that shift matters.

Because here, Sallah is no longer just ritual.

It has become a measure.
Despite all the bearish noise, Goldman Sachs isnt backing down on Nvidia (NVDA) stock yet.

After another stellar GTC showing, the bank reiterated its $250 price target and maintained a buy rating, underscoring confidence in the AI giants tremendous upside from current levels.

Its important to note that Goldman Sachs first raised its Nvidia price target to $250 back on Nov. 20, 2025. Since then, it has reiterated that target in multiple notes, including one following GTC.

At the time of writing on March 21, 2026, Nvidia stock was last trading at $172.70, per Yahoo Finance.

That said, Goldman Sachs analysts feel that CEO Jensen Huangs keynote delivered exactly what the bulls needed to hear, in clearer demand visibility and a stronger case that AI spending isnt slowing down.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, who recently praised the AI bellwether following its first day at GTC 2026, echoed that sentiment.

Ives said the company is still "alone at the top of the AI mountain," expanding its reach across everything from compute and networking to inference and robotics.

Ives also highlighted Nvidias massive lead over competitors in chips during a recent CNBC interview.

With greater clarity expected around hyperscaler spending and powerful new models built on Blackwell, Goldman sees a far steadier pipeline of catalysts that will keep momentum firmly on Nvidias side.

Wall Street updates Nvidia price targets after GTC 2026

Rosenblatt Securities: $325

Bank of America: $300

Bernstein: $300

Morgan Stanley: $260

Benchmark: $250

UBS: $245

Sources: Yahoo Finance, Investing.com

Goldman Sachs sees Nvidias GTC takeaways reinforcing AI dominance

Goldman Sachs analysts came away from Nvidias high-profile GTC event with a view that did enough to support the stocks earlier gains while reinforcing its bullish long-term setup.

A lot of that has to do with investors having more concrete visibility into where growth could come from next.

More Nvidia:

Naturally, a big part of that came from Nvidias massive $1 trillion revenue disclosure in data center sales through 2027. That alone helps answer a major concern among AI investors, especially those who believe that AI-led infrastructure spending might crest this year.

Another huge part of the conference was Nvidias major push into Groqs LPX rack, a sign that the tech behemoth wants a much sizeable role in the next leg of AI demand.

Nvidias GTC keynote draws investor attention as analysts digest implications for future AI demand trends.Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images  Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Goldmans Nvidia bull case by the numbers
The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO), in collaboration with the Trump Administration, installed a replica of the destroyed Baltimore monument in front of the Eisenhower building.

WASHINGTON, March 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Unveiled in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, destroyed in 2020 during civil unrest and revived by COPOMIAO and President Donald Trump, the Baltimore Columbus statue now stands on the White House campus in celebration of Italian American history and culture.

The installation, spearheaded by COPOMIAO President Basil M. Russo in coordination with the Italian American Organizations United, which commissioned both the original statue and its replica, was months in the making and part of the White House's "America250" undertaking.

Installed Sunday, March 22, 2026, on the north side of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House, the 13-foot Columbus statue is a replica of the monument that was destroyed in Baltimore on July 4, 2020. The one-ton statue was set in place as part of a joint initiative between the Trump Administration and the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) in celebration of the Italian American culture and "America250."

Read Trump's letter to Russo here.

"Columbus statues have long stood as symbols of pride and cultural identity for more than 18 million Americans of Italian descent," said Russo. "For over a century, Columbus's legacy helped Italian immigrants navigate prejudice and hardship, serving as a source of unity and belonging as they built new lives in this country. Columbus Day itself emerged in the aftermath of the 1891 New Orleans lynching, when 11 Italian immigrants were killed by a mob of thousands, an event that prompted a national effort to promote the acceptance and assimilation of Italian Americans. This history remains central to why these monuments matter."

The 13-foot, one-ton replica was built, in part, with pieces of the shattered statue that were retrieved from the Baltimore Harbor. Baltimore officials refused to install the new statue in public, prompting Russo to initiate correspondence with the Trump Administration.

This historic move by the White House is the latest in a series of advocacy and legal victories for COPOMIAO. Through its National Counsel George Bochetto, the organization secured back-to-back unanimous rulings in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court, blocking the removal of Pittsburgh's Columbus statue and restoring Columbus Day as a citywide holiday in Philadelphia. Bochetto also prevented the deconstruction of Philadelphia's nearly 150-year-old Columbus monument.

In the coming days, COPOMIAO will announce its next major pro-Columbus lawsuit, and the organization continues to work on all levels, from grass roots activism to its collaboration with the Italian American Congressional Delegation on Capitol Hill, to advocate for Italian American culture.

ABOUT COPOMIAO

COPOMIAO, based in NYC, is a national coalition of 74 cultural, educational, fraternal and anti-defamation groups. Contact COPOMIAO here.

SOURCE The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations
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) manufacturing for Inovio's CELLECTRA device was deficient; (2) accordingly, Inovio was unlikely to submit the INO-3107 BLA to the FDA by the second half of 2024; (3) Inovio had insufficient information to justify the INO-3107 BLA's eligibility for FDA accelerated approval or priority review; (4) accordingly, INO-3107's overall regulatory and commercial prospects were overstated; and (5) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On December 29, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") announced it had accepted Inovio's Biologics License Application ("BLA") for INO-3107, a treatment for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, on a standard review timeline. Inovio filed its BLA under the accelerated approval pathway, but the FDA stated that the Company did not submit adequate information to justify eligibility for accelerated approval. Inovio also announced it does not currently plan to seek approval under the standard review timeline, and will request a meeting with the FDA to discuss how it may still pursue accelerated approval.

On this news, Inovio's stock price fell $0.56 per share, or 24.45%, to close at $1.73 per share on December 29, 2025.

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 Inovio's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Inovio Pharmaceuticals class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/INO 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
Weeklong programming to focus on AI, data centers, chip design, robotics, workforce and investment strategies, and more at world's preeminent energy conference

HOUSTON, March 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders and experts from Amazon Web Services, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Meta, Dell, Applied Materials and AMD will be among the technology and innovation speakers at CERAWeek by S&P Globalthe world's preeminent energy conferenceto be held in Houston March 23-27.

CERAWeek 2026 Convergence and Competition: Energy, Technology and Geopolitics will include an unprecedented number of top AI and technology leaders exploring ideas and strategies for a world where energy is increasingly entwined with technology. The conference program will explore how AI is transforming the energy landscape, including the accelerating power demand for data center developmentand what this means for the global energy systemas well as the breakthroughs that are accelerating innovation and new designs for data centers and energy efficient chips.

"The energy and technology industries are converging like never before," said Daniel Yergin, conference chair and Vice Chairman of S&P Global. "This year's conference theme 'Convergence and Competition' reflects a world where the pace of technological innovation is matched only by the accelerating demand for stable, reliable and affordable energy. These two factors are increasingly interdependent, and much will depend on the ability to address them in tandem. Meeting the challenge will require breakthrough ideas as well as creative strategies to navigate a world where geopolitical rivalry and economic competition are increasingly the norm. These consequential conversations will be front and center at CERAWeek."

CERAWeek 2026 will introduce the Bridgea new venue that brings together energy and technology leaders for conversations that connect today's energy realities with the emerging solutions shaping tomorrow.

The transformative role of AI, data center development and their implications for energy markets and investment strategies will be covered across the Executive Conference and the CERAWeek Innovation Agora, which serves as a hub convening the innovation ecosystem. The Agora features preeminent technologists, venture capitalists and investors, thought leaders, policy makers and corporate innovatorsincluding more than 300 startups. Topics range from AI, electrification, decarbonization, low carbon fuels, cybersecurity, hydrogen, nuclear, mining and minerals, mobility, automation, and more.

Among the technology and innovation leaders to address CERAWeek delegates are: (partial list)

Sundeep Bajikar  Corporate Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Marketing, Applied Materials, Inc.

Nassima Brown  Strategy Director and Co-Founder, Fennex

Mariah Carter  Co-Founder and CEO, Lumora Technologies

Page Crahan  General Manager, Tapestry

Aart de Geus  Board Member, OpenMinds; Executive Chair and Founder, Synopsys, Inc.; Board Director, Applied Materials

Hanna Grene  Global Go-To-Market Strategy and Innovation Leader, Energy and Resources Industry, Microsoft

David Holmes  Head of Energy, Dell

Radhika Krishnan  Chief Product and Technology Officer, Quorum Software

Melissa Lott  Partner, Energy Technology, Cloud Operations and Innovation, Microsoft

Liz Muller  CEO, Deep Fission

Sam Naffziger  Senior Vice President and Corporate Fellow, AMD

Mark Papermaster  Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, AMD

Levi Patterson  Director of Energy, Science, and AI Infrastructure Policy, NVIDIA

Kerry Person  Vice President, AWS Data Center Planning and Delivery, Amazon Web Services

Amanda Peterson Corio  Global Head of Data Center Energy, Google

Ruth Porat  President and Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet and Google

Hema Prapoo  Worldwide Energy Industry Leader, Microsoft

Patrick Ryan  Principal, Energy Strategy, Meta

Joseph Santamaria  Global Director, Energy, Amazon Web Services

Marcela Sapone  CEO, EdgeFlo AI

Rob Schapiro  Senior Director, Energy Partnerships, Microsoft

Hussein Shel  Director, Chief Technologist for Energy and Utilities, Amazon Web Services

Marc Spieler  Senior Managing Director, Global Energy Industry, NVIDIA

Brad Smith  Vice Chair and President, Microsoft

Raiford Smith  Global Director, Power and Energy, Google

Michael Terrell  Head of Advanced Energy, Google

Shanker Trivedi  Senior Vice President, Enterprise Business, NVIDIA

Lucia Tian  Head of Clean Energy and Decarbonization Technologies, Google

Vladimir Troy  Vice President, AI Infrastructure, NVIDIA

Uwem Ukpong  Vice President of AWS Industries, Amazon Web Services

Darryl Willis  Corporate Vice President, Energy and Resources Industry, Microsoft

"The CERAWeek Innovation Agora embodies the inseparableand increasingly overlappingworlds of energy and technology," said Ken Downey, Executive Director of the CERAWeek Innovation Agora. "This unique community of traditional energy companies, start-ups, technology companies, innovation thought leaders and investors is at the forefront advancing solutions to the greatest challenges facing the energy future. Reflecting the dynamic spirit of the group that it convenes, the Agora is a catalyst to connect and engage on important topics across the energy and technological ecosystem, from digitalization and AI to mobility, robotics, decarbonization, and more."

Key themes to be explored throughout the Innovation Agora program include:

AI and Digital

Electrification Technologies

Investment and Financing

Chemicals and Materials

The Innovation Ecosystem

Managing Emissions

Low-Carbon Fuels and Mobility

Climate and Sustainability

Workforce Strategy

CERAWeek 2026 will also feature:

NextGen at CERAWeek Program:

The NextGen programming track will focus on the critical link between academia and industry and how to create dynamic environments that cultivate top talent, uncover fresh ideas, and unlock newfound energy transition pathways. NextGen accelerates these connections through engaging programming, targeted networking events and collaborative discussions that inspire and spark the next generation of talent, ideas and alliances.

CERAWeek Exchange (NEW for 2026):

A space for candid conversation and deeper exploration of topics introduced at Agora and NextGen sessions, CERAWeek Exchange will provide delegates the opportunity to examine key topics more closely through focused, interactive discussions.

Energy Venture Day and Pitch Competition:

Presented in partnership with Houston's Energy Transition Initiative (HETI), the competition will feature more than 40 energy startups that are focused on driving efficiency and the energy transition. Presentations will be evaluated by a special judging panel of energy industry experts and investors. The event will also feature the TEX-E collegiate pitch competition among student-led energy startups.

Visit www.ceraweek.com for a complete list of speakers and the most up-to-date program information (subject to change).

Registration Information

CERAWeek by S&P Global 2026 will be held March 23-27 at the Hilton AmericasHouston. Further information and delegate registration is available at www.ceraweek.com.

Media Accreditation

Media registration is now open. Members of the media interested in covering CERAWeek 2026 are required to apply for accreditation.

Applications are subject to approval and can be submitted at the following link: https://reg.spglobal.com/flow/spglobal/cw26/media-reg/login

Media Contacts:

Jeff Marn

S&P Global Energy

+1 202 463 8213

[email protected]

About S&P Global



S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) enables businesses, governments, and individuals with trusted data, expertise, and technology to make decisions with conviction. We are Advancing Essential Intelligence through world-leading benchmarks, data, and insights that customers need in order to plan confidently, act decisively, and thrive economically in a rapidly changing global landscape.

From helping our customers assess new investments across the capital and commodities markets to guiding them through the energy expansion, acceleration of artificial intelligence, and evolution of public and private markets, we enable the world's leading organizations to unlock opportunities, solve challenges, and plan for tomorrow  today. Learn more at www.spglobal.com.

SOURCE S&P Global
NAIROBI, Kenya, March 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterdrop Filter ("Waterdrop" or "the Company"), a global leader in water purification, has announced the ninth year of its partnership with The Water Project to mark World Water Day 2026, which is observed every year on March 22. Aligning with this year's United Nations theme, "Water and Gender", the collaboration underscores the critical connection between water, women, and gender equality and reaffirms a long-term commitment to advancing clean water access and strengthening communities.

9 Years of Partnership Bringing Clean Water to Communities in Kenya

Since the partnership began, Waterdrop Filter and The Water Project have focused on providing access to safe water and supporting sustainable, community-driven solutions that improve health, education, and daily living conditions. The ninth year of collaboration marks a renewed commitment to long-term impact just as the global conversation about water expands to include equity and opportunity.

World Water Day 2026 highlights how water scarcity disproportionately affects women and girls, who often bear the responsibility of water collection which limits their time for education, income generation, and personal development. Safe and sustainable water access reduces these burdens, improves safety, and creates opportunities for families and communities to thrive.

One example of this impact is the Emachembe Primary School project in Western Kenya. With support from Waterdrop, a new borehole well now provides students and staff with a reliable, on-campus water source. The project also included the installation of new latrines and handwashing stations, along with sanitation and hygiene training for the school community. Together, these improvements contribute to healthier learning environments and reduced absenteeism.

12-year-old student Godsvilla is delighted with the change, sharing: "I will no longer get tired of carrying water from a distant water point." With water now available at school, students can concentrate harder on learning as they don't need to leave the campus to search for water. Teachers have also noted operational improvements. Senior teacher Rose Wakamira explained that access to water onsite helps reduce time wastage, supports the school's lunch program, and strengthens sanitation standards, ultimately lowering the risk of waterborne illness which leads to absenteeism.

Philip, President with Waterdrop Filter commented: "For Waterdrop, projects such as Emachembe of course represent necessary infrastructure building, but also reflect a broader vision of shared responsibility and long-term partnership. Access to clean water is foundational to dignity, health, and opportunity. As we enter the ninth year of our partnership with The Water Project, we remain committed to delivering water solutions and to supporting systems that will empower communities for generations."

Waterdrop Filter's ongoing collaboration with The Water Project reflects a belief that corporate responsibility extends beyond short-term giving. Through investments in durable infrastructure, community training, and local ownership models, the partnership aims to create ripple effects that strengthen resilience and advance gender equity over time.

As World Water Day 2026 focuses global attention on water and equality, Waterdrop Filter and The Water Project look ahead to the next chapter of their partnership that is focused on scaling sustainable solutions, deepening community engagement, and building a future where clean water supports opportunity for all.

About Waterdrop Filter

Founded in 2015, Waterdrop Filter is a water purification company that offers solutions for homes, offices, and outdoor use. Its product range includes under-sink and countertop Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems, pitchers, and whole-house filters. With the mission of making clean water accessible worldwide, Waterdrop Filter provides water filtration products trusted by over 40 million families globally. Learn more from www.waterdropfilter.com

SOURCE Waterdrop Filter
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Tehran, March 22 : President of the Iranian Red Crescent Society Pirhossein Kolivand said that the United States and Israel have attacked more than 80,000 civilian places since the beginning of their "aggression" against Iran.

He made the remarks in an address to foreign media representatives while highlighting the violations of international humanitarian law during the US and Israeli attacks, Xinhua news agency reported.

Kolivand said over 20,000 of the attacked units were located in Tehran and more than 60,000 in other places.

He put the number of the targeted commercial units in the country at close to 18,790, noting that 266 medical centers have been hit, and 498 schools have been targeted.

He said the strikes have killed 12 members of Iran's medical staff, and injured over 90 others.

Kolivand added that hundreds of people, including children and 231 women, have been killed in Iran since the war's beginning.

Meanwhile, several media reports suggested that more than 1,500 people have been killed in Iran during the war.

Meanwhile, the IRGC said it has hit an Israeli F-16 Fighting Falcon in the country's central airspace. The Iranian armed forces reported an attack on fuel tanks for military aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv, according to Iranian state media.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari warned of possible strikes on the UAE's Ras Al-Khaimah in case of recurrent attacks from its territory against southern Iranian islands. "As we had announced before and proved in practice, we will attack the origin of any invasion against our territory and national sovereignty," Zolfaghari said.

On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the Middle East.
United Nations, March 22 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for unity and action to address "the ancient poison of racism," which he said is alive and kicking in every community, society, country and region of the world.

In his message on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed annually on March 21, Guterres said racism lives on in the legacies of colonialism, enslavement and oppression, which drive so many of the problems today -- from economic, social and political inequality, to discriminatory policies and practices, and to outright conflicts, Xinhua news agency reported.

"And it spreads via new digital tools and technologies that inundate us with hate speech, perpetuating lies and harmful stereotypes that often spill over into real-world violence and abuse," he warned.

"The antidote is unity and action," the UN chief said, calling on all governments, institutions, businesses and communities to work together to address racism and safeguard the dignity, justice, equality and human rights that belong to every person.

"This means universal ratification and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination," and "living up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, now marking its 25th year, which includes concrete steps to end racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance," he added.

"Today, and every day, we must take a stand. We must fight for the dignity, rights and belonging of every person on earth, and erase the stain of racism from our world," Guterres said.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966 to raise awareness and encourage global action against racism.
Washington, March 22 : US President Donald Trump threatened to "hit and obliterate" Iran's power plants within 48 hours if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as he said Washington was close to meeting its military objectives in the conflict.

Washington, March 22 (IANS) US President Donald Trump threatened to "hit and obliterate" Iran's power plants within 48 hours if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as he said Washington was close to meeting its military objectives in the conflict.

In a series of posts, Trump issued a direct ultimatum over the strategic waterway, saying: "If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!"

The warning marks a sharp escalation centred on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route, even as Trump signalled that US military operations could soon wind down.

"We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East," he said.

Trump outlined five key goals of the campaign, including "completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability, Launchers, and everything else pertaining to them" and "destroying Iran's Defense Industrial Base."

He said the US had also moved to dismantle Iran's military strength, including "eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti-Aircraft Weaponry."

Trump emphasised that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capability remained central to US strategy.

"Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability, and always being in a position where the USA can quickly and powerfully react," he said.

He added that Washington was committed to "protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others."

At the same time, Trump suggested that the responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz should fall on other countries.

"The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it  The United States does not!" he said, adding that the US would assist "if asked."

In another post, Trump claimed sweeping success in the campaign, asserting: "The United States has blown Iran off of the map Their leadership is gone, their navy and air force are dead, they have absolutely no defence, and they want to make a deal. I don't!"

He also dismissed criticism from sections of the US media, saying he had met his objectives "weeks ahead of schedule."

The remarks underscore a dual message from Washington  projecting battlefield success while maintaining pressure on Tehran, particularly over maritime access and nuclear constraints.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A jury has found Elon Musk liable for defrauding investors by deliberately driving down Twitter's stock price in the tumultuous months leading up to his 2022 acquisition of the social media company for $44 billion. But it absolved him of some fraud allegations, finding that he did not scheme to mislead investors.

More from Yahoo Scout How does this verdict impact future social media cases? What was the dispute over Twitter's bot counts? What specific actions led to Musk's fraud liability? How much will Musk pay in damages to shareholders?

The civil trial in San Francisco centered on a class-action lawsuit filed just before Musk took control of Twitter, which he later renamed X. Jurors were asked to decide if two tweets and comments Musk made on a podcast in May 2022 amounted to him intentionally defrauding Twitter shareholders, who sold their shares based on Musk's statements.

The nine-person jury returned the verdict after nearly four days of deliberation, nearly three weeks after the trial began on March 2. They said that while Musk was liable for misleading investors with two tweets  including one said the Twitter deal was temporarily on hold, he did not do so with a statement he made on a podcast and that he did not intentionally scheme to defraud investors.

The jury awarded shareholders between about $3 and $8 per stock per day as damages, which the plaintiffs' lawyers said amounts to about $2.1 billion in stock and another $500 million in options. Musk's fortune is currently estimated at about $814 billion, much of it tied up in Tesla shares.

Its an important victory, not just for investors of Twitter, but for the public markets, said Mark Molumphy, an attorney for the plaintiffs. "I think the jurys verdict sends a strong message that just because youre a rich and powerful person, you still have to obey the law, and no man is above the law.

Musk's legal team referenced other cases Musk won and said they will appeal.

Last month, Elon won the largest appellate victory in this countrys history after getting an unfair shake at the trial level. Earlier today, in a Texas court he won another appellate victory in which the trial judge was reversed," the legal team at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan said in a statement. We view todays verdict, where the jury found both for and against the plaintiffs and found no fraud scheme, as a bump in the road. And we look forward to vindication on appeal.

Much of the trial focused on Musks claims about the number of bots on Twitter. Musk testified that Twitter had a much higher number of fake and spam accounts than the 5% it disclosed in regulatory filings. He used what he called Twitters misrepresentation of the number of fake accounts on its service as a reason to retreat from the purchase.
Seoul, March 22 : Customers will soon be able to check key information of batteries when purchasing an electric vehicle (EV), such as the manufacturer and country of origin, the transport ministry said on Sunday.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said such revisions will be included in proposed amendments to two related laws, including the enforcement rules of the Motor Vehicle Management Act, reports Yonhap news agency.

Under the proposed revision, the number of EV battery-related pieces of information available to customers will be expanded from six to 10 items.

The information set to be newly opened to the public includes the battery's manufacturer, country of origin, product name, and manufacturing date, the ministry said.

Currently, customers can access only information about the battery's function, such as its capacity and rated voltage.

The ministry also plans to raise fines for carmakers and sellers that fail to disclose required battery information to a maximum of 10 million won (US$6,600).

The ministry established a new standard to revoke safety certifications if the same defect occurs two to four times within a two-year period, with the severity of the measures depending on the nature of the flaw.

It said certification will be revoked if a battery has a design or manufacturing defect that fails to meet safety standards and leads to fire or other damage on two occasions.

For defects that meet technical standards but still pose a safety hazard resulting in fire or damage, the certification will be revoked after three such occurrences, said the report.

Meanwhile, President Lee Jae Myung said the government will thoroughly investigate the cause of a large-scale fire at a car parts plant in the central city of Daejeon and prepare fundamental measures to prevent similar tragedies.

Lee made the pledge hours after visiting the site to inspect relief efforts and meet with bereaved families and victims. The fire, which broke out Friday afternoon, left 14 people dead and 60 others injured, including two firefighters, according to fire authorities.

The ministry expected the new rules to improve customers' right to know and help encourage EV purchases by strengthening confidence in batteries.

a"IANS

na/
Washington, March 22 : Robert S. Mueller III, the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation whose career came to define America's post-9/11 security architecture and later its political divisions, is being remembered in India for a quieter but enduring legacy - his role in shaping modern India-US counter-terror cooperation.

Washington, March 22 (IANS) Robert S. Mueller III, the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation whose career came to define America's post-9/11 security architecture and later its political divisions, is being remembered in India for a quieter but enduring legacy  his role in shaping modern India-US counter-terror cooperation.

Mueller, who died at 81, engaged with India at critical moments in its security trajectory, beginning soon after he took charge of the FBI and continuing through the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

His first official visit to India came on January 2122, 2002, just months after the September 11 attacks in the United States and weeks after the assault on India's Parliament. At the time, both countries were recalibrating their approach to terrorism.

In New Delhi, Mueller met with Indian officials to discuss intelligence sharing, joint investigations, and expanding counter-terrorism coordination. The visit marked an early step in what would become a deeper institutional relationship between American and Indian security agencies, particularly in tracking cross-border terror networks operating in South Asia.

That relationship would be tested  and transformed  years later.

In the wake of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, Mueller returned to India in early 2009, when the country was still grappling with the scale of the coordinated assault that killed more than 160 people and exposed vulnerabilities in urban security and international intelligence-sharing.

This time, his meetings carried a different urgency.

Mueller met the then Home Minister and P. Chidambaram, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan, and senior intelligence officials to discuss the investigation into the attacks and the broader challenge of transnational terrorism. The discussions focused on access to evidence, intelligence flows, and coordination across agencies.

After the meetings, Mueller framed the attacks in global terms, saying: "Terrorism is not just a local issue. It is not an issue of one country; it is an issue across the world."

He also underscored the scale of collaboration that followed, noting that there had been "unprecedented cooperation between our various agencies both during the Mumbai attacks and after."

That cooperation was extensive, laying the groundwork for an unprecedented level of cooperation in the counter-terrorism sector between the two countries.

Led by Muller, FBI teams worked alongside Indian investigators, analysing communications, reconstructing digital trails, and assisting in forensic work that helped establish links between the attackers and handlers operating from Pakistan. Investigators conducted dozens of interviews and extracted data from damaged devices recovered from the attack sites.

Weeks later, speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington on February 23, 2009, Mueller returned to Mumbai as a defining example of modern terrorism and international cooperation.

"This type of attack reminds us that terrorists with large agendas and little money can use rudimentary weapons to maximize their impact," he said, pointing to the need for coordinated global responses.

For India, that period marked a turning point. Intelligence-sharing with the United States became faster and more structured. Cooperation expanded into cyber forensics, counter-terror financing, aviation security, and joint investigative mechanisms. The FBI's engagement following the Mumbai attacks also contributed to improvements in India's forensic capabilities and crisis response systems.

Mueller's role in that shift was understated but significant. He operated less as a political figure and more as a career investigator, building trust through operational collaboration.

His engagement with India also helped reinforce a broader US recognition of India as a frontline state in combating terrorism emanating from the region, particularly networks linked to Pakistan-based groups.

Yet his legacy in the United States remains far more contested.

In the hours after his death, that divide was stark.

Former President Donald Trump responded with a blunt message, writing: "Good, I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!"

The remark stood in sharp contrast to tributes from other leaders.

Former President George W. Bush said, "Laura and I are deeply saddened by the loss of Robert Mueller. Bob dedicated his life to public service," crediting him with helping lead the country through the aftermath of September 11 and strengthening homeland security.

Barack Obama described him as "one of the finest directors in the history of the FBI," praising his "relentless commitment to the rule of law" and his role in "saving countless lives."

Lawmakers offered more nuanced views. Representative Mike Turner said Mueller's investigation "effectively ended the Russia hoax" but added that it "damaged his reputation," while noting that he "was nonetheless committed to the truth."

The contrast reflects the dual nature of Mueller's career. To many in Washington, he symbolised institutional integrity and restraint. To others, he remained a central figure in a politically charged investigation that deepened national divisions.

In India, however, the memory is more aligned with cooperation than controversy.

Mueller is associated with a moment when the United States became a hands-on partner in addressing one of India's most serious terrorist attacks. His visits  in 2002 and again in 2009  frame a period in which India-US counter-terror cooperation evolved from dialogue to operational depth.

The Mumbai attacks became a catalyst for that transformation. In the years that followed, India and the United States expanded cooperation across intelligence sharing, homeland security, counterterrorism financing, and joint working groups.

Today, that framework remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, shaping how the two countries respond to evolving threats ranging from cross-border terrorism to digital radicalisation.

Mueller, who rarely sought the spotlight, might not have framed his legacy in these terms. But in India, his role in the aftermath of Mumbai is remembered as a defining episode  one in which quiet coordination helped reshape a critical partnership, even as his later work would divide the nation he served.
New Delhi, March 22 : Amid the global supply chain crisis, a large cargo ship carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the US has arrived at the Mangalore Port in the country.

Pyxis Pioneer cargo ship carrying LPG from the US state of Texas, successfully docked at the port.

Before the ship from the US, named Aqua Titan, reached India, another vessel carrying Russian crude oil also reached Mangalore, reports NDTV.

This particular vessel was stationed about 18 nautical miles away from the port. The single-point mooring system will be used to transfer the oil to the pipeline system and take it to MRPL.

The Russian crude oil arrived after the US issued a temporary general license, permitting the sale of Russian crude oil already stranded at sea as of March 12.

The move is aimed at stabilising global fuel prices amid the tensions in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, India has sharply increased its purchases of Russian oil. The move came shortly after the United States allowed India to temporarily boost its imports of Russian oil.

The surge in buying is aimed at managing supply concerns after disruptions in Middle Eastern oil supplies due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

Earlier, the Indiana'flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker 'Nanda Devi' arrived at Vadinar Port in Gujarat, becoming the second LPG carrier to reach the west coast this week after 'Shivalik' docked at Mundra Port.

Both vessels transported critical LPG supplies to India following an unusually hazardous passage through the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime traffic has been disrupted by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel.

A total of 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region and DG Shipping is monitoring the situation in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions.

a"IANS

na/
Hardoi, March 22 : A man accused of stealing oil from electrical transformers was arrested following an encounter with the police in Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Sunday.

Taking action against a rise in theft cases in the district, a joint team of personnel from Pali and Pachdevara police stations apprehended the accused after a brief exchange of fire.

The suspect, who sustained injuries during the encounter, has been admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Police said preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested individual was involved in stealing oil from electrical transformers and was part of a wider network engaged in such crimes.

According to officials, several incidents of transformer oil theft had been reported across the district in recent weeks, prompting intensified patrolling and surveillance. Acting on inputs, a police team on patrol noticed a suspicious car and attempted to intercept it.

"When the police attempted to stop the vehicle, the occupant tried to flee and opened fire on the police team. In self-defence, the police returned fire, resulting in the criminal sustaining a gunshot wound. The police immediately apprehended the criminal," officials said in a statement.

The accused has been identified as Kuldeep, also known as Gabbar, a resident of Farrukhabad, police said.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Alok Rajan Singh said that several items were recovered from the accused, including Rs 20,000 in cash, a car, a country-made pistol, live ammunition, around 40 litres of stolen oil and a mobile phone.

A case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of law, and further legal proceedings are underway.

Police officials said the accused is linked to a gang involved in organised theft of transformer oil and had been wanted in multiple cases.

ASP Singh added that the injured accused is currently undergoing treatment and will be interrogated to gather details about other members of the gang, following which action will be initiated against the entire syndicate.

Officials also noted that the action is part of a broader crackdown being carried out under the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, with police across districts stepping up efforts against criminal activities.

Further investigation is in progress, and more details are awaited.
Chandigarh, March 22 : Punjab Police on Sunday registered a case against former Transport Minister Laljit Bhullar hours after Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, the District Manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, ended his life.

Randhawa had accused the minister of harassment and coercion. He had reportedly consumed Celphos at his residence in Amritsar on Saturday. Before dying, Randhawa recorded a 12-second video on his mobile phone, saying, "Kha layi Celphos thuade yaar ne minister Laljit Bhullar de dar ton, hun ni bachda (Your friend has consumed poison due to fear of minister Laljit Bhullar; I won't survive now)."

Randhawa is survived by his wife, a government school teacher, and three children.

Besides former Minister Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Bhullar and personal assistant Dilbagh Singh have also been booked under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

In her complaint, the deceased's wife, Upinder Kaur, alleged that the former minister, his father and his PA allegedly assaulted her husband and held them liable for abetment in suicide.

BJP chief Sunil Jakhar and senior party leaders will on Sunday 'gherao' Chief Minister Bagwant Mann's residence in Chandigarh to demand the arrest of the former minister. On Saturday night, Jakhar met the wife of the late Randhawa in Amritsar and expressed condolences and assured all possible support to ensure justice for the family.

Jakhar said Chief Minister Mann no longer has any moral basis to remain in power. He noted that earlier, people in Punjab were losing their lives due to their inability to pay extortion and were facing gangster rule, but now even government officials are being forced to take their own lives due to their inability to meet the alleged demands of Ministers.

State BJP Chief Jakhar said this incident "is equivalent to the broad daylight murder of a government officer and that a case should be registered immediately against Minister Bhullar and he should be arrested".

Jakhar also expressed surprise over the Chief Minister's statement that the probe would be handed over to the State Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha, questioning when the Chief Secretary has been investigating "murder cases".

The Chief Secretary was asked to look into the allegations of harassment and tender dispute involving Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Bhullar, who represents the Patti Assembly constituency.

The State BJP Chief said that this incident exposed the reality of the state government's claim of "staunch honesty". He remarked that this is not a state Cabinet but a "gang of Ministers".

Jakhar said that first Minister Vijay Singla, then Fauja Singh Sarari, and now Laljit Singh Bhullar all reflect the true face of this AAP-led Punjab government. He also added that Chief Minister Mann has now become a burden on his position.
Saint Vincent, March 22 : Alana King delivered another strong performance to underline her return to Australia's T20I setup, claiming 2-25 as the visitors secured a 17-run victory over the West Indies in the second match to clinch the three-match series with a game to left.

Saint Vincent, March 22 (IANS) Alana King delivered another strong performance to underline her return to Australiaas T20I setup, claiming 2-25 as the visitors secured a 17-run victory over the West Indies in the second match to clinch the three-match series with a game to left.

After electing to bat, Australia were off to a brisk start courtesy of Georgia Voll, who set the tone with an attacking 39 off 23. Her innings, studded with six boundaries and a maximum, ensured momentum in the powerplay before she departed on the final delivery of the sixth over.

The innings continued to gather pace even after field restrictions eased, with Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry putting together a 58-run stand for the third wicket. While Litchfield contributed 35 off 29 balls, Perryas fluent 42 off 28 deliveries kept the scoreboard ticking despite a relatively measured partnership.

Australia found another gear late in the innings, as Perry, Georgia Wareham and Nicola Carey played effectively to add 32 runs in the final four overs, pushing the total to a competitive 164/5.

In reply, West Indies endured an early setback when Qiana Joseph was run out in the fourth over following sharp fielding from Litchfield. Though they avoided further losses in the powerplay, the scoring rate remained subdued, with only 26 runs coming in the first six overs.

Australiaas bowlers maintained tight control, with Kim Garth leading the effort through an economical spell, well supported by Carey, Darcie Brown and King.

Captain Hayley Matthews struggled to find rhythm early, managing just one run off her first 12 deliveries, but later staged a remarkable turnaround. She launched a counterattack, scoring 56 off 41 balls, including seven fours and three sixes, and stitched together a crucial 77-run partnership with Stafanie Taylor to revive the chase.

However, King turned the tide in Australiaas favour during the middle overs. After an expensive start, she bounced back to dismiss Matthews with a catch at mid-off before removing Taylor in her following over, effectively derailing West Indiesa hopes.

A late effort from Deandra Dottin, who remained unbeaten on 39, along with a quick cameo partnership with Jahzara Claxton, narrowed the gap but proved insufficient. West Indies ended on 147/4, falling short as Australia sealed the series with a convincing all-round performance.

Brief Scores: Australia 164/5 in 20 overs (Ellyse Perry 42, Georgia Voll 39; Deandra Dottin 1-30, Afy Fletcher 1-32) beat West Indies 147/4 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 56, Deandra Dottin 39; Alana King 2-25, Georgia Wareham 1-16) by 17 runs.
Chennai, March 22 : NTK chief coordinator Seeman is set to kick off an intensive six-day election campaign across northern Tamil Nadu, covering multiple constituencies between March 23 and March 28 as part of the party's first phase of outreach ahead of the Assembly elections.

Chennai, March 22 (IANS) NTK chief coordinator Seeman is set to kick off an intensive six-day election campaign across northern Tamil Nadu, covering multiple constituencies between March 23 and March 28 as part of the partyas first phase of outreach ahead of the Assembly elections.

The campaign will begin on Monday with a symbolic start, as Seeman is scheduled to offer prayers at the Murugan temple in Tiruttani.

Following this, he will embark on a series of vehicle rallies in Tiruttani and Sholinghur, engaging directly with voters before addressing his first major public meeting in Ranipet later in the day.

On March 24, Seeman will continue his tour with morning campaign events in Vellore, Gudiyattam, and Ambur, key constituencies in the region. The day will conclude with public meetings in Tirupattur and Uthangarai, where he is expected to outline the partyas electoral vision and mobilise grassroots support.

The third day of the campaign, March 25, will see Seeman focusing on Krishnagiri district and the surrounding areas.

He will cover Krishnagiri, Soolagiri, and Palacode during the day, followed by a vehicle rally in Pappireddipatti. A public meeting is scheduled in Pennagaram in the evening, marking the culmination of the dayas engagements.

On March 26, the NTK leader will intensify his outreach in the Salem region, holding rallies in Mettur, Omalur, Salem, and Vazhapadi.

He will later address public gatherings in Attur and Kallakurichi, targeting both urban and rural voters.

The campaign will move into Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts on March 27, with Seeman visiting Sankarapuram, Thirukovilur, and Cheyyar. The dayas events will conclude with a public meeting in Vandavasi.

The final leg of the tour on March 28 will cover key constituencies in the Kancheepuram region, including Kancheepuram, Sriperumbudur, and Poonamallee. Seeman will wrap up the first phase of his campaign with public meetings in Tiruvallur and Avadi.

Party sources said the campaign is aimed at strengthening NTKas presence in northern Tamil Nadu by combining roadshows, direct voter interactions, and large public meetings, as the party seeks to expand its electoral footprint in the upcoming Assembly polls.
New Delhi, March 22 : Amid the evolving situation in the Middle East, Indian airlines have announced limited but continued flight operations for March 22, while urging passengers to stay alert for last-minute changes.

Low-cost carrier IndiGo said it will operate select flights on Sunday, advising travellers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

In a post on social media platform X, the airline said its teams are working round the clock to assist passengers and help them reach their destinations during the uncertain situation.

"At IndiGo, our teams continue to work round the clock to support customers and help reunite them with their loved ones amid the evolving situation in the Middle East," the airline stated.

"As part of this effort, we are operating the below-mentioned flights on March 22, in line with prevailing safety conditions and necessary regulatory approvals," IndiGo added.

IndiGo remains committed to providing a safe and seamless travel experience, with every decision guided by the well-being of our customers and crew, the airline added.

Meanwhile, Air India and Air India Express said they will jointly operate around 50 flights -- both scheduled and special -- to and from West Asia on March 22.

"Air India and Air India Express will operate a combined total of 50 scheduled and non-scheduled flights, to and from the West Asia region on March 22," the airline said in a joint statement.

The two airlines will continue their regular services to key destinations such as Jeddah and Muscat. A total of 20 flights will operate between India and Jeddah, with Air India running return flights from Delhi and Mumbai, while Air India Express will operate services from Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Kozhikode.

Air India Express will also run eight scheduled flights connecting Indian cities like Delhi, Kochi, Mumbai and Kannur with Muscat.

In addition to these regular services, the airlines will operate around 30 non-scheduled flights to destinations in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

These special flights will depend on slot availability and prevailing conditions at departure points and will be operated with approvals from Indian and local authorities.

"These flights are being operated with the requisite permissions from the relevant Indian and local regulatory authorities," it added.
Greater Noida, March 22 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Greater Noida on Sunday to oversee the preparations for the inauguration of the Noida International Airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scheduled for March 28.

The Chief Minister is expected to land in Jewar at around 2 p.m. He will then proceed directly to the airport premises to inspect the ongoing construction work, security arrangements, and other preparations.

He will inspect the venue during his visit, where the inauguration ceremony is scheduled to take place. Moreover, CM Adityanath will also inspect the proposed route for the event to ensure smooth traffic and security arrangements.

During the Chief Minister's visit to the airport, he is expected to monitor every aspect and provide necessary guidance to officials to ensure the successful completion of the inauguration ceremony.

Following the inspection, the Chief Minister will hold a meeting with airport officials. The progress of construction work, security arrangements, VIP movement, and the programme outline in detail will be discussed during the meeting.

CM Adityanath will also meet local public representatives, including MPs and MLAs, and seek their input.

After the conclusion of his visit, the Chief Minister will depart for Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad at around 4 p.m. From there, he is scheduled to depart for Lucknow.

The Noida International Airport, being developed in Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar, is one of the largest and most modern airport projects in the country, expected to provide a new impetus to investment, employment, and connectivity in the region. It is a major greenfield airport that will connect the National Capital Region (NCR) and western Uttar Pradesh with major cities across India and the world.

The airport is being developed with world-class facilities, combining Swiss efficiency with Indian hospitality.

Security and traffic management arrangements around it in Gautam Buddha Nagar have been strengthened. Five new temporary police outposts have been set up in the vicinity, officials said on Saturday.

The Chief Minister's visit is considered crucial in finalising the project's preparations.
Chennai, March 22 : Actress Nayanthara and her unit of 'Hi' have pleasantly surprised veteran actress Radhika by choosing to celebrate Radhika's completion of 40 years in the film industry.

A visibly moved Radhika Sarathkumar took to her Instagram page to express her gratitude for the love that the unit showered on her.

She wrote, "Thank you, @therowdypictures, to the sweetest @nayanthara for this surprise celebration on the sets of "HI" ,I was so moved with the love smd affection, my true success is measured only in the love I receive from my peers. #vishnu dir @ungalkbhagyaraj @kavin.0431 0431 @wikkiofficial and the whole team."

The film, which is being jointly produced by Zee Studios South, The Rowdy Pictures and Seven Screen Studios, will feature Kavin and Nayanthara in the lead. It will also feature a host of actors including K Bhagyaraj, Prabhu, Radhika, Sathyan, Adithya Kathir and Kureishi among others.

For the unaware, Vishnu Edavan, who is making his debut as a director with this film, had earlier worked as an associate director to ace director Lokesh Kanagaraj in several of his projects including 'Kaithi', 'Master' and 'Vikram'.

Zee Studios South, one of the production houses that is producing the film, had a few days ago, taken to its social media timelines to share the first look posters of the film.

It had said then, "HI :) A word, a spark, a story. The first look of #HiMovie starring #Nayanthara & @Kavin_m_0431 is here!"

Actress Nayanthara, for her part, had shared the first look posters on her Instagram timeline and had said,"It all begins with a simple Hi :)"

Director Vishnu Edavan, while commenting about his film, had said that it will be a wholesome family entertainer that will speak about true love.

Sources close to the unit of the film had said that shooting for the film was currently on in places in and around Chennai. The film has seven songs in all. Of these, two songs have already been picturised.

Expectations from the film are high as this will be the first time that actors Nayanthara and Kavin are acting together.

The film, which boasts of a strong technical team, will have music by Jen Martin and cinematography by Rajesh Shukla. Editing for the film will be by the capable Philomin Raj and art direction will be by Shekhar B. Dances in the film are to be choreographed by Brinda while stunts are to be choreographed by Dinesh Kasi.
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Chandigarh, March 22 : Manish Tewari, the Congress MP from Chandigarh, on Sunday called for a CBI investigation into the suicide of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who served as the District Manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation. This demand comes as opposition parties intensified their criticism of the AAP-led government in Punjab regarding the incident.

Randhawa had allegedly accused former Transport Minister Laljit Bhullar of harassment and coercion. He reportedly consumed Celphos at his residence in Amritsar on Saturday.

Before dying, Randhawa recorded a 12-second video on his mobile phone, saying, "Kha layi Celphos thuade yaar ne minister Laljit Bhullar de dar ton, hun ni bachda (Your friend has consumed poison due to fear of minister Laljit Bhullar; I won't survive now)."

A complaint filed by his wife, Upinder Kaur, alleged that the former minister, along with his father and personal assistant, assaulted Randhawa and should be held responsible for abetment to suicide.

Reacting to the incident, Tewari told IANS, "This is a sad and painful incident, and a fair investigation should be conducted by the CBI into whoever is responsible."

"The credibility of any investigation is reflected in the level of trust people have in it. Given the nature of the entire incident, it would be appropriate if the Punjab government itself hands over the case to the CBI," he added.

Congress leader Udit Raj also criticised the state government, alleging widespread corruption under the AAP administration.

"Action must be taken; an investigation is imperative. An official was driven to the point of committing suicide. These are highly corrupt individuals, people steeped in corruption. Their entire team has gone to Punjab to collect money for Gujarat and other places. Since Bhagwant Mann became the Chief Minister, corruption has been rampant. The BJP and AAP share the same modus operandi," he told IANS.

Meanwhile, the BJP has also intensified its attack on the AAP-led government.

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar and other senior party leaders also staged a protest outside Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence in Chandigarh over the incident.

On Saturday night, Jakhar met the bereaved family in Amritsar and expressed condolences, assuring them of full support in securing justice.

Jakhar further said that Chief Minister Mann no longer has the moral authority to continue in office. He remarked that while earlier people in Punjab were allegedly falling victim to extortion and gangster activity, the situation has now deteriorated to the point where even government officials are being pushed to take extreme steps due to their inability to meet alleged demands from those in power.

State BJP Chief Jakhar said this incident "is equivalent to the broad daylight murder of a government officer and that a case should be registered immediately against Minister Bhullar and he should be arrested".

The State BJP Chief said that this incident exposed the reality of the state government's claim of "staunch honesty". He remarked that this is not a state Cabinet but a "gang of Ministers".

Jakhar said that first Minister Vijay Singla, then Fauja Singh Sarari, and now Laljit Bhullar all reflect the true face of this AAP-led Punjab government. He also added that Chief Minister Mann has now become a "burden" on his position.
Florida, March 22 : Ukrainian and US delegations discussed "key issues" and next steps on settling the Ukraine crisis in fresh negotiations held in the US state of Florida, Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, has said.

"We continued to discuss key issues and next steps within the negotiation track. Special attention was paid to coordinating approaches for further progress toward practical results," he was cited as saying in a report by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

Umerov met with the US side together with David Arakhamia, head of the parliamentary faction of Servant of the People; Kyrylo Budanov, head of the presidential office; and Sergiy Kyslytsya, first deputy head of the presidential office, reports Xinhua, quoting the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

According to Umerov, the US delegation was represented by presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, White House Senior Advisor Josh Gruenbaum and State Department Senior Policy Advisor Chris Curran.

Umerov said a report on the results of the first day of the Ukraine-US meeting was presented to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky said in a video address on Saturday that the Ukrainian and US teams will continue their talks on Sunday, noting that a key issue discussed was to understand how ready Russia is to move toward a real end to the crisis, according to the Ukrainian president's official website.

Witkoff on Saturday said in a post on social media platform X that US and Ukrainian delegations held "constructive meetings" in Florida, with "discussions focused on narrowing and resolving remaining items to move closer to a comprehensive peace agreement."

"We welcome the continued engagement toward resolving the outstanding issues, recognising its importance to broader global stability," he wrote.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Friday that Russia would not participate in Saturday's talks.

Delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Russia previously held two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24 and February 4-5, followed by another round in Geneva on February 17-18.
New Delhi, March 22 : As Prime Minister Narendra Modi scripted a new record by becoming the longest-serving head of government in India's history, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday extended his heartiest congratulations, stating that what defines PM Modi is his pure devotion to the nation as well as its people.

The Union Minister took to his social media handle on X to share his greetings to the Prime Minister and celebrate the remarkable years of his public life.

"Pure devotion to the nation and its people defines PM Modi Ji. From his unwavering commitment as the Chief Minister of Gujarat to his dedicated leadership as the Prime Minister, his life has been a continuous journey of service," Singh wrote in a post on X.

"Today, he surpasses the 8,930-day record of former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, achieving a historic milestone. With 8,931 days in public office as head of government, this moment reflects his deep commitment to nation-first governance, integrity in action, and tireless service to every citizen," he said further, extending heartiest congratulations on the remarkable achievement.

Earlier, the BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya also congratulated the Prime Minister on achieving the marvellous milestone in public service.

"Saluting India's longest-serving head of government," he wrote on X.

"8,931 days of relentless service a lifetime dedicated to the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created history with 8,931 days in public service as head of government, a remarkable milestone reflecting unwavering commitment and leadership," he further said.

Malviya also urged people to share their wishes, messages, selfies, and stickers to congratulate the Prime Minister, directly via the NaMo App.

PM Modi has surpassed Pawan Kumar Chamling, who held office as Chief Minister of Sikkim for 8,930 days.

He has completed 8,931 days as head of government, combining his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and as the Prime Minister, thereby entering his 25th year in a key leadership role.
Bengaluru, March 22 : The Congress party on Sunday finally announced its candidates for the by-elections to two Assembly segments in Karnataka, despite an ongoing intense internal conflict.

In an official statement, party General Secretary and MP K.C. Venugopal announced the names of Umesh Meti and Samarth Mallikarjun for the Bagalkot and Davanagere South constituencies, respectively.

Both seats were previously held by the Congress.

The Bagalkot seat was represented by senior leader and former Minister H.Y. Meti, a staunch follower of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Davanagere South was held by veteran Congress leader, the late Shamanur Shivashankarappa.

The party has fielded the son of late H.Y. Meti in Bagalkot and the grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa in Davanagere South. Due to stiff competition among aspirants in both constituencies, the party leadership took time to finalise and announce the candidates.

The official statement said, "The Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge approved the proposal for candidatures."

For the Bagalkot seat, the daughters and son of H.Y. Meti were among the aspirants, along with several other prominent leaders. In Davanagere South, Muslim leaders in the state had strongly urged the high command to field a candidate from the minority community, citing the presence of more than 85,000 voters from the community.

In both seats, the party chose to field family members of the leader who had previously represented the seats. Senior leaders, including Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, visited Bengaluru and held a lengthy meeting with party leaders to resolve differences.

Sources stated that finalising the Davanagere South candidate was particularly challenging, as Minister for Housing and Waqf Zameer Ahmad Khan had reportedly threatened to resign if the ticket was not given to a candidate from the minority community.

However, sources added that Randeep Singh Surjewala warned Zameer Ahmad Khan against pressuring the party leadership and went ahead with the decision to field Samarth Mallikarjun. Surjewala also expressed displeasure over Samarth Mallikarjun submitting his nomination before the official announcement, reportedly as a pressure tactic.

Sources further stated that, considering the late Shamanur Shivashankarappaas role as President of the Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha and his contribution to building the party in central Karnataka, the party decided to field his grandson.

It remains to be seen how the party will assuage local minority leaders, who have openly stated that if a candidate from their community is not fielded, they would work to ensure the Congress partyas defeat.

The BJP had announced its candidates earlier, and they have already filed their nominations for both seats.

Expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal alleged that former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and his son, state party president B.Y. Vijayendra, have an internal understanding with the late Shamanur Shivashankarappaas family and deliberately fielded a weak candidate to aid Samarth Mallikarjunas victory. Vijayendra denied the allegation, dismissing it as baseless and stating that the party has chosen its candidates carefully.

Polling for the two seats will be held on April 9.
Jerusalem, March 22 : Nearly 200 people were injured in Iranian strikes in Israel's Dimona and Arad, with 11 of them seriously injured, according to medics, after Israeli air defences did not intercept at least two ballistic missiles, local media reported on Sunday.

After the strikes, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt General Eyal Zamir announced that Israel will continue to fight Iran's enemies on "all fronts." Later, the IDF said that the Air Force was carrying out strikes in Tehran targeting Iran's infrastructure.

Those seriously injured in the strikes in the south were a 12-year-old boy suffering from shrapnel injuries due to a strike in Dimona and a five-year-old girl in the subsequent strike in Ranad. The missiles were fired amid continuous Iranian attacks on the Dimona area on Saturday, The Times of Israel reported.

Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheba said it provided treatment to 175 people injured in the attacks on Arad and Dimona.

In addition to the boy listed in serious condition from the Dimona strike, a woman in her 30s was moderately injured by glass shards and another 31 people were treated for light injuries in the city, the Magen David Adom emergency service said, The Times of Israel reported. The injuries were primarily caused by shrapnel or sustained while running for shelter. Another 14 people, who were injured, were provided treatment for acute anxiety.

The ambulance service released a video of a residential building ablaze in the town.
New Delhi, March 22 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level meeting in the evening on Sunday to review the situation related to petroleum products, crude oil, power, and fertiliser sectors against the backdrop of the evolving situation in West Asia, according to reliable sources.

The meeting, which will be attended by senior ministers, will focus on ensuring uninterrupted supply, stable logistics and efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.

The government is taking proactive steps to safeguard energy security and maintain adequate availability. It is continuously monitoring global developments to protect consumer and industry interests, a senior official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday to discuss regional developments and strengthen bilateral cooperation. Both leaders expressed their shared hope that this festive season would usher in a period of peace, stability, and prosperity for the West Asian region.

PM Modi condemned the recent attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, noting that such actions threaten regional stability and disrupt vital global supply chains. The Prime Minister reiterated the critical importance of safeguarding the freedom of navigation and ensuring that international shipping lanes remain open and secure. Furthermore, he expressed his sincere appreciation for Iranas continued support in ensuring the safety and security of Indian nationals residing in the country.

Amid concerns over LPG shortage, the government has diversified LPG imports and is buying liquefied petroleum gas from the US as well to plug the supply chain disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.

India has diversified its oil and gas imports from sources other than the Middle East following the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz through which 20 per cent of the worldas oil and gas exports transit. As much as 70 per cent of the countryas oil imports are now coming from countries outside the Gulf. These include the US, Russia, and African countries such as Nigeria.

Due to the ongoing war, the LPG situation remains a matter of concern. However, there is no dry-out reported at any LPG distributorship. Online bookings have further increased to 94 per cent, according to senior officials.

The crude oil situation and refinery operations remain normal in the country.

Domestic PNG and CNG are being supplied 100 per cent, and consumers have been requested to shift from LPG to PNG.

The Centre has also asked all states to take necessary steps to prevent black marketing and hoarding, and raids are being carried out against black marketers.
New Delhi, March 22 : Top brass of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming the longest-serving head of government in India, hailing his "unwavering commitment" and taking the nation forward towards the resolution of Viksit Bharat.

PM Modi has surpassed Pawan Kumar Chamling, who held office as Chief Minister of Sikkim for 8,930 days.

He has completed 8,931 days as head of government, combining his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and as the Prime Minister, thereby entering his 25th year in a key leadership role.

BJP National President Nitin Nabin took to X and lauded the Prime Minister's "continuous journey" for public welfare. He said that the 8931 days of public life of PM Modi "are not merely a political journey, but a powerful example of unwavering penance, sacrifice, and national service, where each day has been dedicated to the nation".

He said that as Gujarat's longest-serving Chief Minister, Narendra Modi established a "robust model of development and good governance" and as the Prime Minister, he transformed administration into an "effective instrument of change".

"During his tenure as Prime Minister, with the resolve of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas', the country has made rapid progress in infrastructure expansion, the digital revolution, effective public welfare schemes, and the direction of Aatmanirbhar Bharat," Nabin said.

The BJP national chief lauded PM Modi's flagship initiatives -- Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat scheme, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. He also hailed the "historic public mandates" the NDA received in three consecutive Lok Sabha elections under PM Modi's leadership. He said that, by making this record, the Prime Minister "has set a new benchmark of dedication, stability, and continuity in public life".

Nabin also highlighted that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India's global stature has risen, and 'Viksit Bharat' has been established as a national campaign rooted in public participation.

As PM Modi reached this historic milestone, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda called it a "proud moment for the nation".

"From serving the people as the Chief Minister of Gujarat to leading the country to new heights as the Prime Minister, his journey has been truly inspiring. These years reflect his deep commitment to Maa Bharti and a constant focus on serving the people," Nadda said.

He stated that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India is moving towards the vision of 'Viksit Bharat', driven by "people-centric policies that have empowered the poor, youth, women, and farmers".

"Today, India stands more confident and influential on the global stage," he said.

Calling it a "truly remarkable milestone" and "an inspiring journey of trust and Seva", Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kire Rijiju said that PM Modi becoming the longest-serving head of a government in India, by surpassing the previous record of former Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling, "stands as a testament to tireless dedication, integrity and nation-first governance."

Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal also congratulated PM Modi on becoming the longest-serving head of government in India and said, "With 8,931 days in public life, first as Gujarat CM and now as the Prime Minister, his journey of Jan Seva reflects an unwavering commitment to inclusive development."

"Rooted in hard work and firm resolve towards nation-building, his years in public service continue to strengthen India's growth story," Goyal said, while calling on the countrymen to share their wishes and greetings through messages, selfies and stickers on the NaMo App.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, taking to X, said, "From being Gujarat's longest-serving CM to leading India as Prime Minister, his journey reflects enduring leadership and commitment to the nation. Congratulate the Prime Minister and send your wishes directly to him through messages, selfies and stickers via NaMo App."

"An extraordinary milestone -- defined by continuity, governance experience and sustained public trust," Minister of State (MoS) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said, congratulating the Prime Minister on achieving the historic milestone.
New Delhi, March 22 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decades of public service and political leadership at the highest levels drew effusive praise from multiple Chief Ministers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states on Sunday. They welcomed the new milestone and record achieved by PM Modi and rallied behind his robust and visionary leadership in taking the nation to new heights of success.

PM Modi completed 8,931 days in office on Sunday, spanning both his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and as Prime Minister, thereby surpassing the previous record held by former Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling, who served in office for 8,930 days.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath was among the first to congratulate the Prime Minister on the rare feat.

"Heartfelt congratulations to the esteemed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the steadfast charioteer of the nation's Amrit Kaal, who remains ceaselessly devoted to the means for the happiness, prosperity, and contentment of 1.45 billion Indians, on becoming India's longest-serving head of government," he said.

"This historic milestone, dedicated to the creation of a 'Developed India,' is a powerful symbol of the unwavering public trust in you. Under your illustrious leadership, illuminated by the spirit of 'Nation First,' the vision of 'Antyodaya to Rashtriya Udaya' is taking concrete form. By treading the path of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,' India has established new dimensions in development, good governance, and global stature," he added.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami described the occasion as a moment of pride for every Indian.

"Best wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on establishing a new milestone of serving the longest tenure as the head of government in the history of independent India. Your unparalleled leadership, visionary thinking, and dedication to national service are an inspiration to us all," he stated.

"Under your guidance, the country is continuously achieving new dimensions of progress and development. In your resolve for a Developed India by 2047, Uttarakhand too is advancing on the path of continuous development, making its contribution," he added.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said the milestone is a symbol of PM Modi's unwavering dedication to duty and his complete commitment to the aspirations of the people.

Taking to X, she wrote, "From redefining development as the Chief Minister of Gujarat to elevating India to new heights on the global stage as the Prime Minister of the country, this unrelenting journey of his is the fulfilment of the resolve for Antyodaya and Nation First."

"Crores of fellow citizens have continuously expressed their steadfast trust in the Honourable Prime Minister ji's dynamic leadership and his visionary and bold decisions. This decades-long selfless service is an inspiration for all of us in public life, embodying patience, public welfare, and good governance," she added.

Madhya Pradesh CM, saluting the Prime Minister for unprecedented achievement, said, "With the motto of 'Developed India', the country's prestige has risen in every sector - from poor welfare to global forums - under your visionary leadership, which has elevated the nation to new heights of development and good governance. May Mother Bhagwati keep you energetic; under your leadership, may India continue to advance on the path of continuous progress, prosperity, and glory."

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said the public life of PM Modi remains a unique example of service, dedication, and the spirit of 'Nation First'.

"Over the past decades, through his tireless hard work, visionary leadership, and unwavering resolve, he has elevated India to new heights of development, good governance, and self-confidence. From setting new benchmarks in development to enhancing India's pride on global platforms, under his leadership, the country has witnessed the dawn of a new era #Modi_Yug," the Haryana CM wrote in a post on X.

"Staying dedicated for over 24 years without interruption in the service of the nation and its citizens is a living testament to his indomitable sense of duty and discipline. Serving three successful terms as Chief Minister of Gujarat and securing a resounding public mandate for a third consecutive term as India's Prime Minister symbolise the fact that the people's trust, affection, and support for him have only grown stronger with time," he added.

Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma said on X, "This relentless journey of yours is a reflection of your unwavering commitment to the resolve of 'Nation First' and the realisation of 'Developed India'. Under your dynamic leadership, the country is marching on the path from 'Antyodaya' to 'Sarvodaya', touching new heights of development."

"With the blessings of Lord Shri Ram, your illustrious leadership is proving to be a boon for the nation. Under your guidance, our nation is scripting new sagas of glory. May this service and dedication of yours continue ceaselessly - this is our prayer," he further remarked.
Srinagar, March 22 : Parents of over 200 Jammu and Kashmir students stranded at the Azerbaijan border on Sunday demanded urgent Central government intervention for the safe return of their children.

Anxious parents have sought help for the safe return of these students as they face severe financial and health issues.

These parents have told reporters that more than 200 students are studying in Isfahan and Golestan provinces of Iran. The parents said that these students have successfully crossed the Iran-Armenia border as the first essential step to return to their country.

Parents allege that the students have been left to arrange their travel independently, placing a heavy financial burden on already distressed families.

"We have been bearing all the expenses ourselves. The government must at least facilitate their return at this crucial time," said one of the parents, expressing frustration over what they described as inadequate logistical support.

Several batches of students were expected to return to India between March 20 and March 25, including those from Shiraz University.

Indian engineering students from Kerman have also reached the Iran-Armenia border and are currently awaiting visa clearances. However, the situation remains grim at the Azerbaijan border, where over 100 Indian students are reportedly stranded due to procedural delays.

Only around 6 to 10 students are being issued exit codes each day, which has significantly slowed down the evacuation process, the parents said.

Many students have been stuck at the border since March 12, missing scheduled flights and incurring heavy financial losses.

Parents claimed that around 250 Kashmiri students remain stuck at the Azerbaijan border, with several suffering from chest infections and influenza-like symptoms, while access to proper medical care remains limited.

A total of 151 Indian students managed to cross the Iran-Azerbaijan border in the last 24 hours. Some students with tickets for March 14, 18, 19, and 20 were allowed to cross, but those students who had bookings for March 15, 16, and 17 are still stranded, the parents said.

Despite some progress, the overall situation remains critical. Hundreds of students are still stranded at various border points, grappling with financial hardships, health risks, and uncertainty, as families continue to appeal for swift and comprehensive government intervention to ensure their safe return home.

Over 1,200 Kashmiri students were studying in Iran when the present conflict began on February 28.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) has been in constant touch with the Iranian authorities to ensure that all Indian students are able to safely leave for their country.
Bhopal, March 22 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the investment outreach drive gained significant momentum during the interactive session with industrialists in Jaipur, which drew commitments worth Rs 5,055 crore.

On his X handle on Sunday, the Chief Minister said these proposals are expected to generate more than 3,530 jobs across diverse sectors, underscoring the stateas rising appeal as a preferred destination for business expansion.

The CM described the outcome as a testament to the growing interest in Rajasthan-based entrepreneurs in leveraging Madhya Pradeshas advantages for mutual economic growth.

The event, held in Jaipur on Saturday, was part of the state governmentas nationwide campaign to attract investors and industrialists. Designed to showcase Madhya Pradeshas investor-friendly policies, robust infrastructure, and progressive industrial framework, the session highlighted attractive incentive schemes and sector-specific opportunities.

CM Yadav engaged in detailed one-on-one discussions with prominent business leaders, emphasising the stateas strategic location at the heart of India, skilled manpower availability, reliable power supply, and strengths in renewable energy, manufacturing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and logistics.

Positioning Madhya Pradesh as a land of exceptional opportunities, CM Yadav expressed confidence that investments from neighbouring Rajasthan would continue to flow in.

He linked the stateas industrial growth to Indiaas ambitious $5 trillion economy target, stressing Madhya Pradeshas role as an emerging powerhouse for sustainable and high-growth investments.

The interactive format allowed participants to directly seek clarifications from the Chief Minister and senior officials of the Department of Industry Policy and Investment Promotion.

Several industrialists praised the transparent approach and supportive environment, with some expressing intent to expand or establish new units in the state.

Officials noted that such outreach sessions help bridge information gaps, build investor confidence, and facilitate faster project clearances.

Similar events have already been conducted in other cities as part of CM Yadavas broader campaign to promote Madhya Pradesh nationally and internationally.

The Jaipur sessionas success, marked by substantial investment commitments, reflects the growing resonance of the stateas pitch to entrepreneurs.

As Madhya Pradesh continues to focus on ease of doing business, infrastructure upgrades, and policy reforms, the government aims to attract even larger inflows in the coming months.

Reiterating his commitment to inclusive and rapid progress, CM Yadav assured industries that their investments would translate into prosperity for the people of Madhya Pradesh, reinforcing the stateas image as a dynamic hub for industrial growth.
Chinese researchers invent new communication tech supporting 2G to 6G networks

Xinhua) 10:43, March 22, 2026

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese research team has pioneered a novel wireless communication technology that simultaneously supports networks ranging from 2G to 6G. It enables base station miniaturization, reduces power consumption by over tenfold, and provides hardware support for frontier applications such as embodied intelligence and satellite communications, according to a study published recently in the journal Nature Photonics.

The ever-growing demands for data communication have accelerated the rapid evolution of networks, transitioning from 2G to 6G. However, each generation of network has required dedicated, frequency-specific hardware, a stacking approach that has burdened infrastructure with severe hardware redundancy.

Researchers from Peking University's School of Electronics have proposed a unified hardware platform to break down barriers between network generations. In contrast to conventional solutions, the new platform uses light as the medium, modulating wireless signals on optical modules to stably and simultaneously generate massive numbers of wireless channels.

With this groundbreaking platform, the team has achieved the world's first parallel support for all generations of wireless communications, from 2G to 6G, on a highly integrated device.

"Networks from 2G to 6G are like different vehicles using separate lanes. Now we've unified the lanes, so all vehicles can travel on the same road," said Chang Lin, a researcher from the School of Electronics.

Based on this technology, the team also developed a structured microwave communication and sensing integrated system. Experiments showed that this system achieves total information transmission speeds 30 times faster than conventional approaches in 6G network communications.

Researchers said this new technology is expected to drive massive connectivity for the Internet of Everything, significantly reduce network latency, and bridge the gap between computing power and terminal devices. It can also provide the underlying hardware support for latency-sensitive applications such as AI agents, embodied intelligence, and satellite communications.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
James S. Mahan III, Chief Executive Officer of Live Oak Bancshares (NYSE:LOB), reported the indirect sale of 20,000 shares of Common Stock for a transaction value of approximately $653,000 across multiple transactions on March 11 and March 12, 2026, according to a SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summary

Metric Value Shares sold (indirect) 20,000 Transaction value $653,321

Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($32.67).

Key questions

How does the size of this transaction compare to Mahans historical trading activity?

This sale matched the recent median trade size of 20,000 shares for Mahans sell transactions since December of last year.

What portion of Mahans ownership base was affected?

The transaction amounted to 0.31% of his indirect Common Stock holdings, leaving 6,374,875 shares held through indirect vehicles.

Company overview

Metric Value Price (as of 3/21/26) $31.85 Market capitalization $1.47 billion Revenue (TTM) $480.78 million Net income (TTM) $102.82 million

Company snapshot

Live Oak Bancshares is a Wilmington, North Carolina-based regional bank holding company that offers commercial banking products and services, including deposit accounts, commercial and industrial loans, construction and real estate loans, and government-guaranteed loan services. It generates revenue primarily from interest income on loans and deposits, as well as fees from wealth management and investment advisory accounts.

What this transaction means for investors

Although Live Oak Banking Company, the bank that Live Oak Bancshares owns, may be one of the lesser-known banks compared to larger global banks, its still widely popular among businesses.

In October 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) named it the most active SBA 7(a) lender in the nation by dollar volume. A 7(a) loan is the SBAs primary business loan program that offers financial assistance to small businesses. The bank secured 2,280 SBA loan approvals in FY 2025, providing small business owners with over $2.8 billion in funding.

Live Oak Bancshares had its Q4 earnings report for fiscal year 2025 on Jan 21, 2026, posting its fourth consecutive quarter of revenue growth, generating $150.93 million in revenue, a 61.75% increase from the previous year. The holding company also posted growth in net income and earnings per share (EPS).

While the Q4 results were an improvement over recent quarters, the company has still posted better numbers in previous fiscal years, which contributed to the companys stock falling over the previous two years. The stock is down 7.29% year to date (YTD), with four consecutive weeks of price declines (as of March 21, 2026). With such a niche operational focus, LOB is less ideal a stock to invest in than other banking competitors.
New Delhi, March 22 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday criticised Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over his recent remarks targeting the party, asserting that such statements reflect apprehension as public support for the BJP grows in the state.

The response comes after Vijayan repeatedly claimed that the BJP has no prospects in Kerala and alleged that the party functions as a "B-team" of the Congress.

Reacting to the comments, BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told IANS, "The Chief Minister of Kerala these days is making statements against the BJP because he knows the BJP is coming. The Bharatiya Janata Party is coming to take over the seat. Be it Congress or the Left parties, both are worried since we won the Mayoral elections in Thiruvananthapuram."

"The people of Kerala have now decided to elect a BJP government in the state," he added.

Joining the criticism, Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav said the BJP is confident of expanding its footprint beyond traditional strongholds.

"A BJP government will be formed everywhere -- be it Kerala, Bengal or Tamil Nadu. PM Narendra Modi has done significant work in the progress and development of these states. The people will throw aside the parties who do nothing and will bring the BJP to power," he said.

Hitting back at the Kerala Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh BJP Minority Morcha President Syed Bhasha said the party is witnessing increasing support across communities.

"The Chief Minister of Kerala says that there is no chance of the BJP forming the government in Kerala. Since the BJP-allied government came to power in Andhra, the state has only seen tremendous progress. Minority and Christian communities are ready to support the BJP," he said.

"We will win maximum seats in Kerala. Development means PM Modi, and PM Modi means development. We will form a government in Kerala this time," he added.

Meanwhile, elections to the Kerala Legislative Assembly are scheduled to be held on April 9 to elect 140 members. The polling will take place in a single phase across all constituencies in the state.
Chennai, March 22 : Seat-sharing negotiations within the DMK-led alliance for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections have entered a crucial phase, with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) firmly maintaining its demand for six constituencies, leading to a temporary deadlock in talks.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the CPI-M contested six seats as part of the DMK alliance and managed to secure victory in two constituencies.

As preparations gather pace for the 2026 polls, the party leadership is keen on retaining its earlier share, arguing that its grassroots presence and cadre strength justify the demand.

However, the entry of new alliance partners such as the DMDK and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) has intensified pressure on seat distribution, prompting the DMK leadership to propose a reduction in the number of seats allotted to existing allies.

The issue triggered a series of intense internal discussions within the CPI-M on Saturday. The party first held a four-hour state working committee meeting in the morning, followed by a prolonged state committee meeting from 3 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. During this session, individual opinions were reportedly sought from members to arrive at a consensus. As differences persisted, the leadership convened another round of deliberations through a two-hour state executive committee meeting late in the night.

Sources indicated that the executive committee remained unanimous in its stand that the party should contest six seats, in line with its previous electoral arrangement.

The leadership subsequently decided to communicate this position directly to the DMK leadership. A delegation led by CPI-M state Secretary Shanmugam later met Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin at Anna Arivalayam to discuss the matter.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Shanmugam said the party had initially sought a higher number of seats but was prepared to settle for six based on the state committeeas decision. He added that Chief Minister Stalin had urged the CPI-M to consider accepting five seats, citing constraints due to the inclusion of new allies in the coalition.

The CPI-M leadership has stated that it will place this proposal before its state executive committee and take a final call soon. The party is expected to announce its decision either later Sunday or by Monday, a move that could significantly influence the final shape and unity of the DMK-led alliance ahead of the elections.

--IANS

aal/vd
Phnom Penh, March 22 : Indian Ministry of External Affairs's (MEA) Secretary, East, P. Kumaran, visited Ta Prohm Temple and Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia's Siem Reap on Sunday.

In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: "Secretary (East) Shri P. Kumaran visited Ta Prohm Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where the Archaeological Survey of India is leading restoration and conservation efforts. Two phases have been successfully completed, with the third phase currently underway."

The Angkor Wat Temple is the world's largest ancient temple complex in Cambodia and is a shared India-Cambodia civilisational heritage.

"Secretary (East) Shri P Kumaran visited the Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap, the worldas largest ancient temple complex in Cambodia and a magnificent symbol of India-Cambodia shared civilizational heritage. From 1986-1993, India was the first country to extend support for its restoration," Jaiswal posted.

Kumaran also visited the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Asian Traditional Textile Museum in Siem Reap on Saturday, Jaiswal said, adding: "The first museum of its kind in the country, it showcases rich textile traditions from the Mekong-Ganga region, highlighting shared cultural heritage."

On Friday, Kumaran held a meeting with a Cambodian delegation led by Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, KHY Sovanratana, and discussed expanding cooperation in trade and investments, heritage conservation and development partnership.

"Secretary (East) Shri P Kumaran met a Cambodian delegation led by Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. KHY Sovanratana to review Indiaas capacity building initiatives for Cambodia, including training of Cambodian diplomats at Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), Ministry of External Affairs. They also discussed expanding cooperation in trade and investments, heritage conservation and development partnership," Jaiswal posted on X.

India and Cambodia share warm and cordial relations. In the context of Indiaas aAct Easta policy and ASEAN, Cambodia is an important interlocutor and a good partner, according to the Indian Embassy in Cambodia.

In contemporary times, cooperation between two nations has expanded in various fields such as institutional capacity building, human resource development and extension of financial assistance in infrastructure projects, social security projects and capacity building in defence.
Bengaluru, March 22 : Commenting on the internal rift, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D. K. Shivakumar on Sunday clarified that the candidates for the by-election have been selected by consensus.

Speaking to the media at his residence in Bengaluru, he said the Bagalkote Assembly ticket has been given to Umesh Meti, the second son of late H. Y. Meti, and the Davanagere South ticket has been given to Samarth Mallikarjuna, grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.

He said: "The Chief Minister, Minister Zameer Ahmad, Naseer Hussain, Saleem Ahmad, N.A. Harris, Jabbar and all minority leaders, along with me, discussed the matter with the AICC Secretary and arrived at a unanimous decision to give the opportunity to the Shamanur family. We have decided to contest unitedly and win both constituencies."

"The B-Form has been handed over to the candidate's father, Minister for Mining, Geology and Horticulture S. S. Mallikarjuna. On Monday, the Chief Minister and I will go to Davanagere and Bagalkote to participate in the nomination filing event. The speculations in the media about ticket allocation have now been put to rest. The high command communicated the decision late at night," he said.

"A Legislature Party meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday. The AICC Secretary will also participate in the meeting," he added.

When asked whether the minority community was satisfied, as it had vehemently demanded a ticket for Davanagere South, he said: "There is nothing wrong in asking for a ticket. They are asking based on population  they are not wrong."

"Minister Mallikarjuna said he filed his nomination on an auspicious date. Just as we have faith, so do they. He has said that if the party asks, he will withdraw. Samarth's mother, Congress MP Prabha Mallikarjuna, also did not initially want to contest for the parliamentary seat  she was persuaded to. Mallikarjuna also did not want to, initially. Now he is growing into an asset of the party," he said.

When asked whether the minority community had placed any demands, he said: "They do ask. Mallikarjuna is committed to whatever the party says. So am I. If I am told not to contest from Kanakapura, I won't."

When asked whether the confusion in the minority community had been resolved, he said: "Aspiring is not wrong. Personally, I wanted to give the ticket to Mallikarjuna in the Meti family for the Bagalkote seat. Another daughter, who is a Zilla Panchayat member, had also asked for a ticket. A total of four people from within the same family had asked for the ticket. When there is desire within a family itself, others will also have it. Several names had come up for Bagalkote as well."

When asked about JD(S) fielding minority candidates, he said: "I know all these efforts are going on. In politics, they create divisions, and so do we. Do they have consensus among themselves? Because two people quarrelled, they gave the ticket to a third person. Why should I discuss that? That is their party's decision; this is ours."

When asked whether the Opposition's candidates are strong, he said: "Ours is ours, theirs is theirs. I am not going to discuss other parties' decisions. Let them field whoever they want."

"The service and development work done by late Shivashankarappa for Davanagere is excellent. Davanagere is better than Bengaluru -- I have seen it personally. He has provided drinking water, houses for the poor, and built educational institutions.

He has served for the past 40 years. The Shamanur family has stood by the Congress party from the very beginning," he said.

When asked about the grievance that Shivashankarappa had promised to give the ticket to the Muslim community after him and that the promise is not being honoured, he said: "They may have expressed that grievance to you -- not to us. That is precisely why we have made Jabbar an MLC three times.

The same Shivashankarappa made Jabbar an MLC during S. M. Krishna's time and during Siddaramaiah's tenure. Alternative arrangements are made from time to time. We gave the Council seat to Saleem from Dharwad instead of Mane -- wasn't that an alternative arrangement?" he asked.
Tel Aviv, March 22 : Indian-Israeli influencer, Revital Moses, said on Sunday that the situation in Israel is filled with fear and anxiety, particularly for the civilians living there, as attacks against Israel can take place at any time. She said that people of Israel continue to live their lives between the sirens.

Speaking to IANS, Moses stated that people in Israel move to shelters when missiles are fired at the country, and old people even sleep in the shelters as they are unable to run, and attacks can happen during the night as well.

She said, "We continue our lives in between the sirens. Whether itas grocery shopping, making videos, working, or children studying, everything happens while the sirens are going off. When missiles are raining down, people try to stay indoors, near shelters, and if possible, even sleep in the shelters, because attacks can happen at one or three in the morning. People who are old sleep in the shelters because they are unable to run. The Israeli resilience has not gone anywhere; we are just trying to live in a different way."

On the current situation in Israel, "I came to Israel in 2020, so it has been six years now. Currently, the situation in Israel is filled with fear and anxiety, especially for the civilians living there. There is a lot of fear in their hearts because missiles could be fired at Israel at any time, and you don't know, will you see another day or not?"

The ongoing conflict in West Asia erupted after the US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, which killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top military officials. In response, Iran launched drone and missile attacks targeting the US and Israeli facilities, regional capitals, and allied forces in West Asia.

Revital Moses also spoke about an Israeli couple who did not postpone their wedding despite missiles being fired at Israel.

She said, "It was a very happy moment because even in times of raining ballistic missiles, this couple, who are my very good friends, said that the wedding should not stop, we will go in minus four, and we will celebrate our wedding there, and this became so viral on social media that even strangers gathered to celebrate their wedding."

"There was also a rabbi there, who is a priest of our Jewish community, so he conducted this whole ceremony, his friends were there, and then everyone started dancing because bunker should be or is the safest place. So, whatever you do there, hopefully you should be alive. So they took this opportunity to say that if we want to get married, it will happen today. So, with that mindset, they celebrated the ceremony," she added.

Nearly 200 people were injured in Iranian strikes in Israel's Dimona and Arad, with 11 of them seriously injured, according to medics, after Israeli air defences did not intercept at least two ballistic missiles, local media reported on Sunday.

After the strikes on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt General Eyal Zamir announced that Israel will continue to fight the country's enemies on "all fronts," The Times of Israel reported. Later, the IDF said that the Air Force was carrying out strikes in Tehran targeting Iran's infrastructure.
New Delhi, March 22 : Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday said that the government is addressing employees' service-related issues through structured dialogue and reforms, stressing that regular engagement with staff representatives is key to improving administrative efficiency and career growth.

New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday said that the government is addressing employeesa service-related issues through structured dialogue and reforms, stressing that regular engagement with staff representatives is key to improving administrative efficiency and career growth.

Chairing a meeting with delegations from employee bodies, including the Government Employees National Confederation and the Central Secretariat Group-C Employees' Association, the Minister discussed a range of issues related to cadre restructuring, promotions, and service conditions.

Representatives from organisations such as Survey of India, ISRO, and India Post also took part in the discussions.

During the meeting, employee representatives appreciated the steps taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly in improving cadre management and speeding up promotion processes.

They highlighted that more than 10,000 bulk promotions have been granted in recent years with the proactive role of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), helping reduce stagnation in several services.

The delegations thanked Dr Jitendra Singh for his support in pushing these reforms and said that the measures have had a positive impact on career progression across departments.

At the same time, they raised some pending issues related to cadre restructuring, pay parity, allowances, and promotion opportunities, especially in organisations like Survey of India and ISRO.

Some representatives also pointed out concerns regarding delays in implementation and lack of uniformity across departments, even though they acknowledged that the pace of promotions has improved significantly.

Responding to these concerns, Dr Jitendra Singh assured the delegations that their issues would be examined in consultation with the concerned departments.

He emphasised that proper follow-up, better coordination, and a structured approach are necessary to resolve service-related matters in a timely manner.

The meeting ended with both sides agreeing to continue dialogue to address employee concerns and further strengthen administrative efficiency across government departments.
Mumbai, March 22 : Actress Shefali Shah uploaded an album of some rare behind-the-scenes moments from the shoot of her acclaimed crime drama, "Delhi Crime", as the web series clocked 7 years of release on Sunday.

Shefali wrote that even after such a long time, she continues to bask in the stardust of the captivating drama, which received a lot of love and praise from cinephiles.

"7 years to the magic we created, and I still bask in its stardust. Delhi Crime - 1 (sic)," she penned the caption.

In addition to Shefali, her co-star, Rasika Dugal, also commemorated the occasion by dropping another set of BTS photos from the set of "Delhi Crime" season 1.

The 'Mirzapur' actress penned the caption, "In-between shots from a story we carried with care (sic)."

While Shefali is seen as IPS Vartika Chaturvedi in the show, Rasika essayed the role of ACP Neeti Singh in the drama, which has received 3 seasons till now.

In November, Shefali revealed why she was weeping upon the release of "Delhi Crime 3".

Shedding light on all the changes she made to her character in the third season, she wrote on social media, "I was terrified. It is the understatement of the century before 'Delhi Crime 3' dropped. I played a different side of Vartika this time. She felt the pain and anger with equal and more intensity, but instead of showing it, she channelled it into finding the girls. All situations require one aspect that's more prevalent than others. Certain situations need to be handled with power, certain with strength, certain with command, certain with force, and certain like this one, with compassion and empathy".

Shefali added that while she was not sure if the audience would be able to see her vision, when she read the reviews, she was overjoyed and even wept with relief.

--IANS

pm/
Mumbai, March 22 : Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Sunday that in the coming decade young innovators will not only answer deep tech challenges of the country but also that of the world, especially the Global South and emerging economies.

Delivering the valedictory address at the concluding session of Bharat Innovates deep-tech pre-summit at IIT Bombay, he said the academia, industry, financial industry and youth are the key players to make the country a bigger innovation and technology force.

"Indian technology is attracting the world in digital transaction, affordable healthcare and generic medicines. The Global South will not be able to adopt the technology of the Western bloc and they want to adopt our technology," Pradhan said, suggesting greater effort to convert technology into public purpose by bringing academia and industry together.

He said an "India-Fast" approach needs to be adopted to meet the growing economy's needs.

"When we grow bigger, we need to meet the aspirational spending and expectation of people," he said, adding that a balance needs to be struck between the civilizational knowledge with the young generation's innovation.

"In the coming days we will convert Bharat Innovates into an institutional mechanism. Unless we do research, we will not grow. Waste management, biomass treatment, bio-medicine and Hydrogen are some areas which need more work to be done in research and innovation," he said.

Pradhan said, "It is encouraging to witness the depth of innovation emerging from India's startup ecosystem with a strong focus on technology-led development, sustainability and real-world impact. Such platforms are vital in connecting ideas with investment and enabling scalable, future-ready enterprises."

Earlier, he interacted with 200-plus startup founders and investors at Bharat Innovates deep-tech pre-summit, an official said on Sunday.

The two-day event to showcase startups, investor interactions, and industry networking featured around 137 promising deep-tech startups selected from more than 3,000 applications received from across the country, said the official in a statement.

The Bharat Innovates initiative was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the India-France Year of Innovation.

A flagship programme of the Ministry of Education, it operates under the strategic guidance of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.

Bharat Innovates 2026 unfolded across three milestones: National Basecamp: Gandhinagar and Mumbai (December 2025 and January 2026); Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit: IIT Bombay, Mumbai (March 2122, 2026) and International Innovation Showcase: Nice, France (June 1416, 2026).

The Pre-Summit brought together 200-plus startup founders; 70-plus investors and venture capital leaders; 50-plus industry leaders, corporate partners, senior government stakeholders and innovation missions.

The Bharat Innovates Deep-Tech Pre-Summit showcased innovations across 13 critical technology domains, including Advanced Computing, Healthcare and MedTech, Space and Defence, Energy and Sustainability, Semiconductors, Biotechnology, Smart Cities and Mobility, Blue Economy, Next-Gen Communications, Agri and Food Technologies, Advanced Materials, Manufacturing & Industry 4.0, and Disaster Management.
London, March 22 : Pakistan is facing growing instability amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, domestic unrest, and strategic pressures, with its stance along Iran's eastern frontier and its alliance with Saudi Arabia and the US placing additional pressure on Islamabad, according to a report.

Recent events in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB), which has a Shia majority, demonstrate the tensions. On March 1, clashes erupted between security personnel and protesters loyal to Iran after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's killing. As per reports, two soldiers were killed as protesters also attacked military positions and government buildings were set on fire, according to a report in UK-based Asian Lite.

China has said that unrest in PoGB could impact its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Karakoram Highway, which is crucial for the CPEC, has already faced disruptions due to natural hazards and political unrest, showcasing the vulnerability of Pakistanas northern areas amid regional tensions.

Reportedly, security personnel have arrested several people with suspected links to Iran-backed groups, as part of efforts to stop further unrest. According to critics, these actions risk intensifying the grievances of people in Pakistan and increasing sectarian divides.

"Pakistanas military plays a central role in regional strategy, providing intelligence and logistical support to Arab and Western partners. Media narratives within the country have emphasised loyalty to allies like Saudi Arabia, while portraying Iran as an antagonist in regional disputes," the Asian Lite report said.

According to analysts, Pakistan's dependence on the Gulf, energy imports through ports like Yanbu and military funding shape its position in the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Meanwhile, Iran continues to carry out missile and drone attacks on nations in West Asia, with a smaller number of operations targeting Israel.

"Tehranas support for groups such as the Taliban has raised further security concerns in Pakistan, potentially exposing the country to retaliatory actions along its western borders. Compounding Pakistanas challenges, the army is concurrently engaged in counterinsurgency operations against Baloch separatists and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants, while continuing airstrikes in Afghanistan to pre-empt cross-border threats. These operations, however, have strained relations with China, which seeks stability to protect its multi-billion-dollar investments in the region," the report said.
New Delhi, March 22 : India's environmental record often draws scrutiny over pollution and climate challenges, but several indicators suggest a quieter positive story - one of expanding forest cover, rich biodiversity, and growing conservation efforts across the country.

New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) Indiaas environmental record often draws scrutiny over pollution and climate challenges, but several indicators suggest a quieter positive story a" one of expanding forest cover, rich biodiversity, and growing conservation efforts across the country.

Recent data and environmental assessments indicate that India has made steady gains in increasing its forest and tree cover, reflecting sustained policy interventions as well as community-driven conservation initiatives. These improvements, however, rarely feature prominently in global discussions on climate and environmental sustainability.

Indiaas tree cover has grown in recent years, as per the India State of Forest Report, which recorded an increase of 2,261 square kilometres in tree cover over a two-year period, as highlighted in an article by Salil Gewali, published in India Narrative.

The report also noted that 17 states and Union Territories now have more than one-third of their geographical area under forest cover a" an indicator of the countryas expanding green landscape and conservation initiatives. These include regions with vast natural ecosystems that continue to support biodiversity and local livelihoods.

Among the states, Madhya Pradesh holds the largest forest cover in India, with a network of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves that play a key role in wildlife conservation. Rivers such as the Narmada and Chambal flow through these forests, sustaining both ecosystems and communities dependent on forest resources.

The article further pointed to the ecological richness of Indiaas northeastern region, particularly Arunachal Pradesh, which hosts diverse ecosystems ranging from tropical forests to alpine meadows. Indigenous and tribal communities in the region have traditionally acted as custodians of forests, preserving biodiversity through sustainable practices.

Other states such as Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Assam also showcase strong forest ecosystems and wildlife habitats, including areas that support iconic species like the one-horned rhinoceros and Asian elephants.

According to the article, Indiaas approach to environmental stewardship combines conservation, economic development and community participation a" a model that could offer lessons for other countries grappling with the challenge of balancing growth with sustainability.

It added that forests will play an important role in helping India achieve its climate commitments, including reducing carbon emissions and progressing toward its long-term net-zero targets.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is one of the 10 Best AI Stocks to Buy for the Next 10 Years. On March 19, BofA said in a note that long-only investors made a strong shift toward non-US stocks in February.

Quant strategist Nigel Tupper said that long-only funds globally bought non-US stocks but sold US stocks, showing a clear difference in how investors are positioned themselves across regions. BofA highlighted that the most widely held stock by long-only funds is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM), with 92% ownership globally.

Long-Only Funds Shift to Non-US Stocks, TSMC (TSM) Stays at the Top

Pixabay/Public Domain

The bank noted that combined active and passive funds recorded their largest inflows into Emerging Markets, buying more than $17.6 billion. Emerging Markets are followed by the Asia Pacific region with over $14.9 billion in purchases. In contrast, US stocks saw the biggest outflows, as funds sold $69.5 billion in shares.

BofA also noted that Crowded Positives, which are stocks that have both high ownership and positive Triple Momentum, continue to perform well. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is among the names in this group, as per the bank.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is a Taiwanese multinational semiconductor contract manufacturing and design company that manufactures, packages, and tests integrated circuits for various industries.

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New Delhi, March 22 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation in the petroleum, crude oil, gas, power, and fertiliser sectors, with a focus on ensuring uninterrupted supply and stable distribution amid the evolving crisis in West Asia.

The meeting focused on maintaining uninterrupted supply, ensuring stable logistics, and streamlining distribution systems across the country to prevent any disruption in essential services.

Officials briefed the Prime Minister on the current status of fuel availability and steps being taken to safeguard Indiaas energy security.

According to sources, the government is closely monitoring global developments and has taken proactive measures to ensure that consumers and industries are not affected by volatility in international markets.

Efforts are underway to maintain adequate reserves and strengthen supply chains amid rising geopolitical uncertainties.

The review comes at a time when global energy markets remain on edge due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, a region that plays a crucial role in global oil and gas supplies.

Concerns have also been raised over disruptions in key shipping routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, which handles a significant share of global energy trade.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Modi spoke with Iranas President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the regional situation and emphasised the need for peace and stability.

He also underlined the importance of keeping international shipping lanes open and secure, warning that any disruption could impact global supply chains.

To reduce dependence on the Middle East, India has diversified its oil and gas imports, increasing purchases from countries such as the United States, Russia, and African nations like Nigeria.

Officials said that nearly 70 per cent of Indiaas oil imports now come from sources outside the Gulf region.

The government has also stepped up efforts to manage LPG supplies, including sourcing liquefied petroleum gas from the US to address potential shortages.

While concerns over LPG availability persist, officials said there has been no disruption in supply at the consumer level, with online bookings rising significantly.
Chennai, March 22 : The unit of director Yuvaraj Chinnasamy's upcoming romantic entertainer 'Haiku', featuring actors Aegan, Femina George and Sridevi Apalla in the lead, has now completed shooting a song in a huge set erected for it.

Chennai, March 22 (IANS)The unit of director Yuvaraj Chinnasamy's upcoming romantic entertainer 'Haiku', featuring actors Aegan, Femina George and Sridevi Apalla in the lead, has now completed shooting a song in a huge set erected for it.

Talking exclusively to IANS, actor Aegan, who plays the lead, said, "A huge set was erected for this song. The set's theme was a boarding place where a lot of bachelors who are looking for work come to stay. We shot the song over a period of two days and two nights. We have now completed shooting the song."

Aegan went on to point out that the unit was in the midst of its third schedule, with the first schedule having been completed in Idukki and Coimbatore and the second schedule having been completed in Chennai.

"We have three more schedules to go. We have completed around 40 to 45 per cent of the film's shooting. We intend to release the film in September this year," he said.

Interestingly, 'Haiku' is the first film whose OTT rights were secured by a big OTT platform even before filming began.

Sources close to the unit of the film claimed that a 30-day rehearsal was conducted for all the actors of the film under the able guidance of acting trainer Rajesh, who is best known for having trained the actors of critically acclaimed films such as 'Madharasi' and 'Chittha', before the commencement of filming.

Produced by Dr. D. Arulanandhu and Mathewo Arulanandhu under Vision Cinema House, the film will feature additional screenplay by Hari Haran Ram, who previously had directed the critically acclaimed Tamil film 'Joe'.

Aegan, who plays the male lead in the film is known for his work in the Tamil film 'Kozhipannai Chelladurai', while the heroines Femina George and Sridevi Apalla are known for their work in the films 'Minnal Murali' and 'Court' respectively.

On the technical front, the film will have cinematography by Priyesh GuruSwamy and music by Vijai Bulganin, best known for his work in 'Court' and 'Baby'. Sakthi Pranesh will be the film's editor.
Kolkata, March 22 : Uttar Pradesh Police, along with Kolkata Police, recently arrested a man from Kolkata, 11 years after he allegedly kidnapped a minor girl from UP and settled down here with her. The police said on Sunday that the arrest was made recently, and the UP Police are in the process of taking the man to the said state in transit remand.

According to the police, in 2015, a young man married a minor girl. He allegedly brought her here after abducting her from Khoda Colony in Uttar Pradesh. At that time, the girl's family filed a complaint against the young man, accusing him of the minor's sexual assault and abduction. Eleven years have since passed. The girl, who was a minor at the time, has now come of age. The couple also has a child, who is currently attending school. However, throughout these years, the young man failed to respond to police summons.

As a result, after all this time, the Uttar Pradesh Police conducted a raid in Kolkata. Following a search operation in the Tangra area in east Kolkataa"conducted with the assistance of the Kolkata Policea"officers from the Khoda Police Station in Uttar Pradesh arrested the abductor-turned-husband, who has been identified as Ranjit Singh.

According to the police, the minor girl first met Ranjit through their shared travels to and from Uttar Pradesh. The young man subsequently developed a close relationship with the minor, a resident of the Khoda Colony area in Ghaziabad. Later, the youth fled with the minor to Kolkata, where they got married. Shortly thereafter, the minor's family lodged a complaint against the young man at the Khoda Police Station.

Ranjit went into hiding within the city with his minor wife. At that time, despite conducting searches, the police were unable to locate him. Later, the young man took up a job, and his wifea"who had been a minor at the time of their marriagea"attained legal adulthood. The couple also had a child, who was eventually enrolled in school.

Meanwhile, the Khoda Police Station summoned Ranjit; however, he failed to respond. Police officials from the Khoda station then managed to procure Ranjit's mobile number. Ranjit explicitly informed the Uttar Pradesh police that he was living a happy life with his family and that his wife was now an adult; therefore, he did not wish to get entangled in the old case any longer.

In response, the police explained to him that since allegations of sexual assault of a minor and kidnappinga"stemming from that old Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act casea"still stood against him, and he remained a criminal in the eyes of the law.

A senior officer of Kolkata Police said that the UP Police had advised him to surrender at the Ghaziabad court, accompanied by his wife. He could potentially obtain relief if his wife appeared in court and provided an account of their marital life.

The Uttar Pradesh Police revealed that, on various occasions, Ranjit would tell the police that he was in Maharashtra, while at other times claiming to be working in a different state in southern India. He continued to evade both the police and the courts.

Recently, acting on leads obtained from Ranjit's mobile phone records, the Khoda Police learned that he was in Kolkata. Consequently, the Ghaziabad court issued an arrest warrant against Ranjit. Acting on the basis of this warrant, the police conducted a raid in Tangra and arrested him. The police have stated that the arrested individual is currently being transported from Kolkata to Uttar Pradesh.

--IAN

sch/uk
Chennai, March 22 : Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is overseeing the BJP's election affairs in Tamil Nadu, is set to arrive in Chennai on March 23 for key discussions aimed at finalising seat-sharing arrangements within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

His visit comes at a critical juncture, with negotiations among alliance partners yet to reach a conclusion despite the fast-approaching Assembly elections.

The AIADMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu includes major allies such as the BJP, PMK, AMMK and IJK. However, formal seat-sharing talks have been delayed, even as political activity intensifies across the state.

Goyal's visit is expected to provide the much-needed momentum to bring clarity and consensus among alliance partners.

The renewed push for negotiations follows a series of high-level meetings in Delhi earlier this week.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami held discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, focusing on electoral strategy and alliance coordination.

Leaders from other NDA constituents, including AMMKas T.T.V. Dhinakaran and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, also met HM Shah to convey their expectations regarding seat allocation.

Goyal was initially scheduled to visit Chennai last week to initiate talks, but the trip was postponed due to unspecified reasons. With the revised schedule now confirmed, he is expected to arrive at around 10 a.m. on Sunday and hold consultations with key NDA leaders before returning to Delhi later in the day.

Sources within the BJP indicate that the party is seeking to contest between 30 and 35 constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

The BJP is also keen on securing key urban seats, particularly in Chennai, including Velachery, T. Nagar and Mylapore, along with select constituencies in western Tamil Nadu where it believes it has stronger prospects.

Meanwhile, discussions are also underway regarding the allocation of the remaining seats among alliance partners. BJP leaders are hopeful that around 50 constituencies could be distributed among smaller allies and other partners within the NDA framework.

With nomination dates nearing, all eyes are now on Goyalas meetings in Chennai, which are expected to play a decisive role in finalising the NDA's seat-sharing formula and shaping the allianceas electoral strategy for the upcoming Assembly polls.
Mumbai, March 22 : Co-founders of crypto exchange CoinDCX, Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal, were arrested after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at a Mumbai police station in connection with an alleged cryptocurrency fraud case.

According to the complaint, a person claimed that he was cheated of Rs 71 lakh in a crypto scam, prompting the police to initiate action.

Reports had earlier suggested that the two founders were summoned for questioning before the arrests.

Reacting to the development, CoinDCX strongly denied any wrongdoing and termed the FIR "false" and part of a larger conspiracy against the company.

In a statement posted on X, the company said that the alleged fraud did not involve its official platform, but instead occurred through a fake website impersonating CoinDCX and its founders.

"The FIR filed against our co-founders is false and filed as a conspiracy against CoinDCX by impersonators posing as founders of CoinDCX and cheating the public at large," the company said. It added that it had already issued public notices warning users about such fraudulent activities.

The company further clarified that the complaint wrongly claims that funds were transferred in cash to third-party accounts that have no connection with CoinDCX.

It emphasised that brand impersonation and cyber frauds are becoming a growing concern in India's digital finance ecosystem.

CoinDCX said it has identified more than 1,200 fake websites impersonating its platform between April 2024 and January 2026, and has repeatedly cautioned users against falling prey to such scams.

It also said that it is fully cooperating with law enforcement agencies in the ongoing investigation.

Founded in 2018, CoinDCX is one of India's leading cryptocurrency trading platforms. The company has faced challenges in recent times, including a major cyberattack in 2025 in which hackers breached an internal operational account and stole assets worth $44 million.

However, the company had then said that user funds were not affected and that it had strengthened its security systems following the incident.
Bhubaneswar, March 22 : Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday stressed the importance of water security for building a 'Samruddha and Viksit Odisha' and urged all citizens to come forward in support of the cause.

The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering during the state-level World Water Day celebration held at Lok Seva Bhawan here on Sunday.

"Our goal is to eliminate gender disparity in water management and strengthen the rural economy. Water security is a key requirement for building a prosperous and developed Odisha," said Majhi. He added that women and self-help groups have been engaged as "Jal Sathi" to ensure water security for all citizens in the state.

The Chief Minister also urged all citizens to support water security, in line with this year's World Water Day theme, 'Water and Gender Equality'.

Speaking about various water-based schemes in the state, Majhi said that water scarcity affects the poor the most. Therefore, ensuring access to clean water for the last person in society is part of the Antyodaya policy. He added that under Mission Shakti, the state government is working to provide clean water to remote villages and backward regions. Similarly, in agriculture, the policy of "more crop per drop" is also being promoted.

CM Majhi noted that through the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign, Odisha has emerged as a leading state in tree plantation. He added that to prevent future water disputes, the state has prepared a balanced water policy to avoid conflicts over water resources. Majhi also highlighted the government's aim to increase crop intensity to 220 per cent by 2036 and 250 per cent by 2047 through improved irrigation facilities in Odisha.

He further stated that proper utilisation of water and increasing the availability of safe drinking water are the needs of the hour.

"Therefore, water security is essential to meet the growing demands across various sectors under the Odisha Vision Documents 2036 and 2047," CM Majhi added.

Highlighting the importance of water conservation, Majhi urged everyone to take a pledge to ensure that not even a drop of water is wasted. He emphasised that the message of water conservation should reach every household on the occasion of World Water Day.

"The children must be educated about water conservation from school itself, as they are the future 'water warriors'. We will not waste water and conserve rainwater to keep the soil moist," Majhi said.

Notably, CM Majhi on the occasion also launched several water resource projects worth a total of Rs 2,612 crore. Of these, foundation stones were laid for 17 projects worth approximately Rs 2,292 crore, while 124 projects with a total cost of about Rs 320 crore were inaugurated.
Ahmedabad, March 22 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will contest the upcoming local self-government elections in Gujarat without any alliance and is set to announce its first list of candidates shortly, the party's state president Isudan Gadhvi said on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad, Gadhvi said the party has decided to go it alone, emphasising that AAP follows its own electoral strategy.

"AAP will not form any alliance in the local elections. We move forward with our own strategy and will be among the first to announce our candidates," he said.

He added that meetings of the party's screening committee have been held over the past three days, during which discussions took place with the top leadership.

The first list of candidates is expected to be released soon, while deliberations for a second list are also underway.

"We will also finalise the second list during the Gujarat visit of Arvind Kejriwal, and it will be announced by March 2829," Gadhvi said.

The selection process, he said, has involved applications from prospective candidates, marking what he described as an open approach aimed at giving opportunities to ordinary citizens.

The party's preparations come alongside a planned visit by its national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to Gujarat from March 24 to 27.

During the visit, both leaders are scheduled to address public meetings across Saurashtra and tribal regions.

According to Gadhvi, "Vijay Vishwas Sabha" programmes focusing on farmers' issues will be held in Amreli on March 25 and Jamnagar on March 26, where Kejriwal is expected to raise concerns related to the farming community.

On March 27, Kejriwal and Mann will attend a large public gathering in Dahod, addressing issues concerning tribal communities.

Gadhvi said the issues to be raised during the visit would focus on the poor, deprived and marginalised sections, including tribal groups.

"Discussions with Kejriwal and Mann would also cover the party's candidate selection process and broader election strategy," he added.

The party is also expected to deliberate on the forthcoming by-election to the Umreth Assembly seat during the leadership meetings, Gadhvi said, indicating that a decision on the matter would be taken soon.
New Delhi, March 22 : Former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Veena Sikri emphasised India's active diplomatic engagement with all parties amid the ongoing Iran-US-Israel tensions, underscoring the country's pursuit of peace, dialogue, and diplomacy.

New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) Former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Veena Sikri emphasised India's active diplomatic engagement with all parties amid the ongoing Iran-US-Israel tensions, underscoring the countryas pursuit of peace, dialogue, and diplomacy.

Speaking to IANS on India's foreign policy approach, Sikri said: "India is talking to all sides in the conflict. So of course, that means talking to Saudi Arabia, talking to the UAE, talking to Qatar, and to many others, including Kuwait, France and Oman. And that is the only way in which you can build up a certain opinion, which will then lead you to find a solution that will end the hostilities and bring in dialogue and diplomacy."

On regional stability, Sikri stressed the importance of coexistence and understanding, particularly in the Gulf region.

"In the UAE, there is talk about finishing Iran and so on, but I think everyone has to realise that living in peace, friendship, and understanding is very important for all, because the people of a country are the most important. Iran, with 93 million people, is a very large country, and as such, it has its own defence, development, and scientific programmes, and it is willing to share them with other countries," she said.

Sikri also highlighted Indiaas proactive role in engaging with the Iranian leadership.

"I think this is the second conversation between PM Modi and President Masoud Pezeshkian since the Iran-US-Israel conflict started, and it is a very important indicator that our Prime Minister has excellent relations with all parties to this conflict. He is working strongly in favour of peace, cessation of hostilities, dialogue, and diplomacy, and as part of this, he spoke to the President of Iran. Also, our Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister have been in conversation with Iranian leaders, including the President and Foreign Minister Araghchi," she added.

Turning to domestic issues, Sikri commented on the Indian socio-cultural ethos and the importance of minorities. Referring to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), she said: "If you talk about the RSS, I remember its chief Mohan Bhagwat saying that Hindutva exists because of minorities. We all have to live together -- that is the focus. Minorities are part of what can be described as the Indian ethos, the Indian civilisational ethos, because they have always been there."

Sikri also criticised the latest report on religious freedom by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), terming it "completely illogical and biased".

She said: "The Government of India has issued a very strong statement against it because it has no logic at all. You cannot just criticise institutions; they are even criticising government institutions like the R&AW, or the RSS, which is, of course, an NGO. It is a legitimate institution that has been doing a lot of social work."
Chandigarh, March 22 : The family of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation District Manager Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who allegedly died by suicide in Amritsar, on Sunday demanded strict action and the immediate arrest of former state minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, alleging sustained harassment had pushed the officer to take the extreme step.

Talking to reporters here, the deceased officer's brother, Varinder Singh Randhawa, said the family would not compromise and would continue to seek justice.

"We are not going to bow down, and there will be no compromise. This is the stand of the entire family after discussions among all members," he said, adding that merely registering a case was not sufficient.

Criticising the state government, Randhawa said honest officers were being pushed to the breaking point despite claims of development and opportunities in Punjab.

"There were big claims about bringing investment and opportunities to Punjab, but today, even officers are being driven to extreme steps. Your ministers have turned into bullies. You used to say people from abroad would come and create jobs here, and you appeal to Punjabis not to send their children overseas. But what happens to those who study hard and become officers on merit? They are put under such pressure," he said.

Appealing directly to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Randhawa said the arrest of the accused would demonstrate the government's seriousness in ensuring justice.

"An FIR has been registered, but the accused Laljit Singh Bhullar has not yet been arrested. If he is arrested, it will show that you are a true leader of Punjab and a sincere Chief Minister," he said.

The family also alleged that Gagandeep Randhawa had been facing intense pressure over warehousing tenders and had been repeatedly harassed by the former minister and his associates. According to relatives, he was allegedly asked to favour certain parties in tender allotments linked to Bhullar's family, which he resisted.

They further claimed that the officer had been summoned to the minister's residence earlier this month, where he was allegedly humiliated and assaulted, leaving him mentally distressed.

Gagandeep Randhawa allegedly consumed a poisonous substance at his residence in Amritsar on Saturday. Before his death, he recorded a brief video message on his mobile phone claiming that he had consumed poison out of fear of Bhullar. The video later surfaced on social media and triggered a major political controversy in the state.

Following the incident, Bhullar resigned as minister and an FIR was registered against him, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar and another associate at the Ranjit Avenue police station in Amritsar under provisions related to abetment of suicide under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The bereaved family had earlier refused to perform the last rites until a case was registered against the former minister and has demanded a fair and transparent investigation into the circumstances leading to his death.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders from the Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party gathered at the Punjab MLAs' hostel in Chandigarh and planned a protest march towards the residence of Chief Minister Mann, demanding the arrest of Bhullar and a transparent probe into the case.

The incident has triggered a major political row in Punjab, with opposition parties accusing the AAP-led government of failing to protect officials from alleged political pressure, while the state government has ordered an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Randhawa's death.
Hyderabad, March 22 : The government of Telangana has allocated Rs 9,000 crore under Rythu Bharosa scheme to provide financial assistance to farmers for cultivation on 1.50 acres.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday released first instalment of Rs 3,590 crore at a public meeting held at Narmeta in Siddipet district.

With Sunday being a holiday, the amount will be credited in the bank accounts of farmers on Monday.

He announced that second instalment of Rs 2,650 crore will be released within the next 20 days while the remaining Rs 2,760 crore will be released in the next 20 days.

Under the scheme, the state government provides Rs 12,000 annually as input subsidy to farmers for every acre. The scheme benefits 70 lakh farmers.

The Chief Minister stated that despite the financial problems, the government is continuing welfare schemes for farmers.

He said during the previous regime, Rs 2,533 crore was spent every month for farmer welfare but in the 28 months of the Congress government, Rs 5,500 crore were spent every month.

CM Revanth Reddy said that the government wants to see happiness in the eyes of farmers by implementing welfare schemes including remunerative price for the agricultural produce.

He remarked no state where farmers cry can prosper.

He said the government was also providing compensation to farmers who have suffered crop losses.

"The people's government has so far spent over Rs 1 lakh crore on farmers' welfare within just two years," he said.

The Chief Minister revealed that Telangana has emerged as the number one state in the country in terms of paddy production.

He noted that this season, the government procured 71 lakh tonnes of paddy. He, however, lamented that the Central government is not procuring anything beyond 50 lakh tonnes.

Emphasising the need for transformation in agriculture, he said farmers need to adopt crop diversification.

He recalled that in the past, different regions used to cultivate various types of crops specific to their locality.

"There is a need to encourage farmers to cultivate not just paddy, but a diverse range of crops. Plans necessary to facilitate this must be formulated," he said.

Revanth Reddy said with the support of the Central government, the state government will ensure that the crops cultivated by farmers become profitable.
Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is one of the best long term stocks to invest in according to billionaires. Reuters reported on March 17 that Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) and Visa can challenge a judgment that found their default multilateral interchange fees charged to retailers infringe competition law, according to Londons Court of Appeal ruling on Tuesday in a long-running legal battle over the charges. Last year, the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that Visa and Mastercard Incorporateds (NYSE:MA) multilateral interchange fees breached European competition law, in linked lawsuits that were brought forward by hundreds of merchants.

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The same day, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) announced on March 17 a definitive agreement for the acquisition of BVNK for up to $1.8 billion, including $300 million in contingent payments. BVNK is a leader in stablecoin infrastructure. Management stated that the acquisition adds to Mastercard Incorporateds (NYSE:MA) recent commitments, including the Mastercard Crypto Partner Program, to foster increased innovation and collaboration for the maximization of opportunity in the next phase of on-chain payments.

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New Delhi, March 22 : : A timely and strategic move by the government with the RELIEF initiative to support exporters amid global disruptions has strengthened trade resilience and ensured continuity by easing logistics, insurance, and cost pressures in a volatile geopolitical environment, apex business chamber CII said on Sunday.

"For the manufacturing and chemicals sector, it comes as a crucial buffer against rising freight, insurance, and input costs, helping maintain production continuity and export competitiveness," CII President-designate R. Mukundan said in a statement.

Mukundan, who is also Managing Director & CEO, TATA Chemicals Ltd, noted that the Indian industry has consistently demonstrated strong resilience in the face of global uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions.

The continued robust performance of the Indian economy reflects the strength of its policy framework and the impact of sustained reforms undertaken by the government to enhance competitiveness, improve ease of doing business, and strengthen the manufacturing ecosystem.

For sectors such as chemicals and petrochemicals, these initiatives have created a conducive environment for investment, capacity expansion, and deeper integration with global value chains. With strong domestic demand and a stable policy environment, the industry remains confident of contributing meaningfully to Indiaas growth story while supporting the countryas emergence as a reliable global manufacturing hub, he added.

Indiaas merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $27.1 billion in February from $34.68 billion in the previous month, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently.

The countryas merchandise exports rose to $36.61 billion from $36.56 billion in January, reflecting the resilience of the sector, while imports fell to $63.71 billion from $71.24 billion, the figures showed.

Indiaas merchandise exports stood at $402.93 billion for Aprila"February 2025a"26, which was up from $395.66 billion in the same period last year, representing a 1.84 per cent increase, according to official data.

The data comes against the backdrop of the escalation in the Iran war, which broke out on February 28, leading to the choking of the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East through which 20 per cent of the worldas oil and gas exports transit. The blocking of the Strait has also hit Indiaas exports of commodities such as rice to the Middle East countries.
New Delhi, March 22 : In a key political shift, former Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader K.C. Tyagi and former Uttar Pradesh minister Ashok Yadav joined the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) on Sunday, in the presence of party President and Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary.

The RLD President welcomed both the experienced leaders to his party.

In a post on X, Chaudhary said, "We extend a warm welcome and heartfelt congratulations to the senior and experienced leader of the Rashtriya Lok Dal family, former Member of Parliament, Shri K.C. Tyagi Ji, and former Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ashok Yadav."

"Today, at the dignified program organised at Maulana Azad Bhawan Hall in Delhi, we had the privilege of formally welcoming them into the party. With their joining, the Rashtriya Lok Dal will become even stronger, and our commitment to public service will gain new energy and momentum," he said.

Tyagi had resigned from the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD-U on March 17. "Now that the party's membership drive has concluded, I have chosen not to renew my membership this time," he had said in a press statement during his exit.

Tyagi's association with the JD-U dates back to its formation in October 2003, when the Samata Party merged with the Janata Dal.

Despite stepping away from the JD-U, Tyagi had emphasised that his commitment to issues concerning the downtrodden, farmers, and marginalised sections of society remains unchanged.

He had also mentioned that his respect for JD-U supremo Nitish Kumar remains intact.

Earlier, JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar told IANS that Tyagi's resignation was not due to any disagreement with the party's policies.

aK.C. Tyagi has not resigned due to any differences with the partyas policies. He has expressed great respect for Nitish Kumar and now wishes to be active in the politics of Uttar Pradesh," he had said.
Chandigarh, March 22 : Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar on Sunday alleged that a group "looting the state has taken control of the government".

Chandigarh, March 22 (IANS) Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar on Sunday alleged that a group "looting the state has taken control of the government".

He was speaking to the media before heading to gherao the Chief Minister's residence here in connection with the demand for justice in the case of Amritsar Divisional Manager Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who allegedly died by suicide after being distressed over alleged corruption involving AAP Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar.

Along with Opposition parties, the BJP gheraoed the Chief Minister's residence, where the Chandigarh Police made arrests. It was also decided that on March 23, protests would be held at all district headquarters against the government, and state President Jakhar himself would participate in a district-level protest in Patiala.

Speaking on the occasion, Jakhar said earlier the AAP government was only "looting", but now it has started "killing the people of Punjab". He alleged that people coming from Delhi are exploiting and looting Punjab bit by bit.

He said the government "is a burden on Punjab" and that the Chief Minister has no moral right to remain in office.

He further said that after strong public opposition, the government was forced last night to register a case against the minister, but no arrest has been made yet. He expressed that there is no hope of justice from this government and demanded that the case be investigated by the CBI.

Jakhar also alleged that under the guise of "extreme honesty", extremely dishonest people have captured power in Punjab and are openly looting the state. He claimed that this is not a Cabinet of ministers but a group like "gangsters that is looting Punjab by all means".

He also said that the silence of AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal "raises questions", alleging that these individuals were working as "earning agents" for the top leadership of the party.

He concluded by stating that the BJP will not remain silent and will continue its struggle until justice is delivered to the deceased officer's family.
New Delhi, March 22 : Around 90 flights are expected to operate on Sunday from the UAE to India, while flights also continue to operate from Saudi Arabia and Oman to the country, according to a government statement.

With the partial reopening of airspace, Qatar Airways is expected to operate around 9a"10 non-scheduled commercial flights to India as well on Sunday, the statement said.

Kuwait airspace remains closed, while Jazeera Airways has started flight operations to various destinations in India from Al Qaisumah Airport (AQI) in Saudi Arabia. Besides, Bahrain airspace remains closed while Gulf Air continues to operate special non-scheduled commercial flights from Dammam Airport of Saudi Arabia to India, it added.

In view of flight restrictions from Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq, travel of Indian nationals is being facilitated via Saudi Arabia, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said on Sunday that it continues to closely monitor shipping movements, port operations, and the safety of Indian seafarers, while ensuring continuity of maritime trade amid the Middle East conflict.

Over 547 Indian seafarers have been safely repatriated, including 13 in the past 24 hours, the statement said.

All Indian seafarers in the Middle East region are safe, and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours. The 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf. The Directorate General of Shipping is monitoring the situation in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions.

DG Shipping Control Room is operational 24x7, having handled 3,730 calls and 7,058 emails so far, including 60 calls and 129 emails in the last 24 hours, the statement said.

Port operations across India remain normal with no congestion, and State Maritime Boards have also confirmed smooth functioning.

The Shipping Ministry continues close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Indian Missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarer welfare and uninterrupted operations. Indian Missions remain in touch with the community, providing assistance and issuing advisories, the Ministry informed.

The MEA also said that it continues to monitor the developments in the Gulf and West Asia region closely, with safety, security and welfare of the Indian community as the highest priority; a dedicated 24x7 control room remains operational, with regular coordination with States and UTs.

Missions and Posts across the region are functioning round the clock, operating helplines, maintaining contact with Indian community organisations, issuing advisories, engaging with local governments, and assisting seafarers, students, stranded nationals and short-term visitors.

Since 28 February, over 3,50,000 passengers have returned from the region to India. Six Indian nationals have lost their lives, and one remains missing; Missions in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, and the UAE are in touch with the authorities concerned regarding the missing Indian national and for early repatriation of mortal remains of the deceased Indian nationals, the statement added.
New Delhi, March 22 : In an incident that brings to light Chinese high-handedness on silencing dissenting narratives that seek to deflate or defeat its own, the Chinese consulate in Strasbourg recently attempted to pressure a local theatre to revoke a planned show with Taiwan's national theatre and concert hall. The attempt, however, remained unsuccessful in light of public furore.

As the news broke out, this led to a huge political uproar and saw Taiwanese media up in arms against the alleged muzzling of the free voice.

The documentary-style show was co-created by Rimini Protokoll and Taiwan's National Theatre and Concert Hall. It simulates the opening of a Taiwanese embassy and explores Taiwan's unclear international status.

"When the theatre's director did not respond, the deputy consul general escalated the issue by directly writing to the City of Strasbourg, the theatre's main funder. He demanded the cancellation of the show, claiming it would hurt Sino-French relations," a report in 'Bitter Winter' said.

The report further states that 'Strasbourg's mayor, Jeanne Barseghian, confirmed receiving the letter and described the intervention as very serious.

"The Chinese consulate remained inaccessible, nor did the Chinese Embassy in Paris or China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs," it further says.

The Taiwanese media made it a big issue and praised the authorities in Strasbourg for standing up to political pressure and reaffirming that Taiwan's voice "must not be silenced."

The report further says that the Strasbourg case fits into a larger trend in which Chinese diplomatic missions pressure foreign governments, cultural institutions, universities, and private venues to censor content that runs counter to Beijing's political narratives.

According to the report, the media outlets in several nations are echoing Beijing's terms. This alignment between foreign media narratives and Chinese state propaganda makes it easier to justify cultural censorship.

"The Strasbourg incident is important because it shows that China's political pressure extends beyond national governments to municipal authorities, cultural institutions, and individual festival organisers," it points out.

"The Strasbourg 'battle' illustrates how cultural diplomacy can become a battleground for political influence and emphasises the need for democratic institutions to remain vigilant," the report further says.
New Delhi, March 22 : On Prime Minister Narendra Modi becoming the longest-serving head of government in the country, Union Minister Chirag Paswan expressed his admiration for the milestone, saying it reflects not only the Prime Minister's leadership but also the trust and faith of the people of India.

Speaking to reporters, Chirag Paswan said: "I would like to specially acknowledge that this achievement of our Prime Minister is not just his personal accomplishment -- it belongs to every citizen of the country who has trusted him and believed in his vision. It is no small feat to serve at the highest level of government for so many years with such dedication."

He highlighted that India's stability amid global challenges is a result of PM Modi's diplomatic approach and forward-looking vision.

"The stability of India today, despite so many challenges abroad, is due to the diplomacy and vision of the Prime Minister. India's economy is the fastest-growing economy in the world. Global markets are opening up for India today. All this is because of our Prime Minister's thinking and policies," Chirag Paswan added.

BJP National Spokesperson R.P. Singh also highlighted PM Modi's popularity and clarity in policy-making.

"His work and his dedication to the country and to 140 crore people is the reason his popularity is increasing day by day. The clarity in his policies is why he is popular worldwide today," Singh said.

He noted: "The way he works continuously for the country and cares for the people -- Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas -- is how he leads."

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal spoke of the Prime Minister's direct engagement with citizens. He said: "This is a matter of pride for every Indian. For BJP workers, it feels like a special festive occasion. Through continuous governance, PM Modi has set new benchmarks of leadership, first in Gujarat and now across the country."

Kausar Jahan, Chairperson of the Delhi Haj Committee, called it "a matter of immense joy" and praised PM Modi's transformative work at the grassroots level, citing initiatives in infrastructure, digital governance, and welfare schemes.

The milestone underscores PM Modi's enduring commitment to development, governance, and connecting with citizens across all sections of society.
Kolkata, March 22 : Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand on Sunday asserted that incidents of booth jamming, vote rigging, or booth capturing will not be tolerated under any circumstances during the Assembly elections in the city.

The directive was issued after Nand paid an inspection visit to Bhangar Police Station on the southern outskirts of Kolkata.

The Election Commission is maintaining strict vigilance over election preparations and security arrangements. In compliance with the Commission's directives, senior police officials visited police stations across the state on Sunday. Accordingly, the Kolkata Police Commissioner visited Bhangar Police Station in the morning.

During a meeting with police personnel, he stressed that all officials must strictly adhere to the guidelines laid down by the Election Commission. Ajay Nand also reiterated that any complaints regarding booth jamming, vote rigging, or booth capturing would not be tolerated in any form.

Later, addressing a press conference, he said the Kolkata Police is fully prepared to ensure a peaceful election. "Checkpoints and search operations are currently underway across various areas. Patrolling is also being conducted in coordination with Central forces," he said.

Ajay Nand further informed that additional Central forces are expected to arrive ahead of the polls. To assess police preparedness across the region, DIG of Presidency Range Kankar Prasad Barui visited three police stations in the southern suburbs on Sunday.

He conducted on-the-spot inspections at Narendrapur, Sonarpur, and Baruipur police stations and held meetings with officials to review the security arrangements in their respective jurisdictions.

Located within the Baruipur Police District of South 24 Parganas, these police stations are situated in close proximity to Kolkata. Their jurisdictions include several polling booths in rural areas. Officials briefed on the specific measures being undertaken to ensure adequate security at these booths.

Meanwhile, Bhangar witnessed tension following a clash between ISF and Trinamool Congress workers over wall space for election campaigning. The incident involved physical assault, brick-batting, and vandalism of motorcycles. Central forces were deployed to bring the situation under control.

According to reports, ISF workers were putting up wall graffiti in the Kulberia area of Bhangar Block II when they were allegedly obstructed by Trinamool members. A heated altercation ensued, which quickly escalated into a physical clash. Several people from both sides sustained injuries.

The ISF alleged that its workers were assaulted in the presence of the police. It also claimed that bricks were hurled at the homes of its workers and motorcycles were vandalised.

The Trinamool Congress, however, levelled counter-allegations, accusing the ISF of initiating the violence.

On receiving information, police from Polerhat Police Station, along with Central forces, rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
New Delhi, March 22 : A day before presenting Delhi Budget 2025-26, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will undertake the traditional pre-budget "Kheer Ceremony" on Monday, marking the start of the Budget Session, an official said.

New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) A day before presenting Delhi Budget 2025-26, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will undertake the traditional pre-budget "Kheer Ceremony" on Monday, marking the start of the Budget Session, an official said.

She will present her second successive Delhi Budget on March 24.

CM Gupta started the practice of "Kheer Ceremony" last year by preparing the tradition Indian dessert and offering it to Lord Ram before distributing it among all those involved in the preparation of Budget and the public.

The ceremony signifies a unique start to the financial proceedings in the Assembly with divine blessings.

Last year, at pre-budget ceremony, the Chief Minister said: "For the first time, such a ceremony has been held in Delhi. Kheer ki mithas se budget. It has been offered to Lord Ram and will now be served to the people who contributed their suggestions."

Earlier, as part of the exercise to prepare Budget for 2025-26 the Chief Minister held a series of consultations at the Delhi Secretariat with gig workers, farmers, rural representatives and labour groups.

"Public participation is the biggest strength of a developed Delhi," said the Chief Minister as she held separate meetings with each group.

She said the government's objective is to present a Budget that reflects the aspirations of every section.

Participants shared experiences and put forward their concerns, suggestions and expectations, said an official statement.

The Chief Minister engaged directly with attendees, listening closely and assuring them that their inputs would be given due priority in the upcoming budget.

The Chief Minister has also signalled that she plans to announce several initiatives for women and girls in Budget 2026-27 that she would present in the Assembly on March 24.

She shared her government's plans for including women-centric schemes in the Budget while attending a 'Nari Utsav' programme held at the Nirmal Chhaya Complex, where she paid tribute to the strength and contribution of women in nation-building.

She said women, through their dedication, selfless service and sense of duty, are playing a leading role across sectors and driving the country towards the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Chandigarh, March 22 : Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Sunday joined the protest along with Congress workers, standing in solidarity with the family of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, the District Manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, who ended his life and accused a minister of harassment and coercion.

Bajwa reiterated that "this is not merely a fight for one family, but a larger battle for justice, accountability, and the protection of honest officers in Punjab".

Bajwa said serious allegations have emerged indicating that Randhawa was subjected to illegal confinement and extortion.

"The facts clearly establish cognizable offences, and the law must take its due course without delay or dilution," he said.

He demanded that provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act be invoked against accused Laljit Singh Bhullar, now a former minister, for allegedly misusing his official position to coerce a public servant into committing illegal acts.

Additionally, Bajwa pointed out that under Section 239 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (earlier Section 202 of the IPC), there appears to be a deliberate omission by responsible authorities to report offences of attempted extortion to the police.

Emphasising that accountability cannot be selective, Bajwa said, "The responsibility does not end with one individual. The Managing Director of Warehousing, the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, the Chief Secretary, and even Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann must be investigated and booked for dereliction of duty."

He further added CM Mann also holds the Cooperation portfolio, under which the Warehousing Department functions, making him directly responsible for oversight and accountability in this matter.

Raising concerns over the investigation, Bajwa questioned why the police have not yet seized the mobile phones of Bhullar and his alleged accomplices.

He also demanded that mobile tower dump data be collected to identify all individuals present at the location where the officer was allegedly assaulted.

Further, he said CCTV footage from Bhullar's premises must be secured immediately to preserve crucial evidence.

Bajwa cautioned that the FIR must not become a tool to exonerate the accused through legal loopholes, but instead be developed into a watertight case that ensures justice and acts as a strong deterrent against abuse of power in the future.

"The Congress will not allow this matter to be brushed under the carpet. We will continue this struggle with unwavering resolve until justice is delivered. Justice must be complete, not selective," Bajwa added.

--IANS

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Guwahati, March 22 : Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the emerging Opposition alliance in Assam, asserting that the people of the state have consistently rejected any understanding among leaders like Gaurav Gogoi, Akhil Gogoi and Lurinjyoti Gogoi.

Speaking to reporters here, Margherita alleged that such alliances are driven by personal interests rather than public welfare. "The people of Assam have always rejected the coming together of Gaurav Gogoi, Akhil Gogoi and Lurinjyoti Gogoi. Their association does not inspire confidence among voters," he said.

Notably, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi has forged an alliance with regional parties -- Raijor Dal led by Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi and Assam Jatiya Parishad led by Lurinjyoti Gogoi.

In a veiled jibe, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also took a swipe at the Opposition leaders' meetings, claiming that they are limited in outreach and disconnected from grassroots realities.

"They seem to recognise only one place for their discussions, and that is a hotel. This reflects how detached they are from the common people," Pabitra Margherita said.

Highlighting the BJP's position in the state, he said that the people of Assam are firmly backing the ruling party and its development agenda.

"The people are now with the BJP and have faith in its leadership and governance," he added.

Pabitra Margherita further alleged that the Congress is attempting to return to power with the intention of reviving corrupt practices.

"The people of Assam will not allow the Congress to turn the state into a marketplace for jobs. Such politics has been rejected by the electorate," he said.

The remarks come amid intensifying political activity in Assam ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, with Opposition parties exploring alliances to take on the BJP.
By Abhirup Roy and Jonathan Stempel

SAN FRANCISCO, March 20 (Reuters) - A U.S. federal jury found Elon Musk liable on Friday for claims he defrauded Twitter shareholders by trying to drive down the social media company's stock price so he could renegotiate or back out of a $44 billion takeover in 2022.

More from Yahoo Scout What did the jury find regarding Musk's Twitter statements? How much could shareholders potentially receive in damages? What were Musk's specific claims about Twitter bots? How does this verdict compare to Musk's other legal battles?

The verdict from a jury in San Francisco federal court came in a closely watched civil trial where Musk, the world's richest person, was accused of falsely claiming on social media that Twitter underreported how many fake and spam accounts, known as bots, were on its platform.

Damages have yet to be calculated but Francis Bottini, a lawyer for the shareholders, estimated they could total about $2.5 billion.

"Musk's status as the world's richest man is not a free pass," Bottini said in a statement. "If you're able to move markets with your tweets you're responsible for the harm you cause to investors."

In a joint statement, Musk's lawyers at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan called the verdict "a bump in the road. And we look forward to vindication on appeal."

The civil trial began on March 2, and jurors began deliberating on Tuesday.

Musk has often chosen to battle shareholders in court rather than settle.

This included a 2023 trial in San Francisco over whether he defrauded Tesla shareholders who claimed to suffer losses after he falsely claimed in 2018 to have "funding secured" to take the electric car company private, and litigation in Delaware over his $139 billion Tesla pay package. Musk won both cases.

Musk ultimately completed his purchase of Twitter in October 2022 and renamed it X.

MUSK LIABLE FOR TWO STATEMENTS

Twitter shareholders challenged three statements Musk made not long after agreeing in April 2022 to buy Twitter, where he questioned whether the company was overrun with bots.

Jurors found Musk liable for two of the statements.

One said the purchase was "temporarily on hold" pending confirmation that bots represented less than 5% of users. The other said the percentage of bots could be "much" higher than 20%, and the takeover could not go forward unless Twitter's chief executive proved the percentage was less than 5%.

Jurors also said the shareholders didn't prove a separate claim that Musk engaged in a scheme to defraud them.

Michael Lifrak, a lawyer for Musk, countered that the billionaire's concern about bots was real, and that speaking out about the problem did not show Musk committed or intended to commit fraud.
Coimbatore, March 22 : Communist Party of India (CPI) leader R. Mutharasan on Sunday firmly dismissed allegations that his party had reduced its seat demands in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections under pressure from its ally, the DMK.

Addressing reporters in Coimbatore, the former CPI state secretary asserted that the alliance remains intact and is guided by ideological unity rather than compulsion.

Refuting speculation of discord within the DMK-led alliance, Mutharasan made it clear that the CPI would not succumb to any external pressure in seat-sharing negotiations.

"The DMK is not the BJP to exert pressure, and the CPI is not the AIADMK to submit to it," he said, underlining the party's independent political stance.

He emphasised that the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) in Tamil Nadu has sustained itself for more than a decade because it is built on shared ideological commitments rather than short-term electoral calculations. According to him, discussions around seat allocation have not caused friction within the alliance, as all partners remain focused on larger political objectives.

"Seat-sharing is not an issue for us. What matters is identifying the real threat," Mutharasan said, indicating that the alliance's priority lies in countering ideological adversaries rather than bargaining for constituencies.

He reiterated that the CPI is not concerned about whether it contests more or fewer seats, as long as the broader goal of safeguarding secular values is achieved.

The CPI leader also raised concerns about the growing influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), warning that its expansion poses a significant challenge not only to Tamil Nadu but to the country as a whole. He alleged that certain forces within the state are aiding this expansion, making it imperative for like-minded parties to remain united.

Taking a swipe at the BJP-led Union government, Mutharasan accused it of favouring BJP-ruled states while neglecting Tamil Nadu. He argued that such discriminatory practices weaken the spirit of federalism and national unity.

Expressing optimism ahead of the elections, Mutharasan said the DMK-led alliance is well-positioned to perform strongly. He voiced confidence that alliance candidates would emerge victorious in all ten Assembly constituencies in Coimbatore, reflecting what he described as strong grassroots support for the coalition.
Hyderabad, March 22 : The ongoing conflict in the Middle East may result in the shortage of fertilisers, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on Sunday.

The Chief Minister asked the officials concerned to convince the Union government to allot more fertilisers to the state.

He said the leaders of all parties should meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and strive to secure the maximum possible allocation of urea for our state.

"This is not the time for politics and moving forward with coordination and unity. We do politics only during the elections. Once the elections are over, the development of the state becomes the sole priority," he said while addressing a public meeting at Narmeta in Nangunur mandal of Siddipet district.

The Chief Minister along with agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao and other ministers inaugurated oil palm factory

The factory has come up on 32 acres a cost of Rs 300 crore. He also laid foundation stone for a refinery in the factory premises. The refinery is being set up at cost of Rs 80 crore.

The palm oil factory at Narmeta to be the first factory in the country completed in 16 months. It has crushing capacity ranging from 30 to 180 tonnes per hour.

The Chief Minister went around the stalls set up as part of 'Rythu Mahotsavam' to showcase agricultural mechanisation, oil palm cultivation practices and allied sectors such as horticulture, dairy and fisheries.

The Chief Minister noted that oil palm cultivation has increased to 3 lakh acres in the state. He made it clear that even if cultivation of oil palm reaches one million acres, the government is committed to purchasing the produce.

He requested Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao to establish an oil palm processing plant in the Kodangal constituency as well.

The Chief Minister stated that this is a highly profitable form of agriculture.

Taking a dig at BRS leader and MLA T. Harish Rao, in whose constituency, the oil palm factory has been established, the Chief Minister remarked that the project is meant to the benefit of farmers and not for local MLA.

The Chief Minister announced that the leader who wins against BRS leader in Siddipet in next elections will be inducted in the state cabinet.

He said the legislators representing the constituency for over 30 years hailed from the same single family and appealed to people to give an opportunity to others and bring a change.

The Chief Minister claimed that his government was not discriminating against anyone. Alleging that there was discrimination against his constituency Kodangal during BRS rule, he said was ready or a debate on this.

CM Revanth Reddy reiterated that Congress will retain power by winning the majority of seats in 2029 assembly elections.

Listing the welfare and women empowerment schemes introduced by the government, the CM said that free travel facility was provided for women in RTC buses.

The government empowered women by making them the owners of the RTC bus fleet. It also aims to transform one crore woman into millionaires.

CM Revanth Reddy ordered the officials to increase the membership of women's self-help groups in urban areas as well. The government has already provided Rs 57,000 crore of loans to women groups through bank linkages.
Islamabad, March 22 : Pakistan has remained silent on Saudi Arabia facing repeated Iranian attacks targeting key installations, including energy infrastructure, despite Islamabad having a 'Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA)' with Riyadh, as per a report.

Islamabad, March 22 (IANS) Pakistan has remained silent on Saudi Arabia facing repeated Iranian attacks targeting key installations, including energy infrastructure, despite Islamabad having a aStrategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA)a with Riyadh, as per a report.

Despite receiving financial and strategic support from Saudi Arabia for decades, Pakistan continues to 'appease' Iran, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury wrote in an opinion piece in The Eurasian Times.

"It is worth noting that relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan span more than seven decades, with the deployment of Pakistani military personnel for Saudi security forming an institutionalised arrangement over the years. Furthermore, hundreds of thousands of Pakistani nationals are employed in the Kingdom, significantly contributing to Islamabadas foreign currency earnings," the piece said.

After facing repeated attacks from Iran, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, issued a warning that the Kingdom's restraint in the face of growing Iranian aggression "is not unlimited," indicating that military action is still an option, as Arab and Islamic states in a joint statement urged Tehran to stop its aggression, according to The Eurasian Times report.

Amid ongoing conflict in West Asia, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on March 7 publicly apologised for hostile actions against nations in West Asia. Despite such statements, Iran has continued to carry out attacks on Gulf nations, clearly signalling that Tehran's objective is not only to cause damage to Israel but also to impact the economies of the nations of West Asia by targeting their critical infrastructure.

During the war, the worst-impacted Gulf nations include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, despite Doha having reportedly spent money on supporting Iranian proxies such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, with the apparent goal of making Israel face sustained pressure.

Amid the war, the UAE's Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Al Jaber has warned that attacks on energy infrastructure are impacting its operations, and it could have implications as tensions rise.

Amid Iran's rising attacks, Qataras Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared several Iranian diplomats persona non grata. As per reports, a significant number of Iranian nationals in the UAE, including covert members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij, are trying to create unrest against the government, according to the opinion piece.

"It has also been reported that Iranian operatives are recruiting Pakistani nationals in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia to conduct online propaganda campaigns against these states and their leadership. Earlier, Turkish journalist Uzay Bulut detailed in an investigative report how Pakistan-based networks have been spreading AI-generated Iranian propaganda on social media platforms," Choudhury wrote
New Delhi, March 22 : Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), on Sunday said the war in the Middle East has reached a perilous stage with strikes reportedly hitting the Natanz Enrichment Complex in Iran, and the Israeli city of Dimona, where a nuclear facility is located.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is looking into incidents reported in southeastern Iran, and in Israel's city of Dimona.

"No indications of abnormal or increased off-site radiation levels have been reported. Attacks targeting nuclear sites create an escalating threat to public health and environmental safety," Ghebreyesus posted on X.

Since the outbreak of hostilities, WHO has provided critical training to its own staff and UN personnel across 13 countries to help them respond effectively to public health threats in the event of a nuclear incident.

"I urgently call on all parties to exercise maximum military restraint and avoid any actions that could trigger nuclear incidents. Leaders must prioritise de-escalation and protect civilians. Peace is the best medicine," said the WHO chief.

He further stated that war doesn't bring peace.

"It just teaches the next generation new reasons to hate," he added.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has threatened to "hit and obliterate" Iran's power plants within 48 hours if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as he said Washington was close to meeting its military objectives in the conflict.

In a series of posts, Trump issued a direct ultimatum over the strategic waterway, saying: "If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!"

The warning marks a sharp escalation centred on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route, even as Trump signalled that US military operations could soon wind down.

He said the US had also moved to dismantle Iran's military strength, including "eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti-Aircraft Weaponry."

IANS

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Kabul, March 22 : Taliban accused Pakistani forces of firing on civilians in Afghanistan's Kunar and Paktika provinces on Sunday, killing one person and injuring another.

Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said that Pakistani forces fired mortar rounds on the Shanpat area of Nari district in Kunar at around 9.30 a.m. (local time). He said that one person was killed and a woman was injured in the attack.

Pakistani forces opened fire on a civilian vehicle in Paktika's Shkin district, but no one was injured in the attack, he said.

"Today, Sunday, the fourth day of Eid al-Fitr, at 9:30 a.m., a mortar shell was fired by the Pakistani military regime in the Shanpat area of aaaaNari district of Kunar province, resulting in the injury of a woman and the martyrdom of a civilian. Similarly, the militias of the said regime fired on a civilian vehicle in Shkin district of Paktika province. Fortunately, the passengers of the said vehicle escaped unharmed, and there were no casualties," Fitrat posted on X.

The developments come despite a ceasefire announced by Afghanistan and Pakistan on the occasion of Eid. However, the Taliban has accused Pakistani forces of repeatedly violating the ceasefire and conducting attacks in Kunar and Nuristan during the Eid period, causing civilian casualties.

On Friday, Afghanistan's Chief of Armed Forces Fasihuddin Fitrat accused the Pakistan military of violating the ceasefire along the Durand Line.

Several people were killed in attacks conducted by Pakistani forces in border areas, according to the statement released by Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence. Fitrat stated that Pakistan's continuous attacks despite the ceasefire "demonstrates a lack of commitment and deception" by Islamabad, Ariana News reported.

He stated that Afghanistan has refrained from taking any retaliatory action to prevent further worsening of the situation and has remained committed to the ceasefire. He warned that "the ceasefire will become meaningless" and the Taliban will give a "decisive response" to Pakistan's actions if such attacks are repeated, Ariana News reported.

On Wednesday, Afghanistan said it would pause its 'Rad al-Zulm' defensive operations for Eid at the request of mediating nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. Pakistan also announced a temporary pause in military operations for Eid, with Information Minister Ataullah Tarar saying that the decision was taken at the request of the regional mediators.
Hyderabad, March 22 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said that Amaravati would be developed to surpass Hyderabad.

He said the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh was rebuilding Amaravati after five years of neglect. "Amaravati is poised to emerge as a capital city that surpasses even Hyderabad," he said.

Naidu said by integrating technology, the government is undertaking the construction of a "Smart City" and a "Blue-Green" capital city.

The Chief Minister was addressing the South Asian Learning Summit 2026-Transforming AI at the Indian School of Business (ISB) here.

Chandrababu Naidu recalled the initiatives he had taken as the Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh between 1995 and 2004 for the development of Hyderabad as the IT hub.

"I visualised what the future is. I thought the knowledge economy was the future, and that was the decision in 1995. We had so many problems. I built brick by brick. I had several meetings, brainstorming sessions with industrialists and academicians," he said, recalling his meeting with Bill Gates, which helped attract Microsoft to Hyderabad.

"We constructed the 'Cyber Towers' as a symbolic landmark for the IT revolution. This decision was driven solely by the objective of benefiting the public. Microsoft chose to establish its presence in Hyderabad, bypassing cities like Bengaluru and Chennai. For three decades now, we have been witnessing the tangible results of those initiatives. As part of this broader vision, we also secured the establishment of the Indian School of Business (ISB)," he said

Naidu noted that ISB has earned a stellar reputation as an exceptional business school. The 'Genome Valley' project also came into existence through a similar process.

"It is precisely because of the decisions taken back then that both Telugu states currently hold the number one position in the pharmaceutical sector. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hyderabad's Genome Valley supplied vaccines to the entire world," he said.

"The ecosystem of Hyderabad emerged as a result of the reforms introduced in the past across sectors such as IT, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure. Hyderabad evolved into one of the most livable cities in the world. This did not happen overnight; rather, a combination of factorsranging from early-morning inspections to various policy decisionspaved the way for this transformation," he added.

Naidu stated that although Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into two separate states due to political reasons, the decisions taken in the past have successfully boosted the per capita income of the Telugu people.

"By the time we returned to power in Andhra Pradesh in 2024, the entire state had been left in ruins. The state's brand image was tarnished, and its institutional frameworks were completely dismantled," he said and claimed that the coalition government took several steps to put the state back on the path of progress.

The Chief Minister claimed that Andhra Pradesh now stands at the forefront in attracting investments.

Realising that future technologies will revolve around fields such as Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and Drones, the state government embarked on establishing dedicated hubs for Space, Electronics, and Drone technologies, he said.

The government also started focusing on Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia, which are set to dominate the energy landscape. With sustainable power generation, there will be no need to increase electricity tariffs in the future, he said.

He stated that Andhra Pradesh is poised to lead the entire South Indian region in the production of green energy.

--IANS

ms/uk
Bhubaneswar, March 22 : Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Sunday emphasised strict compliance with fire safety measures in hospitals across the state, directing health department officials to carry out periodic monitoring.

During a high-level review meeting of the state health department held at Lok Seva Bhawan here, Mahaling stressed strict enforcement of fire safety norms in government hospitals and ordered regular inspections.

The meeting reviewed fire safety arrangements in various medical colleges, district headquarters hospitals, and other healthcare centres across Odisha.

The Odisha Health minister also advised officials to pay special attention to periodic monitoring and ensure proper compliance with fire safety standards.

According to an official statement, the Odisha Health Minister emphasised the need for a prompt response during emergencies and prioritising patient safety.

Mukesh Mahaling directed that fire-fighting equipment in all hospitals must remain fully functional and that regular inspections and mock drills should be conducted.

The Minister also instructed officials to take necessary steps in coordination with the Works Department and the Fire Services Department. Several other important issues related to the state health sector were also discussed during the meeting.

"The safety of patients and the general public is the top priority for the state government, and any negligence in this regard will not be tolerated," Mukesh Mahaling said.

The health minister asked health department officials to remain alert to prevent such hazards in hospitals across the state.

It is worth noting that following the recent fire mishap at the government-run SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, which officially claimed 12 lives, the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress have been demanding the resignation of Health Minister Mahaling on moral grounds.

The Opposition parties have also alleged that the incident exposed shortcomings in the functioning of the state health department.
New Delhi, March 22 : The Bharat Electricity Summit's (BES) maiden edition concluded successfully on Sunday with India reaffirming its commitment to building a future-ready, technology-driven, and investment-friendly energy ecosystem, while supporting the energy needs of both the nation and the Global South.

The Indian Carbon Market Portal was also launched, with trading expected to begin shortly, marking a major step in climate finance.

The outcomes of the summit will contribute significantly to shaping policy, strengthening partnerships, and accelerating the transition towards a reliable, affordable, and clean energy future, according to an official statement.

In his valedictory address at the event, Power Minister Manohar Lal noted that during the summit, there were fruitful discussions with many countries and especially African nations. It emerged clearly that India and the African nations have a win-win possibility of cooperating in the power sector and beyond.

The summit facilitated multiple high-level bilateral meetings with countries including Malawi, Tajikistan, Mauritius, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, as well as industry stakeholders such as Africa50 and international delegations. These engagements focused on cross-border electricity trade, renewable energy collaboration and transmission infrastructure development.

Drawing inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modias vision, India continues to advance rapidly towards achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, having already crossed the milestone of over 50 per cent non-fossil capacity. Initiatives such as One Sun, One World, One Grid further underscore Indiaas commitment to global energy cooperation, Manohar Lal said.

While thermal power remains critical for grid stability, renewable energy will drive long-term sustainability, supported by storage, grid modernisation, and policy reforms, he added.

The countryas total installed capacity has crossed 520 GW, with one of the fastest expansions globally. The transmission network has expanded to over 5 lakh circuit kilometres. The countryas renewable energy capacity has grown significantly, with solar capacity increasing from 2.8 GW in 2014 to over 143 GW today.

Electricity demand is projected to grow by over 30 per cent by 2030, driven by emerging sectors such as AI-enabled data centres and electric mobility.

Addressing the gathering, Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal highlighted that discussions with industry bodies have indicated an estimated Rs 32,000 crore capex pipeline by manufacturers in the power sector. He emphasised the need for system-level evaluation of power costs to ensure affordability, and underscored the urgency of rapidly scaling up energy storage capacities for effective integration of renewable energy.

The discussions highlighted that Indiaas long-term energy transition may require investments exceeding USD 22 trillion by 2070, with significant opportunities in generation, transmission, storage, and digital infrastructure.

India needs to add over 1.37 lakh circuit km of transmission lines by 2030, with investments of around Rs 9 lakh crore. Energy storage requirements are expected to rise sharply, with pumped storage potential of over 200 GW.

Manohar Lal noted that there is a need to strengthen DISCOMs through different actions and reforms. He noted that during the summit, the Discoms expressed a strong willingness to take necessary actions to improve their operations and financial situation. He said that the intended reforms in the sector include the adoption of smart meters, cost-reflective tariffs, etc.

The summit witnessed an exceptional response, with over 35,000 exhibition attendees, 28 states and Union Territories, 200+ exhibiting companies, including 80+ startups, and over 6,000 delegates, reflecting its scale and global significance.

The minister also announced that the next edition of BES will be held in 2028 at Gandhinagar.
Kolkata, March 22 : Ahead of the Assembly elections, a firearm with an expired licence and live cartridges were recovered from the vehicle of a former Congress MLA in West Bengal's Malda district. Police arrested six individuals in connection with the incident.

The arrested persons were produced before the Malda District Court on Sunday, where they were remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.

With the Assembly election schedule announced and the Model Code of Conduct in force, surveillance teams and checkpoint inspections are being intensified across the district. As part of routine checks, police were conducting inspections at Chechumore in Old Malda on Saturday morning.

At around 11 a.m., a four-wheeler bearing a Congress party flag was intercepted and searched. A 7 mm pistol, a magazine, and eight rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the dashboard compartment of the vehicle.

During preliminary interrogation, police found that the firearm was a licensed weapon belonging to former Congress MLA from Manikchak constituency, Md. Mottakin Alam. A photocopy of the licence was also produced. However, police ascertained that the licence had expired on September 20, 2022.

Since the firearm was not registered in the name of any of the occupants present in the vehicle, six persons were arrested.

The arrested individuals were identified as Hanjala Sheikh, Mohammad Asif Iqbal, Mohammad Nurul, Mohammad Tasem Ali, Wasim Akhtar, and Rabiul Islam. All are residents of the Kamalabari area in English Bazar. A case has been registered under the Arms Act.

District Congress leader Mantu Ghosh said: "We received information about the incident on Saturday. A firearm was recovered from a vehicle belonging to Mottakin Alam, Vice-President of the Malda District Congress and former MLA from Manikchak constituency. The recovered weapon is a licensed firearm belonging to him."

Mottakin Alam told a section of media persons: "That is my licensed firearm. I carry it with me every day. The day before yesterday, after returning home, I forgot to remove the weapon from the car. The following day, on the occasion of Eid, my family members took the car out for a drive. It was during this time that the police recovered the firearm during a checkpoint inspection."

An official from Malda Police said: "On Saturday, a firearm was recovered from a vehicle during a routine checkpoint inspection. Six individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident. An investigation is underway."
Washington, March 22 : Notwithstanding the significant military damage to Iran's nuclear infrastructure, core risks remain intact, including enriched uranium stockpiles and the country's ability to rebuild its programme according to the UN nuclear watchdog.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi told the "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on CBS news in an interview aired Sunday that the ongoing conflict has "rolled back the programme considerably", but warned that key elements would survive.

"One cannot deny that this has really rolled back the programme considerably," Grossi said. However, he added that "we will still inherit a number of major issues" after the conflict ends.

Grossi pointed to Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 per cent as a major concern. "That is going to still be where it is, largely -- under the rubble," he said.

He also said some infrastructure and equipment may remain functional. "That is something that we will only be able to ascertain once our inspectors go back," he added.

The IAEA chief underlined that technical capability cannot be eliminated through military action. "You cannot unlearn what you've learned," he said, noting that Iran retains the industrial and scientific base to rebuild.

He said centrifuge technology, central to uranium enrichment, can be reconstituted. Iran now has "the most sophisticated, fast, and efficient machine that exists, and they know how to make them," he said.

Grossi stressed that the agency still has unresolved concerns. "There were many unanswered questions, many unanswered questions, many concerning facts," he said.

He called for renewed inspections and transparency. "If you don't have anything to hide? Show us," he said.

On current activity, Grossi said there is no visible rebuilding effort during the conflict. "We don't see major activity, which is logical, because there is a military campaign ongoing," he said. But he added that "a lot still has survived".

He emphasised that diplomacy will be essential going forward. "We need to go back to a negotiating table. It's going to be needed," he said.

Grossi also confirmed that diplomatic contacts had taken place before the war, but no agreement was reached. "There was a discussion, but there was no agreement," he said.

On proposals to remove enriched uranium through military action, Grossi warned of operational challenges. He described the material as "highly contaminated uranium hexafluoride at 60 per cent", making it "very difficult to handle".
The company said in its press release that it is "the only operational commercial space station company to have designed, built, and flown its own spacecraft, Haven Demo." That's only a small spacecraft, measuring about 1 square meter, but Vast is using it to test the viability of a much larger Haven 1 habitation module, which will be 45 times larger and include "microgravity research and manufacturing facilities." The company plans a 2027 launch.

Backers include some famous space names: Japan's Mitsui , Space Capital, and Nikon , as well as the Qatar Investment Authority. Company founder Jed McCaleb also added to his Vast investment.

Let's start with Vast. Perhaps encouraged by reports of Axiom's $250 million fundraising, it announced on March 5 that it has just raised $500 million. The first $300 million came from stock sales, with another $200 million raised through debt.

Last month, I wrote about progress by these last two companies -- Axiom's $350 million funding round and its deal to send private astronauts to train on the ISS for a fifth time, and Vast's plan to send its first team of private astronauts to the ISS. And now, there's more news to report.

Starlab, a more-international rival venture led by Voyager Technologies , and with partners including Hilton Worldwide , Janus Henderson Group , Leidos , Northrop Grumman , and Palantir in the U.S., as well as international partners MDA Space , Airbus , and Mitsubishi .

Four separate teams of companies are competing to win NASA funding to help them build a replacement space station. These include:

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue 

The ISS might win a reprieve. A revised NASA authorization bill making its way through the U.S. Senate calls for keeping it around until 2032. Just in case ISS doesn't last that long, though, the bill also instructs NASA to sign contracts with two or more companies working to build a replacement.

Construction of the International Space Station (ISS) began in 1998, and 28 years later, it's starting to show its age. With persistent air leaks on the Russian side, it's slated to be pushed to a fiery death by a SpaceX spacecraft in 2031.

Story Continues

The station that Vast plans to use to replace ISS will be called Haven 2, and the company aims to have that one operational by 2028. Further out, Vast wants to build a space station featuring artificial gravity -- presumably by spinning it up -- around 2035.

And that's why Vast needed another $500 million on top of the $1 billion it has already spent. The company hasn't said anything specific yet about its plans to go public, but its press release did seem to hint that an initial public offering (IPO) may happen, noting it has been "funded privately to date" (emphasis added).

Starlab one-ups Vast

If Vast's approach is to colonize space in small steps, then Starlab prefers to make one giant leap into orbit. The same day Vast announced its fundraising, Starlab said that its own space station will be vastly larger from the get-go.

With a habitat eight meters in diameter -- lifted entirely into orbit in one go, atop a SpaceX Starship -- Starlab will instantly introduce 400 cubic meters of pressurized volume into space. That's nearly 10 times the size of Vast's planned Haven 1. It's enough room, says Starlab, to support 100% of the work that's currently being done aboard the ISS, which took nearly three decades to fully assemble.

Once operational, Starlab says, its station will be able to conduct "everything from 3D cell growth and accelerated disease modeling to precision manufacturing of biomedical implants and devices," and promote research into "treatments for cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes and other complex conditions."

Right this moment, all of these are pie-in-the-sky predictions. Starlab hasn't been built yet, much less launched. The SpaceX Starship that Starlab wants to use to put its station into orbit is still undergoing test flights. There's no guarantee the Voyager-led Starlab team will arrive in space by its planned 2029 launch date.

The upshot for investors

That said, there's no guarantee Vast will get Haven 1 into orbit next year, either, nor Haven 2 in 2028. To my mind, therefore, the race to replace the ISS remains wide open. Starlab still has the most publicly traded companies on its team, however.

Unless and until Vast confirms it will have an IPO, I still think Starlab is the best way for investors to own a piece of the next ISS.

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New Delhi, March 22 : Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Sunday highlighted that coal gasification will be pivotal in strengthening India's energy security, reducing import dependence, and supporting industrial growth.

New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Sunday highlighted that coal gasification will be pivotal in strengthening Indiaas energy security, reducing import dependence, and supporting industrial growth.

Addressing the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, the minister, describing coal gasification as a key transformative technology, said that it converts coal into syngas, which can be further used to produce cleaner fuels, chemicals, fertilisers, and hydrogen. This approach enables more efficient and sustainable use of domestic resources while enhancing economic resilience.

The minister said to promote adoption, the government has launched the National Coal Gasification Mission with a target of 100 million tonnes of gasification by 2030. An incentive framework of Rs 8,500 crore has been introduced to support public and private sector projects, with several large-scale initiatives already underway and investments exceeding Rs 64,000 crore in the pipeline. Advanced technologies such as Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) were also highlighted for their potential to tap previously inaccessible reserves while reducing environmental impact.

He said that Indiaas rapidly expanding economy requires a balanced energy approach that aligns development with sustainability. The minister underlined Indiaas robust coal reserves, estimated at nearly 400 billion tonnes -- among the largest globally -- where coal accounts for about 55 per cent of the energy mix and nearly 74 per cent of electricity generation. With annual coal demand currently around one billion tonnes and expected to rise significantly by 2047, he emphasised the continued importance of coal even as India remains committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070.

He also pointed out Indiaas dependence on imports -- approximately 83 per cent of crude oil, 50 per cent of natural gas, and over 90 per cent of methanol and fertilisers -- making energy security a strategic priority.

The minister called for a collaborative ecosystem involving industry, academia, start-ups, and research institutions, noting that coal gasification spans multiple sectors, including power, oil & gas, and fertilisers. He reaffirmed the governmentas commitment to streamlined approvals, supportive policies, and incentives to encourage early participation and investment.

He expressed confidence that with innovation, indigenous technology development, and coordinated efforts, India can emerge as a global leader in clean coal technologies while advancing energy security, sustainability, and self-reliance.
Washington, March 22 : US President Donald Trump on Sunday called the Democratic Party "the greatest enemy America has" in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Washington, March 22 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Sunday called the Democratic Party "the greatest enemy America has" in a post on his Truth Social platform.

"Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democrat Party!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

His remarks came amid rising tensions linked to Iran and a prolonged political standoff in Washington.

Trump did not explain what he meant by the "death of Iran". The phrase appeared to be linked to recent developments involving Iran, which have dominated the administration's foreign policy focus.

The post also came as a partial government shutdown stretched beyond one month.

Democrats have urged lawmakers to reduce the scale of the funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security. At the same time, they have kept focus on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a key agency in Trump's immigration crackdown.

The shutdown has exposed deep divisions between Republicans and Democrats over spending and immigration policy.

Trump did not refer directly to the shutdown in his post, but he used strong language to attack his political opponents.

He described the Democrats as the "Radical Left" and "Highly Incompetent". The language is similar to his past attacks on Democratic leaders.

The remarks are likely to deepen partisan tensions. Lawmakers from both parties are under pressure to reach a deal and end the shutdown.

So far, there is no clear sign of a breakthrough.

Trump has often used his Truth Social platform to speak directly to supporters. He frequently uses it to criticise political rivals and shape public debate.

His latest post links foreign policy developments with domestic politics, reflecting his broader approach of framing opponents as a key threat.
Washington, March 22 : An influential Republican senator has raised concerns over the Trump administration's lack of clarity on its objectives in the Iran conflict, warning that the approach could strain ties with key allies even as he backed aspects of President Donald Trump's policy.

In an interview on ABC News' This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Senator Thom Tillis said the US strategy in Iran remains unclear.

"I don't know, and I think it's a real problem," Tillis said when asked about the objective of the war.

He said the initial military action appeared effective. "I thought the initial bombing raid a while back was very successful," he said, adding that limited follow-up operations could be justified.

However, he cautioned that the broader strategy remains undefined. "Now, it's very ambiguous. I don't know what our long-term strategic goals are," he said.

The remarks come as the Pentagon prepares a potential request of up to $200 billion to fund the war effort, a move that would require bipartisan support in Congress.

Tillis said lawmakers need clarity before approving such spending. "We need to know how that money is going to be spent," he said.

He added that securing funding would require political consensus. "We're going to have to figure out how to accomplish that," he said, noting the need for Democratic support.

At the same time, Tillis warned against a shift towards isolationism following US intervention in the region.

"We can't, all of a sudden, go out there and intervene the way we have and then suddenly become an isolationist in the back end of it," he said.

He stressed that global supply chains and allied economies depend on stability in the Strait of Hormuz. "Our allies, our partners and the people we rely on to stabilise the Middle East rely on it," he said.

Tillis also pushed back against criticism of NATO after Trump described allies as unwilling to support efforts in the region.

"I don't think that they're cowards," Tillis said, adding that allies were not consulted before military action, which affected their response.

"I think they're people that weren't consulted on a major military operation," he said.

He warned that US actions could damage long-term partnerships. "You just can't have it both ways," he said, referring to intervening militarily and then expecting allies to manage the consequences.

Tillis, a senior member of the Senate NATO Observer Group, said relationships with allies remain critical to US security.

"American lives have been saved by the NATO alliance," he said, warning that weakening it would carry "enormous risk".

Despite his criticism, Tillis reiterated support for the President's broader approach. "I generally support what the President's doing in Iran," he said, while calling for greater clarity and coordination.
Kolkata, March 22 : Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday asked party workers to remain vigilant in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, expressing concerns over the conduct of the poll process and urging them to stay alert even after voting concludes.

CM Banerjee made the remarks while addressing a meeting with party leaders and workers at Chetla in south Kolkata ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Special focus was laid on Bhabanipur, from where she is contesting, in what the party sees as a key electoral battle.

According to a Trinamool Congress leader present at the meeting, Banerjee cautioned workers about possible irregularities and asked them to remain watchful throughout the polling and counting process.

The Chief Minister was quoted as saying that several officials had been removed following the announcement of the poll schedule, which, she suggested, has limited the state administrationas role during the election period.

She also asked party workers to remain present and vigilant after polling hours, stressing the need to monitor strong rooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are kept. She referred to concerns such as possible disruptions, including power outages, and urged workers not to leave immediately after voting ends.

CM Banerjee also spoke about the broader political roadmap of the party, saying that after the Assembly elections in West Bengal, the focus would shift to national politics. She added that the party would extend legal support to voters facing issues such as deletion of names from electoral rolls.

At the same meeting, Trinamool Congress national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee called on party workers to aim for a higher victory margin in Bhabanipur and avoid complacency.

Referring to past electoral performance in the constituency, he said the party should look to improve its booth-level results and increase its vote margin. He urged workers to strengthen outreach efforts and ensure higher voter support across all areas.

For the upcoming election, the BJP has fielded Suvendu Adhikari against Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. The two leaders had earlier faced each other in Nandigram in the 2021 Assembly elections, where Adhikari won by a narrow margin. Banerjee later contested the Bhabanipur by-election the same year and secured a decisive victory.

Senior party leaders, including Firhad Hakim and Subrata Bakshi, were also present at Sundayas meeting.
Washington, March 22 : US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that the ongoing conflict with Iran is pushing up fuel and travel costs, saying it is the rising cost burden that is now affecting American consumers even as supply chains remain stable.

In an interview on ABC News' This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Duffy said airlines are not facing supply shortages but are under pressure from higher fuel prices. "It is the cost, right?" he said.

The warning comes as fuel prices in the United States have climbed sharply since the conflict began, with gasoline costs rising by about $1 per gallon in just over three weeks.

Duffy said he has been in touch with major carriers to assess the situation. "All of them were like, nope, we feel very good about our supply chains," he said.

However, the cost of jet fuel is increasing, feeding into broader travel expenses. Airlines are already adjusting operations in response to changing market conditions.

Duffy said there is no immediate reduction in overall flight availability linked to the conflict. "There's really no impact on how many flights we're going to have," he said, noting that some adjustments are related to operational factors rather than the war.

He also played down concerns about a prolonged spike in ticket prices, suggesting that airlines are preparing for worst-case scenarios. Referring to projections of oil reaching $170 a barrel, Duffy said carriers "do well when they plan for the worst and hope for the best".

The administration has taken steps to mitigate the impact of rising energy costs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US is easing some restrictions on Iranian oil exports to stabilise prices. "We will be using the Iranian barrels against the Iranians to keep the price down," he said earlier.

Duffy said the current price pressure may not last if the conflict is resolved soon. "I think you're going to see a very quick rebound in energy prices when this conflict is resolved," he said.

He added that the administration expects the military operation to remain limited in duration. "The President said this is going to be, you know, a four to six-week operation," he said.

The rise in fuel costs is linked to disruptions in global oil flows, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for crude exports from the Gulf.

Duffy said the administration's broader objective is to prevent Iran from using energy markets as leverage, warning that disruptions in the Strait could impact global supply chains and economic stability.
Agartala, March 22 : Even as the BJP continues discussions with its ally, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), to finalise a seat-sharing arrangement, the opposition Congress on Sunday announced that it will contest the upcoming tribal council elections independently.

Polling for the 30-member Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) is scheduled for April 12, with counting of votes on April 17.

Leaders from both the BJP and TMP said the party's central leadership has been holding a series of meetings in New Delhi over the past few days to work out a seat-sharing formula. TMP leader and MLA Ranjit Debbarma said party supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma is engaged in discussions with BJP leaders in the national capital to finalise the arrangement.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party also has another ally, the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), a tribal-based party that is reportedly seeking a larger share of seats compared to the 2021 TTAADC elections.

Meanwhile, Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee president Asish Kumar Saha said the party would go it alone in the April 12 polls. "The Congress will field candidates in all TTAADC seats. However, if any like-minded party is interested in a seat-sharing agreement, they are welcome," Saha told reporters after a meeting with tribal leaders.

He said the party's campaign would focus on the socio-economic development of tribal communities, alleging that tribal-inhabited areas have remained neglected for years.

The Adivasi Congress, the party's tribal wing, has been working on the election strategy for the past two months, and the list of candidates will be announced soon, Saha added.

According to him, key issues for the Congress would include direct central funding to the TTAADC, introduction of the Roman script for the Kokborok language, and approval of the TTAADC Empowerment Bill (125th Constitutional Amendment).

Congress Working Committee member and former minister Sudip Roy Barman said indigenous communities have experienced governance under the CPI(M)-led Left Front and the TMP, but have not yet given the Congress an opportunity. He said the Congress-led central government had earlier played a role in the formation of the TTAADC in 1984 and in increasing the number of tribal-reserved seats in the Tripura Assembly from 17 to 20.

Meanwhile, most candidates of the CPI(M)-led Left Front have already filed their nominations and begun campaigning for the autonomous council elections. The last date for filing nominations is March 25.

In the 2021 TTAADC elections, the BJP contested 11 seats and won nine, while a BJP-supported Independent candidate also secured victory. The TMP won 18 seats and took control of the council from the Left Front.

The council covers nearly two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area and is home to over 12.16 lakh people, around 84 per cent of whom belong to indigenous communities. The TTAADC comprises 28 elected members and two nominated by the state government.
Bhopal, March 22 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday removed Sidhi Collector Swarochit Somvanshi and Guna Superintendent of Police (SP) Ankit Soni with immediate effect in two separate cases, while ordering action against several other officials.

Guna SP Ankit Soni was removed from his post following a hawala-related controversy. In the case, police had reportedly seized around Rs 1 crore from a trader's vehicle but allegedly returned a portion of the money after accepting a bribe.

The incident drew criticism, prompting an internal probe. The investigation is being monitored by senior officials, including DIG-rank officers.

After receiving a report from senior police officials, Chief Minister Yadav ordered Soni's removal. Several police personnel, including an assistant sub-inspector and constables, were suspended for their suspected involvement.

Hitika Vasal, currently Commandant of the 15th Battalion in Indore, has been appointed as the new Superintendent of Police for Guna.

In a separate development, the Chief Minister ordered the removal of Sidhi Collector Swarochit Somvanshi following complaints from public representatives during his visit to the district on Sunday.

During the visit, CM Yadav interacted with local residents to assess governance and the implementation of government schemes at the ground level.

He reviewed complaints raised by citizens and sought feedback on the functioning of the district administration and various departments.

Acting on the complaints, CM Yadav also directed the suspension of District Cooperative Bank General Manager P.S. Dhanwal with immediate effect.

The Chief Minister said that further action would be taken based on the complaints received.

"Under the state's commitment to good governance, negligence by officials and employees will not be tolerated under any circumstances," he said.

CM Yadav also expressed displeasure over the slow progress of the under-construction Collectorate building in Sidhi. He directed officials to expedite the work and ensure completion within the stipulated timeframe while maintaining quality standards.
Washington, March 22 : US President Donald Trump's reaction to the death of former FBI Director Robert Mueller has drawn criticism across political circles, including from senior Republicans.

Mueller, who led the FBI for more than a decade and later oversaw the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, died on Saturday.

Shortly after the news broke, Trump posted: "Robert Mueller just died. Good. I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people."

The remarks prompted immediate reactions, with critics calling them inappropriate, particularly in light of Mueller's long record of public service.

Speaking on ABC News' This Week with George Stephanopoulos, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie condemned the statement.

"It's reprehensible for anyone to say that about someone who had the life of service that Robert Mueller had," Christie said.

He added that it was "even more reprehensible" for a sitting President to speak in such terms about a decorated military veteran.

Mueller served in the Vietnam War and was awarded a Purple Heart after being wounded in combat. He also received other honours, including a Bronze Star and a Navy Commendation Medal.

Christie, who worked with Mueller during his tenure as US Attorney, said differences in professional roles did not diminish his respect for Mueller's service.

"The one thing I can tell you about him is that when his country called him to service, he never said no," he said.

He also described Trump's reaction as stemming from personal grievance. "It comes from his own sense that the only thing that matters in the world is him," Christie said.

Others on the programme also highlighted Mueller's legacy, noting his decades of service in law enforcement and national security roles.

Mueller was appointed FBI Director in 2001 and led the bureau through the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, overseeing major counter-terrorism efforts during a critical period.

The Russia probe, led by Mueller as Special Counsel, examined Moscow's efforts to influence the 2016 election and potential links to the Trump campaign, shaping US political discourse for years.
Imphal, March 22 : On the occasion of the International Day of Forests, the Manipur government on Sunday renewed its focus on protecting forests, preventing deforestation, and curbing illegal activities, including poppy cultivation, officials said.

A key highlight of the observance was the launch of the "Ningol Van Initiative", aimed at strengthening community participation in forest conservation. The initiative underscores the role of women ("Ningols") in nurturing nature, protecting biodiversity, and promoting sustainability.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Anurag Bajpai said similar initiatives would be rolled out across all 16 districts of the state.

Addressing the gathering, Bajpai, a senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, said forests form the backbone of Manipur's economy, noting that over 74 per cent of the state's geographical area is under forest cover. He said forests support livelihoods, ensure food security, and will play an important role in meeting future needs.

He said that under the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs), 11 micro food-processing units equipped with modern facilities have been set up, with around 95 per cent operated by women. This, he added, reflects the key role played by women in the state's primary economic activities and reinforces the intent behind the Ningol Van Initiative.

Bajpai said the number of VDVKs would be increased to provide additional livelihood support to local communities.

He also flagged concerns over man-made forest fires, illegal hill earth excavation, unauthorised extraction of stones and boulders, and illegal poppy cultivation, and called for collective efforts to address these challenges.

Highlighting enforcement measures, he said 970 hectares of illegal poppy cultivation in hill districts have been destroyed this year. He added that there are plans to utilise these reclaimed areas for bamboo plantations and essential oil-producing crops.

Bajpai further noted that forests support over 1.26 lakh micro and food-processing units in the state, while nearly 2.44 lakh artisans depend on forest-based raw materials such as fibre and natural dyes.

Emphasising the broader importance of forests, he said they are not merely environmental assets but also key resources that sustain communities in both normal and adverse conditions. He called for collective action to conserve forests for future generations.

The event concluded with a tree plantation drive, marking a commitment to environmental conservation. Officials said the observance of the International Day of Forests served as a reminder of the shared responsibility to protect forest resources and promote sustainability.
Kolkata, March 22 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) has stepped up action against unauthorised political advertisements across West Bengal ahead of the two-phase Assembly elections scheduled next month.

In a statement issued on Sunday night, the ECI said a total of 3,58,986 such advertisements had been removed across the state so far.

Of these, 3,11,829 cases were related to defacement of public property, while 19,901 involved defacement of private property.

According to the ECI, Cooch Behar district in north Bengal recorded the highest number of removals at 33,491. Of these, 29,474 cases pertained to public property defacement and 4,017 to private property.

North 24 Parganas district reported the second-highest number of removals at 31,920, including 31,789 cases of public property defacement and 105 involving private property.

Kalimpong district recorded the lowest number of removals at 593, all of which were related to public property defacement.

Meanwhile, the first supplementary list of cases referred for judicial adjudication under the "logical discrepancy" category is scheduled to be published on Monday. Officials said necessary security arrangements are being put in place to prevent any law and order issues following its publication.

Polling for the West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Voting will take place in 152 constituencies in the first phase and in the remaining 142 constituencies in the second phase.

Earlier on Sunday, Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand asserted that incidents of booth jamming, vote rigging, or booth capturing will not be tolerated under any circumstances during the Assembly elections in the city.

The directive was issued after Nand paid an inspection visit to Bhangar Police Station on the southern outskirts of Kolkata.

The Election Commission is maintaining strict vigilance over election preparations and security arrangements. In compliance with the Commission's directives, senior police officials visited police stations across the state on Sunday. Accordingly, the Kolkata Police Commissioner visited Bhangar Police Station in the morning.

During a meeting with police personnel, he stressed that all officials must strictly adhere to the guidelines laid down by the Election Commission. Ajay Nand also reiterated that any complaints regarding booth jamming, vote rigging, or booth capturing would not be tolerated in any form.

Later, addressing a press conference, he said the Kolkata Police is fully prepared to ensure a peaceful election. "Checkpoints and search operations are currently underway across various areas. Patrolling is also being conducted in coordination with Central forces," he said.
On March 16, Seaport Research downgraded Qualcomm (QCOM) stock to a Sell rating, assigning a price target of $100. The stock currently trades 30% above this level, which means that analysts are looking at significant downside in the coming weeks.

Seaport Research isnt the only firm that rates QCOM stock as a Sell. Bank of America Securities and Morgan Stanley are also bearish on its prospects, assigning Underperform and Underweight ratings with price targets of $145 and $132, respectively. Over the course of the last two months, multiple analysts have lowered their targets for QCOM stock, with Qualcomm having already lost 24% so far in 2026.

More News from Barchart

On a slightly positive note, the company is doing all it can to regain investor trust, recently announcing a stock buyback program worth $20 billion. This is on top of the $2.1 billion remaining from its previous buyback announced in November 2024. There is no set timeline for the freshly announced buyback program, which will happen at the discretion of management upon prevailing market conditions.

About Qualcomm Stock

Qualcomm is a fabless semiconductor company that specializes in mobile processors, 5G, IoT, and chips for the automotive industry, among others. The company is currently headquartered in San Diego, California.

QCOM stock is down roughly 18% in the last 12 months, a significant underperformance compared to the iShares Semiconductor ETFs (SOXX) 64% gain in the same period. The reasons for this underperformance are mainly associated with supply constraints in the smartphone industry, which drives the companys core business.

barchart.com

A natural question following the stock buyback news amid fundamental issues in the stock is whether the company can afford to spend so much money on buying back its own shares. After all, if industry headwinds are likely to keep QCOM stock under pressure, is a buyback worth the hassle for investors?

Right now, Qualcomm sits on $7.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents with free cash flow healthy enough to support the buyback, so there is hardly concern there. The company also shouldnt have a problem supporting its dividend, which was just raised to $0.92. That gives the stock a forward dividend yield of 2.71%, well above the five-year average trailing-12-month dividend yield of 2.13%. At a time when it is facing pressure from multiple fronts, QCOM stock could become a favorite for income-focused investors once again.
Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells, LLC is proud to announce that Partner William E. Wells, Jr., Esq. has been named to the 2026 New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for his outstanding accomplishments in personal injury law.

MANASQUAN, N.J., March 20, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A Certified Civil Trial Attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court, Mr. Wells represents clients in complex legal matters involving motor vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, construction accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, wrongful death, and Workers' Compensation claims.

Mr. Wells has achieved much success in recovering millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients and is regularly consulted by fellow attorneys regarding their clients' cases. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Wells is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and has been named a "Top 40 Under 40" by the National Trial Lawyers Association. He has been selected to Rising Stars each year since 2024.

The New Jersey Rising Stars list recognizes outstanding attorneys under age 40 or practicing 10 years or less. Selection is based on peer nominations, professional evaluations, and independent research identifying exceptional achievement and recognition within the legal profession.

Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells, LLC is a full-service personal injury law firm with offices in Manasquan and Brick, New Jersey. For information about their legal services, call 732-920-8383 or visit kmwlawfirm.com.

*The awards and accolades displayed on the website were issued to the attorneys or the entire law firm by the respective providers of these honors. Please note that no aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. A description of the Super Lawyers selection methodology can be found by clicking here.

Media Contact

Will Wells, Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells, LLC, 1 732-920-8383, [email protected], https://www.kmwlawfirm.com/

SOURCE Kitrick, McWeeney & Wells, LLC
Plans to build a new data center in Athens Clarke-County (ACC) have caused growing concern in the community. The Athens Mayor and Commission recently voted to extend a moratorium preventing the establishment of new data centers in ACC until Friday, June 5. Some community members have voiced concerns that ACC is too small to support data centers, as well as the negative environmental impact.
Market participants said that due to scheduled outflows from the banking system on account of advance tax payments and goods and services tax, the surplus in the system liquidity narrowed.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

Key Points When there was surplus liquidity, almost everything was getting parked into the SDF.

The VRR auctions cut-off rate was set at 5.26 per cent.

VRR auctions allow banks to borrow funds from the RBI against government securities at market-determined rates.

The net liquidity surplus in the banking system fell to Rs 16,875 crore on Thursday the latest data by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed, lowest since 22 January.

Even when there was tepid demand in Fridays three day variable rate repo auction, the central bank announced another such overnight auction on Monday (23 March) for a notified amount of Rs 1 trillion.

The weighted average call rate settled at 5.34 per cent on Friday, against the previous close of 5.29 per cent.

What market participants say

Market participants said that due to scheduled outflows from the banking system on account of advance tax payments and goods and services tax, the surplus in the system liquidity narrowed.

When there was surplus liquidity, almost everything was getting parked into the SDF (standing deposit facility).

"That indicated there was no immediate use for funds, said a treasury head at a private bank.

The advance tax outflow funds is expected to return to the system as government spending towards the end of the month.

"As a result, participants are currently taking only as much liquidity as required for day-to-day operations.

"There is no additional bidding in VRR, the person added.

RBI's VRR auction

The RBIs three-day variable rate repo (VRR) auction on Friday saw muted demand as large banks did not participate in the auction.

In addition, banks have been borrowing from the tri-party repo market, where the weighted average rate hovered around 5.05 per cent.

The VRR auctions cut-off rate was set at 5.26 per cent.

The central bank received bids worth Rs 25,101 crore, against the notified amount of Rs 75,000 crore.

Towards the end of the month, liquidity surplus is expected to widen due to government spending hence the demand for funds is relatively low.

"Plus, TREPS is better avenue for them to borrow funds at lower rates, said a money market dealer at a state-owned bank.

VRR auctions allow banks to borrow funds from the RBI against government securities at market-determined rates, helping the central bank manage short-term liquidity in the financial system.
This article was first published 23 years ago

The kid who has just seen a dirty magazine wants to know more.

"Daddy, what's a rack?" he asks. "It's a country," shoots back the father played by Steve Martin.

Some people may think the joke that was prominently played in the trailer for the comedy, Bringing Down The House, is the only funny line in the film.

In a way, it is true.

Yet the film, which thrives on contrived situations, is still enjoyable, thanks to spirited performances by Martin as the strait-laced corporate lawyer and Queen Latifah as the feisty ex-con who will not take a 'no' from him, and who ends up radically changing his life. As their relationship grows, the film turns into an unusual buddy movie involving an older white male and a younger black woman.

Latifah, who offered a charming performance as the wily jail warden in the smash hit, Chicago, where she held her own despite strong performances by Rene Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones, is not as alluring here.

But she does turn in an engaging and boisterous performance in Bringing Down... Its tagline: Everything he needed to know about life, she learned in prison. Latifah, the executive producer of the film, is also heard on its soundtrack.

While this could be the second hit in a row for Latifah, for Martin, who has gone without a solid hit for over five years, Bringing Down... offers a lot of opportunities for a physical comedy -- and an opportunity to win back millions of fans.

Judging by the reaction of preview audiences, Bringing Down... could become a sizeable hit. It could also become the highest grossing film in the nearly two decade-old movie-producing career of Ashok Amritraj who co-produced it for Touchstone Pictures.

Peter Sanderson (Martin), who has been charmed by an attractive online acquaintance, invites her to his home. Flirting with her online is different from seeing her in flesh, and he is naturally antsy. Having met her in a chat room for lawyers, he learns she is heavily into physical fitness and has been exercising in the yard.

Imagine then his shock on seeing a big-made black woman, Charlene Morton, instead. There is no mistake, she insists. Soon you hear her telling Sanderson she had been wrongly imprisoned and he should clear her name. The 'yard' she had been speaking about was the Los Angeles prison where she had been serving a sentence for robbery.

Crying deception, Sanderson kicks her out, only to find she will not a take a no. The script becomes increasingly predictable thereafter, as it contrives situations so that Morton can turn up, not only embarrassing Sanderson but also weakening his resolve to keep her out of his life. Before he gives into her demands, she turns up at his house party and embarrasses him by popping up at a powerhouse business meeting.

The best moments in the film come when Sanderson agrees to a 'date' with Morton and, suddenly, all the rules he has been faithfully following are tossed out, as Morton takes him on a wild trip.

Soon, first time scriptwriter Jason Filardi and director Adam Shankman (The Wedding Planner) try to inject family values amidst the hilarity.

Morton tries to remake the lives, helping Sanderson's teenaged daughter out of a tricky problem. She helps his son read better -- and she is getting ready to help Morton reconcile with his ex-wife.

Bringing Dow

n... begins to lose its charm considerably in the second half. Some of the comic situations just don't fly. For instance, the scenes when a wealthy and elderly white woman (British actress Joan Plowright, Laurence Olivier's widow, who is thoroughly wasted) comes to Morton's home for dinner and sings a Negro spiritual she had heard when she was a child. At a New York preview, about one third of the audience laughed. But when they watched many other sequences, they nearly brought down the house.

The climax, in which Sanderson puts on a tough act to trace and humble the men who had set Morton up is another disappointment.

Filardi and Shankman fail to maintain the comic tempo. For a big part of the film, we crave for more comedy and farce, funnier lines and animated performances from others in the cast. Yet because of the energy and enthusiasm exuded by Martin and Latifah, the film rises above many recent comedies.
This article was first published 5 years ago

Live Telecast is probably the worst made horror Web series in recent times, notes Moumita Bhattacharjee.

It's disrespectful to watch a series like Live Telecast.

Director Venkat Prabhu's blatant disregard for sensitive topics like sexual harassment, violence against women and extra-judicial killings is appalling.

Jenny (Kajal Aggarwal) is a TRP-obsessed director of the show Dark Tales, who will do anything to rank better than the others.

Her television crew is hand-in-glove with her.

After ranking number one for some time, her show, which dramatises real horror stories, starts getting impacted by a family show called Parivar.

The latter is the TV debut of a big-screen actress which, according to Jenny, is the reason why it is getting so much attention.

When she is pestered to reclaim her show's past glory, she stages a rape by a ghost for an episode that backfires. Cornered, Jenny decides to go LIVE from a haunted house and everything goes haywire.

Live Telecast seems like a desperate bid by Venkat Prabhu to cling to outdated horror tropes.

From titillating content, cliched ghosts to pathetic camera moves, Live Telecast is a horror, and not because of the genre it delves into.

It is probably the worst made horror Web series in recent times.

In fact, Prabhu is so fixated with the ancient programming that he forces a needless scene of a cop killing three men, who escape legal punishment after committing rape because they belong to the influential class.

The only reason I could figure for this terrible scene is to establish the character played by Selva.

But when he was actually needed to show his strength, he gets away with: 'They are on their own.'

Expecting film-makers to take a moral high ground in their content is perhaps a silly thing to wish for these days.

But it is a completely different tale to disrespect the very audience it is catering to.

When we have a movie like Thappad making everyone aware of domestic violence, here's a man asking another man not to cry like a woman.

Live Telecast is technically flimsy as well.

It's riddled with terrible continuity jerks.

There's a scene where a character has a premonition that his girlfriend would get killed at a party. He manages to save her.

It is later explained that he is a vessel for ghosts, but he never said he had powers.

The backstory of the spirit is so shoddily handled, it makes no difference to you.

It's really funny to hear people who indulge in everything wrong, lecture on morality.

Selva, who believes in bumping off criminals who manage to manipulate the law, is seen lecturing the television crew to know where to draw a line between what to show on TV. How mature!

Suddenly the director realised there needs to be some backstory of people like Jenny or Shekhar (Vaibhav) just because they are the main characters. So there're lame subplots of Jenny rejecting a man to prove she is career-oriented and Shekhar trying to prove he isn't a flirt. YAWN!

The less I talk about the performances, the better.

Everyone oscillates from being melodramatic to over-the-top and just drab.

Kajal Aggarwal adds familiarity to the cast although, if written well, her character could have been the redeeming factor here. Everybody else just fills need for actors in a series, nothing more.

Should you watch Live Telecast?

Maybe you should watch the 'American, Korean, Japanese movies' that the cast keeps talking about in the series. That will be a much better experience.

Rediff Rating:
This article was first published 19 years ago

Home  Movies  Namastey London is a fun ride is a fun ride

Namastey London is a fun ride

S he's all British. He's all Punjab. They are a perfect mismatch. This antithesis provides the premise of Vipul Amrutlal Shah's, Namastey London.



Seeing as this is a romantic comedy, there is no room for reality. Consequently, issues like confused upbringing of desis born and raised abroad, though, mentioned are never tackled.



In Shah's London, desi kids gulp down vodka shots like banana milkshake and spend all free time burning the dance floors. Some others (an insufferable Upen Patel in a wasted side track) idle around shirtless bathing in the sun with their white girlfriend contemplating a live in relationship.



How do their parents react? The son is thrown out of the house. While a groom hunt commences for the daughter.



All this is established in an incoherent but fast-paced narrative. Essentially though, Namastey London revolves around Jasmeet aka Jazz (Katrina Kaif), a clearly pampered and indulged daughter of Mr and Mrs Manmohan Singh (Rishi Kapoor and Nina Wadia). Being the only child, she pretty much gets away with everything, which includes her desire to marry her thrice divorced English boss, Charlie Brown (a mediocre Clive Standen). The whole theatre knows Brown is a self-centred, chauvinistic brat. His marital screams it so. But Jasmeet is evidently all Jazz no brain.



Sensing trouble in Brown, her dad quickly plans a trip to India under the pretext of tourism. (That, my readers, in the language of cinema means a two minute tour of the picturesque Rishikesh, Haridwar, Agra and Hyderabad, which surprisingly Jonathan Bloom's camera hardly does any justice.)



Singh, actually, intends to get Jazz married off to the next best lad available. What follows instead is a hilarious series of goofy contenders obsessed with Indian Idol, K-soaps and Numerology gurus, slyly hinting the impact of television on Indian youngsters today.



After a series of misadventures, he makes a final stop to his village in Punjab, giving Akshay Kumar his much-awaited chance to make a hero's entry into the screen/scene. Astride a bike, balle balleing in a bubblegum pink kurta, Arjun (his name in the film) makes his introduction to Jazz and family. It's love at first sight for this Punjab da puttar.



Meanwhile, Jazz nauseates through the noisy camaraderie of her caricature relatives about dripping ghee, lassi shassi, parathas and makhan and desi daru. Soon enough, her adamant father tricks her into marrying Arjun.



We know she'll play along. We know she won't let the marriage get consummated. We know that Arjun is going to burn his heart. Then again, we also know, how despite telling Jazz's sympathetic father he isn't up to any herogiri, ock" id="div_arti_inline_advt"> ock" id="div_arti_inline_advt">

Arjun will exactly do that.Post-intermission, Namastey London becomes a guidebook for herogiri-waltzing with the heroine, winning rugby matches, doing bhangra in night clubs or waxing eloquent about India Shining to Englishmen, still hung up on East India Company.In retrospect, one wonders why all the British characters come across as so horribly shallow in the movie. They are ill-defined and one-dimensional.In that sense, everything about Namastey London is rather obvious -- the motive, the move and the outcome -- as per rom-com tradition, it's specific but unrealistic.Despite its predictability and lack of detail, the caper doesn't quite jar the senses. It has its share of light-hearted moments, especially the recurring groom fiasco and a rollicking rugby match. Also, the cast comes up with a rather believable act.Rishi Kapoor is adorable as the worrying father. The man has such an incredible sense of humour and charm attached to his persona making his screen antics a delight to watch. Whether he's enthusiastically posting his daughter's profile on a matrimonial website or getting into a giggling fit at the dinner table or defining rugby as 'Yeh ball pakad kar saand ki tarah us goal post tak bhaag' (Take the ball and charge like a bull towards the goal post), the man rocks.Katrina Kaif suits the role to the T. As Jazz, she is sassy but gentle, confused but stable and petulant but glamorous. The actress brings the zingy mix of her character alive with style and substance. You cannot not mention just how luminous she looks on the silver screen. Also, good job with the wardrobe, girl!In contrast, Akshay Kumar doesn't quite look 'all there'. The auburn highlights don't suit him one bit. But he's a terrific on the emotional front. Even though this role is pretty much like the one he played in Humko Deewana Kar Gaye -- chasing a confused heroine about to marry someone else -- the actor adds in his brand of vulnerability. He's especially effective in the scene where, for a change, his Arjun takes a beer break from herogiri, 'Kabhi kabhi bhool jaata hoon, aakhir main bhi toh ek insaan hi hoon' (Sometimes I forget that I am human too).Director Vipul Shah curbs down his tendency to stretch melodrama, as seen in Waqt: A Race Against Time, to a noticeable extent in Namastey London. On the flip side, the jokes are not always funny and Himesh Reshammiya's songs show up more often than not.With all its minuses and plus, this fancy repackaging of the East-against-West-values featuring vivacious stars, light humour and cool locations, is effortless to watch.
India's Chief Justice, Surya Kant, champions the strategic integration of AI within the judicial framework, prioritising enhanced efficiency and accessibility while safeguarding the indispensable role of human judgement and upholding transparency.

Key Points CJI Justice Surya Kant advocates for AI integration in the judicial system to handle data and reduce delays, but not to replace human judgement.

The Chief Justice cautions against AI dominating decision-making, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability in justice delivery.

Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru highlights AI's potential to improve efficiency and enable predictive analysis of disputes.

Safeguards are essential to ensure judicial independence, transparency, and legality when using AI in the judiciary.

AI-powered translation of court judgments enhances accessibility for rural populations and aids lawyer-client communication.

CJI Justice Surya Kant has said that AI must be integrated into the judicial system in a manner that strengthens the institution without undermining its core functions.

In his inaugural address at a one-day seminar on "Artificial Intelligence - Prevention and Resolution of Disputes" at the Karnataka Judicial Academy, on Saturday, he said, "AI should assist in handling large volumes of data and records, identifying patterns, and reducing procedural delays".

However, he said, "It must not encroach upon the core judicial function of delivering judgments," according to a release.

The Chief Justice cautioned that allowing AI tools to dominate decision-making could compromise transparency and accountability within the justice delivery system.

He stressed that the final stage of adjudication must remain in human hands.

"The final stage of the judicial process, pronouncement of judgments, must remain firmly in human hands," he said, adding that judges must rely on their reasoning, experience and analytical abilities while delivering verdicts.

Emphasising the role of technology as an enabler, he said AI should function only as a tool.

"AI should function only as a tool or pathway, while the direction must always be determined by human intellect," he said.

The event was organised in collaboration with the UIA India Chapter, the Bar Association of India and the National Law School of India University.

Concerns and Opportunities with AI in the Judiciary

Speaking on the occasion, Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru raised concerns about the evolving role of AI in the judiciary, questioning whether it would remain an aid to human decision-making or become a substitute that diminishes the role of judges.

He also highlighted both opportunities and risks, noting that AI can enable predictive analysis of disputes and improve efficiency, while AI-supported online dispute resolution platforms can facilitate faster and cost-effective disposal of cases.

Safeguarding Judicial Principles in the Age of AI

Stressing safeguards, he said judicial independence, transparency and legality must remain paramount, and the use of AI must be guided by clearly defined principles.

Bar Association of India President Prashant Kumar said AI has enabled rapid translation of court judgments into local languages, improving accessibility for people in rural areas and aiding lawyers in communicating with clients.
Given the news being reported around the world lately, one cannot blame investors for being nervous about Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) stock.

With the U.S. focused on Iran and saying it will help determine who is in charge there and the tension it is creating in that part of the world, it reminds some investors of the tensions going on between Taiwan and China over who is actually in charge of Taiwan. This is concerning because TSMC produces over 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductors, and most of that production takes place in Taiwan.

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 

Now, the question for investors is whether they should sell TSMC stock. Let's take a closer look to see if the situation has changed.

Image source: TSMC.

TSMC's geopolitical positioning

Without question, TSMC's location has always deterred some investors. In 2022, Warren Buffett's lieutenants at Berkshire Hathaway took a position in TSMC stock, but because Buffett was fearful of its geopolitical situation, Berkshire reversed this decision within a few months.

Moreover, TSMC stock had traded at a discount in past years amid that fear. Still, that has changed over time as its P/E ratio of 31 is well above its five-year average of 24 and not far below the 36 earnings multiple of Nvidia, one of its top clients.

Furthermore, China made up only 9% of TSMC's revenue in 2025, well below the 74% coming from North America. Thus, having TSMC out of the picture might look like a strategic advantage to China from that standpoint, and that could partially explain the dip in the stock since the beginning of March.

Do not panic yet

However, the company expects more good times in 2026, indicating that investors have good reason not to sell immediately. China also lacks the capability to produce these more advanced semiconductors. Hence, it still needs TSMC if it wants to advance its own technology.

Also, if not for Taiwan's security, that technical lead would make TSMC one of the safest stocks in existence. Investors should note that even with the risks, it generated over $122 billion in revenue in 2025, a 32% increase from year-ago levels.

Additionally, the international community has not abandoned Taiwan. Despite the U.S.'s focus on Iran, the U.S. Navy has maintained a presence in the Taiwan Strait.

Consequently, the prediction market Polymarket estimates a 16% chance of a military clash between Taiwan and China this year. It might surprise investors that this is virtually unchanged since the beginning of March, when the Iran conflict began, a strong indication that it is business as usual for TSMC.
An Ambedkar statue in Pauri, Uttarakhand, was vandalised, prompting a police investigation and public appeal for information to find those responsible for the desecration.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A statue of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar in Pauri, Uttarakhand, was found defaced with red and black paint.

Police have registered a case against unidentified individuals under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Authorities are investigating the incident, reviewing CCTV footage, and seeking public assistance to identify the culprits.

The defaced statue was located in a park near Alkeshwar Ghat along the Alaknanda river.

A case has been registered after a statue of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar was defaced in Uttarakhand's Pauri district, police said on Sunday.

The police stated that they received information around 4 pm on Saturday regarding damage to the statue, which is installed in a park near Alkeshwar Ghat along the banks of Alaknanda river.

According to the police, passersby noticed red and black paint smeared on the face of Babasaheb's statue and immediately alerted the authorities.

Subsequently, a case was registered against unidentified miscreants under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and an investigation into the matter has been initiated.

A police team inspected the crime scene, collected evidence and subsequently arranged for the cleaning of the statue. To apprehend the culprits, the police are not only scrutinising CCTV footage but have also appealed to the general public to share any information, photographs, or videos related to the incident.

Pauri Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sarvesh Panwar stated that those responsible for the incident would soon be in police custody.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns that recent Iranian missile attacks prove Iran's capability to strike globally, urging international action to curb its nuclear and missile ambitions.

IMAGE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Jerusalem, March 19, 2026. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Pool/Reuters

Key Points Iran's targeting of civilian areas with missiles is condemned by Netanyahu as an intentional act of potential mass murder.

Netanyahu calls for international cooperation, led by the US, to confront Iran's nuclear and missile programmes.

Israel aims to dismantle Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities and foster conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow their government.

Recent missile strikes in Arad, Israel, resulted in numerous injuries, underscoring the immediate threat posed by Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said the recent missile attacks on Diego Garcia shows that Iran has the capacity to reach deep into Europe and poses danger to the entire world.

Netanyahu was visiting the southern Israeli city of Arad which faced Iranian missile strikes on Saturday evening when he also said his country and the US are fighting together on behalf of everyone.

"If you want proof that Iran endangers the entire world, the last 48 hours have given it. In the last 48 hours, Iran targeted a civilian area. They're using that as a mass murder weapon.

"Luckily, no one was killed, but that's due to luck, not their intention. Their intention is to murder civilians," Netanyahu said.

Pointing out that Iran fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Diego Garcia, Netanyahu said, "That's 4,000 kilometres. I've been warning all the time. They now have the capacity to reach deep into Europe. They already have fired on European countries -- Cyprus. They are putting everyone in their sights."

For the past two decades, Israel has been referring to the Iranian ballistic missile programme, arguing that such weapons with nuclear capabilities would pose a grave threat not only to itself but also to Europe.

Iran fired missiles at the UK-US air base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean on Saturday.

The Israeli prime minister also drew attention to the Iran's attack on Jerusalem right next to the holy sites of the three monotheistic faiths, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Al Aqsa Mosque and said, "By dint of a miracle, again, no one was hurt.

"The three sites were nevertheless the targets," he said.

A fragment from a ballistic missile fired by Iran fell quite close to the Al Aqsa mosque and the Western Wall on Friday.

It was a second such attack during the recent escalation when the old city of Jerusalem, home to the three holy sites of the three faiths, was impacted.

In an earlier attack, debris from the intercepted missile fell quite close to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, leaving marks of destruction on some nearby buildings.

Netanyahu also said Iran is stopping the maritime international route, energy route and "trying to blackmail the entire world."

"What more proof do you need that this regime that threatens the entire world has to be stopped? Israel and the United States are working together for the entire world," he claimed.

Calling upon the international community to come together in the fight against Iran, the Israeli leader said he is happy to see some of them beginning to move in that direction, but claimed that more is needed.

"(US) President Trump's call to have the international community confront this terrorist, fanatic regime of zealots, that is a call not only for the security of America and the security of Israel, it's for the security of the entire world. And it's time for them to act," he asserted.

Responding to questions from reporters, Netanyahu said that Israel is responding to these attacks "with great force" but not targeting Iranian civilians.

"We've defined two clear goals. One is to completely break their nuclear programme, their missile programme and their capacity to produce the components for both of these programmes. We're well on our way in achieving it," the Israeli premier claimed.

"We've also set a goal of creating conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow this tyranny that has tormented them and made life miserable, and is making life miserable for the entire world. And I hope we achieve that too," he reiterated.

The missile strike in Arad Saturday evening left 115 people injured with nine of them in serious condition, rescue services said.
West Bengal police are intensifying security measures and implementing Election Commission directives to ensure peaceful, free, and fair assembly elections, focusing on preventing violence and electoral malpractice.

IMAGE: Policemen inspect a vehicle ahead of assembly elections, in Nadia, West Bengal, March 22, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Senior police officials are briefing local police on preventing electoral malpractice and maintaining law and order during the polling process.

The Election Commission has issued directives to prevent violence, voter intimidation, and booth capturing during the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Central police forces are being deployed in West Bengal to strengthen security arrangements for the upcoming Assembly polls.

Senior police officials began visiting police stations across West Bengal from Sunday as the Election Commission stepped up monitoring assembly poll preparedness and security arrangements in the state, officers said.

During these visits, officers-in-charge at police stations were briefed on measures imperative for ensuring free and fair polling, with a strong focus on maintaining law and order and preventing any form of electoral malpractice.

In line with directives from the poll panel, police commissioners and superintendents of police have started conducting ground-level reviews, an official in the West Bengal chief electoral officer's office said.

"Senior officers have been instructed to guide local police units to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election," he said.

"The focus is on building confidence among voters and strict enforcement of measures to curb any attempt at malpractice, including booth capturing or intimidation," the official added.

As part of this exercise, Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand visited Bhangar police station and held meetings with officers from the division, briefing them on the Election Commission's guidelines.

"Every officer has been briefed. Electors should be able to cast their vote without fear. That is the main objective," Nand said.

He said multiple confidence-building and preventive measures were being undertaken. "We have taken many measures, such as identifying vulnerable areas, hamlets and persons, and communicating with them," the police officer said.

He said, "To increase police presence and visibility, we are patrolling extensively. Officers are visiting different areas. There is a history of political clashes, but we have to ensure that there is no violence. If there are any signs, we will take preventive action."

About the deployment of central police forces, the Kolkata police chief said, "CRPF personnel are already deployed... Along with them, our personnel are continuously patrolling areas. We are ready to deal with any eventuality..

Officials said the Election Commission has laid down six key directives that include ensuring a polling that is free of violence and inducement, preventing voter intimidation, and curbing booth jamming, rigging and capturing.

Senior officers also inspected police stations in the southern suburbs of the city to assess poll preparedness.

DIG, Presidency Range, Kankar Prosad Barui, visited Narendrapur, Sonarpur and Baruipur police stations and reviewed security arrangements, particularly in rural booths near Kolkata.

"We have reviewed the preparations following the announcement of the polls. Discussions were also held on measures required to ensure smooth voting. Every aspect has been examined," Barui said.

He added that all personnel must remain prepared for election duty. "The objective is to ensure that elections are conducted in a free and fair manner in accordance with the poll panel's guidelines," he said.

Election Commission officials said around 480 companies of central forces have already been deployed in the state, and nearly 2,000 more are expected to arrive in phases to strengthen security arrangements for the Assembly polls.

It was also learnt that by March 31, another 300 companies of central forces are scheduled to arrive in Bengal. One company of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) generally consists of 100 to 135 personnel.

Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly is scheduled on April 23 and 29, while counting of votes will take place on May 4.
A stabbing incident in Delhi's Tigri area left two brothers injured, prompting a police investigation and a search for the identified suspects.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Two brothers, Parveen and Vikas, were injured in a stabbing incident in the Tigri area of South Delhi.

The stabbing occurred near Krishna Park, and the motive is currently unknown.

Delhi Police have identified two suspects, both residents of Tigri, and are conducting raids to apprehend them.

A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the investigation is ongoing.

Two brothers were injured in a stabbing incident in south Delhi's Tigri area on Sunday evening, police said, adding that two suspects have been identified and raids are underway to nab them.

Police said the incident was reported around 4.30 pm near Krishna Park in Tigri, they said. The motive behind the stabbing is yet to be ascertained.

The injured have been identified as Parveen (43), a grocery shop owner, and his brother Vikas (38). They sustained injuries in the attack and were rushed to a nearby hospital, police said.

Investigation and Manhunt

During preliminary inquiry, police identified two suspects, both residents of Tigri. Multiple teams have been deployed to conduct raids at their suspected hideouts and nab them at the earliest, an officer said.

"We are investigating the matter and all efforts are being made to apprehend the accused persons," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said.

Following the incident, a group of local residents gathered at the spot and briefly blocked the Devli market road, disrupting traffic. Police personnel reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

Police said a case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in the matter.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations issued a warning noting that the incident took place approximately 15 nautical miles north of Sharjah.

IMAGE: A cargo ship 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

A commercial vessel has reported an explosion in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz following an attack by what has been described by British maritime authorities as an "unknown projectile" off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

Key Points The UK Maritime Trade Operations issued a warning noting that the incident took place approximately 15 nautical miles north of Sharjah.

The agency confirmed that the report involved a bulk carrier travelling through the critical shipping lanes of the Gulf.

The Master of a bulk carrier reported an explosion from an unknown projectile in close proximity to the vessel," the statement read.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations issued a warning noting that the incident took place approximately 15 nautical miles north of Sharjah.

The agency confirmed that the report involved a bulk carrier travelling through the critical shipping lanes of the Gulf.

According to the maritime advisory, the vessel's leadership confirmed the blast occurred in the immediate vicinity of the ship. "UKMTO has received a report of an incident 15NM north of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The Master of a bulk carrier reported an explosion from an unknown projectile in close proximity to the vessel," the statement read.

Authorities have confirmed that there were no casualties among the ship's personnel during the strike. "All crew are reported safe. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO," the agency added.

While the source of the projectile has not been identified and no group has yet claimed responsibility, the incident follows a period of extreme regional volatility.

Iran has recently been targeting vessels associated with the United States and Israel, causing significant disruption to oil and gas transit through the waterway, which accounts for nearly a fifth of the global energy supply.

The strike occurred shortly after US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning regarding the maritime blockade. In a social media post, the President threatened to target Iranian infrastructure if the waterway is not cleared for transit.

"If Iran doesn't fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 hours from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various power plants, starting with the biggest one first!" Trump stated.

In response to the escalating threats to maritime commerce, G7 foreign ministers have indicated their readiness to intervene to safeguard energy flows.

The ministers stated they "express support to our partners in the region" following what they characterised as acts of aggression by Iran and its affiliated proxies.
A Jodhpur woman's successful legal battle to annul her child marriage, arranged when she was just 12, underscores the urgent need to combat this regressive practice and empower young girls through education and legal recourse.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A Jodhpur woman successfully annulled her child marriage, which was solemnised when she was 12 years old, through a court battle.

The court declared the marriage void under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, emphasising the need for societal action against child marriage.

Social activist Kriti Bharti of Sarathi Trust assisted the woman in filing the petition and navigating the legal process.

The case highlights the role of certain customs, such as the 'mauser' ritual, in perpetuating child marriage despite legal prohibitions.

The woman has resumed her education and is preparing for her secondary examinations, aiming for self-reliance.

A woman here reclaimed her life through a court battle after a decade-long union that was solemnised when she was just 12, paving the way for others like her who lost their childhood to a regressive custom.

On Thursday, Judge Varun Talwar of Family Court annulled the marriage of Khushboo (name changed), observing that child marriage undermines both the present and future of children and called for a collective societal action to eliminate it.

The marriage, solemnised in 2016 when Khushboo was about 12 years old, was declared void under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

Belonging to the Bishnoi community, Khushboo recalled being a schoolgoer and having little understanding of what was happening around her as community elders took the lead in arranging the marriage.

Decisions, she said, were largely driven by customs, leaving her parents with limited say. It was only as she grew older that the implications of the marriage became clear to her; that she had been bound in a relationship she neither chose nor fully comprehended.

Seeking Annulment and Finding Support

The turning point came a few years later, when pressure from her in-laws to begin conjugal life bore down on her.

Distressed yet determined not to continue in the union, she approached the police and was subsequently connected with social activist Kriti Bharti of Sarathi Trust.

"They initially hesitated, but seeing my resolve and convinced by my elder sister, who herself had been married as a child, they agreed," Khushboo said.

With Bharti's assistance, Khushboo filed a petition in the family court around 18 months ago, seeking annulment.

During the hearings, she presented documents establishing her age at the time of marriage, maintaining that the union had been conducted without her consent.

Her in-laws claimed that the marriage had taken place after both parties were adults, but lost the case.

Bharti said getting the groom's side to agree to annulment was far from easy.

"Who would so easily want to relinquish their right to the bride. It is engraved in customs as well as ego, and taking such cases in hands means humiliation and abuse," the activist said.

The Role of Customs and Future Aspirations

Khushboo's case sheds light on the role of certain customs that perpetuate child marriage, a blight that persists despite legal curbs.

The ceremony, Bharti said, was linked to a ritual called mauser (Mrityubhoj), which takes place following a death in the family. A part of the ritual is marrying off multiple children in a communal gathering.

Activists say such occasions often prioritise tradition over legality, with families fearing social boycott if they resist.

Meanwhile, Khushboo, who had dropped out after class 7, has resumed her studies and is preparing for her secondary examinations through open schooling.

"It is also my elder sister's wish that I complete my education and become self-reliant," she said.
Congress leader K C Venugopal accuses the CPI(M) and BJP of forming an alliance in the Kerala election, while promoting the UDF's promises of free bus travel for women and increased welfare pensions.

Key Points Congress leader K C Venugopal alleges a CPI(M)-BJP nexus in the Kerala election, claiming a deal to mutually benefit.

The Congress-led UDF promises free KSRTC bus travel for women if elected, aiming to ease the financial burden on working women.

Venugopal criticises the CPI(M) for allegedly delaying the Lavlin case and the slow pace of central agency investigations in Kerala.

The UDF pledges to increase the welfare pension to Rs 3,000, contrasting it with the LDF's current pension amount.

The Congress party is proposing a healthcare insurance scheme, similar to the one in Rajasthan, to improve healthcare access.

Congress leader K C Venugopal on Sunday alleged that a CPI(M)-BJP nexus is evident in the ongoing election, asserting that such an understanding would not succeed in Kerala this time.

Addressing a press conference, the AICC leader reiterated the party's promise of free Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus travel for women if the UDF comes to power in the state.

"CPI(M) and LDF know very well that people's sentiments are against them and are applying their last trick. CPI(M)-BJP friendship is not new in Kerala," he said.

He claimed that signs of this relationship were visible in issues such as PM-SHRI and the Left party's stance towards the central government.

"When a bridge is laid, there should be benefits to both sides. We have seen the postponement in the Lavlin case against the Chief Minister. We have also seen the pace of investigations by central agencies in Kerala," he said.

Venugopal alleged that the same connection was reflected in the candidate lists of the CPI(M) and the BJP, claiming that both parties had entered into a deal to help each other in the election.

"But I am sure that even their party workers will reject this deal. They have tried it before, but it was exposed. The same fate will repeat," he said.

He added that apart from exposing the current government, the UDF was also presenting its plans for governance.

He said a detailed manifesto outlining specific projects and plans for Kerala would be released soon.

UDF Promises and Welfare Initiatives

Venugopal said CPI(M) had belittled the Congress's earlier guarantee of free bus travel for women in KSRTC.

"Women working in sectors like coir, cashew, fishing, handloom, and those under the rural employment guarantee scheme are struggling to make ends meet. Our guarantee will be a game changer to ease their lives," he said.

He dismissed criticism that the scheme would financially burden KSRTC, noting that similar initiatives had been implemented in Karnataka and Telangana.

"The money spent on PR exercises can be utilised for such welfare activities. KSRTC will be given financial support," he said, adding that the UDF has a clear plan to address issues in the transport corporation.

He also alleged that the LDF had promised a welfare pension of Rs 2,500 in the last election, but increased it only to Rs 2,000 ahead of the 2025 local body polls.

He said the Congress's guarantee of raising the welfare pension to Rs 3,000 would be implemented.

Venugopal further spoke about a proposed healthcare insurance scheme, similar to the one in Rajasthan.

He expressed confidence that the UDF would secure 100 seats in the election.
A US Congressman has introduced a resolution urging the US government to recognise the 1971 atrocities committed against Bengali Hindus in Bangladesh by the Pakistani Army as a genocide, seeking justice and historical acknowledgement.

IMAGE: United States Congressman Greg Landsman, a Democrat Congressman from Ohio. Photograph: @RepGregLandsman/X

Key Points US Congressman Greg Landsman introduces resolution to recognise the 1971 atrocities against Bengali Hindus in Bangladesh as genocide.

The resolution condemns the actions of the Pakistani Army and Islamist allies during 'Operation Searchlight'.

The resolution highlights the targeting of religious minorities, particularly Hindus, during the 1971 conflict.

The resolution urges the US President to recognise the atrocities as crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.

The 'Blood Telegram' is cited as evidence of the US government's awareness of the genocide in 1971.

United States Congressman Greg Landsman has introduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives seeking to recognise the atrocities committed by the Pakistani Army and its allies, Jamaat-e-Islami, against Bengali Hindus on March 25, 1971, as "war crimes and genocide".

Landsman, a Democrat Congressman from Ohio, moved the resolution in the US House of Representatives on Friday, and it has been referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The Resolution

The resolution states that on the night of March 25, 1971, the Government of Pakistan imprisoned Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and its military units, in conjunction with radical Islamist groups inspired by the ideology of Jamaat-e-Islami, began a general crackdown throughout East Pakistan code-named ''Operation Searchlight'' that involved widespread massacres of civilians.

It said that on March 28, 1971, United States Consul General in Dacca, Archer Blood, sent a telegram to Washington titled ''Selective Genocide'', in which he wrote, ''Moreover, with support of Pak military, non-Bengali Muslims are systematically attacking poor people's quarters and murdering Bengalis and Hindus''.

Landsman noted that on April 6, 1971, in what became known as the ''Blood Telegram'', Consul General Blood sent an objection to the official United States Government silence on the conflict, signed by 20 members of the Consulate General Dacca.

''But we have chosen not to intervene, even morally, on the grounds that the Awami conflict, in which unfortunately the overworked term genocide is applicable, is purely an internal matter of a sovereign state," the then diplomat said in the telegram.

The resolution moved by Landsman urges the House of Representatives to condemn the atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of Pakistan against the people of Bangladesh on March 25, 1971.

The resolution "recognizes that while the Pakistani Army and its Islamist allies indiscriminately mass-murdered ethnic Bengalis regardless of their religion and gender, killed their political leaders, intellectuals, professionals, and students, and forced tens of thousands of women to serve as their sex slaves."

"They specifically targeted the religious minority Hindus for extermination through mass slaughtering, gangrape, conversion, and forcible expulsion," it added.

Noting that entire ethnic groups or religious communities are not responsible for the crimes committed by their members, the resolution calls on the President of the United States to recognise the atrocities committed against ethnic Bengali Hindus by the Armed Forces of Pakistan during 1971 and their allies in the Jamaat-e-Islami as crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.
TVK has withdrawn from the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, citing a 'big brother' attitude and unmet demands, potentially reshaping the political landscape ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief MK Stalin during the process of interviewing party members who submitted applications seeking tickets to contest in the upcoming Assembly elections, in Chennai, March 17, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points TVK founder T Velmurugan criticised the DMK for ignoring his party's demands, including conducting a caste census in Tamil Nadu.

Velmurugan indicated that TVK will not join the NDA and is exploring forming a new alliance with other parties.

DMK general secretary Durai Murugan responded to TVK's exit by stating that it is common for parties to criticise the government when leaving an alliance.

Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi on Sunday announced quitting the DMK-led SPA, with its founder T Velmurugan objecting to the ruling party's "big brother" attitude.

The decision was taken also following his party being "ignored," Velmurugan, incumbent MLA from Panruti (Cuddalore dt) Assembly segment, told reporters here.

"We were told during seat-sharing negotiations that we will be allotted one seat for the Assembly polls. We have been raising a set of demands, including regarding social justice. We were told when other parties are not asking for any demands, why you are making such demands," Velmurugan said.

"I have been repeatedly asking the government to fulfil at least some of the demands. But the DMK has been ignoring it," he claimed.

On his further course of action, he said that his organisation would not join the NDA in Tamil Nadu and indicated that he was talking to some parties over forming an alliance.

Further, "we have been making charter of demands to the negotiation panel (of the DMK). I have been informing that there was not any problem on allocation of seats but immediately take steps to fulfil these demands," he said.

Recalling that he has been speaking about the same demands in the legislative assembly for several years, Velmurugan alleged that "the DMK-led government did not care about them."

During seat-sharing negotiations, Velmurugan claimed, the approach of the election panel of the DMK was like a "big brother".

"We were told that when political parties including Congress, Communists, and MDMK did not place any such demands, as a legislator and the representative of a small party, they did not deem it fit for us to give such demands and ask them to be fulfilled."

"Treating us like this is not acceptable", Velmurugan added.

He accused some officials of complaining to Chief Minister MK Stalin and his ministers that he is constantly "giving trouble" to the government, Velmurugan alleged.

He questioned why the DMK government was refusing to conduct a Caste Census in the state.

"How can DMK walk the path of social justice while keeping forces against social justice by its side. When states like Odisha, Bihar conducted caste census, why the DMK did not respect my voice," he asked.

Maintaining that he has been in the DMK-led alliance for five years and successfully contested under the Dravidian party's 'Rising Sun' Symbol in 2021 elections, he expressed his gratitude to Stalin and the alliance parties who wanted him to continue in the alliance.

"In accordance with the decision taken collectively by our party's executive committee, general council, political leadership committee and based on the powers given to me, I announce that from today, Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi is withdrawing from the DMK-led alliance," he said.

DMK leads the multi-party Secular Progressive Alliance and the constituents include Congress and Left parties.

Meanwhile, responding to the party's exit from SPA, DMK General Secretary and state minister Durai Murugan said, "When someone leaves an alliance, will they say it is a good government and that is why we are leaving."

"They will only leave by saying that this regime is not good. This is just what is habitually said (by parties whenever they quit an alliance)."

Asked whether further talks may be held with Velmurugan, he said, "negotiations are not my subject. Leave me out of it."
Rivian Automotive Inc. on Thursday announced a deal with Uber Technologies Inc. wherein the latter will invest up to $1.25 billion in the company through 2031, contingent on achieving specific autonomous milestones.

What's The Deal?

As part of the deal, Rivian will provide up to 50,000 R2-based robotaxis. Uber has committed on an initial investment of $300 million and the initial order covers 10,000 robotaxis, with an option for Uber to purchase up to 40,000 additional robotaxis.

Rivian has to hit four performance milestones to secure the complete funding from Uber.

Don't Miss:

Analyst Says Deal Validates Rivian

BNP Paribas Equity Research senior analyst and head of US auto research, James Picariello, in a note, said that the deal shows Uber's confidence in Rivian's autonomy capabilities.

Picariello, in a note, said, "This further supports RIVN's decision to develop autonomy in-house, while confirming that it expects to reach commercially viable level 4 capabilities by 2028."

But Not Everyone Agrees

While some have called the deal a positive for Rivian, not everyone agrees.

EMJCapital's founder, Eric Jackson, in a post on X called this a test for Rivian.

Rivian's $1.25B Uber deal looks like validation.



It's actually a test.



Only $300M is real.

The other $950M only shows up if Rivian hits autonomy milestones that nobody besides Waymo has proven at scale.



So what is this, really?



Uber isn't betting on Rivian.

They're buying an  Eric Jackson (@ericjackson) March 19, 2026

Trending: This Startup Thinks It Can Reinvent the Wheel  Literally

"Rivian's $1.25B Uber deal looks like validation. It's actually a test," Jackson said in his post.

Jackson highlighted that Uber has signed deals with several companies, including Alphabet Inc's Waymo, Lucid Group Inc., Nuro, Nvidia Corp. and more.

Uber's deal with Rivian is an "option" for the ride-hailing giant, while Rivian is going "all-in" for the deal.

Rivian has confirmed that due to an increase in its R&D costs, it no longer expects to deliver positive EBITDA in 2027. "Rivian just pushed out profitability and increased burn," Jackson added.

Gary Black Says Rivian Will Be Acquired

The Future Fund's Gary Black, in a post on X, said that he believes that Google, Amazon.com Inc., or one of the Big 3, will "ultimately acquire" Rivian to boost their presence in the EV industry and gain full autonomy.
Police in Lucknow are investigating the suspicious death of a 69-year-old woman found in her home, seeking to uncover the circumstances surrounding her demise.

Key Points A 69-year-old woman was discovered dead in the Nishatganj area of Lucknow, India.

Police are investigating the woman's death, which they are treating as suspicious.

The deceased, Nirmala Devi, was found with a faint mark on her neck.

A post-mortem examination has been conducted to determine the cause of death.

A 69-year-old woman was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the Nishatganj area here, police said on Sunday.

Nirmala Devi was found dead on Saturday with a faint mark on her neck.

According to a police statement, she lived with her son, daughter-in-law, one grandson, and two minor granddaughters.

Her body was sent for a post-mortem, said police who are investigating the death.
A groom in India is on the run after allegedly scamming his bride's family out of a significant dowry by impersonating an IAS officer, highlighting the risks of matrimonial fraud.

Key Points A groom in Uttar Pradesh allegedly fled with Rs 15 lakh dowry after posing as an IAS officer.

The accused allegedly deceived the bride's family using fake interview clips and photos with politicians.

The bride's family spent approximately Rs 30 lakh on the wedding before discovering the alleged fraud.

Police suspect the accused may be a serial scammer involved in multiple fraudulent marriages.

An FIR has been registered, and authorities are actively searching for the accused and his sister.

A newly married man fled with the Rs 15 lakh given to him as dowry by the bride's family, and it came to light later that he was an alleged serial scammer, police said on Sunday.

The accused, identified as Pritam Kumar Nishad from Etawah, allegedly posed as an IAS officer to deceive the woman into marrying him. He is currently absconding with his sister, and a case has been filed against him for cheating, dowry harassment, and forgery, officials said.

According to the police, the woman's family claimed that they spent nearly Rs 30 lakh for the wedding that was solemnised on March 11.

The match was arranged through a matrimonial group, where the accused introduced himself as an IAS officer, sharing purported interview clips, office visuals, and photographs with politicians to gain the family's trust.

Despite initially claiming he would marry without dowry, the accused allegedly demanded Rs 15 lakh shortly before the engagement. The bride's family paid Rs 10 lakh in cash during the engagement and the remaining Rs 5 lakh on the wedding day, the police said.

Discovery of the Alleged Fraud

The fraud came to light on Saturday after the woman reached Etawah, and a wedding attendee informed the family that the accused was not a civil servant. When her relatives visited the address provided by him, they found her in a small rented room, while the accused and his sister had fled, the police added.

The woman has also alleged that the accused planned to take her to Goa and sell her, and accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

The police suspect that the accused may have been involved in multiple such marriages in the past. Based on a complaint lodged at the cantonment police station, an FIR was registered on Saturday evening.

Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Kaustubh said efforts are underway to arrest the accused.
Haryana Minister Rao Narbir Singh has requested Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to consider contesting the next election from Gurugram, aiming to fulfil the long-held aspiration of the Ahirwal region to have a chief minister from their area.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Haryana Minister Rao Narbir Singh urges Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to contest the next election from Gurugram to fulfil the Ahirwal region's wish for a CM from the area.

Rao Narbir Singh highlights the unprecedented development in the Ahirwal region under BJP governments since 2014, including universities, medical colleges, and infrastructure projects.

Chief Minister Saini responds that a chief minister represents the entire state of Haryana, not just a single region, and works for equitable advancement.

Rao Inderjit Singh, another prominent BJP leader from the Ahir community, previously expressed the wish of the people for him to become chief minister.

The Ahirwal region, including Gurugram, Rewari, and Mahendragarh, seeks representation at the highest level of state government.

Haryana minister Rao Narbir Singh on Sunday made a suggestion to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to contest the next election from Gurugram to fulfil the Ahirwal region's wish to have a CM from the area.

"Fight one election from Gurugram district, so that we can also say the chief minister is from our district....Fight this (next) election from Gurugram this time. I could not become (the CM) and neither will party make me. But you fight election from Gurugram and at least the wish of Ahirwal will be fulfilled," Singh told Saini who was also present during the minister's address at an event.

Industries and Commerce Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, said the Ahirwal region, including Gurugram, Rewari and Mahendragarh, has seen unprecedented development from 2014 under BJP governments in Haryana.

"Universities, medical colleges, AIIMS, dedicated freight corridor, logistics hub, colleges, elevated roads and many other projects came. But one demand of our area remained pending, rather a wish.

"Our Ahirwal region has a wish -- A not a demand. We ask that you fulfill it. From my younger days I have heard people say that Ahirwal ought to have a chief minister from the region," said Singh, who was addressing a public gathering in Gurugram district's Badshahpur.

Singh, the BJP legislator from Badshahpur, said Saini has fought four elections from Kurukshetra (when he became a MP in 2019), Karnal (assembly seat) and Ladwa (in Kurukshetra from where CM is a sitting MLA).

Referring to Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar who was the CM from 2014-2024, Singh said, "He was born in Rohtak district. He fought election from Karnal (as MLA). (After he became the CM) People of Karnal started saying the CM comes from their district".

"...Fight one election from Ahirwal, we will also say CM comes from our area," the minister told Saini.

Chief Minister's Response

Responding to Singh's remarks, Saini said a chief minister does not represent a single region, rather the entire state.

"I would like to state that, in the Bharatiya Janata Party, anyone who becomes the chief minister does not represent merely a single region; rather, he represents the entire state of Haryana and works to advance the entire state in an equitable manner," said Saini, addressing the gathering.

Ahir Community Leadership

Notably, Rao Narbir Singh and Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh are two prominent BJP leaders of the Ahir community in the region.

Weeks before the Haryana Assembly polls in October 2024, Rao Inderjit Singh had told reporters that "it was the wish of the people" that he becomes the chief minister of the state.

Rao Inderjit Singh is the descendant of Ahir leader Rao Tula Ram and the son of former Haryana chief minister Rao Birender Singh. He is currently the MP from Gurugram and a minister of state in the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

Rao Birender Singh was the second chief minister of Haryana for a brief period between March-November in 1967.
In a major crackdown, Himachal Pradesh Police arrested and dismissed four CID officers for alleged drug trafficking, underscoring the state's commitment to eradicating drug-related corruption within its ranks.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Four CID personnel in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, have been dismissed and arrested for allegedly colluding with drug traffickers.

The officers are accused of intercepting drug traffickers but allowing them to leave with contraband substances.

The case came to light after Shimla Police arrested individuals with LSD, who implicated the CID personnel.

Himachal Pradesh Police has dismissed 21 personnel for involvement in drug cases, demonstrating a 'zero-tolerance policy'.

The arrests are part of the statewide anti-drug movement 'Chitta-free Himachal'.

Himachal Pradesh Police on Sunday dismissed from service and arrested four CID personnel working with the special task force (STF) in Kullu for allegedly being involved in drug trafficking, police said.

The cops are accused of catching drug traffickers but were allowed to leave with the contraband substances, they said.

Constable Nitesh, constable Ashok, head constable Rajesh Kumar and head constable Sameer Kumar were charged under the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Police Act and arrested on Thursday.

Investigation and Arrests

Their alleged involvement came to light when Shimla Police on March 3 arrested a Punjab resident along with a woman from Sirmour district with about 562 strips of LSD in Shimla.

The duo were allegedly working with a drug smuggler involved in the trafficking of LSD.

According to police, the CID personnel had allegedly intercepted the traffickers in Kullu. However, they colluded with the drug traffickers and allowed them to leave with the contraband.

Zero Tolerance Policy

So far, 21 police personnel have been dismissed for being involved in drug cases.

Police has continuously been carrying out coordinated, intensive action as part of the statewide anti-drug mass movement "Chitta-free Himachal" across various districts of the state, a police spokesperson said.

Himachal Pradesh Police has strictly enforced a "zero-tolerance policy" within its own force against drug abuse and corruption, he said.
Himachal Pradesh police have successfully dismantled a major interstate drug trafficking operation with the arrest of a key kingpin in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, disrupting the flow of narcotics across state lines.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Interstate drug trafficking kingpin, Vijay Kumar alias VK, arrested in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir.

The arrest follows the seizure of 6 kg of charas (cannabis) and the arrest of three individuals in Kangra district.

Investigation revealed VK was the intended recipient of the seized narcotics consignment.

The operation represents a significant blow to the interstate drug trafficking network operating across Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir.

The Himachal Pradesh police have arrested an interstate drug trafficking kingpin from Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said on Sunday.

The accused, Vijay Kumar alias VK, is a resident of Kathua in Jammu & Kashmir.

According to Himachal Pradesh police, on October 11, 2025, three individuals were arrested with 6 kg of charas (cannabis) from the Kandwar barrier in Kangra district, following which an FIR was registered.

A police spokesperson said that during the investigation of the case, Shubhkaran of Jawali in Kangra was identified as the contraband supplier, and was subsequently arrested from Chandigarh on November 1, 2025.

"Further investigation revealed that the recovered consignment of narcotics was to be received by VK, who was nabbed by the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Nurpur from his residence today," the spokesperson said.

With this operation, the state's police have dealt a major blow to an interstate drug trafficking network linked to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, the official added.
An Indian Air Force employee has been arrested for allegedly spying and leaking sensitive information to Pakistani handlers, raising concerns about national security.

Key Points An Indian Air Force employee in Assam was arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistani intelligence.

The accused, Sumit Kumar, is suspected of sharing sensitive Air Force information for money since 2023.

Kumar allegedly shared details about fighter aircraft locations, missile systems, and personnel information.

The arrest followed an investigation that began with a suspect in Jaisalmer and involved Rajasthan and Air Force Intelligence.

A case has been registered under the Official Secrets Act, and further investigation is underway.

A civilian employee posted at an Indian Air Force station in Assam has been arrested for allegedly spying and sharing sensitive information with Pakistani handlers, Rajasthan Intelligence said on Sunday.

Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Prafull Kumar said the accused was arrested in a joint operation by Rajasthan Intelligence and Air Force Intelligence.

Investigation began with the arrest of a suspect from Jaisalmer in January 2026, which led to the identification of Sumit Kumar (36), a resident of Uttar Pradesh, currently posted as a multi-tasking staff (MTS) at the Air Force Station in Chabua, Dibrugarh.

Details of the Espionage

During interrogation, the accused revealed that he had been in contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives since 2023 and was allegedly sharing confidential information in exchange for money, officials said.

The accused is suspected of having collected and passed on sensitive details related to Air Force installations, including locations of fighter aircraft, missile systems and personnel-related information, through social media platforms.

He was brought to Jaipur for questioning at a central interrogation facility, where multiple agencies jointly interrogated him, officials said.

Legal Proceedings

A case has been registered under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and further investigation is underway to uncover the wider espionage network, police said.
Manipur CM Khemchand Singh sees a recent meeting with the Kuki Zo Council as a promising start to restoring peace and trust between Meitei and Kuki communities affected by ethnic violence.

IMAGE: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand (right) at Chingmeirong, in Imphal, Manipur. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Manipur CM views meeting with Kuki Zo Council as a positive step towards restoring peace and rebuilding trust after ethnic violence.

The primary focus is on enabling internally displaced persons to return home by rebuilding trust between Meitei and Kuki communities.

Kuki Zo Council raised concerns including de-escalating tensions, ensuring justice for victims, and maintaining the sanctity of buffer zones.

Chief Minister reiterated that the territorial integrity of Manipur would remain intact, addressing concerns about separate administration demands.

Both parties emphasized the importance of peace and reconciliation, with the Chief Minister appealing to 'forgive and forget'.

Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Sunday said his meeting with a Kuki Zo Council delegation was a "good beginning" at restoring peace in the state and rebuilding trust between Meiteis and Kukis.

A day after holding the closed-door meeting with the delegation in Guwahati, he told reporters here that "the talk between the Kuki Zo Council and the state government for the first time in nearly three years is a really good thing".

"The talks will proceed," the chief minister said.

More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.

The KZC, in a statement on Sunday, said the meeting commenced at 7 pm on Saturday and lasted around 1 hour and 45 minutes. The interaction was largely an ice-breaking session, it said.

Addressing the media on Sunday, the chief minister said, "In Manipur's situation, the most saddening part is that internally displaced persons are unable to return to their native homes.

"What is of utmost importance for their return is to rebuild the trust between the two communities. How long can central forces keep on guarding the population in some places? What is required is for the communities to forget the conflict and rebuild trust," Singh said.

Informing the reporters that the issue of IDPs of both sides returning to their places featured in the talks, the chief minister added that "at least we need to have a good beginning".

"I would like to thank the Kuki Zo Council for accepting the invitation for talks. We held the talks with the objective of bringing peace.

"My appeal to all is to restore peace and proceed with the concept of forgive and forget. My approach is bringing peace and building trust. There is no demand or commitment," Singh said.

Responding to media queries on the demand for a separate administration, he said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already announced that the territorial integrity of Manipur would remain intact.

As to the buffer zones terminology, Singh said, "There is no buffer zone for the government. During talks, I refer to it as a sensitive zone. Since there is no trust, security forces engage in checking at such sensitive zones.

He, however, asserted that "now is not the time for any kind of confrontation. If we want to bring peace, we must work honestly and more importantly, we must not focus on someone said this or someone said that".

The Kuki Zo Council, on the other hand, said that its delegation raised several key issues during the meeting in Guwahati on Saturday, all of which were attentively heard by the chief minister.

"Prominent among these (issues raised) were the urgent need to de-escalate the ongoing tensions between the Kuki and Tangkhul communities, and the imperative of ensuring justice for the victims of the conflict as a fundamental prerequisite for any meaningful peace and reconciliation process," it said.

The delegation also emphasised the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the buffer zone until a political settlement is reached and stressed the need to expedite a resolution to the ongoing Suspension of Operations talks to ensure durable and lasting peace in the region, the KZC statement said.

"The chief minister, in turn, shared his concerns, commitments, and the steps undertaken by his government in restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur. He expressed high appreciation for the KZC's initiative and its bold step in engaging with him during this challenging period," it said.
A social media influencer in Pilibhit has been arrested after posting a video containing derogatory remarks against the Valmiki community, igniting protests and raising concerns about online hate speech.

IMAGE: Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Key Points Social media influencer arrested in Pilibhit for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the Valmiki community.

The influencer's video sparked widespread protests and a road blockade by community members.

Police have registered a case against the influencer under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.

Authorities deployed additional police forces to maintain peace and prevent further unrest in sensitive areas.

The incident highlights the potential consequences of offensive social media content and its impact on community relations.

A social media influencer was arrested here after his alleged objectionable remarks against the Valmiki community triggered protests and a road blockade, police said on Sunday.

Station House Officer Naresh Tyagi said the incident came to light after Wasim Raza, from Naugawan Pakdiya village, posted a video on his social media page with the username 'Mr Pilibhit', during a visit to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve.

In the video, he purportedly used derogatory language against the Valmiki community.

Tension prevailed in the area after the video surfaced on social media, prompting hundreds of members of the community to stage a protest and block traffic at Gas Chauraha.

Following the protest, the accused was arrested by Sungarhi police station officials.

A case was registered against him under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and of the Information Technology Act, and he was sent to jail, officials said.

Community Response and Police Action

Members of the Valmiki community alleged that Raza repeatedly made offensive remarks against them and had earlier also made objectionable comments on Hindu deities.

On Sunday morning, angry residents gathered at a Valmiki temple in Nakhasa locality and took out a procession before blocking the road at Gas Chauraha.

Senior officials, including Additional Superintendent of Police Vikram Dahiya, City Magistrate Vijay Vardhan Tomar and Circle Officer (City) Deepak Chaturvedi, rushed to the spot with a heavy police force to control the situation.

Following an assurance of action from the authorities, the protesters lifted the blockade.

The FIR was lodged on the complaint of a local, Himanshu Nandan. As a precautionary measure, additional police and Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel have been deployed in Nakhasa and other sensitive areas.

Police have appealed to the public to maintain peace and not to be misled by rumours, officials added.
The Iranian state media Press TV further reported that the IRGC has identified multiple successful strikes against military and security hubs in Arad, Dimona, Eilat, Be'er Sheva, and Kiryat Gat.

IMAGE: Israeli soldiers work at the scene of damage after Iranian missile barrages struck residential buildings in Arad, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in southern Israel, March 22, 2026. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has claimed that hundreds have been either killed or wounded during the most recent phase of its ongoing military campaign.

According to a report by Iranian state media Press TV, the IRGC stated that the "latest phase of its ongoing retaliatory Operation True Promise 4" has resulted in a "significant tilting of the scale against adversaries".

Key Points The Corps detailed that the '73rd wave of the operation targeted both southern and northern parts of the occupied territories.'

The Iranian state media Press TV further reported that the IRGC has identified multiple successful strikes against military and security hubs in Arad, Dimona, Eilat, Be'er Sheva, and Kiryat Gat.

Technological assets deployed in this wave included the Fattah, Qadr, and Emad missile systems, alongside various attack drones.

In a formal statement released on Saturday, the Corps detailed that the "73rd wave of the operation targeted both southern and northern parts of the occupied territories." These strikes were reportedly carried out as a "tribute to the bravery of the martyrs of the Islamic Republic's air defence sector," utilising sophisticated missile and drone hardware managed by the IRGC's Aerospace Force.

The Iranian state media Press TV further reported that the IRGC has identified multiple successful strikes against military and security hubs in Arad, Dimona, Eilat, Be'er Sheva, and Kiryat Gat. The Corps alleged these hits occurred "following the collapse of Israeli air defence systems."

Furthermore, the operation reportedly extended to American assets, with the IRGC claiming that "US military bases in the region, namely Ali al-Salem in Kuwait, as well as al-Minhad and al-Dhafra in the United Arab Emirates, were also targeted."

Technological assets deployed in this wave included the Fattah, Qadr, and Emad missile systems, alongside various attack drones. Initial field assessments cited by the IRGC indicate that "more than 200 people were killed or injured in the early hours of the latest stage of the reprisal."

The statement also accused the "Zionist authorities" of intensifying "pressure on journalists and eyewitnesses to censor coverage of damage and casualty figures."

Highlighting the regional coordination of the conflict, the IRGC praised the "proud efforts" of Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Iranian state media Press TV noted that the Corps credited the movement with opening a "tough and high-pressure battlefront" against central and northern areas.

The IRGC characterised the current state of settlers as "dire and forsaken," blaming the policies of Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet for compromising security near nuclear and military zones.

The IRGC concluded its briefing by asserting that the "equations of war are rapidly changing," claiming that the Israeli military's control over its own defence was "collapsing."

These assertions follow reports of a major strike near the Dimona nuclear reactor. While official sources have acknowledged nearly 50 injuries, Iranian state media Press TV highlighted that the massive deployment of ambulances and military helicopters suggests the actual toll may be higher.

Reflecting on the intensity of the night, the Israeli publication Yedioth Ahronoth reportedly described the events as the "most difficult night" for the home front since the end of February.

This follows the commencement of "unrelenting and decisive counterstrikes" by the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces in response to recent regional provocations.
The military official indicated that Tehran's retaliatory scope would extend beyond traditional military targets to include critical civilian and technological infrastructure.

IMAGE: A mother and son walk near a building destroyed in a strike, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 21, 2026. Photograph: Alaa Al-Marjani/Reuters

The Islamic Republic of Iran has issued a stern warning against any military action targeting its domestic energy and fuel sectors, promising a comprehensive response against assets belonging to the United States and its regional allies.

Key Points The military official indicated that Tehran's retaliatory scope would extend beyond traditional military targets to include critical civilian and technological infrastructure.

This warning from Tehran comes as defence officials at the Pentagon have formulated comprehensive strategies for the potential deployment of US ground troops into Iran.

High-level military commanders have reportedly put forward specific requests to ensure readiness as Trump considers further actions within the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel.

According to Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the threat was articulated by Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

The military official indicated that Tehran's retaliatory scope would extend beyond traditional military targets to include critical civilian and technological infrastructure.

Speaking on the potential for escalation, Zolfaghari stated, "If Iran's fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy infrastructure, Information Technology systems, and desalination facilities belonging to the United States and the regime in the region will be targeted."

This warning from Tehran comes as defence officials at the Pentagon have formulated comprehensive strategies for the potential deployment of United States ground troops into Iran, according to various sources informed on the matter who spoke with CBS News.

High-level military commanders have reportedly put forward specific requests to ensure readiness as US President Donald Trump considers further actions within the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.

While Trump has been examining the possibility of stationing ground forces in the Middle East, CBS News reported that he has yet to define the exact conditions under which he would approve their use. The deliberations have been held under anonymity, as those involved were not permitted to discuss the sensitive planning publicly.

When questioned about the possibility of a ground presence in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump told reporters, "No, I'm not putting troops anywhere," but added, "If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you."

Responding to inquiries regarding the President's stance, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Pentagon's role is to ensure the commander-in-chief has "maximum optionality" in any crisis.

She added that such preparations do not indicate a final decision, noting that "as the President said in the Oval Office yesterday (Saturday), he is not planning to send ground troops anywhere at this time."

Despite these public denials, CBS News reported that the military has also convened sessions to address the logistics of capturing and detaining Iranian personnel and paramilitary members in the event of an invasion. These discussions include specific locations where detainees would be processed and held.

As part of these tactical preparations, the United States is currently readying components of the 82nd Airborne Division for possible deployment to the region.

This strategic move includes the Marine Corps' Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Army's Global Response Force.

According to CBS News, thousands of Marines are already in transit towards the Middle East.

Three naval vessels carrying approximately 2,200 Marines recently departed California, marking the second such unit dispatched since the onset of the conflict. A previous unit, redirected from the Pacific, is still en route to the region.

These significant movements indicate the Pentagon's effort to expand military options available to the President, with assets being repositioned to maintain a high state of readiness amid the ongoing conflict.
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The IDF said that during Operation Rising Lion in June 2025, it found that Iran poses a danger to several countries across Europe, Asia and Africa.

IMAGE: Israeli soldiers work at the scene of damage after Iranian missile barrages struck residential buildings in Arad, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in southern Israel March 21, 2026. Photograph: Ilan Assayag/Reuters

The Israel Defense Forces said on Saturday (local time) that Iranian missiles can reach a distance of almost 4,000km, which brings London, Paris or Berlin within its radar.

Key Points The IDF said that Iranian missiles can reach a distance of almost 4,000 km.

Israel said that Iran's missiles pose a danger to dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, which Tehran denied.

Iran said that Israeli skies will be deemed defenceless if they fail to intercept missiles in Dimona.

The IDF further said that during Operation Rising Lion in June 2025, it found that Iran poses a danger to several countries across Europe, Asia and Africa.

In a post on X, the IDF said, "The Iranian terrorist regime launched a long-range missile for the first time since the start of Operation Roaring Lion that could reach a distance of ~4,000 km. During Operation Rising Lion in June 2025, the IDF revealed that the Iranian regime has intentions to develop missiles with a range of 4,000 km, which pose a danger to dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. The Iranian regime denied this."

"We have been saying it: The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat. Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin. The Iranian terror regime has carried out attacks against 12 countries in the region and is developing a capability that poses a much broader threat," it added.

Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Hyderabad said that Israeli skies will be deemed defenceless if they fail to intercept missiles in Dimona.

In a post on X, the Consulate said, "If the Israeli regime fails to intercept the missiles in the heavily fortified area of Dimona, it will be an operational sign of entering a new phase of the battle: Israeli sky is defenceless. As a result, it seems that the time has come to implement the next pre-planned plans. Happy Nowruz to the Iranian nation."

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel was determined to continue striking its enemies on all fronts.

"This has been a very difficult evening in the battle for our future. A short while ago, I spoke with Arad Mayor Yair Ma'ayan and asked to convey, on behalf of all the citizens of Israel, our prayers for the recovery of the wounded. I have instructed the Director General of my office to provide the full necessary assistance, together with all government ministries. I offer my support to the emergency and rescue forces currently operating on the ground, and I call upon everyone to follow Home Front Command instructions. We are determined to continue striking our enemies on all fronts," the Israeli PM's Office said.
An Andhra Pradesh MLA fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing 12 lakh after clicking on a malicious APK file, prompting a police investigation into a potential international cybercrime ring.

IMAGE: All illustrations: Dominic Xavier/ Rediff.com

Key Points Janasena MLA C Balaraju lost 12 lakh after clicking on a malicious APK file disguised as an RTA challan.

The fraudulent link led to unauthorised transactions from the MLA's bank account.

Police have registered a case under Section 318(4) BNS and Section 66 D of the IT Act and are investigating the incident.

The withdrawn amount was traced to an ATM in West Bengal, suggesting the involvement of an organised gang.

Authorities suspect the cyber fraud may involve an organised gang with potential international links.

Andhra Pradesh police have registered a cyber fraud case after Janasena MLA C Balaraju lost 12 lakh by clicking on a malicious Android Package Kit (APK) file, a police official said.

According to police, the incident occurred on March 6 when the legislator unknowingly accessed the fraudulent link, leading to unauthorised transactions from his bank account, following which he approached the National Cyber Crime Helpline and registered a complaint.

"We have registered a case after Janasena MLA C Balaraju from Polavaram constituency lost 12 lakh by clicking on a malicious Android Package Kit (APK) file posing as an Road Transport Authority (RTA) challan," the official told PTI.

Fraudsters have transferred all amounts from the MLA's account after he clicked on the suspicious APK file, he said.

The complaint was later forwarded to the local police station on March 21 for further investigation, he added.

Police Investigation and Legal Action

Meanwhile, police have registered a case under Section 318(4) BNS and Section 66 D of the IT Act and initiated a probe into the incident.

According to police, bank statements revealed that the withdrawn amount was traced to an ATM located in West Bengal.

It is suspected the involvement of an organised gang, possibly with international links, behind the cyber fraud, the official added.
The investigation into self-styled astrologer Ashok Kharat intensifies as authorities question a temple priest and uncover potential property fraud and water resource misuse in a case involving rape, human sacrifice, and black magic allegations.

Key Points The SIT questioned a temple priest and watchman in connection with the Ashok Kharat case involving rape, human sacrifice, and black magic allegations.

Investigations reveal potential property fraud involving 52 properties linked to Ashok Kharat and his kin.

Maharashtra Water Resources Minister cancelled a GR allowing Kharat's trust to lift water from Darna Dam, alleging misuse for mango orchards.

Residents express anger over the tarnished reputation of their village and demand severe punishment for Ashok Kharat.

A high-level inquiry is underway, with the Chief Minister assuring that no one involved will be spared.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing rape, human sacrifice and black magic charges against arrested Merchant Navy officer-turned self-styled astrologer and godman Ashok Kharat on Sunday questioned the priest of Ishaneshwar Mahadev Temple, with which the accused is linked, and a watchman in Nashik, officials said.

A day earlier, a staffer of Kharat's office was questioned for more than seven hours by the SIT led by Indian Police Service officer Tejaswini Satpute, they added.

Kharat was arrested on March 18 for rape and other offences on the complaint of a 35-year-old woman. She alleged Kharat raped her several times over a period of three years.

Since then, the probe has revealed the alleged power Kharat wielded among a set of political leaders as well as transactions linked to land in Sinnar and some other areas in Nashik district.

Investigation Details and Allegations

"On Sunday, the SIT team questioned Pramod Gadakh, caretaker priest of the Ishaneshwar Mahadev Temple in Mirgaon, and a watchman. On Saturday, it had interrogated Neeraj Jadhav, staffer at Kharat's office, for seven hours in connection with a case registered at Shirdi police station," the official said.

The official said CCTV DVRs have been seized as part of the probe from Kharat's Mirgaon farmhouse, Tikde Colony bungalow and Canada Corner office.

The official said Kharat is named in several cases filed at Vavi, Shirdi and Sarkarwada police stations for alleged extortion, blackmail, rape and black magic practices.

He has been charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Information Technology Act for allegedly threatening to circulate photographs of a 24-year-old woman, the official said.

The case registered at Sarkarwada police station stems from a woman's complaint accusing Kharat of rape, human sacrifice and black magic. He has been booked under BNS and Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices Act, the official added.

Incidentally, Kharat himself has filed a complaint against two persons at Vavi police station accusing them of blackmailing him over obscene photos. The case has been registered under BNS and IT Act, the official said.

Investigators are reaching out to potential victims and more cases are expected to be registered against Kharat in the days to come, he said.

Sources in Nashik said three women have approached police. Allegations of Kharat and his kin possessing documents of 52 properties are also being probed, they added.

Water Resource Misuse and Community Reaction

In a related development, state Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Saturday cancelled a 2020 Government Resolution (GR) allowing Kharat-linked Shivanik Sansthan trust in Mirgaon to lift 3.9 million litres of Darna Dam water daily for "drinking purposes". It is alleged that Kharat diverted this water to his mango orchards.

Vikhe Patil has also ordered a probe into the antecedents of the GR that led to Kharat's trust getting dam water.

Meanwhile, officials said residents of Kharat's native Mirgaon are angry at the way the reputation of the village has got "tarnished", with some of them seeking "capital punishment" for the accused.

They also sought seizure of Kharat's properties and handover of the temple his trust runs to residents.

Government Response

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said a high-level inquiry under the director general of police (DGP) is underway in the case involving Kharat and asserted no one will be spared.

Fadnavis further said that while efforts are underway to politicise this case, people who have evidence to support their allegations should come forward and cooperate with the police.
Delhi police crack down on illegal LPG cylinder hoarding in Mahipalpur, arresting three individuals involved in black market operations and seizing a significant quantity of cylinders and refilling equipment.

IMAGE: Photograph: Manash Das/ANI Photo

Key Points Three men arrested in Delhi for illegally hoarding LPG cylinders to sell at premium prices.

Police seized 74 LPG cylinders, including both domestic and commercial, along with refilling equipment.

The accused were allegedly transferring gas between cylinders to manipulate supply and increase profits.

The men have been involved in the illegal LPG trade in the Mahipalpur area for the past three years.

A case has been registered under the Essential Commodities Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Three men were arrested in southwest Delhi's Mahipalpur for allegedly hoarding LPG cylinders to sell them at a premium price, police said on Sunday.

They were identified as Krishna, Dinesh Sahu, and Mithilesh, aged 33, 46, and 39, all from Bihar but living in Delhi.

The police seized 74 LPG cylinders  70 domestic and four commercial - along with a transport vehicle and refilling equipment in the raid on Saturday, an officer said.

Details of the Illegal Operation

"The trio was engaged in illegally storing LPG cylinders and supplying them to local customers without bills or licences. They allegedly used metal pipes to transfer gas from multiple filled cylinders into empty ones to manipulate supply and increase margins," the officer said.

"During the search, a large number of LPG cylinders, weighing machines and gas transfer equipment were found. The accused failed to produce any valid documents for storage or distribution of the cylinders," the officer said.

Among the recovered items were 54 filled and 16 used domestic cylinders, three filled and one used commercial cylinder, an electronic weighing scale, two hanging weighing machines and equipment used for refilling gas.

Legal Action

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Vasant Kunj North police station.

The three have been living in Delhi for over two decades and were allegedly involved in the illegal LPG trade in the Mahipalpur area for the past three years, the police said.
A 29-year-old man has been arrested in Delhi for an elaborate motorcycle theft scheme, exploiting test drives to steal bikes across the Delhi-NCR region.

Key Points A 29-year-old man was arrested in Delhi for allegedly stealing motorcycles by posing as a buyer and using test drives.

The accused, Punit Satija, confessed to stealing multiple motorcycles across Delhi-NCR using the same method.

Police recovered six stolen high-end motorcycles as a result of the arrest.

At least nine cases of motorcycle theft across Delhi and neighbouring areas have been solved with this arrest.

A 29-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly posing as a prospective buyer and fleeing with motorcycles that he took on the pretext of a test drive, police said on Sunday.

The accused, identified as Punit Satija, a resident of Rewari in Haryana, was held following a probe into a recent motorcycle theft from a showroom, he said.

"The case was registered on March 19 after a complaint by a Royal Enfield showroom employee, who alleged that a customer had taken a bike for a test drive and did not return," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Shashank Jaiswal said in a statement.

Police traced the accused to the Bhalaswa Dairy area, where he was arrested on March 21 and found in possession of a stolen motorcycle, they said.

Modus Operandi and Recovery

During interrogation, Satija confessed to stealing multiple motorcycles across Delhi-NCR using a similar modus operandi. At his instance, six stolen high-end motorcycles were recovered, the DCP said.

With his arrest, at least nine cases of motorcycle theft across Delhi and neighbouring areas have been worked out, police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
A man posing as a property dealer who allegedly defrauded numerous buyers and sellers in Delhi has been arrested after a year-long pursuit by police.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Rahul Paswan, accused of property fraud in Delhi, has been arrested after being on the run for a year.

Paswan allegedly posed as a property dealer, collected advance payments, and then disappeared.

He is wanted in multiple FIRs related to cheating and fraud in Delhi and has complaints against him in Gurugram and Faridabad.

Paswan's modus operandi involved gaining the trust of clients before defrauding them of initial payments.

Delhi Police have arrested a man who allegedly posed as a property dealer, gained the trust of buyers and sellers, collected advance payments and then absconded.

The accused, Rahul Paswan, a resident of Laxmi Nagar in Delhi and originally from Bihar's Lakhisarai district, was held on Saturday from the parking area near Kashmiri Gate while he was attempting to leave the city, they said.

He had been declared a proclaimed offender on February 3, 2023, in connection with a cheating case registered at the Laxmi Nagar police station in April 2022 under relevant sections of the IPC, they said.

According to the police, Paswan is involved in multiple cheating cases and has been on the run for nearly a year, during which he stayed in Faridabad, Haryana, to evade arrest.

"Acting on credible information, the team laid a trap and apprehended the accused," a senior police officer said.

Modus Operandi

Paswan's modus operandi involved projecting himself as a genuine property dealer. He would show flats or properties to prospective clients, gain their confidence and collect initial payments before disappearing without completing the deal, the police said.

He is wanted in at least three FIRs registered at Laxmi Nagar police station, including cases filed in 2022 and 2024, all pertaining to cheating and fraud, they said.

Several complaints have also been reported against him in Gurugram and Faridabad, the officials added.

A graduate and fluent in English, Paswan had earlier worked as a property dealer in Laxmi Nagar before shifting base to Gurugram and later Faridabad after allegedly cheating several people, the police added.
The WHO chief said that the International Atomic Energy Agency is examining the incidents reported in southeastern Iran and in the Israeli city of Dimona.

IMAGE: Text. Photograph: / Rediff.com

World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Sunday, called for maximum military restraint as the conflict in the Middle East escalates, warning that attacks near nuclear-related facilities in Israel and Iran pose "escalating threat to public health and environmental safety".

Key Points Highlighting the potential consequences of such attacks, he warned that attacks targeting nuclear sites create an escalating threat to public health and environmental safety.

Tedros also said the WHO has taken steps to prepare for possible health emergencies related to nuclear incidents.

Calling for de-escalation, the WHO chief urged all sides to avoid further escalation that could 'trigger nuclear incidents.'

In a post on X, Tedros said, "The war in the Middle East has reached a perilous stage with strikes reportedly hitting the Natanz Enrichment Complex in Iran, and the Israeli city of Dimona, where a nuclear facility is located."

He added that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is examining the incidents reported in southeastern Iran and in the Israeli city of Dimona.

"@iaeaorg is looking into incidents reported yesterday in southeastern Iran, and in Israel's city of Dimona. No indications of abnormal or increased off-site radiation levels have been reported," Tedros said.

Highlighting the potential consequences of such attacks, he warned, "Attacks targeting nuclear sites create an escalating threat to public health and environmental safety."

Tedros also said the WHO has taken steps to prepare for possible health emergencies related to nuclear incidents.

"Since the outbreak of hostilities, @WHO has provided critical training to its own staff and @UN personnel across 13 countries to help them respond effectively to public health threats in the event of a nuclear incident," he said.

Calling for de-escalation, he urged all sides to avoid further escalation that could "trigger nuclear incidents."

"I urgently call on all parties to exercise maximum military restraint and avoid any actions that could trigger nuclear incidents. Leaders must prioritise de-escalation and protect civilians," Tedros said.

He added, " Peace is the best medicine", making a broader appeal of peace amidst the ongoing Middle East Conflict.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with the Mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan and conveyed his prayers for those injured.

The Israeli foreign ministry said that over 100 people, including children, were injured in the attack.

In a post on X, the ministry said, "The Iranian regime devastated Arad and Dimona by deliberately striking civilians with missiles. Over 100 people were injured, including children. A blatant war crime. Pure terrorism."

The Iranian attacks reportedly came after Tehran's response to a strike on its Natanz nuclear facility earlier in the day, which Iran blamed on a joint US-Israeli operation -- an allegation Israel has denied.

Iranian military spokespeople claimed their missiles were aimed at strategic targets but did not dispute that towns were hit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is convening a meeting to address India's energy security concerns amid the escalating West Asia conflict and potential disruptions to global energy supplies.

Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Key Points Prime Minister Modi is holding a meeting to review the petroleum, power, and fertiliser sectors due to the evolving situation in West Asia.

The government's priority is to ensure uninterrupted energy supply, stable logistics, and efficient distribution across India.

The West Asia conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are causing a global energy crisis affecting international supply chains.

PM Modi has engaged with global leaders to address supply chain disruptions and maintain energy security for India.

The government is focused on continuous monitoring of global developments to protect consumer and industry interests in the face of the energy crisis.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting Sunday evening with senior ministers to take stock of petroleum, power, and fertiliser sectors in view of the evolving West Asia situation, sources have said.

The focus of the meeting is to ensure uninterrupted supply, stable logistics and efficient distribution across the country, and the government is taking proactive steps to this end, they said.

Continuous monitoring of global developments to protect consumer and industry interests is the key focus of the government, they said.

On March 12, Modi said that the war in West Asia has triggered a worldwide energy crisis, posing a critical test of national character that requires dealing with circumstances through peace, patience, and increased public awareness.

The prime minister emphasised that his government is working relentlessly to address disruptions that have emerged in international supply chains.

"Continuous efforts are also underway to determine how we can overcome the disruptions that have occurred in the supply chain," Modi said.

Impact of West Asia Conflict on Energy Supply

The prime minister has spoken to many global leaders since the West Asia conflict started on February 28, with the US and Israel attacking Iran.

Iran has retaliated by attacking Israel and several of its Gulf neighbours.

Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route through which 20 per cent of the world's energy is transported. Since the conflict, very few ships have been allowed by Iran to cross it.

The blockade has resulted in severe disruptions in energy supply to many countries, including India.

Since the conflict, Modi has had telephonic conversations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, France, Malaysia, Israel and Iran.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to review India's energy and fertiliser sectors amidst the escalating West Asia conflict, focusing on maintaining stable supplies and mitigating global energy crisis impacts.

Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Key Points Prime Minister Modi is holding a meeting to review the petroleum, power, and fertiliser sectors due to the ongoing West Asia conflict.

The government aims to ensure uninterrupted energy supply, stable logistics, and efficient distribution across India.

The West Asia conflict has triggered a global energy crisis, requiring proactive measures to address supply chain disruptions.

Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz and subsequent shipping restrictions are causing severe energy supply disruptions.

PM Modi has engaged with global leaders to address the energy crisis and supply chain challenges arising from the conflict.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting Sunday evening with senior ministers to review to take stock of petroleum, power, and fertiliser sectors in view of the evolving West Asia situation, sources have said.

The focus of the meeting is to ensure uninterrupted supply, stable logistics and efficient distribution across the country, and the government is taking proactive steps to this end, they said.

Continuous monitoring of global developments to protect consumer and industry interests is the key focus of the government, they said.

On March 12, Modi said that the war in West Asia has triggered a worldwide energy crisis, posing a critical test of national character that requires dealing with circumstances through peace, patience, and increased public awareness.

The prime minister emphasised that his government is working relentlessly to address disruptions that have emerged in international supply chains.

"Continuous efforts are also underway to determine how we can overcome the disruptions that have occurred in the supply chain," Modi said.

Diplomatic Efforts Amidst Conflict

The prime minister has spoken to many global leaders since the West Asia conflict started on February 28, with the US and Israel attacking Iran.

Iran has retaliated by attacking Israel and several of its Gulf neighbours.

Impact on Energy Supply

Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route through which 20 per cent of the world's energy is transported. Since the conflict, very few ships have been allowed by Iran to cross it.

The blockade has resulted in severe disruptions in energy supply to many countries, including India.

Since the conflict, Modi has had telephonic conversations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, France, Malaysia, Israel and Iran.
A Navi Mumbai hotel is facing legal action for allegedly neglecting to report the stay of Turkish nationals, highlighting the importance of adhering to regulations regarding foreign guest registration.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A Navi Mumbai hotel owner and manager are accused of failing to report details of foreign guests to the police.

The hotel allegedly allowed four Turkish nationals to stay without uploading their information to the police portal.

The violation was discovered during a routine police verification of the hotel's register in the Sanpada area.

An FIR has been filed against the hotel staff under the Foreigners Order, 1948, and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police have registered a case against the owner and the manager of a hotel in Navi Mumbai for allegedly not uploading information about foreign guests on the police portal, an official said on Sunday.

The accused allowed four Turkish nationals, including two women, to stay at the hotel in the Sanpada area between December 28 and 30 last year.

But, they failed to upload the details of these guests on the designated police website, as mandated under the law, an official from Sanpada police station said.

The lapse came to light during a routine verification of the hotel's register by a Sanpada police team, he said.

An FIR was registered against the duo on Saturday under provisions of the Foreigners Order, 1948, and sections 223 (knowingly disobeying lawful orders from a public servant) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the official said.
March 20 (Reuters) - Sezzle has dismissed its independent auditor Baker Tilly and instead appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for 2026, the buy now, pay later company said in a filing on Monday.

The company disclosed a material weakness in controls over the classification of cash flows related to notes receivable for fiscal 2024 and 2025.

The filing said Baker Tilly's audit opinions for the years were unqualified and did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer.

However, the auditor said Sezzle's internal control over financial reporting was ineffective as of December 31, 2025 due to material weakness.

Sezzle said it had no disagreements with Baker Tilly during the two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent interim period.

The dismissal was approved by the audit committee, while the new appointment is subject to completiton of standard client procedures.

(Reporting by Pranav Mathur in Bengaluru)
Opposition parties are seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner, alleging bias and misconduct in the execution of electoral processes and alignment with the ruling party's agenda.

IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Opposition MPs have filed notices seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging 'proved misbehaviour'.

The Opposition accuses the CEC of acting under the 'thumb of the executive' and failing to maintain independence.

Concerns are raised about the Special Intensive Revision exercise, with claims it led to 'mass disenfranchisement'.

The Opposition alleges the CEC's actions align with the ruling party's political objectives, including implementing a 'backdoor NRC'.

The process to remove the CEC is similar to that for a Supreme Court judge, requiring impeachment based on 'proven misbehaviour'.

The notices moved by the opposition MPs in Parliament seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have accused him of "acting under the thumb of the executive", besides blaming him for "mass disenfranchisement" through the SIR exercise, and raising questions on his appointment.

The notices submitted in the two Houses of Parliament on March 12 list seven charges against the chief election commissioner (CEC) as grounds of "proved misbehaviour", calling for his removal.

The Opposition MPs, 130 in the Lok Sabha and 63 in the Rajya Sabha, have also sought a motion to remove the CEC.

Asked about the notices, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien said they are waiting for action on them.

"If the notices are not taken up by the Union government, doubts will be raised about a tacit understanding between the executive and the CEC," said O'Brien.

The notices termed maintaining a level playing field "the heart and soul of electoral democracy", and part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

Allegations against CEC

Among the charges of "proved misbehaviour", the Opposition accused the CEC of "failure to maintain independence and constitutional fidelity", and acting under the "thumb of the executive".

The Opposition's charges include the process of Kumar's appointment as the CEC, his "partisan" press conference on August 17, 2025, targeting Rahul Gandhi, "discriminatory treatment" of Opposition and ruling party members, "obstruction" of investigations, refusal to provide "transparency tools", and the execution of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise "in alignment with the ruling party's political objectives".

"The ECI's stance on the citizenship verification aspect of the SIR, i.e., ascertaining the citizenship status of voters through electoral roll revision, is in direct alignment with the Union home minister's stated position that an NRC (National Register of Citizens) exercise would be conducted across India.

"The CEC has effectively converted the ECI from a neutral electoral body into an instrument executing the executive's political agenda. He also converted it from an impartial election conducting institution into a citizenship determination tribunal," the Opposition alleged.

It also alleged that the SIR exercise in Bihar, announced just five months ahead of the Assembly polls last year, imposed "exclusionary documentation requirements" that had the effect of "systematically disenfranchising" the most vulnerable sections of society.

The Opposition referred to 65 lakh voters "excluded" in Bihar, a "staggering figure representing a significant proportion of the state's electorate", maintaining that the exercise played a decisive role in the NDA's victory in the Assembly polls, with the Opposition "wiped out".

According to the notices, the CEC's "sudden decisions to start SIR with rocket-like alacrity in very large states slated for polls within 2-3 months, a mulish obstinacy to reconsider timelines, complete insensitivity to genuine human sufferings and deliberate ignorance of every plea of the opposition parties unless courts were approached and specific directions issued reflected the inherently biased mindset and approach of Gyanesh Kumar".

The notices claimed that the "Bihar model" was replicated in other states, and in West Bengal, the draft electoral rolls revealed the deletion of approximately 58 lakh names from an initial electorate of 7.66 crore, while over 60 lakh voters remain in the "under adjudication" category, leaving their voting status uncertain just weeks before the Assembly elections.

"The SIR process has been characterised by the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal and by several opposition parties as 'NRC through backdoor', imposing documentation burdens that disproportionately affect Hindu refugees from Bangladesh, including the Matua community, as well as Dalits, OBCs, Adivasis, and minorities," the notices said.

Concerns over appointment and conduct

The charges also referred to the CEC's selection process, saying it's the "subject of a pending constitutional challenge before the Supreme Court".

They also mentioned Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's dissent in February 2025 when Kumar was picked for the post.

"The haste with which the appointment was effectuated at midnight, despite the pendency of a Supreme Court hearing on the very law governing the appointment, demonstrates a deliberate intent by the executive to install a person of its choosing before the court could potentially intervene and the willingness of Gyanesh Kumar to participate in such a process," they alleged.

The notices also referred to the CEC's public ultimatum to Gandhi during an August 2025 press conference, when amid allegations of electoral fraud in the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency in Karnataka during the 2024 general elections, Kumar asked Gandhi to either apologise or back his claims with a signed affidavit as required under electoral rules.

The CEC did not demand an affidavit when BJP leader Anurag Thakur alleged electoral fraud in Rae Bareli, the Opposition claimed.

The opposition leaders called this a "discriminatory response of the CEC", and said it "constitutes unambiguous and unequivocal partisan misbehaviour."

They also accused the CEC of "deliberate obstruction of justice", and referred to the allegations of voter list fraud at Aland in Karnataka, "refusal to provide machine-readable voter lists", "refusal to release CCTV footage from polling booths", and alleged that the EC has become an opaque and unaccountable institution.

Impeachment process explained

The process to remove the CEC is similar to that for the removal of a Supreme Court or a high court judge, meaning an impeachment can be effected only on the ground of "proven misbehaviour or incapacity".

If the motion is admitted in both Houses, a committee would be constituted jointly by the Lok Sabha speaker and the Rajya Sabha chairman, comprising the chief justice of India 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.

According to the rules, once the committee submits its report, it will be tabled in the House, and discussions will commence for impeachment.

The motion 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.
Indian police in Solapur dismantled a prostitution ring operating out of a dance academy, rescuing 25 women and arresting five for human trafficking, highlighting the ongoing fight against exploitation in the region.

Photograph: Pixabay

Key Points Solapur police busted a prostitution racket operating out of a dance academy in Modnimb village.

25 women were rescued from Swaranjali Kala Kendra during the police operation.

Five individuals, including one woman, have been arrested on charges of human trafficking.

The operation was a joint effort by Tembhurni police, Harmony Foundation, and Exodus Road India Foundation.

Investigations suggest links between the dance academy and a lodge in trafficking women for prostitution.

The police have busted a prostitution racket operating out of a dance academy and rescued 25 women from the establishment in Maharashtra's Solapur district, an official said on Sunday.

Five people, including a woman, have been arrested on the charges of human trafficking, following an operation at Swaranjali Kala Kendra in Modnimb village last week, he said.

Based on a tip-off, the operation was carried out jointly by a team from Tembhurni police station and NGOs Harmony Foundation and Exodus Road India Foundation, the official said.

At least 25 women, including one from West Bengal, were rescued during the raid, he said, adding that the victims have been shifted to a rehabilitation home.

Investigation Details

Dr Abraham Mathai, chairman of Harmony Foundation, said that preliminary investigations revealed that persons linked to Swaranjali Kala Kendra and Swagat Lodge were allegedly involved in trafficking women from different districts and states and pushing them into the flesh trade.

To verify the inputs, an operation was conducted with a decoy customer with the help of police personnel and independent witnesses, he said.
A joint operation by Punjab Police and the Border Security Force has successfully dismantled a Pakistan-linked cross-border drug smuggling ring, resulting in arrests and the seizure of heroin, cash, and a delivery drone.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Punjab Police and BSF jointly busted a cross-border drug smuggling module with links to Pakistan.

Authorities seized 24.5 kg of heroin and 21.5 lakh in cash from the arrested individuals.

A multi-copter drone used for delivering drug consignments from across the border was recovered.

The accused used drug money to purchase properties in posh localities.

Further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the smuggling network.

In a joint operation with the Border Security Force, the Punjab Police busted a cross-border smuggling module with the arrest of three persons and recovered 24.5 kg heroin and 21.5 lakh cash from them, a top police officer said on Sunday.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had links with Pakistan-based handlers, officials said.

Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the accused have been identified as Jagjit Singh alias Rana, a resident of village Noorwal in Amritsar, Manpreet Singh alias Preet of Aulakh Khurd in Amritsar and Roshan Singh from village Dhupsari in Amritsar.

The BSF and police have also recovered a multi-copter drone, which was used by Pakistan-based smugglers to deliver the consignment from across the border, and two cars being used to deliver the narcotics.

Yadav said following a deep technical investigation, police team successfully dismantled this Pakistan-linked cross-border network.

Further investigation is ongoing to establish forward and backward linkages in this case, he said.

Details of the Drug Seizure

Sharing more details, Superintendent of Police Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Gurpreet Singh, said the operation was conducted in two stages, as initially 12.1 kg of heroin along with a multi-copter drone was recovered.

Forensic analysis of the drone, including its technical data, led to a further seizure of 12.4 kg heroin from the house of Manpreet Singh, bringing the total recovery to 24.5 kg of the drug, he said.

The officer said that accused Rana recently purchased properties in posh localities using drug money and was also fond of cars.

More arrests and recoveries are expected in this case, he said.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the NDPS Act and the Aircraft Act at ANTF police station in SAS Nagar.
Saudi Arabia emphasised that the 'continued targeting' of Saudi Arabia, specifically its 'sovereignty, civilian objects, civilians, economic interests, and diplomatic premises', is a serious breach of global legal standards.

IMAGE: Fire rises from an explosion following a strike near oil company Aramco, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 18, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Photograph: Social Media via Reuters

The Saudi ministry of foreign affairs has issued a comprehensive and "unequivocal condemnation" of what it described as persistent Iranian aggression directed at the Kingdom and its regional partners.

Key Points The 'blatant Iranian attacks' have also targeted members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and several other Arab and Islamic nations.

Saudi views these actions as a 'flagrant violation of all relevant international conventions' and a contradiction of the 'principles of good neighbourliness.'

The Saudi authorities further asserted that Iran's military activities directly contravene the "Beijing Agreement" and "United Nations Security Council Resolution.

According to a report by Gulf News, the official statement highlighted that these "blatant Iranian attacks" have also targeted members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and several other Arab and Islamic nations.

In a formal communication released via the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the ministry emphasised that the "continued targeting" of Saudi Arabia, specifically its "sovereignty, civilian objects, civilians, economic interests, and diplomatic premises", is a serious breach of global legal standards.

Gulf News noted that the Kingdom views these actions as a "flagrant violation of all relevant international conventions" and a contradiction of the "principles of good neighbourliness."

The Saudi authorities further asserted that Iran's military activities directly contravene the "Beijing Agreement" and "United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026)."

Additionally, the ministry observed a stark disconnect between Tehran's rhetoric and its conduct.

Gulf News reported that the ministry found Iran's actions to be in opposition to the "principles of Islamic brotherhood" and the "values and tenets of the Islamic faith" that the Iranian leadership frequently cites.

As a direct consequence of the escalating hostilities, Riyadh has taken decisive diplomatic action.

Reaffirming a previous warning issued on 9th March regarding the "serious consequences for relations," the Kingdom has ordered the "military attache of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the "assistant military attache," and "three members of the mission staff" to exit the country.

Gulf News confirmed that the Saudi government has "declared them personae non gratae" and mandated their departure within a 24-hour window.

The Kingdom concluded by stressing its firm resolve to defend its national interests.

Invoking "Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations," Riyadh affirmed it "will not hesitate to take all necessary measures" to "preserve its sovereignty" and "safeguard its security."

As reported by Gulf News, this commitment extends to the protection of the Kingdom's "territory, airspace, citizens, residents, resources, and interests" amid the current regional crisis.
The Supreme Court has directed all states and Union territories to furnish updated jail statistics, addressing critical issues such as overcrowding, conditions in women's prisons, and facilities for children of female inmates.

IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Key Points The Supreme Court has mandated all states and Union territories to submit updated jail statistics by May 18, focusing on overcrowding.

The court seeks detailed information on the capacity of each prison, the number of prisoners, and the percentage of overcrowding.

States and UTs must provide specifics on women's prisons, including facilities for female prisoners and their children.

The Supreme Court requires data on prison staff, vacancies, and measures to address staffing shortages.

The collected data will be reviewed by an amicus curiae to prepare a comprehensive report for the court's consideration.

The Supreme Court has directed all the states and Union territories to furnish updated details relating to jails, including the sanctioned capacity of each prison and steps taken to check overcrowding, by May 18.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta also asked the states and UTs to provide details about the number of women's prisons within their jurisdictions and the facilities available in them, including the measures taken to ensure education and overall welfare of children living with the female inmates.

The bench noted that senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal, who is assisting the top court as an amicus curiae in a suo motu matter concerning inhuman conditions in jails, has drawn its attention to the fact that the statistics placed on record by the states and UTs pertain to 2023.

The bench said that, having regard to the nature of issues involved and the necessity of an informed adjudicatory exercise, the availability of updated contemporaneous data was indispensable for the effective consideration of the proceedings.

"Accordingly, we deem it appropriate to direct all the states and Union territories to place on record updated and comprehensive statistics relating to all prisons situated within their respective jurisdictions," the bench said in its order passed on March 17.

Details Required by the Supreme Court

It said the data shall include jail-wise capacity of each prison, total number of prisoners, percentage of overcrowding in each jail, steps proposed to address overcrowding, details of women's jails, facilities provided to women prisoners and children accompanying them (including educational and medical facilities), sanctioned strength of prison staff, existing vacancies, steps taken to fill them, along with all ancillary aspects relating to prison administration.

The bench directed the states and UTs to furnish complete particulars indicating the sanctioned capacity of each prison and the total number of prisoners lodged as on March 1, 2026, along with jail-wise details reflecting the extent of occupancy.

The apex court said the states and UTs would file comprehensive affidavits, duly sworn by the home secretary, providing the requisite details by May 18.

It said the top court registry would forward copies of the affidavits received from the states and UTs to the amicus, who would prepare a comprehensive note detailing the statistics and information provided by them.

It posted the matter for hearing on May 26.
A Siddhivinayak Temple employee in Mumbai was arrested after CCTV footage revealed him stealing money from donation boxes, prompting a police investigation into the extent of the theft.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A Siddhivinayak Temple worker in Mumbai has been arrested for allegedly stealing money from donation boxes.

CCTV footage revealed the employee extracting currency notes from donation boxes over a 10-day period.

Temple officials suspect the worker stole at least Rs 10,000 and have filed a police complaint.

An investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the theft and potential involvement of other employees.

Police have apprehended a worker from Mumbai's Siddhivinayak temple for allegedly stealing money from donation boxes, officials said on Sunday.

The incident came to light on March 20 after staff reviewed 10 days of CCTV footage from the revered Ganesha shrine in the city's Prabhadevi area.

Police said the temple officials had a suspicion that the worker had been stealing money.

The CCTV footage showed him pulling currency notes from donation boxes multiple times, said the official, citing the FIR registered against him. It also showed the temple employee using his fingers to extract money from a donation box in the priest's chamber.

Taking serious note of the staffer's alleged misconduct, the temple authorities submitted a complaint to the Dadar police station.

The temple officials suspect the worker has stolen at least Rs 10,000 so far.

A probe is underway to determine whether the worker had stolen on previous occasions, how much he may have accumulated, and whether any other temple employee was involved in the alleged crime, the official added.
Akhilesh Yadav pledges to prioritise women's education, safety, and empowerment in Uttar Pradesh with new initiatives if the Samajwadi Party wins the 2027 elections, building on past successful schemes.

Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

Key Points Akhilesh Yadav promises enhanced focus on women's education and welfare if the Samajwadi Party wins the 2027 elections.

The Samajwadi Party aims to improve the implementation of schemes related to women's safety, health, honour, and prosperity.

Yadav highlights the success of the '1090' helpline, praising its impact on women's safety and the Supreme Court's recognition.

The 'Kanya Vidyadhan Yojana' (Girls' Education Scheme), initiated by Mulayam Singh Yadav, will be expanded and strengthened under a new SP government.

Former Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Alok Ranjan acknowledged the women-centric initiatives undertaken during Akhilesh Yadav's previous tenure as chief minister, including dedicated police units and Asha Jyoti Kendras.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stated on Sunday that if his party regains power in 2027, it will introduce more initiatives focused on the education of daughters and the welfare of mothers and sisters.

Speaking at a programme held at the Samajwadi Party office in Lucknow, Akhilesh Yadav emphasised, "To truly understand a society or a nation, one must examine the status of its women, and an assessment reveals the overall condition of the entire society. In India, which is home to diverse castes and religions, it becomes evident that the situation of our women and sisters is, in fact, dire."

He assured that the party will better implement schemes concerning women's safety, health, honour, and prosperity in the future.

"I assure you that genuine progress is unattainable without the involvement of 'aadhi aabaadi' (half the population) - that is, women. While the strength of the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) lies in the Backwards Classes, Dalits, Minorities, and our Muslim brothers, we cannot advance society and the nation without the support of this 'half of the population.' By forming a government through the PDA, we will implement special schemes aimed at honouring women and leading them toward a prosperous life, thereby promoting their empowerment and upliftment," Yadav stated.

Past Initiatives and Future Plans

Reflecting on the 1090 helpline established during his tenure as chief minister, he remarked, "Initially, many were sceptical about the effectiveness of the '1090' helpline. However, I am pleased to note that once this initiative to aid and ensure the safety of girls and women began, the resulting statistics were published in newspapers and praised by the Supreme Court, which suggested other states should learn from this model."

Discussing the 'Kanya Vidyadhan Yojana' (Girls' Education Scheme) launched by Mulayam Singh Yadav, the SP chief stated, "At that time, there was no specific scheme in the country aimed at facilitating the education and advancement of young women. Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) initiated this program, and every subsequent Samajwadi government has worked to expand and strengthen it."

He added that through the 'Rani Lakshmibai Scheme,' they had previously honoured courageous women, and the upcoming Samajwadi Party government would once again launch similar vital initiatives.

Recognition of Previous Efforts

Former Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Alok Ranjan, who attended the program, noted that between 2012 and 2017, when Akhilesh Yadav was chief minister, numerous initiatives were undertaken for the upliftment of women.

Ranjan stated that during that period, Akhilesh created a dedicated post of additional director general of police (ADGP), which was held by a female officer. The entire organisational structure under her supervision was responsible for continuously monitoring crimes against women to ensure appropriate action was taken and to evaluate whether preventive measures were effectively reducing such offences.

"Women could even register FIRs via email. The rationale was that if women had difficulties or felt apprehensive about visiting a police station in person, they could simply file their complaints electronically, and every such FIR was subsequently tracked and monitored," he explained.

He also mentioned the establishment of Asha Jyoti Kendras in 26 districts, serving as "one-stop solutions" for women. The intent was to provide assistance where women who faced harassment or became victims of a crime often felt unable to approach a police station directly due to nervousness and apprehension.

"Consequently, these centres were established as dedicated entities, operated entirely by women," Ranjan noted.
Two teenagers have been arrested in Surat for possessing a significant amount of cannabis, raising concerns about drug trafficking and youth involvement in illegal activities.

Key Points Two 17-year-old boys were detained in Surat for possession of cannabis.

The cannabis seized was valued at Rs 4.54 lakh.

The teenagers had travelled from Bihar to Surat.

Police recovered 9.08 kg of ganja from the minors.

The teenagers have been sent to a children's remand home, and further investigation is underway regarding the drug possession in Surat.

Two boys, both 17, were detained in Surat with cannabis valued at Rs 4.54 lakh, police said on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, police on Saturday intercepted the duo, who had come from Bihar, near L N Park Society in the Udhana Bhathena area while they were heading towards the M-4 market.

The two were carrying 9.08 kg of ganja, as per an official release.

Besides the contraband, valued at Rs 4.54 lakh, police have also recovered two mobile phones from the minors, said inspector S N Desai from Udhana police station.

A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and the minors have been sent to a children's remand home, he said, adding that further investigation is underway.
Pakistani security forces successfully thwarted a terrorist attack by the TTP on a police station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region.

Photograph: Screen grab/X

Key Points Pakistani security forces successfully repelled an attack by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on a police station under construction in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Two TTP terrorists were killed during the clash with security forces in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

TTP terrorists briefly kidnapped construction workers and police officers, who were later released following negotiations with tribal elders.

A separate incident involving a mortar shell in Kurram's Para Chamkani area resulted in one fatality and three injuries.

Security sources mowed down two terrorists belonging to the banned TTP after they attempted to attack an under-construction police station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in north-west Pakistan on Sunday, police said.

The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are termed as Fitna al Khawarij by the state.

Clash at Construction Site

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kurram district, labourers were busy with construction with police officials deployed for security when the Fitna-al Khawarij demanded that the work stop. This resulted in their clashing with the police, during which two terrorists were killed, police officials said.

The terrorists also kidnapped a few of the workers and policemen. However, negotiations were held with tribal elders, which resulted in their return, the officials said.

Mortar Shell Incident

Meanwhile, one person was killed and three others were injured after a mortar shell fell in Kurram's Para Chamkani area, police said.
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, faces strong opposition in India as critics fear it will undermine the rights and self-determination of transgender individuals, sparking calls for its withdrawal.

Key Points Opposition MPs and activists are demanding the withdrawal of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, fearing it will dilute transgender rights.

Critics argue the bill contradicts the Supreme Court's principles on self-identification for transgender individuals.

Concerns are raised that the bill's definition of 'transgender' and graded punishments could lead to discrimination and restrict access to legal identity.

Activists highlight the history of struggle for transgender recognition and dignity, arguing the bill undermines years of progress towards self-determination.

The bill faces opposition for potentially imposing identity on individuals and failing to align with global trends towards self-identification.

Opposition MPs and transgender rights activists on Sunday called for the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, to be withdrawn, saying the proposed changes could dilute their rights.

The call to rollback the Bill was made at a Jan Sunwai (public discussion) held at the Press Club of India here, where participants raised concerns over its potential impact on transgender people.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar introduced the Bill in Lok Sabha on March 13.

The Bill seeks to give a precise definition of the term "transgender" and provide graded punishments that reflect the gravity of the harm inflicted upon such persons.

It also underlines that a transgender person "shall not include, nor shall ever have been so included, persons with different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities".

The proposed amendment to the existing Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, has triggered criticism from members of the community who say it departs from principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the landmark judgement of National Legal Services Authority vs Union of India.

Political Opposition to the Bill

NCP(SP) spokesperson Anish Gawande, speaking to PTI, said there is a clear demand to withdraw the Bill. "If the government is not willing to withdraw it, then it should be referred to the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment for reconsideration," he said.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said the Bill should be sent to a parliamentary standing committee and emphasised that individuals must be respected as they are, calling it the duty of the state and government.

Dikshit also emphasised the need to recognise individuals first as human beings. "In our society, identity is often attacked repeatedly. The state and institutions must first treat every person as a human being, and then as a citizen," he said.

"The duty of the state and Parliament is to respect individuals as they are -- their identity, their choices and their sense of self -- and stand by them with dignity," he added.

Manoj Jha, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Rashtriya Janata Dal, said: "This is a case of constitutional morality versus majoritarianism. The government cannot rely only on numbers. It must be guided by constitutional values."

"There is a need for a collective strategy inside Parliament, reaching across party lines to build consensus and challenge such measures," Jha said.

"We need to come together, both inside and outside Parliament, and build a coordinated strategy to oppose such measures," he added.

CPI(M) leader John Brittas raised concerns over the proposed amendments, saying they go against the principle of self-identification. "It restricts access to legal identity and raises serious questions about self-determination," he said.

"At a time when legislation should be progressive, we are witnessing a regressive shift that could push the community backwards," Brittas added.

He questioned the authority to determine identity. "Who is to decide a person's identity? The state cannot impose identity on individuals," he said.

Referring to global practices, Brittas said, "Several countries such as Denmark, Malta and Ireland have moved towards self-identification. India should be moving forward, not backwards."

Highlighting ground realities, he added, "Even today, many people are hesitant to openly identify themselves. Adding more layers of scrutiny will only make it more difficult."

"This is the time to protect diversity and uphold dignity. We must stand together to ensure that the rights of the community are not diluted," Brittas said.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury said the community would continue to resist the proposed changes and fight for their rights.

"Even if the Bill is passed in Parliament, the fight will not end. We will continue to raise our voice and stand with the community," she said.

"We are not going to be afraid. This is not an easy journey, but we have to fight it collectively," Chowdhury added.

She also raised concerns about the implementation of the law at the grassroots level, questioning how district magistrates in smaller towns would be sensitised to deal with transgender persons seeking official recognition.

Reiterating her support, she said that while the road ahead may be challenging, there remains hope, and she stands firmly with the community.

Activist Concerns and Calls for Unity

Grace Banu, a transgender rights activist, highlighted the long history of struggle for recognition and dignity, saying the proposed changes undermine years of progress.

"For decades, we have been fighting to define our own identity. After years of struggle, self-identification was recognised, and now it is being taken away," she said.

Recalling past experiences, she alleged instances of invasive verification processes. "We have faced humiliating examinations and questioning about our bodies. Such practices violate basic human rights and dignity," Banu said.

She said the community continues to face discrimination and violence. "Even today, many in our community face abuse within families, social exclusion and are pushed into marginalised livelihoods," she said.

"We have the right to live with dignity like any other citizen. This Bill goes against that principle," Banu added.

She called for unity and wider support on the issue. "Our fight will continue -- whether we win or not, we will not stop," she said.
Chinese FM urges efforts to prevent escalation in Mideast conflict

Xinhua) 10:44, March 22, 2026

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that one of the top priorities at present is to contain the spread of the conflict and prevent further involvement of other countries.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to the French president, at the latter's request.

Wang elaborated on China's position, saying that the current situation in the Middle East is still deteriorating, with the conflict continuing to spread. This has not only undermined the stability of global energy supply but also led to a severe humanitarian crisis.

Resorting to force will not solve the problem, and an unjust war should not be allowed to continue, he said.

In the face of the critical situation, China and France, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, should strengthen strategic communication and coordination, firmly uphold the UN Charter and international law, and prevent the world from regressing to the "law of the jungle," Wang said.

He added that the other two top priorities are for the international community to speak with one voice in calling for an immediate ceasefire and to intensify efforts to advance peace talks, and for the United Nations and the UN Security Council to play their due role in facilitating the early restoration of peace and stability in the region.

Despite the difficulties, dialogue and negotiation remain the right path out of the crisis, Wang said, adding that China and France should work together toward this end.

For his part, Bonne shared his perspectives on the current situation in the Middle East, including developments in Iran and Lebanon.

He said that France and China, as major countries, both support the United Nations, abide by international law, and advocate resolving differences through dialogue.

He said that the two countries should work together to explore solutions and contribute to easing tensions and resuming negotiations.

France is willing to enhance communication and cooperation with China to push for the early achievement of peace and stability in the Middle East, he added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
SMCI Drops 28% After Co-founder Caught Red-Handed with Nvidias Chips - Moby

BREAKING NEWS

Super Micro Computer (SMCI) is down 27% Friday after news broke that one of the AI hardware companys co-founders, Yih-Shyan "Wally" Liaw, and two others had been arrested for allegedly "conspiring to sell billions of dollars worth of AI tech to China."

These components, assembled in the U.S., reportedly contained servers with Nvidia AI chips to be sold to buyers by faking documents and using dummy equipment to slip past audits, according to the Department of Justice. Several of the workers of this scheme even used hair dryers to remove and reapply serial-number labels on servers, per media reports.

SMCI and Nvidia have a decade-long partnership. SMCI CEO Charles Liang touted the relationship at last years Nvidia GTC, saying the two companies have an unparalleled ability and capacity to deliver first-to-market solutions that are developed, constructed, validated (and manufactured) for American federal customers.

Liang released a carefully worded statement on Friday, saying that the company isnt named as a defendant, and alluded that the escapade violated internal compliance protocols. In other words, the company is distancing itself and shifting the blame to Liaw, and the other two involved: Ruei-Tsang "Steven" Chang, a sales manager in Taiwan; and Ting-Wei "Willy" Sun, a contractor.

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.

"Unlawful diversion of controlled US computers to China is a losing proposition across the board," an Nvidia spokesperson said. Nvidia does not provide any service or support for such systems, and the enforcement mechanisms are rigorous and effective.

Nvidias stock fell about 1.5% on Friday.

Theres a dark irony here when you consider that the U.S. now allows Nvidia to export some advanced chips to approved customers in China. Either Liaw didnt get the memo, he and his counterparts were shipping something better, or he was trying to get the chips to customers not on the U.S.s approved list.

And for SMCI, this isnt their first time tangling with the law. The company was charged by the SEC in 2020 for accounting violations, and was the subject of a short sellers report in 2024.

One stock. Nvidia-level potential. 30M+ investors trust Moby to find it first. Get the pick. Tap here.
Opposition leaders and transgender rights activists are urging the government to withdraw the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, fearing it will undermine the rights and self-determination of transgender individuals in India.

Key Points Opposition MPs and activists are demanding the withdrawal of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, fearing it will weaken transgender rights.

Critics argue the bill contradicts the Supreme Court's principles on self-identification for transgender individuals.

Concerns are raised that the bill could lead to invasive verification processes and further marginalise the transgender community.

The proposed amendments include a precise definition of 'transgender' and graded punishments for harm inflicted upon such persons, excluding those with different sexual orientations.

Activists and politicians are urging for a collective strategy to challenge the bill and protect the dignity and rights of transgender individuals.

Opposition MPs and transgender rights activists on Sunday called for the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, to be withdrawn, saying the proposed changes could dilute their rights.

The call to rollback the Bill was made at a Jan Sunwai (public discussion) held at the Press Club of India here, where participants raised concerns over its potential impact on transgender people.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar introduced the Bill in Lok Sabha on March 13.

The Bill seeks to give a precise definition of the term "transgender" and provide graded punishments that reflect the gravity of the harm inflicted upon such persons.

It also underlines that a transgender person "shall not include, nor shall ever have been so included, persons with different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities".

The proposed amendment to the existing Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, has triggered criticism from members of the community who say it departs from principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the landmark judgement of National Legal Services Authority vs Union of India.

Political Opposition to the Bill

NCP spokesperson Anish Gawande, speaking to PTI, said there is a clear demand to withdraw the Bill. "If the government is not willing to withdraw it, then it should be referred to the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment for reconsideration," he said.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said the Bill should be sent to a parliamentary standing committee and emphasised that individuals must be respected as they are, calling it the duty of the state and government.

Dikshit also emphasised the need to recognise individuals first as human beings. "In our society, identity is often attacked repeatedly. The state and institutions must first treat every person as a human being, and then as a citizen," he said.

"The duty of the state and Parliament is to respect individuals as they are -- their identity, their choices and their sense of self -- and stand by them with dignity," he added.

Manoj Jha, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Rashtriya Janata Dal, said: "This is a case of constitutional morality versus majoritarianism. The government cannot rely only on numbers. It must be guided by constitutional values."

"There is a need for a collective strategy inside Parliament, reaching across party lines to build consensus and challenge such measures," Jha said.

"We need to come together, both inside and outside Parliament, and build a coordinated strategy to oppose such measures," he added.

Concerns Over Self-Identification and Diversity

CPI(M) leader John Brittas raised concerns over the proposed amendments, saying they go against the principle of self-identification. "It restricts access to legal identity and raises serious questions about self-determination," he said.

"At a time when legislation should be progressive, we are witnessing a regressive shift that could push the community backwards," Brittas added.

He questioned the authority to determine identity. "Who is to decide a person's identity? The state cannot impose identity on individuals," he said.

Referring to global practices, Brittas said, "Several countries such as Denmark, Malta and Ireland have moved towards self-identification. India should be moving forward, not backwards."

Highlighting ground realities, he added, "Even today, many people are hesitant to openly identify themselves. Adding more layers of scrutiny will only make it more difficult."

"This is the time to protect diversity and uphold dignity. We must stand together to ensure that the rights of the community are not diluted," Brittas said.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury said the community would continue to resist the proposed changes and fight for their rights.

"Even if the Bill is passed in Parliament, the fight will not end. We will continue to raise our voice and stand with the community," she said.

"We are not going to be afraid. This is not an easy journey, but we have to fight it collectively," Chowdhury added.

She also raised concerns about the implementation of the law at the grassroots level, questioning how district magistrates in smaller towns would be sensitised to deal with transgender persons seeking official recognition.

Reiterating her support, she said that while the road ahead may be challenging, there remains hope, and she stands firmly with the community.

Activist Voices Against the Amendment

Grace Banu, a transgender rights activist, highlighted the long history of struggle for recognition and dignity, saying the proposed changes undermine years of progress.

"For decades, we have been fighting to define our own identity. After years of struggle, self-identification was recognised, and now it is being taken away," she said.

Recalling past experiences, she alleged instances of invasive verification processes. "We have faced humiliating examinations and questioning about our bodies. Such practices violate basic human rights and dignity," Banu said.

She said the community continues to face discrimination and violence. "Even today, many in our community face abuse within families, social exclusion and are pushed into marginalised livelihoods," she said.

"We have the right to live with dignity like any other citizen. This Bill goes against that principle," Banu added.

She called for unity and wider support on the issue. "Our fight will continue -- whether we win or not, we will not stop," she said.
Following the death of cow vigilante Chandrashekhar Das, nineteen individuals have been arrested for allegedly blocking the Delhi-Agra National Highway and inciting violence, leading to traffic disruptions and property damage.

Key Points 19 people arrested for blocking the Delhi-Agra Highway after the death of cow vigilante Chandrashekhar Das.

Protests and violence erupted following the death of Chandrashekhar Das, disrupting traffic and damaging property.

Authorities claim Chandrashekhar's death was accidental, caused by a truck, but followers allege foul play.

A memorial and police outpost will be established in memory of Chandrashekhar Das at Ajanokh village.

The local administration will temporarily oversee the care of approximately 400 cows at the Ajanokh village shelter.

Nineteen people have been arrested and sent to jail for allegedly blocking the Delhi-Agra National Highway and indulging in violence following the death of cow vigilante Chandrashekhar Das, popularly known as 'Farsa Wale Baba', police said on Sunday.

The arrests come a day after the 57-year-old was killed in an early morning incident near the Kosi Kalan area, which triggered large-scale protests and traffic disruption coinciding with President Droupadi Murmu's visit to the district.

According to police, thousands of supporters and disciples of the deceased gathered on the highway on Saturday and allegedly created unrest while the president was in Govardhan as part of her three-day Uttar Pradesh visit.

Authorities said the protesters not only the blocked the road causing traffic snarls stretching several kilometres, but also resorted to stone-pelting when police attempted to clear the road, injuring several personnel. Police outpost and multiple government vehicles were damaged during the violence.

An FIR has been registered at Kosi Kalan police station against one Daksh Chaudhary and his associates under relevant provisions of the BNS.

Police described Chaudhary, a resident of Ghaziabad, as a history-sheeter allegedly involved in incidents of vandalism, loot and attacks on vehicles. Further details of cases against him are being gathered.

Police also registered a case against the driver of the Rajasthan-registered truck that allegedly hit Chandrashekhar. Officials maintained that the death was accidental, caused when a truck rammed into the group amid poor visibility, a claim disputed by the Chandrashekhar's followers who alleged involvement of cattle smugglers.

Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar said those detained on Saturday were produced before a magistrate after medical examination on Sunday and remanded to judicial custody. Among those arrested are close aides of the deceased, including one Bhura, along with Chaudhary and his associates.

The police further said that, following demands by the followers of the deceased, the last rites were conducted on Saturday in the presence of officials without a post-mortem examination.

Memorial and Security Measures

District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh said a memorial will be constructed at the gaushala in Ajanokh village in memory of Chandrashekhar, and a police outpost will also be set up there for security.

He added that the administration will temporarily take responsibility for the upkeep of around 400 cows at the shelter, with necessary instructions issued to local officials.
Two US tourists face legal trouble in Kochi, India, after being arrested for flying a drone near the Coast Guard Headquarters, highlighting the importance of understanding local drone regulations.

Key Points Two US tourists were arrested for allegedly flying a drone near the Coast Guard Headquarters in Fort Kochi, India.

The area is a red zone where drone operations are strictly prohibited due to the presence of naval and coast guard establishments.

The tourists were taken into custody by tourism police and later released with a notice to appear for investigation.

A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Aircraft Act, and the Drone Rules, and their drone and laptop have been seized.

A case has been registered against two US nationals for allegedly flying a drone near the Coast Guard Headquarters in Fort Kochi, police said.

The accused Katie Michelle Phelps (32) and Christopher Ross Harvey (35) are from California.

According to police officials at Fort Kochi police station, the duo had arrived in Kochi as tourists and were spotted flying a drone to record videos near the Coast Guard Headquarters on Saturday morning.

They were noticed by the tourism police, who took them into custody.

Fort Kochi, which houses establishments of the Navy and Coast Guard, falls under a red zone where drone operations are strictly prohibited.

However, being a popular tourist destination, such violations occur frequently as visitors, often unaware of the restrictions, use drones for videography.

Legal Repercussions and Investigation

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Aircraft Act and the Drone Rules.

Police said the drone and a laptop in their possession have been seized.

The two were later released after being issued notices to appear before the police as part of the ongoing investigation, officials added.
Indian authorities seized a massive haul of illegal walkie-talkies and e-waste at Nhava Sheva Port, highlighting concerns over national security and unauthorised imports.

Key Points The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized Rs 9.25 crore worth of illegal walkie-talkies and second-hand hard drives at Nhava Sheva Port.

Two Mumbai firm owners were arrested for importing the prohibited goods without necessary permissions under the Customs Act.

The seized Baofeng BF-888S walkie-talkies are blacklisted for operating on unauthorised frequencies, posing a potential national security threat.

Importing second-hand hard disk drives (HDDs) requires authorisation from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, which the importers lacked.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 11,060 prohibited walkie-talkie sets and second-hand hard disk drives (HDDs) collectively valued at Rs 9.25 crore at Nhava Sheva Port in Navi Mumbai, officials said.

A father-son duo, owners of two Mumbai firms that had imported these goods without due permissions, have been arrested under the Customs Act, an official release said on Saturday.

Based on specific intelligence, a team of DRI officials seized Baofeng BF-888S walkie-talkies of Rs 2.5 crore, and second-hand HDDs (considered e-waste) valued at Rs 6.75 crore.

The banned items were concealed among miscellaneous electronic products valued at Rs 21 crore. The entire consignment of Rs 30.25 crore from eight containers shipped from China was seized for misdeclaration, officials said.

National Security Concerns

The Baofeng BF-888S walkie-talkies have been blacklisted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for operating beyond permissible frequencies as they can be used for unauthorised communication, posing a threat to national security. These devices require specific licences.

Second-hand HDDs also can not be imported without the Directorate General of Foreign Trade's authorisation.
A Delhi woman has been arrested for the alleged double murder of her two daughters in Malviya Nagar, following a police investigation into a suspected murder-suicide attempt.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A woman in Delhi has been arrested for the alleged murder of her two daughters.

The daughters, aged 34 and 28, were found dead in their home in Malviya Nagar earlier this month.

The mother was found unconscious at the scene with slit wrists and suspected poisoning.

Police initially suspected a murder-suicide attempt and are investigating the motive behind the crime.

The woman was reportedly distressed due to a strained relationship with her husband and financial dependence.

Delhi Police have arrested a 54-year-old woman for allegedly killing her two daughters at their residence in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar earlier this month, an incident in which she had also allegedly attempted suicide, an official said on Sunday.

The case pertains to March 6, when the bodies of the two sisters, aged 34 and 28, were found in separate rooms of their ground-floor house, while their mother was discovered unconscious at the scene.

According to police, a PCR call was received around 6 pm from the woman's husband, who reported that his wife and daughters were not opening the door. A police team reached the spot and found the house locked from the inside. They broke open a window above the main door to gain entry.

Inside, the elder daughter, who was intellectually challenged, was found lying in a room with a pillow placed on her face. Another room was locked from the inside and had to be broken open, where the younger daughter, a law student, was found dead on a bed with a ligature around her neck.

The mother was found unconscious in another room and was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre. Doctors suspected that she had consumed a poisonous substance, possibly a mixture of phenyl and camphor recovered from the spot. Her wrists were also found slit, an officer said.

Police initially suspected a murder-suicide attempt and registered a case of murder, awaiting the woman's statement. After her discharge from the hospital and psychiatric evaluation, she was arrested on Friday.

Investigation Details

"The accused remains evasive during interrogation. We are still trying to ascertain the exact sequence of events and the reasons behind the double murder and the alleged suicide attempt," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said.

Initial investigation indicated that the woman was distressed due to a strained relationship with her husband, with whom she had reportedly not been on talking terms for the past seven to eight years, and financial dependence on others.

Further investigation is underway, police added.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 68F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 43F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA) is one of the 10 Best Auto Manufacturer Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. On March 10, 2026, CNBC reported that Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA) is using hybrid technologies from Blue Nexus and Robert Bosch GmbH for the latest Jeep models, including a two-motor hybrid transmission in the Cherokee and Bosch systems in upcoming extended-range electric vehicles. The corporation is accelerating hybrid development to meet increased demand for fuel-efficient vehicles while lowering the capital intensity associated with electric vehicle initiatives. It intends to deploy these systems across a wider range of vehicles, including Ram pickup trucks.

The Cherokee achieves 37 miles per gallon combined, making it the most fuel-efficient non-plug-in Jeep in the United States, while executives noted rising hybrid demand and flat electrification trends. According to S&P Global Mobility, hybrid sales climbed from 7.3% of the U.S. market in 2023 to 12.6% last year, with estimates showing hybrids could reach 18.4% in 2026.

Is Stellantis N.V. (STLA) Among the 10 Best Auto Manufacturer Stocks to Buy According to Analysts?

Pixabay/Public Domain

Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA) is involved in the design, engineering, manufacture, distribution, and sale of vehicles and components. The companys brands include Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram Trucks, Vauxhall, Free2move, and Leasys.

While we acknowledge the potential of STLA 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: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

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US President Donald Trump has given Tehran 48 hours to "fully open" the crucial Strait of Hormuz or the United States will "obliterate" Iran's power plants, a major escalation of tensions in a war that already threatens to spin out of control.

The deadline threat was posted on Trump's Truth Social platform on the evening of March 21, saying: "If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!"

He did not specify which power plants would be targeted, and the warning came a day after Trump had said he was considering "winding down" military operations.

Even as he spoke, the Pentagon was sending thousands of additional ground forces to the region aboard US Navy ships to bolster military assets in the war with Iran, multiple media outlets reported. The Pentagon hasn't commented officially on the reported deployments.

In an almost immediate response to Trump's ultimatum, Iran's military command was quoted by state media as saying that if Iran's fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked, all energy infrastructure belonging to the United States in the region will be targeted. Iran also said desalination facilities will be struck.

Backing up that claim, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, warned on X that "Immediately after the targeting of power plants and infrastructure in our country, vital infrastructure and energy and oil infrastructure throughout the region will be considered legitimate targets and will be irreversibly destroyed."

Separately, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened to completely close the Strait of Hormuz, adding that it would only be reopened once any facilities destroyed in US attacks had been rebuilt.

Although not physically blocked, Iran has made the waterway ungovernable through a combination of kinetic strikes, mines, electronic warfare, and market fear.

Blockage of the strait has restricted global supplies, sending oil prices surging worldwide and raising the cost of living for hundreds of millions of people.

Trump has demanded that countries that utilize the strait for transport of their energy resources take the lead in protecting shipping through the waterway by military escort or other means.

US European allies and Japan have expressed readiness for "appropriate" efforts to secure passage through the strait, but many have said such an action would only come after a cease-fire, angering Trump, who called them "cowards."

Tit-For-Tat Attacks Near Nuclear Sites

Meanwhile, Israel and Iran appeared to intensify risks of a major disaster, with each side striking close to nuclear facilities of the other combatant, raising the rhetoric level in Tel Aviv and Tehran and worrying the UN atomic watchdog.

An Iranian missile on March 21 hit the two southern Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona, with a reported 175 people needing medical treatment.

Media also reported that blasts were heard and air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem early on March 22 after the Israeli military warned of incoming missile fire from Iran.

Dimona is home to a nuclear facility, in what Tehran said was in retaliation for strikes on its Natanz uranium enrichment facility earlier in the day.

Israel has never publicly acknowledged that it has a nuclear weapon and the Dimona complex is officially described as a research facility. The site, just outside the main town, is widely believed to possess Israels nuclear arsenal, the only such holding in the Middle East.

After the earlier strike on Iran's Natanz site, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reiterated its call for "military restraint to prevent a nuclear accident."

The IAEA then repeated the call for "maximum military restraint" following Iran's missile launch against Dimona.

"The IAEA is aware of reports of an incident in the city of Dimona, Israel, involving a missile impact and has not received any indication of damage to the nuclear research center Negev," the agency said on X.

"Information from regional states indicates that no abnormal radiation levels have been detected," it added.

The Israeli Army announced on March 22 that Iran has fired more than 400 ballistic missiles at Israel since the start of the war three weeks ago and that about 92 percent of which have been intercepted.

Meanwhile, Israel also said its forces had struck a facility within a Tehran university that it claimed was being used to develop components for nuclear weapons.

"The Malek-Ashtar University facility was utilized by the Iranian terror regime's military industries and ballistic missiles array to develop nuclear weapon components and weapons," the military said.

Hezbollah Attacks, Gulf States Targeted

In a parallel development, the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group said it attacked Israeli soldiers in northern Israel's Misgav Am, where first responders said rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person.

The death is the first Israeli fatality from fire from Lebanon since fighting started with Hezbollah on March 2.

Kindergarten Seen Damaged After Reported Cluster Warhead Missile Strike In Central Israel by RFE/RL No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:35 0:00

There were also reports of at least six overnight attacks targeting a US diplomatic and logistics center at Baghdad's International Airport while Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also detected Iranian missile and drone attacks.

'Battle For Our Future'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue striking Iran after what he called a "very difficult evening" following the attacks on Dimona and Arad.

"This is a very difficult evening in the battle for our future," Netanyahu said in a statement. "We are determined to continue striking our enemies on all fronts."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel and the United States would begin intensifying their air strikes on Iran beginning on March 22.

"The intensity of the strikes to be carried out by the IDF and the US military against the Iranian terror regime and the infrastructure on which it relies will rise significantly," Katz said in a statement.

Iran's Longest Shot

The world continued to react to Iran's surprise launch of ballistic missiles toward the joint US-UK base on the island of Diego Garcia, some 4,000 kilometers from Iranian territory.

Israel said Iranian forces had for the first time fired long-range missiles, expanding the risk of attacks beyond the Middle East. Neither missile hit the site.

"These missiles are not intended to strike Israel. Their range reaches European capitals -- Berlin, Paris, and Rome are all within direct threat range," Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said.

The British cabinet minister Steve Reed said on March 22 that one missile launched "fell short" while another missile was "intercepted." He also added that there was no assessment that backed claims that Iran was planning to strike European cities with ballistic missiles, or that it had the capacity to do so.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Reuters, and AFP
European nations have tried their best not to get too entangled in the US-Israeli war with Iran, now in its fourth week. They've been weighing whether to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz but said they would do so only after a cease-fire and preferably with a mandate from the United Nations.

But on March 21, the threat came closer to home when Iran proved that its missiles have the potential to reach European cities.

Tehran fired two ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia -- a joint American-British base in the Indian Ocean some 4,000 kilometers from Iranian territory -- and officials in Brussels and beyond are suddenly taking notice.

Previously, Iran -- under the reign of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- had maintained a cap to its ballistic missile range at 2,000 kilometers.

Khamenei was killed by a US-Israeli strike on Iran on February 28. And that cap that now appears gone -- much to the discomfort of Europe.

Brussels is already tied up in a war closer to home: Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth year. The bloc has sent more than 70 billion euros in military aid to date.

"This is for us a new dimension to the [Iran] war," says one senior EU official speaking to RFE/RL under condition of anonymity. "Let's be honest, our air defenses are pretty depleted right now."

Many European nations have contributed to Kyiv's air defenses but also realized there are considerable air-defense gaps on the Continent if it were ever tested. While possessing high-quality technology such as Patriots, SAMP/T and IRIS-T missile systems, several European defense ministries openly admit there are considerable shortages in interceptors.

Europe would also struggle against so-called saturation attacks used by Russia in Ukraine in which the air-defense systems are overwhelmed by an onslaught of jamming, cyberattacks, drones and various types of missiles.

Europe continues to be heavily reliant on the United States for long-range coverage. It is here that Iran's potential threat to Europe comes into the picture.

Commenting on the Diego Garcia strikes, the Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir noted that "these missiles are not intended to strike Israel. Their range reaches European capitals; Berlin, Paris, and Rome are all within direct threat range."

Speaking to RFE/RL on March 21, Michael Horowitz, an independent defense expert based in Israel, said that "Iran can no longer be seen as a threat confined to the Middle East. It is building capabilities meant to raise the costs for more distant adversaries, too" adding that "If I were the Europeans, I'd be worried."

The British cabinet minister Steve Reed said on March 22 that one missile launched toward Diego Garcia "fell short" while another missile was "intercepted." He also refuted Israeli claims that Europe could be targeted by adding that "there was no assessment that backed claims that Iran was planning to strike European cities with ballistic missiles, or that it had the capacity to do so."

Iranian drones have so far been intercepted over British military bases on Cyprus whereas the NATO-member Turkey had intercepted three ballistic missiles on various occasions early in March.

While NATO hasn't offered any new comments to RFE/RL since the Diego Garcia attacks, the military alliance instead referred to its comment about when Turkey successfully intercepted those attacks.

"So far NATO BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) has been effective against Iranian missiles in Turkey, which is exactly what it was designed for," Oana Lungescu, a former NATO spokeswoman and current fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, told RFE/RL.

A NATO official speaking to RFE/RL under the condition of anonymity also noted that the NATO BMD was designed exactly to withstand Iranian missiles -- not necessarily Russian ones -- when it was first tconstructed in the early 2000s and became operational in 2012.

Germany hosts the command center at its Ramstein air base, while the actual missile defenses are situated in Polish and Romanian bases. Turkey hosts a radar, and Spain has four BMD-capable ships at its Rota naval base.

But make no mistake: The NATO BMD has a significant American footprint that makes Europe reliant on US military protection.

Robert Pszczel, a former NATO official and current security expert with the Warsaw-based think tank Center for Eastern Studies, told RFE/RL that "the working presumption is that the system is operational and is doing exactly what it is supposed to do."

"Of course, it is a special system with key elements provided by the US," he added.
Russian deadly air strikes across Ukrainian regions continue as trilateral negotiations between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington to end the war, now in its fifth year, are effectively paused amid the conflict in the Middle East.

At least three people were killed and more than a dozen injured in Ukraine on March 22 after Russian forces launched missiles and nearly 140 drones toward the country's territory.

According to Ukrainian officials, more than five regions in Ukraine's east, north, and south, including the war-torn Donetsk region, came under attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes came as Moscow felt "impunity" after the United States has temporarily lifter sanctions on Russian oil stranded in the seas amid soaring global prices spiked by its war with Iran.

"During this week, due to the easing of sanctions, Russia increased its crude oil sales to fund its war," he wrote on Telegram. "The profits give Russia a sense of impunity and the ability to continue the war. Therefore, pressure must continue."

Separately, as Russian forces continued to target Ukraine's civilian, energy, and railway infrastructure, a train attendant in Odesa died while helping with evacuation efforts amid the threat of drone attacks.

"At Odesa railway station, a train attendant was fatally injured by an oncoming train while passengers were being evacuated from a stopped train. The other train was also heading to its evacuation stop," Ukraine's state railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, reported.

Russia's latest attacks come amid great uncertainty in the negotiation process earlier initiated and mediated by the United States.

Ukrainian, Russian, and US officials met for talks in Geneva nearly a month ago. But the war in Ukraine has shown no signs of easing, with fighting continuing across the front lines on a daily basis.

After weeks of new rounds being postponed, on March 21-22, Kyiv's diplomats, including Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, met in Florida with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who are overseeing the Ukraine peace talks.

"It is clear that the attention of the American side at this time is primarily focused on the situation around Iran," Zelenskyy said following the talks, adding that he saw signals for a new prisoner exchange with Russia -- the only visible outcome of previously held trilateral negotiations.

A day earlier, he said the key issue was to understand if Moscow was really ready to "move toward a real end to the war...especially now, when the geopolitical tensions have only increased due to the situation around Iran."

Witkoff on March 22 called the talks "constructive' and said they "built on yesterdays progress and focused on key points to define a durable and dependable security framework for Ukraine, as well as critical humanitarian efforts in the region."

Last week, one of the Kremlin's main envoys, Kirill Dmitriev, also flew to Florida to meet with the US officials. He described the talks as "productive."

Some experts believe Russia has benefited from the conflict in the Middle East, as it has partially filled Moscow's budget gaps and shifted global attention away from its war, giving it more room to continue military operations in Ukraine.
A serviceman launches a drone during a press tour to demonstrate the integration of AI into the process of humanitarian demining, Zhytomyr Region, northern Ukraine. Future Publishing via Getty Images

Ukraines war showed how cheap drones can reshape the battlefield, driving demand for faster, lower-cost ways to attack targets and defeat incoming strikes at scale. With growing concern that mass drone raids could overwhelm traditional air defenses, companies like Swarmer are drawing attention for AI systems already tested in combat against Russia.

Bloomberg reported on March 20 that shares of Swarmer Inc. rose nearly 1,000% in the first three trading sessions after its initial public offering. That made it one of the most eye-catching recent debuts in defense tech. But the bigger story is not just the stock surge. Swarmer builds drone autonomy software at a time when investors and defense planners are paying closer attention to military AI and battle-tested technology from Ukraine.

Deborah Fairlamb, founding partner of Green Flag Ventures and an investor in Swarmer, told me in an interview that the companys U.S. listing reflects legal structure more than a change in identity. In legal and capital markets terms, it is now a U.S.-listed company, she said. In identity and operating DNA, though, it is still widely regarded as Ukrainian-rooted, because its engineering base and combat validation come out of Ukraine.

Swarmer is based in Austin, Texas, but its roots and combat experience come from Ukraine. That gives the company unusual credibility at a time when recent reporting has shown Ukrainian specialists are already helping Middle Eastern countries counter Iranian drones. Reuters reported on March 20 that Ukraine had sent 228 drone interception specialists to five countries in the region.

In a company announcement from September 2025, it said it raised $15 million in a Series A round led by U.S. investors. The company said its software lets groups of drones carry out missions on their own by turning human instructions into coordinated action.

According to that same announcement, Swarmers systems are built on data from more than 82,000 combat missions. The company also said its software runs on multiple hardware platforms rather than being tied to a single drone. That matters because in modern drone warfare, much of the value may come from software, as well as hardware.

The company did not respond to a request for comment about its future plans following its IPO.

The Wall Street Journal reported in November 2025 that foreign investment in Ukrainian drone makers and defense tech startups had been rising. Investors were looking for battle-tested technology and growing military demand.

The Journal said Swarmer, which started in 2023, makes AI software used by Ukraine to coordinate drone swarm attacks on Russian positions. It also reported that the company planned to use new funding to open offices in Warsaw and Austin.
Sarah Slater

Waterford City and County Council are to carry out examinations on balconies in an apartment complex on Monday after two children were injured in a fall from an apartment balcony.

Sister and brother Nevaeh (7) and Jayden (3) ONeill, fell from the second-storey balcony at Mount Suir apartments in Gracedieu at 10.40am on Friday morning.

The siblings fell more than 20 feet to the ground when a pane of glass on the balcony railing crashed to the ground. They had been playing with two other siblings who were not injured.

The children were taken by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) for treatment of their injuries. Nevaeh was discharged from hospital on Friday night and returned home to her parents Ryan ONeill and Regina Smith.

Jayden was transferred to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin as a precautionary measure due to head injuries he sustained. He narrowly missed falling on a large shard of glass.

The council owns Block C of the Mount Suir apartment complex for the past six years.

Garda forensic teams examined the balcony from where the children fell.

In a statement the Council said it has initiated a formal investigation around the circumstances of the incident.

"The council has reached out to the family to offer support and a formal investigation into the incident has commenced," the statement added.

Mayor of Waterford City and Council Labour councillor Seamus Ryan added that the council are fully investigating what happened. "We will get to the bottom of what happened.

The council held an emergency meeting on Friday afternoon with Tramore-Waterford City West's six elected councillors.

Those living in Block C have been informed by council officials to stay off their balconies until the inspection is carried out on Monday.
March 22, 2026 UPDATE

A roundup of local and international news.

Newsflash

Newsroom, 22.03.2026, 20:00

COMMEMORATION  Belgium commemorated, on Sunday, ten years since the jihadist attacks of March 2016, in Brussels, France Presse reports. The ceremonies began at Brussels-Zaventem airport, with the participation of Prime Minister Bart De Wever, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and then continued at the Maelbeek metro station, the second target of the terrorist attacks. The suicide bombings, the bloodiest in the history of Belgium, were claimed by the Islamic State, killed 32 people on March 22, ten years ago, and injured over 300. Four days earlier, Salah Abdeslam, a terrorist who had participated in the Paris attacks of November 13, 2015, which resulted in 130 deaths, had been arrested in the Belgian capital. His arrest accelerated the plans for new attacks by his Islamist cell.

FUEL  The situation of the fuel market, in the context of the conflict in the Middle East, was analyzed, at the end of the week, in Bucharest, by the Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan with the ministers of finance and energy, with representatives of the Ministry of Economy, the Fiscal Authority, the Competition Council and the National Agency for Public Procurement. The technical teams also worked over the weekend, and a new meeting is scheduled for the beginning of next week to finalize the solutions. The Prime Minister said that an arbitrary price cap can lead to shortages, and a possible decrease in excise duties must guarantee a reduction in prices, but also be bearable by the 2026 budget in the context of efforts to reduce the deficit. Ilie Bolojan emphasizes that he refuses to sell populist solutions, which would create the appearance of aid, but which would in fact generate new imbalances and costs. In Romania, fuel prices have set a new record, recording the highest increase since the beginning of the war. The price of standard gasoline has exceeded the 9 lei threshold in many gas stations, while a liter of standard diesel is approaching the psychological threshold of 10 lei (about 2 euros).

MIDDLE EAST  Iran has launched more than 400 ballistic missiles at Israel since the start of the war between the US and Israel on February 28, 92% of which were intercepted, the Israeli military said on Sunday. Iran had the largest stockpile of ballistic missiles in the Middle East before the war. This arsenal includes missiles of various types, with ranges that were believed not to exceed 2,000 kilometers, but on Friday two Iranian ballistic missiles were launched in the direction of the US-British base Diego Garcia, about 4,000 kilometers from Iran. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be completely blocked by the Iranians, following the US-Israeli offensive. US President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iranian power plants if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas trade passes. Nearly 20 countries, including Romania, as well as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan, condemned  in a joint statement  the critical situation in the Strait of Hormuz and called on Iran to de-escalate the conflict, declaring themselves ready to contribute to the efforts needed to reopen the strait. Romanian President Nicusor Dan said that Bucharests support for this initiative comes amid the serious implications that the closure of the strait has on global energy markets, as well as on the global economy.

PSD  The PSD National Permanent Bureau is meeting on Monday to establish the calendar of internal consultations, following which the Social Democrats will decide whether or not to remain in government. The partys president, Sorin Grindeanu, recently stated that all options are being considered, with two exceptions. The PSD will not vote for a minority government and will not form an alliance with AUR. The PSD leader also said that the internal vote will probably be influenced by the latest developments and negotiations. On the other hand, next week, Sorin Grindeanu will have talks with the European Socialists in Brussels regarding the internal evaluation and functioning of the coalition. The liberals were also going to make an analysis of the ruling coalition this weekend, but the meeting was postponed. Recently, the PSD has repeatedly criticized the activity of the liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. The ruling coalition in Bucharest is made up of PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR. (EE)
Music Time: Coridor, Apt.

This weeks featured artist is a Bucharest-based Midwest emo band called Coridor, Apt.

Listen to RRI in English

Ana-Maria Popescu, 22.03.2026, 14:50

This weeks featured artist is a Bucharest-based Midwest emo band called Coridor, Apt, whose members Stefan and Victor visited RRIs studio for a chat about their 5-song EP, Interior, and about their plans for the future.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 27: A United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner departs Los Angeles International Airport en route to New York on January 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images) Getty Images

Over the past decade, legacy airlines have adopted the successful low-cost airline ancillary revenue strategy of charging extra fees for baggage, seat selection, and other extras like snacks onboard. Airlines were expected to make a record $157 billion ancillary revenue in 2025, according to industry consultancy IdeaWorksCompany.

In a recent IdeaWorks analysis of airline revenue by ancillary type, IdeaWorks found that United Airlines earned $1.3 billion in seat fees and $1.2 billion in checked bags in 2023. And it is not alone. Ancillary revenue continues to be essential to airline profitability, said Jay Sorensen, President of IdeaWorksCompany.

The firms latest a la carte report shows which US airlines earn the most for bags and seats on average.

US Airlines Earn A Buffet Of Baggage Billions

According to IdeaWorks, baggage fees are the largest single source of ancillary revenue for airlines. The firm analysed airline fees reported in the Congressional report on airline fees published in 2023, The Skys the Limit: The Rise of Junk Fees in American Travel , and applied insights from its own 2025 Yearbook for Ancillary Revenue, to calculate the average revenue per passenger that airlines earn from their baggage policies.

Heres how the average bag fee revenue per passenger on U.S. carriers compares:

Frontier $25.88

Allegiant $22.16

Spirit $17.53

JetBlue $15.37

Breeze Airways $10.35

United Airlines $7.69

American Airlines $6.64

Notably, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines were not included in the IdeaWorks calculations of average baggage revenue. Until last year, Southwest was the only U.S. carrier that didnt charge baggage fees.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation report on baggage fee revenue , Delta Air Lines reported $1.06 billion in baggage revenue in 2024, below the $1.35 billion reported by United Airlines and the $1.50 billion reported by American Airlines, but still higher than the $861 million reported by Frontier. Alaska Airlines reported $406 million in baggage fee revenue.

What It Costs Airlines To Handle Passenger Bags

Airlines actual cost to handle passenger bags is difficult to pin down, but IdeaWorks cites a 2018 disclosure by American Airlines of $28 per passenger bag.

According to the Congressional report on junk fees: American, Delta, and United all raised first checked-bag fees to $30 in 2018, which would barely cover the costs of handling bags. Delta raised the fees again to $35 in 2024, while American and United raised theirs to $40 that same year, but operational costs will also have risen.
United States Antimony Corporation (NYSE:UAMY) is among the 11 Most Active Small Cap Stocks to Buy.

On March 5, United States Antimony Corporation (NYSE:UAMY) secured $27 million in funding under the Defense Production Act to expand domestic production and processing capabilities for critical minerals. The investment will support modernization efforts in Montana and the development of new extraction operations in Alaska, strengthening the companys vertically integrated supply chain. This funding aligns with broader government initiatives to enhance domestic resource security, positioning the company as a strategic supplier in key industrial and defense markets.

On February 24, B. Riley raised its price target on United States Antimony Corporation (NYSE:UAMY) to $11 from $9 while maintaining a Buy rating, highlighting a joint venture with Americas Gold and Silver to develop a commercial-scale processing facility in Idaho. The project is expected to improve recovery rates and reduce costs while providing additional growth catalysts through permitting progress and international expansion initiatives.

United States Antimony Corporation (NYSE:UAMY) has produced various antimony products since 1969 and is a fully integrated mining, transportation, milling, smelting, and selling company. USAC operates the only significant antimony smelter in the United States. With increasing government support, strategic partnerships, and a unique domestic production footprint, the company is well-positioned to benefit from the global push for secure supply chains, making it an attractive investment opportunity.

While we acknowledge the risk and potential of UAMY as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than UAMY and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 11 Most Undervalued Renewable Energy Stocks to Invest In and 10 Best New AI Stocks to Buy.

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A major paper published in The Lancet reports that medicinal cannabis does not effectively treat anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The analysis is the largest to date examining both the safety and effectiveness of cannabinoids across a wide range of mental health conditions.

These findings arrive at a time when cannabis use for medical purposes is widespread. About 27 percent of people aged 16-65 in the United States and Canada report using cannabis medically, and roughly half of them say they use it to manage mental health symptoms.

Lead author Dr. Jack Wilson from the University of Sydney's Matilda Centre said the results raise serious questions about approving medicinal cannabis for conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

"Though our paper didn't specifically look at this, the routine use of medicinal cannabis could be doing more harm than good by worsening mental health outcomes, for example a greater risk of psychotic symptoms and developing cannabis use disorder, and delaying the use of more effective treatments," he said.

Limited Evidence for Other Conditions

The researchers did find some indications that medicinal cannabis might help in certain cases. These include cannabis use disorder (otherwise known as cannabis dependency), autism, insomnia, and tics or Tourette's syndrome.

However, Dr. Wilson emphasized that the supporting evidence for these uses is not strong.

"But the overall quality of evidence for these other conditions, such as autism and insomnia, was low. In the absence of robust medical or counseling support, the use of medicinal cannabis in these cases are rarely justified.

"There is, however, evidence that medicinal cannabis may be beneficial in certain health conditions, such as reducing seizures associated with some forms of epilepsy, spasticity among those with multiple sclerosis, and managing certain types of pain, but our study shows the evidence for mental health disorders falls short.

"In the case of autism specifically, while the study showed some evidence medicinal cannabis could assist with a reduction in symptoms, it is worth noting that there is no one -- or universal -- experience of autism, so this finding should be treated with caution."

Mixed Results for Substance Use Disorders

The review also looked at how medicinal cannabis affects different substance use disorders. Results varied depending on the condition.

Cannabis-based treatments showed some potential for helping people with cannabis dependence. However, the study found a concerning effect in people with cocaine-use disorder, where cannabis use increased cravings.

"Similar to how methadone is used to treat opioid-use disorder, cannabis medicines may form part of an effective treatment for those with a cannabis-use disorder. When administered alongside psychological therapy, an oral formulation of cannabis was shown to reduce cannabis smoking," Dr. Wilson said.

"However, when medicinal cannabis was used to treat people with cocaine-use disorder, it increased their cravings. This means it should not be considered for this purpose and may, in fact, worsen cocaine dependence," he said.

Calls for Stronger Regulation of Medicinal Cannabis

The rapid rise in medicinal cannabis use and prescribing has raised concerns among major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association. Experts point to limited regulation and ongoing uncertainty about how effective and safe these products really are.

"Our study provides a comprehensive and independent assessment of the benefits and risks of cannabis medicines, which may support clinicians to make evidence-based decisions, helping to ensure patients receive effective treatments while minimising harm from ineffective or unsafe cannabis products," Dr. Wilson said.

Large Global Analysis Spanning 45 Years

The findings are based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of 54 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted worldwide over a 45 year period (1980-2025).

The research was funded by the NHMRC. Wayne Hall and Myfanwy Graham have received consultation fees from the World Health Organization. Wayne Hall has received payment for expert testimony on the risks of cannabis use. Myfanwy Graham is an appropriate member of the Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group, Australian Department of Health, Ageing and Disability. Myfanwy Graham has also received funding from the Therapeutic Goods Administration for independent evidence reviews on medicinal cannabis. All other authors declare no competing interests.
Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) is one of the best forever stocks to buy now. On March 17, analysts at BTIG reiterated a Buy rating on Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) with a $100 price target. The positive stance underscores the research firms confidence in the companys growth prospects, given its inking of several autonomous vehicle partnerships.

Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER) Turns to Autonomous Vehicle Partnerships to Accelerate Growth

According to BTIG, the strategic autonomous partnerships strengthen Uber Inc.s position in the rideshare business as it eyes opportunities in the robotaxi market. The company has already inked a deal with Nvidia as it looks to launch autonomous vehicles in 28 cities by 2028.

NVIDIAs collaboration is to leverage Ubers network in Los Angeles and San Francisco by 2027. It has already launched a robotaxi service with Motional in Las Vegas. It has also teamed up with Zoox to deploy purpose-built autonomous vehicles in Las Vegas this summer.

BTIG expects Ubers rideshare EBITDA to grow by high single digits through 2030 as it deploys 150,000 autonomous vehicles with a 50% third-party network.

Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) is a technology platform that connects users with transportation and delivery services via a mobile app. Its core services include ride-hailing (connecting riders with drivers), food/grocery delivery through Uber Eats, and freight booking.

While we acknowledge the potential of UBER 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: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

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Unilevers Food Exit Could Finally Finish Its Long Reinvention - Moby

THE GIST

Unilever has spent years reshaping its portfolio, but selling its food business would mark a decisive break with its past. A deal with McCormick would accelerate its pivot toward higher growth, higher margin categories and leave behind one of the pillars that defined the company for decades.

WHAT HAPPENED

Unilever confirmed that it has received an inbound offer from McCormick for its foods business and that discussions are ongoing, while cautioning that there is no certainty a transaction will be agreed.

The unit includes some of Unilevers most recognizable brands, including Hellmanns, Knorr and Marmite. Analysts have suggested the business could be worth tens of billions of dollars, making this one of the most significant potential transactions in the consumer goods sector in recent years.

The move follows a long period of portfolio restructuring. Unilever has already exited spreads, reduced its exposure to tea and spun off its ice cream division. It has also trimmed smaller brands in an effort to simplify operations and focus on areas with stronger growth prospects.

Despite those changes, food remains a substantial business. In 2025, the division generated 12.9 billion (about $15 million) in revenue and 2.9 billion in operating profit. That scale highlights the significance of any potential sale. This is not a marginal asset. It is a core part of the company that is now being reconsidered.

For McCormick, the opportunity is equally transformative. The U.S. group, known for spices, sauces and seasonings, is significantly smaller than the Unilever unit it is targeting. Any deal would likely involve a mix of stock and cash and could require a more complex structure to bridge the gap in size.

The industrial logic is clear. McCormick would gain global scale in condiments and cooking products, along with access to Unilevers distribution networks in emerging markets. Unilever would gain financial flexibility and a clearer strategic focus under its current leadership.

WHY IT MATTERS

This is ultimately about what kind of company Unilever wants to be.

For much of its history, Unilever operated as a broad consumer goods conglomerate, spanning food, household products and personal care. That model offered diversification and stability, but it increasingly sits at odds with how investors value companies today.

Markets now tend to reward focus. Businesses with clear growth narratives and strong margins attract higher valuations, while diversified groups often trade at a discount. Within Unilevers portfolio, beauty and personal care stand out as faster growing and more profitable segments, with stronger pricing power and greater exposure to premium trends.
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NationalCBD Kyle and Jackie O stand-off leaves millions of shares in the balance John Buckley March 23, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

One of the quirks of the blockbuster $200 million contract offered to Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson in 2023 was the issuance to the pair of about 6 million shares in their employer ARN Media in place of bonuses. The idea, at least according to ARN, was to try to get the two presenters thinking more about whats good for the company, rather than just the ratings. But right now it looks like the revenue share idea hasnt been quite the incentive ARN Media chairman Hamish The Hammer McLennan mightve hoped. Millions of shares issued to Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson hang in the balance amid a looming legal stand-off with their employer, ARN Media. Facebook ARN Medias unique compensation package will incentivise [Kyle and Jackie O] to focus not just on ratings but also to drive commercial success, McLennan said in a statement when the arrangement was announced in late 2023. Unique is one word for it. The companys share price is circling the drain at just 33 apiece. The stock is down 54 per cent from where it was when the contract took effect in January last year, leaving ARN as a tin-pot company with a market capitalisation of a little over $100 million, and shaving millions in value off Kyle and Jackie Os combined stake in the process.

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Loading Now that ARN has terminated the duos contracts, CBD hears the company will try and claw back those shares. Editor's pick CBD Icebergs founder Maurice Terzini cooks up his salvation tour Sandilands and Hendersons recently terminated contracts took effect in January last year. At the time, their combined shares were worth about $4.38 million, when the company was trading at 73. By market close on Friday, the shares had taken a $2.4 million haircut, and are now worth just $1.98 million. In the grand scheme of things Kyle and Jackie O, its not an enormous amount of money. But the particulars of the duos deal have been the subject of a groundswell of media industry chatter, after Sandilands indicated his lawyers are preparing to launch legal action.

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ARN and a representative for Henderson declined to comment. Sandilands camp didnt respond to a request for comment in time for publication. Of course, the duos financial arrangement is just one thread captivating media observers as we settle in for what could well be a protracted fight over whether ARN was within its rights to terminate Sandilands and Hendersons $200 million deal. And who knows, by the time the looming legal battle is settled, maybe the duos shares may finally be worth something. Cardboard king Anthony Pratt lures powerbrokers to annual knees-up Every year, the Australian billionaire Trump whisperer Anthony Pratt plays host to some of the nations most influential names in business and politics.

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And so it was again on Saturday night, when a horde of influentials and hangers-on descended on Raheen in Melbournes Kew for a night of festivities hosted by none other than Australias MAGA man of the moment, Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic, for Pratts packaging company Visy. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his wife, Jodie Haydon, were among those who turned out for the event  where home-grown pop star Kylie Minogue was the headline act  along with Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and her deputy, Ben Carroll. Also spotted at the function were Herald & Weekly Times and Tourism Australia chair Penny Fowler, along with Endeavour Group chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka and Lion chair Sir Rod Eddington. Anthony Pratt with headline act Kylie Minogue at the annual Visy night in Kew. The Pratt family contingent, meanwhile, was represented by Heloise Pratt and her partner, Jon Stevens, along with Fiona and Raphael Geminder, Matthew and Georgia Danos, Bella and Jose Falk, and Sammy Geminder. Clive Palmer fails to convince the High Court (again)

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Serial litigant and terminal loser Clive Palmer has failed once again. Earlier this month the billionaires bid to appeal a decision by the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia, in his effort to sue the corporate regulator, was knocked back by the High Court. The proposed appeal raises no question of legal principle and has insufficient prospects of success to warrant a grant of special leave to appeal, the High Court wrote in its disposition. Special leave to appeal is refused with costs. Serial litigant and terminal loser: Clive Palmer. Getty Images We find ourselves here because Palmer launched legal action against the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) that was ultimately dismissed by Federal Court Justices Jonathan Beach, Katrina Banks-Smith and James Owens in October last year. In that matter, the businessman and his company Palmer Leisure Coolum Pty Ltd launched action against ASIC and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to challenge the regulators use of its statutory power in the pursuit of Palmer. ASIC declined to comment. Palmers representative did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

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The action was only the latest in a series of bust-ups between Palmer and the corporate regulator. Of course, we dont expect it to be the last. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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CultureArt & designExhibitions From Bronze Age to the Met Gala: The evolution of the sari Aarti Betigeri March 18, 2026  4:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A sari woven from hair-thin metal wires stitched together and artfully draped across a form. A cotton lurex sari inspired by Y2K-era hip-hop, designed to be worn with Nike Air Force 1 sneakers. A distressed denim sari draped over a white shirt. A cloth handwoven in fine silk shot through with copper and steel to make a shimmering and delicate fabric. The dramatically ruffled and pearl-encrusted sari worn by Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone on the Cannes red carpet. And a cloth dyed with ink made from particles of pollution collected from the New Delhi air. This is the sari, but not as you know it. The Foila Sari by Indian luxury brand Raw Mango. Shubham Lodha The garments form part of the collection of the exhibition The Offbeat Sari, which takes South Asias most iconic outfit and showcases it in its most contemporary and creative iterations. The exhibition, which was initially produced by Londons Design Museum in 2023, is opening at Melbournes Bunjil Place Gallery. It presents 54 saris on loan from some of Indias top designers, as well as those that showcase innovation in design and production, or that speak directly to social issues. The exhibition is the brainchild of London-based curator Priya Khanchandani  at the time, the Design Museums head of curatorial  who wanted to highlight how the garment has been reinvented, reshaping how it is understood and worn, and what it says about modern India.

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Curator Priya Khanchandani explores the contemporary movement and context around saris. Suzanne Zhang While living in New Delhi a decade ago, Khanchandani noticed that young women were wearing saris, but with a difference. Instead of silk  worn as a marker of wealth or for special occasions  they were wearing cotton or linen saris, draped over T-shirts or button-down white shirts instead of the traditional choli blouse. And they were accessorising with trainers, chunky tribal or Western jewellery, even piercings and tattoos. And instead of sticking to the popular Nivi drape, young women were experimenting with different drapes from across the country, such as the style popular with the Koli fisherwomen of Mumbai and Goa, where the sari cloth is wrapped to create pants, giving the wearer ease of movement. For Khanchandani, whod grown up in a London family that rarely wore saris, it was a revelation,. It was cool. I really enjoyed it, she says. The way they were accessorising [saris] differently made me excited to try it too. And there were a whole bunch of emerging design studios that were experimenting with the materiality of the sari, and I started following their work. This experience sowed the seeds for The Offbeat Sari, which seeks to explore the contemporary movement and context around saris from political, cultural and emotional perspectives, also showcasing experimental fashion and street style, and high-end couture seen on celebrities and at weddings.

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We usually see South Asia represented [in galleries] through a colonial or post-colonial lens, particularly because many of the museums in the UK have significant colonial collections  because so many items were taken during the 19th century, Khanchandani says, speaking from London. But I know India differently and I know it as a kind of dynamic, evolving, shifting, changing place, and I want to represent that for audiences. The sari is, perhaps, the garment most readily synonymous with South Asia, where it has been worn since Indus Vally Civilisation times, dating further back than 2000BCE. It is a long piece of un-stitched fabric  between three and nine yards in length  that is wrapped around the body in different ways. Actress Deepika Padukone in a pearl-encrusted sari at Cannes Film Festival in 2022. Getty Images It consists of different parts: the border, the fall, which runs across the bottom to weigh the fabric down, the pallu, the section that rests over the shoulder, and the pleats, which are formed by hand in the midsection. Most saris come with an extra piece of fabric from which a blouse, or choli, is sewn, but its acceptable, even fashionable, to wear a mismatched blouse. Far from being a simple piece of cloth, the sari is imbued with so much: region, class, occupation, identity, even political leanings. Also, history, kinship, notions of femininity and body image. Saris adapt to the wearer, whether through the choice of drape, the width of the pleats or the style of blouse. It also adapts to different body shapes and it can be tied to be revealing or conservative, sexy or regal.

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Saris are passed down through generations: to receive and wear a grandmothers sari is an act of love and filial respect. Writer Sunil Badami wrote about his mothers sari collection for the ABC: [They] were sewn with the golden thread of our family history, tying me and my children to Mum and her mother, and the place she once called home. But at the same time, the sari can be difficult to wear. Politician Shashi Tharoor famously  and controversially  insisted that Indian women should save the sari in a 2007 newspaper column. Critics lashed out, angrily asking whether Tharoor knew what it was like to run for a bus in a sari. The sari as political statement: women from The Gulabi Gang who fight violence against women, wear pink saris. Alamy Stock Photo His call was not unfounded, however: women across South Asia increasingly turned to stitched garments, particularly in the 1980s and 90s, for comfort and practicality, leading to fears that the sari was indeed dying out. It was against this backdrop that Kanchandani noticed the shift in sari-wearing among young Indians. Over the last 10 to 15 years, partially due to the acceleration of digital media  and India has such a young population  designers have been experimenting with the form of the sari, the drape, the materiality. Wearers are wearing it in new contexts, embodying it in different ways, accessorising it differently, allowing it to empower themselves, to express themselves, she says.

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Some of the designers featured in The Offbeat Sari are household names. There are two pieces from Sabyasachi Mukherjee, the Kolkata-based designer at the top of every brides wish-list, who dressed Shah Rukh Khan for the Met Gala in 2025. There are pieces from top couturiers like Tarun Tahiliani, Anamika Khanna and Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. Then there are the contemporary, more cutting-edge Indian designers represented such as NorBlack NorWhite, HUEMN, Bodice, Akaaro by Gaurav Jai Gupta, Rimzim Dadu and Raw Mango. Raw Mangos Folia Saree, from their 2021 Other collection. Amlanjyoti Bora Saris were selected for display for their aesthetic value, but also for the designers commitment to craft, innovation in materiality or technique, or statements they make about sustainability. Some have been worn by actors and Bollywood celebrities: the Tarun Tahiliani foil jersey piece is a recreation of one worn by Lady Gaga when she appeared at Delhis F1 in 2010. Another on display is by Delhi-based duo Abraham & Thakore, who took used X-ray films from hospitals and cut them into sequins that they sewed onto saris made from recycled PET fabric, speaking to sustainability and circular economies against a backdrop of fast fashion production in South Asia. Its interesting to see how we perceive ourselves now in India in terms of our own culture, says the labels David Abraham, who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Indian clothing and textiles. All these questions are emerging, playing out in contemporary culture, which I find exciting. I see it happening in music. I see it in dance, in fashion, in art. I think theres much more confidence now in what is Indian.

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That confidence in homegrown Indian culture is perhaps the most marked societal shift in India over the past decade. Previously, the long tail of colonialism produced a society obsessed with the West as the ultimate marker of success and taste. But now, for reasons both economic and political, theres much greater value placed on Indian-ness across the spectrum, from language to culture. There are also saris in the collection that point to political or social movements. One is the pink sari worn by Sampat Pal Devi, who founded the Gulabi [Pink] Gang, a vigilante justice movement in rural northern India that forcibly opposes domestic violence, child marriage and injustices faced by women, particularly in cases where the police response is weak. The movement now has hundreds of thousands of members. Abraham & Thakores Gold Khadi Sari. Other garments showcase experimentation in different ways. Delhi designer Rimzim Dadu is known for experimenting with non-traditional materials and, in particular, a sari spun from hair-thin steel wire, which has become unusually popular with brides wanting something unconventional. They look like armour, but move like fabric, says Dadu. She, too, has noted the uptake in sari-wearing on the streets of Delhi. What I find beautiful is that despite all these shifts, the essence hasnt changed. Its still six yards of fabric. The evolution lies in how each generation chooses to wear it. Another garment is the Sari Dress by Toronto-based artist and designer, and the exhibitions associate curator, Rashmi Varma. The dress has a contemporary silhouette with the same draping, blouse and pallu as a sari, but stitched together. It was initially pitched as a little black dress alternative for a younger, globally focused clientele, but it quickly found a vibrant market in Indian high society.

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Related Article Exhibitions New faces, old struggles: Why we need to listen to these young artists It can be worn in Delhi, Bombay, London or New York, and you could wear it with a pair of heels, boots or chappals, says Varma. (I own the dress in its original black: it looks stylish and sleek, but undeniably like a sari.) Varma was also involved in creating The Sari Series, a series of videos demonstrating more than 80 different styles of drapes from across India. The Offbeat Sari is a collection of garments that, when taken as a whole, have important things to say about contemporary Indian society. And yet, for all the X-ray sequins and alternative materials, the thing about the sari is the invisible thread that reaches back millennia, to a time when woven un-stitched cloth was draped exactly as it is now. The Offbeat Sari is at Bunjil Place, Narre Warren, from March 22 to August 30. Curator Priya Khanchandani will give a talk on April 16 and Liverpool Powerhouse from November 7  4 April 2027.
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CultureTheatreVale A champion for Indigenous artists: Pioneer Rhoda Roberts leaves a huge mark Karl Quinn March 22, 2026  4:17pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Warning: this story contains the name and images of an Indigenous person who has died. The passing of Rhoda Roberts, who died at the weekend aged 66 after a battle with a rare form of ovarian cancer, has robbed Australia of one of its most respected advocates for First Nations culture and representation. Roberts made a huge impact across multiple platforms as a theatre producer, actor, podcaster, arts administrator and curator, and journalist. In a statement, SBS confirmed media were permitted to use the name and image of Roberts, who had served as the broadcasters first elder-in-residence. Rhoda Roberts in My Cousin Frank at the Arts Centre, Melbourne, in July 2025. Tiff Garvie Her work was so wide-ranging that its difficult even to know what label to apply to her career. But in co-creating with choreographer Stephen Page the Indigenous component of the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, she helped put her culture on the global stage like never before. And by coining the phrase and helping establish the practice of Welcome to Country, she ensured it has remained a part of broader cultural practice since.

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Speaking in 2021 to mark Roberts departure from the Sydney Opera House after 16 years as its head of First Nations programming, Deborah Mailman described her as my champion. Shes been a champion for so many Indigenous artists, Mailman added. Shes an advocate, shes a lobbyist, shes grown up in the industry in a group of people who really were trying to change the landscape, changing the narrative for First Nations people, how we view Indigenous work. Shes opened so many peoples minds about contemporary Indigenous work. Roberts was one of the founding members of the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust in 1988. The following year she became a co-presenter of First in Line, an SBS current affairs program that focused on Indigenous people and issues; she and co-host Michael Johnson are widely regarded to have been the first Indigenous presenters on prime-time TV in Australia. Roberts with Yothu Yindi singer Mandawuy Yunupingu in 1992, when he was a guest on her SBS program Vox Populi. SBS She had come a long way from her childhood in Lismore, a town where you were white or you were black, as she told filmmaker Ivan Sen for his 2007 documentary A Sisters Love. There was this invisible divide across the town, whether it was in pubs, coffee shops or the local swimming pool.

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She dreamed as a child of becoming a writer, she told Sen. But everything about her education seemed designed to beat such ambition out of her. Our careers adviser told us we would never get a job, that wed end up pregnant on the mission, and so there was no point in educating us, she recalled. Every few months the Aboriginal students would be pulled out of classes at Richmond River High for an exacting inspection  shoes, uniforms, attendance records, even hair. If we had lice, God help us  then we could be taken from our mother and father. After leaving high school short of matriculation, Roberts entered nursing, a profession that took her overseas. But after six years in London she returned to Australia with a greater awareness of the position of Aboriginal people in the culture at large, and a determination to improve it. Her father Frank was a preacher with the Church of Christ and a land rights activist. From him she inherited both a sense of right and wrong and of mission. With her father Frank on the Long March protest, January 26, 1988. Courtesy of Rhoda Roberts

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Frank Roberts spoke at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1972, second only to Gough Whitlam. In some circles he came first: ASIO had him tagged as its number-one troublemaker. Years later, when Frank sat in the audience for a theatre performance, he unofficially handed the baton to his daughter. Now I see what youre trying to do, he told her. The platform for us was the church. The platform for us now is the theatre. This is where we can tell our stories, and we can have a voice, and we can address the imbalances. Arguably no platform was bigger than the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics, for which Roberts and Page assembled a huge cast of Indigenous Australians from all corners of the country for a breathtaking opening sequence that showcased traditional culture like never before. The opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. Craig Golding Among them were women from remote Central Desert communities who had never been to a city before, let alone set foot on a global stage; they had to walk two hours to get a bus, to get a train, to get a plane from Alice Springs to Sydney.

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There were over 1200 performers involved in what was, on paper, an unachievable piece of work, recalls David Atkins, artistic director of the opening ceremony. And Rhoda and Stephen managed to deliver, with grace and great artistry, what remains one of the most powerful segments not only of Olympic ceremonies but of ceremonies and performances in general. Atkins recalls flying around Australia with Roberts and Page. It was in part about finding talent, he says. But primarily it was a consultation process to seek approval and to see what each of these groups of elders and artists would want to contribute. Roberts considered her own contribution to the Olympics ceremony one of her proudest achievements. But it was tinged with deep sorrow: in July 1998, as she was deep in the planning process, she was called away on a family emergency. Her twin sister Lois had gone missing from Nimbin in northern NSW. Six months later her body was found in bushland. Police determined she had been held captive, tortured and sexually abused for more than a week before being murdered. Her killers have never been identified. Rhoda Roberts (left) with sister Lois. Courtesy of Rhoda Roberts

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That loss never left her. Years later she admitted to filmmaker Sen: I get saddened by my sister who was murdered but I guess Ive got to put it in perspective. What about all those [Indigenous] people who were murdered on Ballina beach? Women who lost their children and husbands and their mothers and their grandmothers. Whatever grief she carried, Roberts never stopped trying to find a way to connect across that invisible divide, be it on stage, on TV or radio, on podcasts, or in public Welcome to Country ceremonies. At a tribute event at the Sydney Opera House in December, staged in the knowledge that Roberts had stage 4 cancer and would soon pass on to her Dreaming, actor and filmmaker Wayne Blair played MC and Governor-General Sam Mostyn was among the speakers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute via video message to Roberts generosity, her mentorship, her courage and her unwavering commitment to truth telling and cultural sovereignty and acknowledged her extraordinary career and the pathways [she] carved for all who follow. After her death broke on Saturday, the tributes began to flow.

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Rhodas extraordinary gift to us all is her generosity of spirit, said Blackfella Films boss Darren Dale. She was truly a trailblazer and she instilled in us all to dream bigger, be bolder and be more daring. Im immensely thankful to have known her. Producer David Jowsey of Bunya Productions said: Rhoda believed in the power and impact the arts offered for telling the stories of First Nations peoples and communities, not only for telling history and expressing cultural creativity but for the benefit of wider Australia, too. She had a beautiful presence and was a force for good but Rhoda also carried the pain of the unsolved murder of her twin sister Lois. On social media, former colleagues from SBS and the creative industries joined in celebrating Roberts as a fierce champion of her people and the arts. Roberts in 1987, shortly before she helped found the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust. Trevor James Robert Dallen/Fairfax Media She was an extraordinary, inspiring woman who gifted so much, said actor Tasma Walton; one of the finest, most honest and formidable women Ive ever been graced to know, observed talent agency boss Mark Morrissey.

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What a woman, what a voice for our people, our arts and for song women and men all over the world, musical theatre star and Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan said. The influence Aunty Rhoda has had on me and my career over the past 25 years has been absolutely life- and career-changing. She was, Donovan added, and surely speaking for many, an extraordinary woman gone far too soon. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalNational security Opinion Australians know were under threat  and underprepared Rory Medcalf Head of the National Security College March 22, 2026  8:00pm

March 22, 2026  8:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

National security in Australia has long seemed an elite endeavour  kept apart from the public through the coded language of experts, bureaucrats and dont-rock-the-boat politics. That was never exactly democratic and it just wont work any more in a new world of cascading shocks that affect us all. Comprehensive new evidence shows that most Australians are worried about security, see multiple looming risks, and think the nation is underprepared. Ships from 19 countries enter Sydney Harbour for Saturdays Kakadu Fleet Review, helping to mark 125 years of Australia Navy. Sitthixay Ditthavong Our recent surveys show that large majorities, between 72 and 78 per cent of the population, perceive the following issues as serious concerns over the next decade: cyber threats, AI-enabled attacks, terrorism, violent extremism, economic crisis, supply-chain disruption, disinformation, foreign interference and the failure of the global rules-based order. In recognising this new world of risk, people also want government to tell them more about what is going on. If we want security to belong to all Australians, the place to start is to speak with them, not at them. This in turn begins with listening. My organisation, the National Security College at the Australian National University, has made a respectful start.

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Over the past two years weve travelled and listened far beyond Canberra to hold the largest consultation of community attitudes on security ever conducted in this country. The results are out today and they are confronting. Our findings cover three waves of opinion surveys totalling more than 20,000 adult Australians representing every demographic segment, plus eight focus groups and close to 500 interviews reaching urban, rural and remote locations in every state and territory. So, what do Australians really think about our nations security in this new world of risk? Citizens have shown strategic judgment on everything from community cohesion to military threats, foreign interference to climate change, terrorism to disinformation, the downsides of AI to the risks  now the reality  of crisis in our economic supply chains. Their views include plenty of commonsense and logical analysis about sensitive security issues, where the risk-averse option for governments of all persuasions has often been to give the public jargon or silence rather than an informed two-way conversation. The bad news  which the nation needs to confront with honesty  is that public anxiety is rising across a wide spectrum of issues. The number of Australians who say they are worried about the nations security has risen rapidly, from a minority to a two-third majority between November 2024 and February 2026. And that was before the current Iran war and its impacts. Most Australians think the nation is in for multiple intersecting strategic shocks within the next five years, many with major consequences. War overseas, economic crisis and supply-chain failure are just three.

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Our data shows that Australians view security as about safety, resilience and, above all, the continuity of everyday life. They rate most serious the threats they already feel, related to technology, economics, disinformation, climate and social cohesion. A threat many of them consider catastrophic  foreign military attack  is also the one most see as least likely, though a large minority still consider it could happen within five years. Related Article Opinion

Donald Trump In Trumps chaotic theatre of war, theres only one lead role Peter Hartcher Political and international editor In July 2025 we asked people to rate 15 threats by probability and consequence. In every case other than military attack, more than two-thirds considered the risk more likely than not to happen as a threat to Australia within five years. In six cases  climate change impacts, AI-enabled attacks, disinformation, foreign interference, economic crisis and critical supply disruption  the proportion that considered the threat more likely than not was between 85 and 89 per cent. Australians also know that the lucky country is not the ready country. On none of the 15 security risks we presented do more than 18 per cent of people think the nation is very or fully prepared. And across two-thirds of the threats, more than half the public feels Australia is not prepared at all or only slightly prepared. Of course, government must set priorities, and people do not consider all these issues as unmanageable shocks. A severe economic crisis stood out as the issue where people see the highest risk combination of likelihood and impact.

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Economic hardship was also a reason for fellow Australians to logically disengage from security issues. Focus groups highlighted daily economic pain and a sense of anxiety without agency. These discussions also showed an appreciation of the communication challenge. Many people recognised that it is hard for government to tell the full story about security threats without causing panic. Even so, overall our surveys show 53 per cent of Australians think government shares too little or far too little information about security threats. Only 4 per cent think it shares too much. Related Article Opinion

Middle East at war If Trumps America is not winning this war  and its not  who is? Peter Hartcher Political and international editor The good news is that we also encountered a spirit of community strength across much of our dispersed and diverse population. And despite all the daily headlines about a divided and polarised community, there is some reassuring evidence of unity. Our surveys show that most Australians want safe and peaceful communities as the foremost national priority, ahead of economic prosperity, democracy or a more abstract strengthening Australias security. Australians do not lack a sense of civic responsibility. In the aftermath of the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi, we asked people to what extent they agreed that all Australians can do more to make our communities peaceful and safe. In response, 71 per cent agreed, 32 per cent strongly. Only 8 per cent disagreed.

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The word security literally means without care or, as Australians might say, no worries. That does not mean ignoring danger. Most Australians know security risks are real, doubt the nation is prepared, know the issues are complex, and are open to knowing more. This is a profound challenge and an opportunity for our political class. Their security worries may be troubling news for government and our political class  but they also open the door to a national conversation. Better we have that soon, before more shocks strike home. Professor Rory Medcalf is head of the ANU National Security College. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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US Secretary of War Pete Hegseths invocation of a holy Christian war in Iran and his comparison to the Crusades is astounding but typical (How Trump and his minister of war ignored the lessons of history, March 21). President Donald Trump and his acolytes are frequently citing Christian values, but their actions and policies are commonly, distinctly unChristian. Perhaps the most ridiculous aspect of this is that Hegseth doesnt seem to know the Crusades ultimately failed. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle Photo: Badiucao Pete Hegseth should have taken a lesson from the Iran oil crisis of 1979. Undeterred, he is seeking an extra $200 billion from Congress as it takes money to kill bad guys  nearly the same amount as total foreign aid given by all countries in 2024. This figure was slashed by about 20 per cent in 2025 after massive cuts by the US, Britain and other countries, affecting millions of poor and disadvantaged people. As a self-styled Christian, one would think the secretary of war might have learned the lessons in the Bible  to love your enemies and to help the poor and the needy. Clay OBrien, Mosman Both Trump and Hegseth seem to be operating from a position of complete and undisputed ignorance as to the complexity of the war they have initiated, together with Israel. Neither person has a background appropriate for the role he is holding. The first has incurred a string of bankruptcies, is a convicted felon and lies with impunity. Hegseth was a TV newsreader for seven years (2017 to 2024) before being appointed Secretary of War and he is spending $2 billion of US taxpayers funds every day on the war. This is not a skill set honed by reading the TV news bulletin. Neither man has presented an overarching strategy or exit timeframe, which is exacerbating financial market uncertainty. Further attacks by Israel on oil fields have increased market anxiety rapidly and also opened up the path for others to follow suit. Perhaps Congress might start to think de-escalation via diplomacy would be a good strategy. Otherwise, the oil price will continue its unrelenting upwards trajectory. Helen Cameron, Wollstonecraft I am sitting here digesting the Heralds commentary, and one burning but seemingly unanswered question begs to be asked  who were the idiots who put the mullahs in charge of world oil and gas stability? The worlds default position is pandering to Iran because it needs its resources. So before you join the pile-on of Trump, consider this: did you really think that correcting this situation was going to be painless? Ben Basger, Bondi Junction Ghastly celebration More ghastliness from Trump as he celebrates the death of former FBI director Robert Mueller (Former FBI director dies, March 22). According to FBI colleagues, Mueller embodied the virtue of prioritising service to the country over self  a foreign concept to the self-serving Trump. But while Trump may be glad of Muellers death, my guess is that when Trump passes on, billions around the world will celebrate the fact that he can no longer hurt innocent people, Trumps precise words about Mueller. Marie Del Monte, Ashfield

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Robert Mueller served across presidents of both major US political parties. AP Oh, the irony. The US president, having avoided the draft on five occasions, now calls the rest of the world cowards. What disturbed universe is this (Trump calls NATO allies cowards , March 21)? David Brown, Robertson Not so super It seems that two of the worlds superpowers have proven themselves not so super. Russia attacked Ukraine, expecting success in four days. Four years later, Russias share of Ukraine is shrinking and its economy has collapsed. Then the US connived with Israel to attack Iran, expecting success in 24 hours. Four weeks later, Iran is still fighting back and the whole worlds economy is slowly collapsing. Both superpowers have militaries that are updated versions of those used in World War II  ships, tanks, aircraft. They are extremely vulnerable and very expensive. They are also manned by people. Voters do not like to see their military personnel killed. War has changed. Small countries have adopted technology that is cheap, powerful and that generally does not put soldiers at risk. And two of them are humbling the superpowers. Meanwhile, China sits off to the side and watches, waiting for the US and Russia to destroy themselves. David Morrison, Eleebana Plug in to electricity The climate change denier who gave us drill, baby, drill has now delivered no can fill. It might be amusing if it werent so serious (Trumps war in Iran creates one giant global carbon tax March 21). As Shane Wright notes, one consequence of Trumps war on oil is that market forces will push the world to electrify everything. In saying this global fuel shock should prompt the Albanese government to ditch EV subsidies, he ignores the urgency of moving away from oil. Yes, early subsidies have disproportionately benefited wealthier buyers, but thats an argument to broaden support, not to abandon it. In May, Treasurer Jim Chalmers should ensure EV incentives are accessible to all Australians, alongside the rollout of reliable charging infrastructure. If were serious about energy independence, we need to move faster, not slower. The funding is there. Taxing Australias lucrative gas exports at a fair rate, even 25 per cent, would generate billions each year. Its no surprise voters support it. Karen Lamb, Geelong (Vic) The attitude of NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese towards potential fuel shortages is astounding (Albanese brushes off fuel warning, as government backs business as usual , March 22). Clearly proponents of Scott Morrisons Its not a race mentality, they refuse to implement fuel-saving strategies such as working from home and fuel rationing. Preventative measures such as these would extend the supply beyond the expected crisis point in mid-April. As fuel underpins many things in society, this war could cripple the world in ways far beyond what COVID ever did. Carmen Fenech, Frenchs Forest

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet the head of the global energy watchdog. Getty Images Sue Childs made a good point about the cost of public transport as opposed to private vehicles, especially for families (Letters, March 20). The NSW government should consider following the example of Queensland last year in implementing cheap or free public transport. This would ease pressure on fuel supplies. Regional areas with limited transport could receive priority in the distribution of fuel, while those in city areas would have assistance with their cost of living through low fares. Linda Page, Baulkham Hills How silly to dip into our inadequate fuel reserves without introducing restrictions at the same time. Are these blokes doing what is best for us or trying to win a popularity contest? How naive of me. They are politicians first, second and third. Chris Hennessy, East Ballina Service stations are selling fuel ordered and delivered at the pre-war price, so how can they charge the exorbitant increases at the pump? So much for government threats of fines. Surely companies need to show purchase prices of stock before they can increase the pump price of any new stock. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach

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Not so simple I saw Angus Taylor on the news discussing the Middle East crisis. His contribution was solely about fuel costs at our petrol bowsers and sending forces to the Strait of Hormuz in order to keep prices low for us. Clearly a little picture man; just ignore a malevolent USA, a war-hungry Israel, a murderous Iranian regime, bombs seemingly everywhere, hundreds of thousands forced to flee, thousands injured, our alliances in tatters, world stability in doubt et cetera. But just give me cheap fuel and everything else is forgotten. Such a simple view of the world. So very beguiling. Tony Sullivan, Islington Liberals irrelevant Watching the commentary after another Liberal thrashing, in South Australias election, its obvious the Liberals have absolutely no idea what their problems are (Malinauskas triumphs as One Nation is hit by scandal, March 22). A senior Liberal said they needed to reach out to the electorate and deliver a clearer picture of their policies and how they can benefit the electorate. Its not that their policies need a clearer explanation, its that their policies are no longer relevant, and therefore neither are the Liberals. The world has changed and the Libs have been left far behind, which is exemplified in their ongoing state and federal election losses. That One Nation, a party without policies and with a rag-tag membership, can win more votes than the Libs says everything about their collapse. I wish all Liberal members good luck in finding work outside of politics. Victor Marshall, Meander (Tas) SA Premier Peter Malinauskas after his win in South Australia. I didnt ever think I would agree with anything Pauline Hanson says, but her statement that Australians have had a gut full is correct. Many are fed up with stupidity, entitlement and complete incompetence of what used to be the other major political party. However, they cannot conceive of voting for the ALP. What is clear from the SA election result is that for all of Hansons posturing and meaningless platitudes, and the negative politicking of the Coalition, voters clearly prefer the balanced and progressive approach of current Labor governments. Hanson is all Trump and bluster, and many hope she never comes close to the levers of power in Australia. Tony Heathwood, Kiama Downs

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Pokie profits Bevan Shields article says that last year, a staggering $9.3 billion was lost on the pokies in NSW (No Reform in Sight as NSW punters lose big on pokies, March 21). I would like to see where this money went, what percentage and dollar value went to the NSW government, how much was retained by the clubs and whoever else has fingers in the pie, including how much tax was paid to the federal government on profits made as a result of the massive losses. It would make very interesting reading. Geoff Lindsay, Thurgoona I am flabbergasted at the yearly pokies losses of more than $9 billion. It is totally unacceptable that the government has yet to implement the findings of its own independent panel on gaming reform. These important reforms have languished, failing to address the crippling losses they were designed to fix. Its time to prioritise the welfare of the people ahead of the gaming lobby. Daniela Catalano, Haberfield Punters lost $9.3 billion on the pokies in NSW last year. Virginia Star Myanmar suffers Michael Ruffles article highlights a crisis that receives far too little attention (There is a war in our backyard that we have forgotten about, March 21). Myanmar is on Australias doorstep, yet after five years of violence, displacement and economic collapse, it is largely absent from public debate. This silence risks allowing one of the regions gravest humanitarian disasters to fade from view. I lived and worked in Myanmar from 2015 to 2019 and I have seen the scale of suffering, which is even worse today. The lack of sustained coverage is deeply concerning. The Herald is to be commended. We need more reporting like this. We cannot afford to look away. Stav Zotalis, Kingsford

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NationalNSWCourts Unimpressive witness: Barrister gave false inheritance figure in family law fight Michaela Whitbourn March 22, 2026  1:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A NSW barrister has admitted giving false information in a family law fight with his former partner by claiming he received a $70,000 inheritance when he had received almost $230,000. In a decision last month, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found the barrister, whose identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons, guilty of professional misconduct over a series of failures in the case. The NSW barrister admitted he gave false information in his own family law case. Aresna Villanueva The NSW Bar Association launched the disciplinary proceedings following a complaint by the barristers former partner to the Legal Services Commissioner. The woman filed family law proceedings against her ex-partner in 2017 in the Federal Circuit and Family Court after they separated in late 2016.

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In an affidavit filed in the family law dispute in 2017, the barrister said he had received a $70,000 payment in 2012 from the estate of his late mother. In 2020, lawyers acting for his ex-partner queried that sum, and noted that a document relating to the administration of his mothers estate was inconsistent with his 2017 affidavit. It prompted him to file a new affidavit. [The] amount the respondent disclosed in the 2017 affidavit was vastly less than the actual amount he received. NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal NCAT said the barrister had admitted the statement made by [him]  in the 2017 affidavit, that he received $70,000 from his mothers estate in 2012, was false. As [he] admitted ... in 2010 he received the sum of $229,028.25 from her estate.

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The tribunal said it did not need to make a finding about whether the 2017 statement about his inheritance was deliberately false. However, it said his failure to make full, frank and accurate disclosures was serious. In cross-examination the respondent could not recall why he had put the false information in his 2017 affidavit, the tribunal said. He said he did not refer to any material or check documents at the time. Unimpressive witness The barrister appeared to be deliberately evasive in his answers, the tribunal said. He often responded to questions with answers such as if you say so ... and frequently used the expression I dont recall.

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We found him to be an unimpressive witness and did not find him to be candid in his responses. Not a momentary failure In their decision, NCAT senior members Elizabeth Bishop, SC, and Mark Tedeschi, KC, and general member Elayne Hayes said the barrister was grossly careless about the accuracy of the statement he made under oath. We note the amount the respondent disclosed in the 2017 affidavit was vastly less than the actual amount he received. This was not a momentary failure, the tribunal said, but a failure that was ongoing for a considerable period of time, only corrected three years later.

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Court order deliberately disregarded The tribunal said the barrister deliberately disregarded a court order later in 2020 that required him to disclose financial documents, including records revealing how he spent his inheritance. His conduct is inexplicable as a barrister with  [decades of] experience  A breach of an order of the court can constitute contempt of court. It is a very serious matter. He showed a complete disregard for orders of the court and his obligation as an officer of the court, the tribunal said. The tribunal heard he had a separate bank account from his former partner, meaning she would not have been aware of how the money was spent.

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Breach of undertaking The barrister also breached an undertaking not to encumber the Sydney home where the family had lived, the main asset of the relationship, until the dispute between the pair was finalised. He obtained a mortgage over the property in 2019 and drew down more than $330,000, but did not disclose the mortgage until 2020. The Federal Circuit and Family Court had released him from the undertaking in 2018 for the limited purpose of complying with a court order to pay his ex-partner a sum of money. However, the tribunal said the mortgage was purely for the personal benefit of the barrister because he said he needed to pay debts, including substantial debts to chambers and for legal fees.

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His overall approach to financial arrangements at that time demonstrated a loose and cavalier attitude ... towards his legal obligations during the court proceedings, the tribunal said. NCAT concluded the barristers conduct justifies a finding that he is not a fit and proper person to engage in legal practice and found him guilty of professional misconduct. It is a criminal offence under the Family Law Act to publicly disclose details of proceedings if the identity of a party or witness is revealed. The barristers identity is also protected by a separate non-publication order in the NCAT proceedings. Disciplinary orders will be made by NCAT at a later date. Professional misconduct is not a criminal offence and the findings were made to the civil standard of the balance of probabilities. However, the finding can lead to serious disciplinary orders. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) is one of the best railroad stocks to buy according to analysts. On March 19, Evercore ISI upgraded Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) to Outperform from In Line and raised its price target slightly to $262 from $260. The firm highlighted Union Pacifics strong volume growth, robust margins, and noted that the railroad trades at a discount compared to nearly all peers. Analysts expect performance to remain solid, particularly once tough intermodal comparisons are behind it.

Photo by Alesia Kozik on Pexels

Evercore ISI also pointed to the pending merger application, expected in about six weeks, as a potential upside catalyst. If the merger does not proceed, the stock could still deliver low-to-mid teens upside organically. If the merger gains traction toward closing, Union Pacific could be viewed as a premier growth industrial stock, with synergy-driven earnings expansion over the next three to four years.

On March 5, Reuters reported that US railroads, including Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP), CSX, and BNSF, are moving to recapture freight that shifted to truckers in recent years. The companies believe that shrinking truck capacity and sharply rising road-haul rates have swung the competitive pendulum back toward rail, said Reuters.

The report noted that for several years, an oversupply of trucking capacity kept road rates low. This allowed truckers to undercut rail on price and poach intermodal freight that would otherwise have moved by train. That dynamic is now reversing, noted Reuters.

Reuters stated that the primary catalyst of the reversal is a contraction in trucking supply. For instance, smaller carriers, who make up roughly 90% of all US trucking operators, are exiting the market because they are squeezed out by rising fuel and insurance costs and tightening federal regulations on driver licensing and safety. As a result, national van spot rates climbed to $2.43 per mile in February this year, up 20% from last year, said Reuters.

According to Reuters, the data matters because intermodal freight, which is cargo shipped in containers that can move seamlessly between ships, trucks, and trains, is the direct competitive battleground between the two modes, and rail generally needs to offer roughly a 15% cost advantage to pull freight off highways. So, as trucking rates rise, that threshold is now achievable on more routes and even on shorter hauls. Each major railroad is moving quickly to capitalize, Reuters concluded.

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) is a US freight rail company. It operates over 32,000 route miles across 23 western states, transporting agricultural products, automotive goods, chemicals, coal, industrial products, and intermodal containers.
Despite the benefits of cybernated crop management (C8) endorsed by Chris Keane, Pauline McGinley of Drummoyne still has concerns about the impact of Artificial Intelligence but at the moment, by far, my biggest concern is about Human Stupidity.

Channelling her inner Bubbles Fisher, Kath Maher of Lidcombe definitely wants a laser weeder: Just a small one, and does it come in many colours?

The generosity of the Australian Turf Club has its limits, reckons George Zivkovic of Northmead. Members received an email in the lead-up to the 70th running of the Golden Slipper, the worlds richest race for two-year-olds, which promised them a 70-cent drink loaded onto their members cards, redeemable after the running of the iconic race on Saturday. A far cry from when John Singo Singleton shouted the public bar at Rosehill in 2000 after his horse won, or when Perce the Prince of Punters Galea threw money into the crowd when his horse won it in 1964.

Mary Carde of Parrearra (Qld) says that recent musings on oldfangled balms and salves (C8) reminds me that gentian violet was my mums highlighter for smearing on cuts and scratches. And it also made me wonder, does anybody else recall those little bags containing camphor that mums made you wear around your neck during the winter months? Did they have a fair dinkum use or was it just another one of those old wives tales?

Taking a breath is Jonty Grinter of Katoomba: As a Ten Pound Pom, I have to say Aussies are a weird lot. When I was a kid in the mother country, my mum mixed friars balsam with boiling water in a bowl, stuck a tea towel over our head and made us inhale the vapours to clear congestion and blocked noses. For cuts and grazes she used a pink antiseptic cream called Germolene.
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NationalQueenslandCity life A researcher asked 10 people to go car-free for 20 days. None wanted to continue Felicity Caldwell March 23, 2026  6:01am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Almost a dozen regular Brisbane people took on a challenge to give up their car for 20 days, but by the end of the experiment, they decided it was unrealistic for them to go totally car-free. Urban planners from The University of Queensland recruited 10 car-owning Brisbane residents  five men and five women. They were asked to follow their regular schedules, but use public transport, walk or ride instead. Dr Dorina Pojani, from The University of Queenslands School of Architecture, Design and Planning, in Hanoi, in front of a hire bike from TNGo. They were given public transport cards and offered reimbursement if taxis, Ubers or shared e-bikes or e-scooters were needed in an emergency.

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The average claim per person for all their travel expenses during the experiment in Brisbane was $125  but they saved $300 in car costs. Related Article Exclusive

Cars Where in Brisbane do people own the most cars? Search for your suburb I hadnt realised how much money my car eats up, a 43-year-old man from Brisbane said. However, Associate Professor Dorina Pojani said participants were relieved when the experiment was over, and would not consider a permanent switch. The overwhelming feedback was that its just too hard to live without a car in Brisbane, she said.

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Its ultimately a sprawling, low-density city with a lack of integrated transport options  obstacles that have been shaped by historic planning decisions. The study, conducted by Dr Pojani and PhD scholar Sufian Almubarak, examined the experiences of people in Brisbane and another city of comparative urban sprawl, Al-Ahsa in Saudia Arabia. Most of the Brisbane participants lived in the inner-city. The University of Queensland All but one of the 10 Brisbane participants was working or studying and most lived within two kilometres of the city centre, with outliers at Manly in the east, Indooroopilly in the west, and Oxley in the south-west. Pojani said participants were initially enthusiastic but that waned, and most found it disorienting, facing difficulties getting around.

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Although people had spent weeks preparing, many were surprised by how much they needed to adjust when they could no longer rely on a private car. Pojani said experiences with public transport in Brisbane varied due to major service gaps outside the inner-city, even though 50 fares made public transport more accessible and increased patronage. Our study indicates that even with cheaper travel, many people feel they cant rely on public transport alone and continue to depend on their cars, she said. Only people who lived very close to a station caught the train.

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One woman said she liked to travel outside the inner-city, and she had to change her activities because of limited public transport, while a 33-year-old man said he missed many weekend get-togethers with his friends. Related Article Perspective

City life This doesnt make sense. How much shopping can you really carry on a bicycle? This new lifestyle makes me relatively isolated from my social circle, he said. However, a few Brisbane participants had an increase in social interactions, as they actively engaged in friendly conversations with others while riding buses and bicycles. A 38-year-old woman said riding a bike was a great way to travel a short distance.

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I have made many new friends because of the bike, she said. Parents said who needed to take their children to school or to extracurricular activities said this was hard without a car, and they ended up delegating it to someone with car access. Family outings and out-of-town trips, which were previously done by car, were put on hold. Pojani said, at the end of the project, four Brisbane participants pledged to use public transport for short trips within the inner-city. But all emphasised it was not realistic to give up their cars, she said.

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It demonstrates that in low-density, sprawling cities like Brisbane, people cannot be expected to permanently give up driving unless there is significant investment in public transport. However, researchers found given participants were likely to slightly reduce their reliance on cars, it showed experiencing car-free living, even briefly, could help people break away from automobility. In Brisbane, 89 per cent of households own at least one car and 48 per cent of commuters drive to work. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Exclusive PoliticsNSWEducation Aggressive, entitled parents to be banned from school in behaviour crackdown Emily Kowal and Sally Rawsthorne March 22, 2026  7:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Principals will be given the power to ban parents from school grounds if they engage in unreasonable and harmful behaviour under proposed state laws covering public, Catholic and independent sectors. School leaders will be able to issue school community safety orders against adults who engage in unreasonable or threatening behaviour, such as excessively emailing, calling or texting school staff, which would prevent them from coming within 25 metres of school grounds, camps, sporting venues and excursions. One principal from a Sydney boys school says the abuse has become a routine part of the job. Audrey Richardson The laws explicitly ban parents subject to an order from contacting staff via email, phone, social media or school-specific apps. Failure to comply with a school community safety order could trigger an application being made to the Local Court of NSW for a protection order. If breached, this could result in a fine of up to $5500.

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The bill will cover all schools  independent, public and Catholic. Related Article Education NSW principals exposed to rising threats and violence from parents, students Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said the legislation would ensure every student has access to quality education with a focused and committed teacher. Harassment and abuse of teachers impacts their ability to teach and can drive them from the profession, with students suffering the consequences, she said. One principal, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her employment, says the abuse has become a routine part of the job.

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At the morning kiss-and-ride outside a Sydney boys school the principal has been called a c--- and bitch by parents for insisting students exit the car safely. Her inbox is regularly flooded with emails from demanding parents and she has had parents tower over her before. In almost 20 years she has watched a small minority of parents who suck up the majority of time become angrier, more entitled and more willing to ignore basic boundaries. The abuse that you cop in writing, on the phone and in person is appalling. There have been times when Ive been scared, definitely scared, when someone gets right into your personal space. Principal at Sydney boys school I am wearing thin  I can understand why people give it all away, she said. The abuse that you cop in writing, on the phone and in person is appalling. There have been times when Ive been scared, definitely scared, when someone gets right into your personal space. This issue with parents is not limited just [to] state schools. Its all of us, and in many cases, the more they pay, the more they think they own you.

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Australian Catholic University associate professor Paul Kidson, who undertakes an annual survey of principals wellbeing, said the legislation was unfortunately warranted. NSW Education Minister Prue Car. AAP Despite the positive and collaborative approach most schools take, an increasing number of parents think its OK to be mistreating principals and teachers, he said. The fact its a warranted response is really disappointing  it means other approaches [to engage with families] havent worked. The new law brings NSWs protection of school staff in line with other jurisdictions like Victoria, which enacted similar laws in 2022.

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We know that this takes place outside [school hours] but the impact is felt at school, Kidson said. Abuse of school principals is soaring nationally. Kidsons survey of principals from 2024 found that 50 per cent of school leaders reported they had been subjected to physical violence. One in five of those harmed said parents were the source. Despite the positive and collaborative approach most schools take, an increasing number of parents think its OK to be mistreating principals and teachers. Associate Professor Paul Kidson, Australian Catholic University The same survey reported physical violence incidents had increased by 81.6 per cent since 2011. More than 35 per cent of school leaders reported being subject to cyberbullying, and almost 90 per cent of those surveyed said parents were responsible.

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Previously, principals have relied on outdated legislation to ban harmful parents from schools. However, this protection stopped at the school gates and did not cover external sites such as drop-off and pick-up zones, nor did it cover behaviour online or correspondence via phone and email. Related Article Exclusive

Education Owen loved being a principal. But he never wants to set foot in a school again While teachers and staff can take out an apprehended personal violence order against a community member, this can occur only with the approval of the minister. Blue Mountains Grammar School deputy principal Owen Laffin said he has observed a rise in poor parent behaviour across the sector. He said while 99 per cent of parents are lovely, gentle, generous, caring people, acting out of love for their child, a small proportion takes things too far.

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Its become so normal, particularly for principals, deputy principals, heads of pastoral care, to cop abusive behaviour, he said. NSW Secondary Principals Council president and Ulladulla High School principal Denise Lofts said the bill would allow principals to draw a line in the sand. What it does is it gives time and space for principals to say, enough, said Lofts. NSW Primary Principals Association president Michael Burgess said the bill would give principals an extra tool to manage misbehaving parents. For the vast majority of parents, we have positive relationships. This is a small group of people who have become more extreme in their behaviours. This bill gives us another tool, 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.
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Analysis WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Shifting goals and rising costs mark Trumps search for an Iran exit David E. Sanger March 22, 2026  4:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Washington: Ever since US President Donald Trump began what he now delicately calls his excursion into Iran, Washington has been consumed by the question of when he would call it a day  even if many of his war goals remain unaccomplished. On Friday evening (US time), as he headed to Florida, Trump seemed to be designing that much-discussed exit. But he clearly has not yet decided whether to take it. On Friday evening (US time), as he headed to Florida, Donald Trump seemed to be designing that much-discussed exit. But he clearly has not yet decided whether to take it. Bloomberg And there is mounting evidence  the average petrol price approaching $US4 a gallon ($1.50 a litre), infrastructure in ruins across the Persian Gulf, a decimated Iranian theocracy digging in, and American allies at first rebuffing and now struggling with demands to patrol hostile waters  that the repercussions of Trumps excursion may outlast his interest in it. As always, Trumps messaging is inconsistent, which his critics cite as evidence that he entered this conflict with no strategy, and his followers cheer as strategic ambiguity. With thousands of additional marines headed to the region and the pace of American and Israeli attacks quickening, Trump told reporters on Friday that he had no interest in a ceasefire because the US was obliterating Irans missile stocks, navy, air force and defence industrial base.

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Hours later, perhaps sensitive to a Republican base understandably nervous about the political effects, he posted on his social media site that we are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East. Related Article Middle East at war Trump gives Iran 48-hour deadline on Strait of Hormuz But his latest list of those objectives left out a few of his previous goals and watered down others. He made no mention of defeating the Revolutionary Guard, which appears to remain in power, along with Mojtaba Khamenei, who has succeeded his father as supreme leader, though he has yet to be seen or heard in public. Trump also omitted any message to the Iranian people, whom he told only three weeks ago: When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. And after insisting in the failed negotiations that led up to the war that Iran had to ship all of its nuclear material out of the country  starting with the 440 kilograms of enriched uranium that are closest to bomb-grade  he suggested a new goal. Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability, he wrote, and always being in a position where the USA can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation. That is, essentially, where the United States was after it buried Irans nuclear program in rubble in June. The sites have remained under the watchful eye of US spy satellites.

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Trump ended the posting with a new demand for American allies, whom he had frozen out of his deliberations before starting the war, and gave no warning to prepare for its consequences. The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it  the United States does not! US forces would help, he said. Think of it as the new Trump Doctrine for the Middle East, Richard Haass, the former president of the Council on Foreign Relations, who served on the US National Security Council and at the State Department during the Persian Gulf War and the Iraq War, wrote on social media. Loading We broke it, but you own it. Trumps shifting goals continued into Saturday evening. Just a few days ago, he was calling on Israel to avoid targeting Iranian energy sites, for fear it would lead to an escalating round of retaliatory counterstrikes across the Gulf. But on Saturday, he threatened to hit Irans power plants if it did not FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

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He said that US strikes on Iranian plants would start WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST. Irans biggest plant appears to be its only operating nuclear power plant, at Bushehr. For decades, nuclear power plants have been considered completely off limits for strikes because of the obvious risk of environmental calamity. This is not where Trump expected to be after three weeks of war. Cargo ships sail in the Arabian Gulf towards the Strait of Hormuz. AP Foreign leaders, diplomats and US officials who have spoken with the president said that in the first week, he voiced expectations that Iran would capitulate. That was clear in Trumps demand on March 6 for Irans unconditional surrender. The demand was mystifying, said one European diplomat with long experience dealing with Iran, given the countrys competing power centres, its national pride and a Persian state that has existed within the rough boundaries of modern-day Iran, enduring many rises and falls, since the days of Cyrus the Great around 550 BC.

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(That demand was also missing from his latest set of objectives. The White House has since said that the president does not expect a surrender announcement from Iran, but that Trump will determine when Iran has effectively surrendered.) Related Article Middle East at war US lifts sanctions on Russian oil as Trump derides Irans leaders as deranged scumbags Irans refusal to cry uncle, as Trump termed it to reporters on Air Force One, has been only one of the surprises to the president in recent weeks. The first was the crisis in the energy markets, which the International Energy Agency has called the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. It has sent Trump and his aides scrambling. They have promised releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which was only 60 per cent full, reflecting a lack of planning. Over the past week, the US Treasury Department has issued licences for the delivery of Russian and Iranian oil already at sea. In other words, to calm the markets, the president has approved enriching an adversary that is at war with Ukraine, an American ally, and another that is at war with the United States. So far, the effects are minimal. Brent crude closed at about $US112 a barrel on Friday after the Treasury announcements, and Goldman Sachs warned on Thursday that if ships were reluctant to make their way through the Strait of Hormuz, prices could remain high into 2027.

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The Iranians clearly understand that market chaos is their one remaining super-weapon. On Saturday, Tehran warned it could set fire to other facilities in the Middle East. The US believes the country entered the war with 3000 or so sea mines  some of which are believed to have been destroyed  and America has focused on destroying small boats in the Iranian fleet that are targeting tankers associated with American allies. All it takes is for one of those things to get through to shut down traffic, said John Kirby, who served as both Pentagon and US State Department spokesperson after retiring as a naval officer. The fear alone can be paralysing to the shipping industry, as we have already seen. Trumps latest list of objectives made no mention of defeating the Revolutionary Guard, which appears to remain in power, along with Mojtaba Khamenei (centre), who has succeeded his father as supreme leader. Getty Images Trumps second surprise was his sudden need for allies. He didnt imagine it at the beginning of the conflict, the defence minister of one Gulf nation said recently, because he thought the war would be short. But patrolling the strait, and other checkpoints, appears to be a task that could last months or years. His third surprise was the absence of any uprising among either the Revolutionary Guard or ordinary Iranians. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in the Oval Office last week, We are seeing defections at all levels as theyre starting to sense whats going on with the regime. But US and European intelligence officials say they have no evidence of such defections  even after Israel targeted, and eliminated, Irans supreme leader, its top security and intelligence chiefs and many top military officials.

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All that could yet come. Wars are not won or lost in three weeks. But Trump entered the Iran war after enjoying the fruits of quick victories. A bombing run over Irans three major nuclear sites in June was a one-evening expedition, essentially burying the countrys nuclear stockpiles and wiping out thousands of its centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium. Related Article Opinion

Trump diplomacy Trump and Netanyahu have formed a convenient coalition. But clear divisions are emerging Rodger Shanahan Middle East and security analyst The commando raid to seize Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela from his bed in Caracas was similarly swift. And so far, the government Trump left in place  essentially Maduros government  has been compliant. That operation has helped Trump destabilise Cuba, which has lost the Venezuelan fuel supplies that it has long depended on. The other day, the electric grid in Cuba collapsed, and administration officials have been openly suggesting that the government will, too. Perhaps those quick results encouraged Trump to believe the US military was all-powerful, and that the mullahs and generals and militias that run Iran, a country of 92 million people, would crumble. Perhaps he rushed. Military historians will be dissecting this conflict for a long time. But for now, it is clear that Iran is a different kind of challenge. Trump started using the word excursion to suggest this is just a short trip, a brief diversion. But there is no real end in sight.

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This article originally appeared in The New York Times. 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.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Following a swift and coordinated response, the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) has arrested a suspect in connection with an armed robbery and vehicle theft that occurred early Saturday morning on Soualiga Road.

At approximately 01:00 AM, Central Dispatch received a report of an armed robbery on Soualiga Road. A male victim reported that he had been robbed of his Lexus SUV by an assailant dressed entirely in black clothing. The suspect threatened the victim with what appeared to be a black firearm, forcibly took the vehicle keys, and fled the scene in the direction of Point Blanche. The incident occurred in the vicinity of a gentlemans club on Soualiga Road.

Immediately following the report, several police patrols were dispatched to the Point Blanche area. Shortly thereafter, officers received additional information regarding the stolen vehicle's direction of travel.

Officers on patrol subsequently spotted the stolen SUV on Buncamper Road, traveling from the direction of Point Blanche toward the Freedom Fighters Roundabout. A pursuit was initiated, which continued onto Bush Road. The chase ended when the suspect lost control of the vehicle and drove into a road divider near the Churchill Roundabout, rendering it inoperable.

The suspect exited the vehicle and fled on foot onto a property located at L.B. Scott Road #1. After a short foot pursuit, during which a warning shot was fired by police, officers successfully apprehended the suspect, identified by the initials N.D.I.A.

A search of the stolen vehicle did not initially yield a firearm. However, during a subsequent search of the surrounding area near the arrest location, officers recovered a black firearm, which was confiscated for further investigation.

The suspect was transported to the Philipsburg Police Station, where he remains in custody for questioning. The investigation into this incident is ongoing.

KPSM commends the swift and coordinated efforts of its officers, which led to the rapid arrest of the suspect and the recovery of the stolen vehicle.

The Police Force urges anyone with additional information related to this incident to contact the police station at +1 (721) 542-2222 or the anonymous tip line at 9300.
CORRECTED: Saudi Arabia expels Iran military attache



Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2026



Saudi Arabia on Saturday ordered an Iranian diplomat and three members of his team to leave the country, as the kingdom and its Gulf neighbours face Iranian strikes in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks.

In a statement condemning "repeated Iranian attacks", Riyadh said it "decided to declare persona non grata the military attache of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, along with three members of the embassy's military mission".

They were given 24 hours to leave the country, the foreign ministry said in a message posted on social media.
Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSEAmerican:UEC) is one of the 10 Stock Market Casualties You Cant Ignore Today.

Uranium Energy extended its losing streak to a third consecutive day on Friday, shedding 8.96 percent to finish at $12.09 apiece, as investors unloaded portfolios amid lingering uncertainties from the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Part of the drop was sparked by questions about whether President Donald Trump would seize some 970 pounds of enriched uranium in Iran that the latter could potentially use to build nuclear weapons.

However, any further invasion could create a larger risk, as experts say that such a move cannot be done without the US having to deploy a sizable number of troops into Iran.

Uranium Energy (UEC) Drops 8.96% on War Uncertainties

Adding to the sentiment were announcements from President Donald Trump that he was not interested in a ceasefire with Iran, which sparked further concerns for the global economy.

In other news, Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSEAmerican:UEC) earlier this month announced a dismal earnings performance in the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 ending January, having widened its net loss by 36 percent to $13.9 million from $10.2 million in the same period a year earlier, as sales fell by 59 percent to $20. 2 million from $49.75 million year-on-year.

In the six-month period, net loss shrank by 20 percent to $24.28 million from $30.39 million in the same comparable period, while sales dwindled by 70 percent to $20.2 million from $66.8 million.

While we acknowledge the potential of UEC 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: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

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Firefighters say extensive damage in south Israel town after 'direct hit'



Jerusalem, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2026



Israeli firefighters reported a direct hit on a town in southern Israel on Saturday, causing extensive damage to several buildings, after the military had warned of an incoming missile attack from Iran.

"Further to the report of a hit in the city of Arad, this is a strike in the city centre between residential buildings," the service said in a statement, adding it was a "direct hit".

"Extensive damage was caused at the site."
Iranian missile strike on second south Israel town wounds 30



Jerusalem, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2026



Israeli firefighters said a "direct hit" by an Iranian missile on the southern Israeli town of Arad on Saturday caused extensive damage, with medics reporting around 30 people wounded.

Israeli media showed badly damaged buildings in Arad, about 25 kilometres (15 miles) northeast of Dimona, a town struck hours earlier which houses a nuclear facility.

"In both Dimona and Arad, interceptors were launched that failed to hit the threats, resulting in two direct hits by ballistic missiles with warheads weighing hundreds of kilograms," firefighters said.

The local fire service said there was "extensive damage", with three buildings affected and a blaze sparked in one of them.

Magen David Adom first responders said they were taking 33 wounded people to hospital, including four seriously injured, 12 moderately injured, and 17 lightly injured.

"This is a very severe scene," emergency medical technician Yakir Talkar said in a statement, adding there were "many wounded with varying degrees of injury".

The casualties in Arad came after an Iranian missile strike on Dimona left around 30 people wounded.

Iranian state TV said the missile attack on Dimona in the Negev desert was a "response" to an earlier strike on its own nuclear site at Natanz.
UAE says faced drone, missile barrages after Iran warning



Dubai, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2026



The United Arab Emirates said on Saturday it faced aerial attacks from Iran after the Islamic republic warned its neighbour against allowing attacks from its territory on disputed islands near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the defence ministry said in a statement explaining "the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones".

The Tasnim news agency reported the Iranian military's operational command had warned the UAE "if any further aggression originates from its territory against the Iranian islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb in the Persian Gulf, Iran... will subject Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE to heavy strikes".

Authorities in the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, which shares its name with the UAE's sixth-largest city, said later on Saturday the "sounds heard across parts of the city were the result of successful air defence interception operations".

Abu Musa and the Greater Tunb islands, which are controlled by Iran but claimed by the UAE, have long been a source of dispute between the two countries.

The islands are located in the Gulf near the entrance to the critical global shipping chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz.

Marine traffic there has been disrupted by the regional war, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and has since spread across the Middle East.

Iran accuses Gulf states of allowing US forces to carry out attacks from their territory, and has launched missile and drone strikes against what it calls US interests in those countries throughout the war.

Gulf states have repeatedly denied those accusations, saying even before the war that they would not allow their territory or airspace to be used to attack Iran.

Saudi Arabia, in a statement condemning the "repeated Iranian attacks", said it "decided to declare persona non grata the military attache" of Iran and three other embassy staffers, giving them 24 hours to leave the country, the foreign ministry said.
Iran missile strikes wound over 100 in two south Israel towns



Arad, Israel, March 21 (AFP) Mar 21, 2026



Iranian missile strikes on two southern Israeli towns wounded more than 100 people on Saturday, medics said, after Israeli air defence systems failed to intercept the projectiles.

The two direct hits tore open the fronts of residential buildings and carved craters into the ground.

First responders said 75 people were injured in the town of Arad, 10 of them seriously, hours after 33 were wounded in nearby Dimona.

Iranian state TV said the missile attack on Dimona, which houses a nuclear facility, was a "response" to an earlier strike on its own nuclear site at Natanz.

AFP footage from Arad showed rescue workers sifting through rubble for wounded people in a bombed-out building.

Fire engines with their lights flashing were at the scene along with dozens of members of the emergency services.

Firefighters said that in "both Dimona and Arad, interceptors were launched that failed to hit the threats, resulting in two direct hits by ballistic missiles with warheads weighing hundreds of kilograms".

The Israeli military said it would investigate the issue.

"The air defence systems operated but did not intercept the missile, we will investigate the incident and learn from it," military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin wrote on X.

The local fire service said there was "extensive damage" in Arad, with three buildings affected and a blaze sparked in one of them.

Magen David Adom first responders said they had taken 75 wounded people to hospital from Arad.

"Among them are 10 patients in serious condition, 13 patients in moderate condition, and 48 patients in mild condition," the emergency workers said.

Medic Riyad Abu Ajaj described "extensive destruction" at the site of the strike, in a statement from the organisation.

"There was a lot of chaos at the scene," he said.

The rescue operations came not long after similar scenes in Dimona, around 25 kilometres (15 miles) to the southwest.

AFPTV footage from the scene showed a large crater gouged into the ground next to piles of rubble and twisted metal.

Surrounding buildings had their windows blown out and facades heavily damaged as emergency workers combed through the site.

Medics said they treated 33 people injured in the town, including a 10-year-old boy with shrapnel wounds who was in serious condition but conscious.

Dimona hosts a facility widely believed to possess the Middle East's sole nuclear arsenal, although Israel has never admitted possessing nuclear weapons.

Israel has maintained a policy of ambiguity about its nuclear programme, and the plant officially focuses on research.

Iran has fired repeated barrages of missiles at Israel daily in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks that started on February 28.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue striking Iran and its allies after what he called a "very difficult evening".
Israel military says striking central Tehran



Jerusalem, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



The Israeli military said its forces launched a wave of strikes on Tehran early Sunday, hours after Iranian missile fire hit two cities in southern Israel.

A brief statement said Israeli forces were "currently conducting strikes on Iranian terror regime targets in the heart of Tehran".
Trump gives Iran 48 hours to open Hormuz as Tehran strikes Israel



Jerusalem, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



US President Donald Trump on Saturday gave Iran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping or face the destruction of its energy infrastructure, as Tehran launched its most destructive attack yet on Israel.

The ultimatum, made just a day after the US leader said he was considering "winding down" military operations after three weeks of war, came as the key oil passage remained effectively closed and thousands more American Marines headed to the Middle East.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that the US would "hit and obliterate" Iranian power plants -- "starting with the biggest one first" -- if Tehran did not fully reopen the strait within 48 hours, or 23:44 GMT on Monday according to the time of his post.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had imposed restrictions only on vessels from countries involved in attacks against Iran, and would assist others that stayed out of the conflict.

In response to Trump's threat, Iran's army said it will target energy, desalination infrastructure "belonging to the US and the regime in the region," according to the Fars news agency.

Trump's ultimatum Saturday landed hours after two Iranian missiles struck southern Israel, injuring more than 100 people in the most destructive attack since the war began. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate "on all fronts."

The strikes, which slipped through Israel's missile defence systems, tore open the facades of residential buildings and carved craters into the ground.

First responders said 84 people were injured in the town of Arad, 10 of them seriously. Hours earlier, 33 were wounded in nearby Dimona, where AFPTV footage showed a large hole gouged into the ground next to piles of rubble and twisted metal.

Dimona hosts a facility widely believed to be the site of the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal, although Israel has never admitted to possessing nuclear weapons.

The Israeli army told AFP there had been a "direct missile hit on a building" in Dimona, with casualties reported at multiple sites, including a 10-year-old boy in serious condition with shrapnel wounds.

In Arad, emergency workers combed through the rubble of heavily damaged buildings.

Netanyahu vowed to continue striking Iran after what he called a "very difficult evening" and hours later, the Israeli military said its forces launched a wave of strikes on Tehran.

Iran said the targeting of Dimona was retaliation for Israeli strikes on its Natanz nuclear facility, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) saying forces also targeted other southern Israeli towns as well as military sites in Kuwait and the UAE.

Following the Natanz attack, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi reiterated his call for "military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident."

The Natanz facility hosts underground centrifuges used to enrich uranium for Iran's disputed nuclear programme and sustained damage in the June 2025 war.

The Israeli military denied it was behind the Natanz strike, but said it had struck a facility at a Tehran university that it claimed was being used to develop nuclear weapon components for Iran's ballistic missile programme.



- Hormuz base -



The destruction in Israel capped three weeks of heavy US-Israeli bombardment that appeared to have done little to blunt Iran's ability to retaliate with missile and drone attacks across the region.

Iran also launched an unsuccessful ballistic-missile attack on the US-UK base at Diego Garcia, around 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) away, a UK official told AFP -- which would have been the longest-range Iranian strike yet had it succeeded.

The United Arab Emirates said Saturday it faced aerial attacks after Iran warned it against allowing strikes from its territory on disputed islands near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has choked off the vital waterway, which carries a fifth of global crude oil trade in peacetime.

The standoff has sent crude oil prices soaring, with North Sea Brent crude now trading above $105 a barrel, as long-term consequences for the global economy become an acute concern.

A joint statement from the leaders of several countries -- including the UK, France, Italy, Germany, South Korea, Australia, the UAE and Bahrain -- condemned the "de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces."

"We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait," they said.

Trump has slammed NATO allies as "cowards" and urged them to secure the strait.



- Remarkable endurance? -



Analysts say Iran's government has survived the loss of its top leaders and that its strike capacity is proving more durable than expected.

"They're showing a lot of resilience that we didn't perhaps expect, that the US didn't expect, when it took this on," Neil Quilliam of Chatham House told the think tank's podcast.

Tehran, meanwhile, marked the end of Ramadan as the war entered its fourth week.

Iran's supreme leader traditionally leads Eid al-Fitr prayers, but Mojtaba Khamenei -- who came to power earlier this month after his father Ali Khamenei was killed -- has remained out of the public eye.

Instead, the head of the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, attended prayers at central Tehran's overflowing Imam Khomeini grand mosque.

"The atmosphere of the New Year was spreading through the city," said Farid, an advertising executive reached by AFP through an online message.

But "the thought that some people could be dying right at the New Year dinner table was painful," he added.

burs-arp/acb
CORRECTED: UAE says responding to Iranian missile, drone attacks



Dubai, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



The United Arab Emirates said it was responding to incoming aerial attacks from Iran on Sunday.

"UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the defence ministry said in a statement, explaining "the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones".
Japan FM says Iran released one of two detained Japanese nationals



Tokyo, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Japan's foreign minister said Sunday that one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has been released.

The person, who has not been publicly identified, was released on Wednesday and will be returning to Japan, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told a political talk show programme on Fuji Television.

The individual had been taken into custody in Iran in June, according to Japanese media.

Iran released the person after deciding the individual's jail term was over, Jiji Press reported, citing unnamed Japanese diplomatic sources.

Motegi said the development came after he made "strong calls" to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to release the detainees.

He confirmed a second Japanese national remained in detention but did not identify the person.

In January, Iran arrested the Tehran bureau chief of Japanese public broadcaster NHK and sent him to a prison known for holding political inmates, according to media reports.

A Japanese government spokesperson at the time told reporters that a Japanese citizen had been detained on January 20 but declined to give more details.

Motegi declined on Sunday to confirm whether the second individual is the NHK journalist.

"As for the other person, we are staying in touch with the person's family and we are working to secure the person's early release," Motegi said during the Fuji TV programme.
Blasts heard after Iran missile alerts in central Israel: AFP



Jerusalem, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Several blasts could be heard from Jerusalem on Sunday, AFP journalists said, after the Israeli military warned of incoming missile fire from Iran towards central Israel.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Iran threatens Middle East infrastructure after Trump ultimatum



Tehran, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Iran on Sunday threatened to attack key infrastructure across the Middle East if US President Donald Trump follows through on his vow to "obliterate" the Islamic republic's power plants unless the Strait of Hormuz swiftly reopens.

Trump, after signalling he may wind down the war, ratcheted up pressure on Iran's leadership, announcing a countdown over the Islamic republic's de facto blockade on the crucial trade route.

"If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

But Iran's military operational command responded that if the country's facilities were hit, "all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US" in the region would be targeted.

Tehran's defiance comes after it retaliated for an attack on its nuclear site at Natanz with two direct hits on southern Israel.

Slipping past the country's air defences, the missiles crashed into the towns of Dimona, which hosts a nuclear facility, and Arad, wounding more than 100 people.

Israel said it launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday in response.

But Trump turned his attention to the blockaded strait, which typically carries a fifth of the global crude oil trade.

The standoff has rattled markets and sent oil prices soaring, with North Sea Brent crude now trading above $105 a barrel, as concerns grow about the long-term consequences for the global economy.

Trump has slammed NATO allies as "cowards" and urged them to secure the strait.

A total of 22 countries -- including the UK, France, Italy, Germany, South Korea, Australia, the UAE and Bahrain -- condemned on Saturday the "de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces"

As thousands more American Marines head to the Middle East, US Central Command said bunker-busting bombs were dropped on an underground Iranian coastal facility this week, degrading Iran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway.



- 'This was terrifying' -



Iran's missile attack on Israel indicated that its arsenal still poses a threat across the region, even after Trump and Netanyahu claimed to have decimated Tehran's forces.

The Iranian hits on the towns of Arad and Dimona tore open the fronts of residential buildings and carved craters into the ground -- among the most destructive attacks of the three-week war.

AFP footage from Arad showed rescue workers sifting through rubble for wounded people in a bombed-out building.

"There was a 'boom, boom!', my mother was screaming," 17-year-old Arad resident Ido Franky told AFP near the impact site, where an AFP correspondent saw three damaged buildings and firefighters reported a blaze.

"This was terrifying... this town had never seen anything like this."

Dimona hosts what is widely believed to be the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal, although Israel has never admitted to possessing nuclear weapons, insisting the site is for research.

The missile fell about five kilometres from the nuclear facility, leaving about 30 people wounded, according to rescuers.

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi reiterated his call for "military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident."

Meanwhile Iran has kept up retaliatory attacks on Gulf nations it accuses of serving as a launchpad for US strikes.

Saudi Arabia said Sunday it detected three ballistic missiles around capital Riyadh and the kingdom's forces intercepted three drones.

The United Arab Emirates said it responded to new missile and drone attacks from Iran, after the Islamic republic warned its neighbour against allowing strikes from disputed islands near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran also launched an unsuccessful ballistic-missile attack on the US-UK base at Diego Garcia, around 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) away, a UK official told AFP -- which would have been the longest-range Iranian strike yet had it succeeded.

Iran has not claimed this attack.



- Remarkable endurance? -



Analysts say Iran's government has survived the loss of its top leaders and that its strike capacity is proving more durable than expected.

"They're showing a lot of resilience that we didn't perhaps expect, that the US didn't expect, when it took this on," Neil Quilliam of Chatham House told the think tank's podcast.

Tehran, meanwhile, marked the end of Ramadan and the Persian New Year, Nowruz, as the war entered its fourth week.

Iran's supreme leader traditionally leads Eid al-Fitr prayers, but Mojtaba Khamenei -- who came to power earlier this month after his father Ali Khamenei was killed -- has remained out of the public eye.

Instead, the head of the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, attended prayers at central Tehran's overflowing Imam Khomeini grand mosque.

"The atmosphere of the New Year was spreading through the city," said Farid, an advertising executive reached by AFP through an online message.

But "the thought that some people could be dying right at the New Year dinner table was painful," he added.

burs-jfx/lb
Woori Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:WF) is one of the best Korean stocks to buy. On March 4, Woori Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:WF) submitted its audited financial statements for fiscal year 2025 to the SEC via a Form 6-K filing. The company said the statements were prepared under the International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted in South Korea, or K-IFRS, and cover consolidated and separate financials.

Is Woori Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:WF) One of the Best Korean Stocks to Buy?

Source: Pixabay

According to the filing, external auditors issued an unmodified opinion on both the groups 2025 and 2024 consolidated financial statements. They took the same stance on the companys internal controls over financial reporting. In other words, the auditors found the financials to be a fair and accurate representation of the companys position.

In the financial statements, Woori stated that at the group level, total assets surged to KRW 601.5 trillion from KRW 525.8 trillion in 2024. The company explained that the growth was driven by loan growth, an expanded securities portfolio, and the July 2025 consolidation of two newly acquired insurance subsidiaries. Net income came in at KRW 3.23 trillion, which was broadly flat year over year, the statements show. At the same time, credit loss provisions stood at KRW 3.36 trillion as measured under the expected credit loss model.

The statements also show that at the subsidiary level, Woori Bank, the groups wholly-owned banking arm, saw its net income fall to KRW 2.58 trillion from KRW 3.05 trillion in 2024. The decline was due to rising credit costs and higher expenses weighing down on the income, the firm explained.

Woori Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:WF) is a financial holding company in South Korea. It provides banking, credit card, securities, and asset management services through its subsidiaries. The company generates revenue from deposits, loans, investment products, and financial advisory services.

While we acknowledge the potential of WF 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.

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Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Rocket fire from Lebanon kills one in north Israel as Hezbollah claims attacks



Jerusalem, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Israel said rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person on Sunday as Hezbollah said it attacked soldiers in northern Israel, the first fatality there in fire from Lebanon since the latest war erupted.

Israel's ZAKA 360 emergency response unit said a person was pronounced dead after a strike on their vehicle "carried out by a rocket fired from Lebanon".

Local firefighters said flames had engulfed two vehicles after a "direct hit" in the northern Israeli kibbutz community of Misgav Am.

"We arrived at the scene and saw two vehicles on fire. During the firefighters' extinguishing operations, we identified a man in the driver's seat," paramedics from Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said, adding that he was later pronounced dead.

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group said in a statement that its fighters targeted "a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers" in Misgav Am "with a rocket barrage".

It was among a series of attacks the group claimed on Sunday, mainly against Israeli troops in northern Israel and in southern Lebanon, where Israeli soldiers have been carrying out ground incursions.

The Israeli army had earlier announced it had detected "a launch from Lebanon toward a community along the northern border".

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Israeli-US attacks.

Israel has sent troops into Lebanon and carried out extensive airstrikes in the country, while Hezbollah continues to fire rocket barrages across the border.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed in southern Lebanon, according to the military.

Lebanese authorities have said more than 1,000 people have been killed in the country and more than one million others displaced in three weeks of conflict.

On Sunday, Hezbollah said its fighters repeatedly targeted Israeli soldiers and vehicles in or near the border town of Taybeh, as well as in or near Khiam, a strategic town where the group has repeatedly said it has targeted Israeli forces in recent days.

On Saturday, Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli forces in Khiam and in the coastal town of Naqura.

The group also claimed attacks on northern Israel on Saturday, including targeting an air defence system in Maalot-Tarshiha, where Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11 reported three people were lightly wounded.
Iran missiles targeting Diego Garcia base fell short, intercepted: UK minister



London, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



UK minister Steve Reed on Sunday said one missile launched by Iran targeting a joint UK-US military base in the Indian Ocean "fell short" while another missile was "intercepted".

"Our assessment is that the Iranians certainly targeted Diego Garcia," a military base some 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) away from Iran, Reed told the BBC.

"As we understand it, one missile fell short, failed, the other was intercepted and prevented," said the housing minister, who was representing the government on the Sunday morning shows.

"But I don't think it's a surprise this has happened, Iran has been recklessly firing missiles around the region," he added.

Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands archipelago, is one of two bases which the UK has allowed the United States to use for what the British government insists are "defensive operations" in its war against Iran.

The Wall Street Journal first reported Friday that Iran had aimed two ballistic missiles at the base, which is a key hub for Washington's Asia operations, including the US bombing campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

While neither hit their target, the launch suggests that Tehran has missiles with longer ranges than previously thought.

American forces have stationed bombers and other equipment at Diego Garcia.

On Friday, the UK government said it would allow Washington to use its bases in Diego Garcia and Fairford in southwest England to target Iranian "missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz".

A UK official source confirmed that Iran's "unsuccessful targeting of Diego Garcia" took place before Friday's announcement.

Reed insisted that the "UK will not be dragged into this conflict", adding that there was "no specific assessment that the Iranians are targeting the UK or even could, if they wanted to".

He also highlighted the contrasting positions taken by the UK and the United States on the war, with British leader Keir Starmer attracting US President Donald Trump's ire in recent weeks.

"It is not the first time in history that the United Kingdom and a British prime minister has taken a different view from the US president. It happened in Vietnam," said Reed.
Three Turks, including serviceman, among dead in Qatar copter crash



Doha, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Three Turkish nationals including a serviceman were on board a helicopter that crashed in Qatar's territorial waters, alongside three Qatari servicemen, the Gulf country's defence ministry said on Sunday.

The Turkish defence ministry meanwhile said that "a Qatari armed forces helicopter, which was carrying out a training exercise as part of the Qatar-Turkey Joint Forces Command, crashed into the sea".

"A member of the Turkish armed forces and two Aselsan technicians" were killed in the crash, the ministry said, referring to the Turkish defence giant.

Five passengers and a pilot were killed, Qatari authorities said, while a second pilot has been reported missing.

The Qatari defence ministry had earlier said that the helicopter crashed due to a "technical malfunction" during a routine flight.

bur-sar/mdh/jsa/amj
Doha confirms 4 Qataris, 3 Turks killed in helicopter crash



Doha, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Qatar on Sunday confirmed four of its military personnel and three Turkish nationals, including one serviceman, were killed on board a helicopter that crashed in Qatar's territorial waters.

The Gulf state's interior ministry said in a statement rescue operations had been completed and a final seventh individual was confirmed dead.

"All those who were on board have been found, numbering seven, and their martyrdom has been confirmed," it said.

Earlier, Qatar's defence ministry named the victims of the crash as Captain Mubarak Salem Daway al-Marri, Sergeant Fahad Hadi Ghanem al-Khayarin, Corporal Mohammed Maher Mohammed and Captain Saeed Nasser Sameekh from the Qatari armed forces.

The defence ministry also identified Major Sinan Tastekin from the Qatar-Turkey Joint Forces and two Turkish civilians, Suleiman Cemra Kahraman and Ismail Anas, as having been killed in the crash.

They are the first recorded fatalities from both countries since the US and Israel unleashed strikes on Iran on February 28 and the Islamic republic launched a retaliatory air campaign against its Gulf neighbours.

The Turkish defence ministry said: "A Qatari armed forces helicopter, which was carrying out a training exercise as part of the Qatar-Turkey Joint Forces Command, crashed into the sea."

"A member of the Turkish armed forces and two Aselsan technicians" were killed in the crash, the ministry said, referring to the Turkish defence giant.

The Qatari defence ministry had earlier said that the helicopter crashed due to a "technical malfunction" during a routine flight.
Rocket fire from Lebanon kills one in north Israel as Hezbollah claims attacks



Beirut, Lebanon, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Israel said rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person on Sunday as Hezbollah said it attacked soldiers in northern Israel, the first fatality there in fire from Lebanon since the latest war erupted.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that the army had been ordered to destroy more bridges over Lebanon's Litani River that are allegedly being used by Hezbollah in the country's south, and to step up the demolition of houses.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Israeli-US attacks.

Israel has sent troops into Lebanon and carried out extensive airstrikes in the country, while Hezbollah continues to fire rocket barrages across the border.

Israel's ZAKA 360 emergency response unit said a person was pronounced dead after a strike on their vehicle "carried out by a rocket fired from Lebanon".

Local firefighters said flames had engulfed two vehicles after a "direct hit" in the northern Israeli kibbutz community of Misgav Am.

"We arrived at the scene and saw two vehicles on fire. During the firefighters' extinguishing operations, we identified a man in the driver's seat," paramedics from Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said.

Iran-backed Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters targeted "a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers" in Misgav Am "with a rocket barrage".

It was among a series of attacks the group claimed on Sunday, mainly against Israeli troops in northern Israel and in southern Lebanon, where Israeli soldiers have been carrying out ground incursions.



- Bridges -



Defence minister Katz said in a statement that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the military "to immediately destroy all the bridges over the Litani River that are used for terrorist activity, in order to prevent Hezbollah terrorists and weapons from moving south".

The Litani River runs around 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the Israeli border.

Israel's army warned it would strike a bridge on a highway north of the city of Tyre.

On Wednesday, Israel attacked two bridges spanning the Litani, also alleging they were being used by Hezbollah.

Katz said the military was also instructed to "accelerate the demolition of Lebanese houses in the contact villages in order to thwart threats to Israeli communities".

On Sunday, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported Israeli strikes in several areas of south Lebanon, including in the strategic town of Khiam and the coastal border town of Naqura, and a raid in the Bekaa Valley in the country's east.

Hezbollah said its fighters repeatedly targeted Israeli soldiers and vehicles in or near the border town of Taybeh, as well as in or near Khiam, where the group has repeatedly said it has targeted Israeli forces in recent days.

Lebanese authorities have said more than 1,000 people have been killed in the country and more than one million others displaced in three weeks of conflict.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed in southern Lebanon, according to the military.

On Saturday, Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli forces in Khiam and in Naqura.

The group also claimed attacks on northern Israel on Saturday, including targeting an air defence system in Maalot-Tarshiha, where Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11 reported three people were lightly wounded.

Israel has warned residents of swathes of south Lebanon to evacuate and has said it wants to create a buffer zone in Lebanon to protect residents of north Israel.
Iran has fired 400 missiles at Israel, 92% intercepted since start of war: military



Jerusalem, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Israel's military said on Sunday that Iran had fired more than 400 ballistic missiles at Israel since the start of the Middle East war, with around 92 percent of them intercepted.

The figures were announced a day after Iranian missiles struck two towns in southern Israel, leaving around 175 people needing medical treatment.

"Iran has fired over 400 ballistic missiles. We have had great interception rates. We have approximately a 92 percent successful interception rate," Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told journalists.

One of the towns hit on Saturday was Dimona, widely believed to hold Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal.

The impact of the missile was just five kilometres from the town's nuclear facility.

The other nearby town to be hit was Arad, which saw extensive damage to several buildings.

Shoshani said the missiles fired on Saturday were "not different from ballistic missiles" and that there had now only been four direct hits during the war so far.

The Israeli military has said it will investigate the failure to intercept the incoming fire on Saturday.

"We have intercepted in the past and will intercept in the future," Shoshani said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged Saturday was a "very difficult evening" and urged residents to head to protection centres whenever sirens blare.

On Sunday he visited Arad, where he vowed to continue pursuing top Iranian officials.

"We are going after the IRGC (Iran's Revolutionary Guards), this criminal gang," Netanyahu told journalists at the site.

"We're going after them personally, their leaders, their installations, their economic assets. We're going after them personally."

One man was wounded Sunday in the commercial hub of Tel Aviv in what local media said was a blast from a cluster munition.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war on Sunday:



- Netanyahu vow -



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to pursue senior commanders of Iran's Revolutionary Guards "personally", during a visit to an Israeli town struck by an Iranian missile the previous day.

"We're going after the regime. We're going after the IRGC, this criminal gang," Netanyahu said as he inspected the damage in the southern town of Arad.



- WHO warning -



The World Health Organization warned that strikes around nuclear sites in Iran and Israel had pushed the Middle East war to a "perilous stage".

"I urgently call on all parties to exercise maximum military restraint and avoid any actions that could trigger nuclear incidents," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.



- Iran threat -



Iran's powerful parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened to irreversibly destroy vital infrastructure across the region, which he said would cause oil prices to rise "for a long time", if the United States and Israel attacked Tehran's.

"Immediately after power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, vital infrastructure as well as energy and oil infrastructure across the entire region will be considered legitimate targets and will be irreversibly destroyed," Ghalibaf said in a social media post.



- Israel threat -



Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said his country's military had been ordered to destroy more bridges over the Litani river in south Lebanon he alleged were used by Hezbollah.

He said the military was also instructed to "accelerate the demolition of Lebanese houses in the contact villages in order to thwart threats to Israeli communities".



- Intercepted missiles -



Israel's military said that Iran had fired more than 400 ballistic missiles at Israel since the start of the Middle East war, with around 92 percent of them intercepted.



- Qatar chopper crash -



Three Turkish nationals, including a serviceman, and three Qatari military personnel were killed when a helicopter crashed in Qatar's territorial waters, the Gulf country's defence ministry said.

While Qatar has been targeted by several Iranian strikes since the start of the Middle East war, no connection has been made between the chopper and the conflict triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran.



- Iran attack 'fell short' -



British minister Steve Reed said one missile launched by Iran targeting a joint UK-US military base in the Indian Ocean "fell short" while another missile was "intercepted".

Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands, is one of two bases which the UK has allowed the United States to use for what the British government calls "defensive operations" in the war against Iran.



- Iran facilities damaged -



Iran's critical water and energy infrastructure have suffered extensive damage due to US and Israeli strikes, the country's energy minister Abbas Aliabadi said.

"The attacks targeted dozens of water transmission and treatment facilities and destroyed parts of critical water supply networks," he said, adding that repairs were under way.



- US facility attacked -



At least six overnight attacks targeted a US diplomatic and logistics centre at Baghdad's International Airport, two Iraqi security officials told AFP.

"Eight separate attacks, carried out until dawn with rockets and drones targeted the US centre," a senior security official told AFP, while a second security official said there had been six strikes.



- Fatality in north Israel -



Israel said rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person as Hezbollah said it attacked soldiers in northern Israel, the first fatality there in fire from Lebanon since the latest war erupted.

Local firefighters said flames engulfed two vehicles after a "direct hit" in the northern Israeli kibbutz community of Misgav Am.



- Jerusalem blasts -



Blasts were heard and air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem early Sunday, AFP journalists said, after the Israeli military warned of incoming missile fire from Iran.

Israel's emergency medical service said there were no immediate reports of casualties.



- Saudi, UAE targeted -



Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said three ballistic missiles were detected around the capital Riyadh, while the UAE said it responded to Iranian missile and drone attacks.



- Israel strikes Tehran -



The Israeli military said its forces launched a wave of strikes on Tehran, hours after Iranian missile fire hit two cities in southern Israel.



burs-sbk/rmb
Israel PM visits town hit by Iran strike, vows to target Guards leaders



Arad, Israel, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to pursue senior commanders of Iran's Revolutionary Guards "personally", during a visit to a town struck by an Iranian missile the previous day.

"We're going after the regime. We're going after the IRGC, this criminal gang," Netanyahu said, as he inspected the damage in the southern Israeli town of Arad.

"We're going after them personally, their leaders, their installations, their economic assets. We're going after them personally."

The second town struck by an Iranian missile on Saturday was Dimona, widely believed to house Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal.

Nestled in the Negev desert, Dimona sustained extensive damage from a direct hit.

On Sunday, Netanyahu visited the town, urging residents to heed instructions from the military's Home Front Command and take shelter immediately whenever sirens warn of incoming missiles.

"The whole nation is a frontline, the entire home front is a frontline. And when we're at the frontline, we carry out these orders," Netanyahu said.

"So please do this -- and this is an order."
Israel launches wave of strikes on south Lebanon, hits bridge



Beirut, Lebanon, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Israel said it struck Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon on Sunday shortly after the military was ordered to destroy bridges used by the Iran-backed militant group across the Litani River.

Lebanese official media reported Israeli raids in several areas of the south, while an AFP correspondent saw smoke billowing from a key bridge that was hit outside the city of Tyre, in an escalation in violence in Lebanon after two days of relative reprieve.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Israeli-US attacks.

Israel has sent troops into Lebanon and carried out extensive airstrikes in the country, while Hezbollah has kept up rocket barrages.

Israel's military said it began "a wide wave of strikes" against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

Earlier Sunday, Israel said rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person, the first fatality there due to Hezbollah fire since the latest war erupted three weeks ago.

Two Israeli soldiers had previously been killed in southern Lebanon, according to the military.

Lebanon's health ministry said four people were killed on Sunday in two strikes in the south, while authorities have reported 1,029 dead in three weeks of conflict and more than one million displaced.



- Bridges -



Israel's ZAKA 360 emergency response unit said a person was pronounced dead after a strike on their vehicle "carried out by a rocket fired from Lebanon".

Local firefighters said flames had engulfed two vehicles after a "direct hit" in the northern Israeli kibbutz community of Misgav Am.

Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters targeted "a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers" in Misgav Am "with a rocket barrage".

It was among a series of attacks the group claimed on Sunday, mainly against Israeli troops in northern Israel and in southern Lebanon, where Israeli soldiers have been carrying out ground incursions.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the military "to immediately destroy all the bridges over the Litani River that are used for terrorist activity, in order to prevent Hezbollah terrorists and weapons from moving south".

The Litani River runs around 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the Israeli border.

The Israeli army later bombed the key Qasmiyeh bridge, located on a main highway outside the city of Tyre, with the AFP correspondent reporting the bridge was partly destroyed.

Earlier this week, Israel attacked two bridges spanning the Litani, also alleging they were being used by Hezbollah.







- 'Commander' killed -



Katz said the military was also instructed to "accelerate the demolition of Lebanese houses in the contact villages in order to thwart threats to Israeli communities".

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency also reported at least one strike on the Bekaa Valley in the country's east.

Hezbollah said its fighters repeatedly targeted Israeli soldiers and vehicles in or near the border town of Taybeh, as well as in or near the strategic town of Khiam, where the group has repeatedly said it has targeted Israeli forces in recent days.

On Saturday, Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli forces in Khiam and in the coastal town of Naqura.

The group also claimed attacks on northern Israel on Saturday, including targeting an air defence system in Maalot-Tarshiha, where Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11 reported three people were lightly wounded.

The Israeli military said it killed a fighter on Saturday who was the "commander of the special forces in Hezbollah's Radwan Force", referring to the group's elite unit.

Israel has warned residents of swathes of south Lebanon to evacuate and has said it wants to create a buffer zone in Lebanon to protect residents of northern Israel.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war on Sunday:



- Iran threatens Hormuz -



Iran's military threatened to completely shut the Strait of Hormuz if US President Donald Trump acts on his threats to target the country's power plants.

"The Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed, and it will not be reopened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt," the military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement on state television.



- Israel hits Lebanon -



Israel's military struck a key bridge in south Lebanon, an AFP correspondent nearby said. It followed the Israeli defence minister saying he ordered bridges in the area to be hit after alleging they were used by Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Defence Minister Israel Katz also told the army to "accelerate the demolition of Lebanese houses in the contact villages in order to thwart threats to Israeli communities".

The Israeli military said it has "begun a wide wave of strikes against Hezbollah terrorist organisation infrastructure in southern Lebanon".



- Netanyahu vow -



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to pursue senior commanders of Iran's Revolutionary Guards "personally", during a visit to an Israeli town struck by an Iranian missile the previous day.

"We're going after the regime. We're going after the IRGC, this criminal gang," Netanyahu said as he inspected the damage in the southern town of Arad.



- WHO warning -



The World Health Organization warned that strikes around nuclear sites in Iran and Israel had pushed the Middle East war to a "perilous stage".

"I urgently call on all parties to exercise maximum military restraint and avoid any actions that could trigger nuclear incidents," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.



- Infrastructure threat -



Iran's powerful parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened to irreversibly destroy vital infrastructure across the region, which he said would cause oil prices to rise "for a long time", if the United States and Israel attacked Tehran's.

"Immediately after power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, vital infrastructure as well as energy and oil infrastructure across the entire region will be considered legitimate targets and will be irreversibly destroyed," Ghalibaf said in a social media post.



- Intercepted missiles -



Israel's military said that Iran had fired more than 400 ballistic missiles at Israel since the start of the Middle East war, with around 92 percent of them intercepted.



- Qatar chopper crash -



Three Turkish nationals, including a serviceman, and three Qatari military personnel were killed when a helicopter crashed in Qatar's territorial waters, the Gulf country's defence ministry said.

While Qatar has been targeted by several Iranian strikes since the start of the Middle East war, no connection has been made between the chopper and the conflict triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran.



- Iran facilities damaged -



Iran's critical water and energy infrastructure have suffered extensive damage due to US and Israeli strikes, the country's energy minister Abbas Aliabadi said.

"The attacks targeted dozens of water transmission and treatment facilities and destroyed parts of critical water supply networks," he said, adding that repairs were under way.



- US facility attacked -



At least six overnight attacks targeted a US diplomatic and logistics centre at Baghdad's International Airport, two Iraqi security officials told AFP.

"Eight separate attacks, carried out until dawn with rockets and drones targeted the US centre," a senior security official told AFP, while a second security official said there had been six strikes.



- Fatality in north Israel -



Israel said rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person as Hezbollah said it attacked soldiers in northern Israel, the first fatality there in fire from Lebanon since the latest war erupted.

Local firefighters said flames engulfed two vehicles after a "direct hit" in the northern Israeli kibbutz community of Misgav Am.



- Saudi, UAE targeted -



Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said three ballistic missiles were detected around the capital Riyadh, while the UAE said it responded to Iranian missile and drone attacks.



- Israel strikes Tehran -



The Israeli military said its forces launched a wave of strikes on Tehran, hours after Iranian missile fire hit two cities in southern Israel.



burs/gv/rmb
Shanghai building first-class business environment as nation plans for future industries

Xinhua) 10:48, March 22, 2026

SHANGHAI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- With China's new five-year development blueprint approved last week signaling investment stability, Shanghai reinforced the message days later by hosting a global investment summit that highlighted its commitment to a world-class business environment.

The 2026 Shanghai Global Investment Promotion Conference that opened on March 14 features a main promotion session, two enterprise roundtables, multiple business matching and thematic investment events, as well as a series of activities during the "Invest in Shanghai" week.

Additionally, Shanghai unveiled 31 new quality drivers at the conference, precisely targeting key bottlenecks in enterprise development.

Among these initiatives, the city launched 11 public service platforms, including one for computing power scheduling, aimed at addressing critical production factors and industrial chain blockages. It also spotlighted 10 pilot-scale testing platforms to tackle the global challenge of crossing the "Valley of Death" in commercializing innovations, including the world's first pilot platform for humanoid robot components.

Leveraging its unique advantages as a megacity, Shanghai further rolled out 10 benchmark application scenarios in areas such as embodied AI, autonomous driving, and the low-altitude economy.

China will focus on developing six emerging pillar industries and six future-oriented industries, said Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, at a press conference on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress early this month.

The emerging pillar industries cover integrated circuits, aerospace, biomedicine, the low-altitude economy, new-type energy storage, and intelligent robots. The future-oriented industries include quantum technology, biomanufacturing, green hydrogen and nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, and 6G.

Backed by national strategies, companies at the conference are racing to secure their stake in the "future." Despite global uncertainties, both domestic and international players are doubling down on their commitment to Shanghai with growing optimism.

Martin Fischer, president and CEO of Zeiss Greater China, noted that China is leading technological progress in multiple fields, and with its abundance of highly skilled talent, Shanghai will help the company find new development opportunities in areas such as healthcare, AI and advanced manufacturing.

China has become Zeiss' largest market globally. In February, the company began construction on its comprehensive campus for the Greater China headquarters in Shanghai ahead of schedule, with a total investment of 1.2 billion yuan (about 174.17 million U.S. dollars), revealed Fischer, adding that the project marks Zeiss' largest infrastructure investment in China to date.

For Carrier Global Corporation, a foreign company with deep roots in Shanghai, the city's greatest appeal lies in its commitment to openly sharing application scenarios. For instance, Shanghai has explicitly proposed in its latest plan to "deploy new types of infrastructure, such as computing power, in a prudently proactive manner," which has created fresh market opportunities for the company.

In January, Carrier's newly built Phoenix Project, an air-cooled unit production line, officially commenced operations at its Baoshan base in Shanghai, with an investment of over 100 million yuan. The production line deeply integrates AI, digital and automation technologies, achieving an approximate 33 percent increase in production capacity compared to before the renovation.

Hou Zongfang, vice president of the humanoid robot developer UBTECH, stated that Shanghai holds a distinct strategic advantage as a central hub in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, where the vast majority of the automotive-grade supply chain industry is concentrated. In the future, the company is considering investing in a commercial humanoid robot intelligent manufacturing base in Shanghai, while simultaneously establishing an institute for embodied AI industrial applications.

Shanghai Smartlogic Technology Ltd., a high-tech semiconductor unicorn based in Shanghai, specializes in the field of AI for Science (AI4S). Zha Hao, the company's chairman, said that Shanghai's comprehensive industrial ecosystem for AI and biomedicine serves as the "ideal soil" for the company to flourish in the field of AI4S.

"We act as a 'scientific data factory,' providing high-quality data to Shanghai's research institutions and tech startups. This helps accelerate the emergence of more precise scientific models and more original biomedical breakthroughs on this fertile ground of innovation," he said.

"Over the next five years, we will invest 1 billion yuan in Shanghai to build a smart factory with an annual production capacity exceeding 300,000 tonnes, as well as a global R&D center, for the development and production of new energy and embodied AI products," said Fang Zhenying, chairman of Youxing Shark (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd., a company focused on key new energy materials.

Fang added that Shanghai's favorable business environment will further enhance the company's comprehensive competitiveness, enabling it to achieve more sustainable development.

Looking further ahead, Chen Rui, CEO of the fusion energy tech firm Startorus Fusion, said that Shanghai is pursuing multiple technological pathways in the field of controllable nuclear fusion. The company's decision to establish a presence in Shanghai is based not only on practical conditions but also on a strategic aim to position itself for future technological competition.

This confidence is backed by solid numbers, as data from the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization highlights the city's robust momentum. In 2025, Shanghai's industrial investment grew by 20 percent year on year, with manufacturing investment surging by 22.8 percent.

"In line with the needs of industrial development, we will continue to iterate and optimize our list of key elements to accelerate the creation of a more competitive industrial ecosystem," said Tang Wenkan, director of the commission.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
Are Iran's power plants the next targets in the war?



Tehran, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



More than three weeks into the Middle East war, key infrastructure across the region -- from gas and oil facilities to nuclear sites -- has come under fire.

Now, the conflict could spill over to power plants.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to strike those located in Iran if Tehran does not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, vital to global oil supplies, by Monday night.

Iran has more than 90 power plants, some of them on the Gulf coast at the heart of the hostilities that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.

About 38 percent of its electricity comes from combined-cycle plants, followed by gas-fired stations (26 percent).

Renewables make up 13 percent of output and nuclear energy only about one percent, according to the state IRNA agency, citing officials in December 2024.

Iran currently has just one operational nuclear power plant at Bushehr, with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts -- only a fraction of the country's needs.

Russia helped build the plant.

Iran and Russia signed a $25-billion deal in September 2025 to build four nuclear plants in southern Iran, each with a capacity of about 1,255 MW, according to IRNA.



- Rationing electricity -



An arid country, Iran regularly faces drought and sweltering summers, which push up electricity demand for air conditioning.

Despite its vast oil and gas resources, the country suffers from energy shortages due to ageing infrastructure and international sanctions.

Iran therefore sometimes has to ration electricity for lack of sufficient gas and fuel to run its plants.

The country's largest power plant is in Damavand, on the outskirts of Tehran province.

It covers around 193 hectares and generates roughly 2,900 megawatts of electricity, according to MAPNA, a company involved in the construction of power plants and energy infrastructure.

The second largest is the Shahid Salimi Neka plant, in northern Mazandaran province, with a capacity of of 2,214 megawatts.

The third, the Shahid Rajaee Combined Cycle Power Plant, is in northern Qazvin province, with a total capacity of 2,042 megawatts.
Israel says probing if own soldiers shot civilian on Lebanon border



Jerusalem, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Israel's military said it was investigating whether its own fire killed an Israeli civilian near the Lebanese border on Sunday, after Hezbollah claimed an attack in the same area.

Israeli emergency workers said earlier Sunday that a man was killed in a "direct hit" on his car by a rocket from Lebanon.

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group said after the incident that its fighters had attacked Israeli soldiers in the same area.

But the Israeli army later announced it was "conducting a comprehensive investigation" into the death.

"The possibility that the incident involved fire originating from IDF soldiers is being examined," the military said in a statement.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Israeli-US attacks.

Israel has sent troops into Lebanon and carried out extensive airstrikes in the country, while Hezbollah continues to fire rocket barrages across the border.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war on Sunday:



- 'Escalate to de-escalate' -



The United States may need to "escalate" its attacks against Iran to be able to wind down the war, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

"Sometimes you have to escalate to de-escalate," he told NBC's "Meet the Press", after President Donald Trump gave seemingly contradictory trajectories for the military campaign.



- Lebanon condemns Israeli strikes -



Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun slammed Israeli strikes on bridges and other infrastructure in the country's south, calling such attacks a "prelude to a ground invasion".

Israel's defence minister said he ordered bridges in the area to be hit after alleging they were used by Iran-backed Hezbollah.



- Iran threatens Hormuz -



Iran's military threatened to completely shut the Strait of Hormuz if Trump acts on his threats to target the country's power plants.

"The Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed, and it will not be reopened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt," the military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement on state television.



- Netanyahu vow -



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to pursue senior commanders of Iran's Revolutionary Guards "personally", during a visit to an Israeli town struck by an Iranian missile the previous day.

"We're going after the regime. We're going after the IRGC, this criminal gang," Netanyahu said as he inspected the damage in the southern town of Arad.



- WHO warning -



The World Health Organization warned that strikes around nuclear sites in Iran and Israel had pushed the Middle East war to a "perilous stage".

"I urgently call on all parties to exercise maximum military restraint and avoid any actions that could trigger nuclear incidents," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.



- Infrastructure threat -



Iran's powerful parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened to irreversibly destroy vital infrastructure across the region, which he said would cause oil prices to rise "for a long time", if the United States and Israel attacked Tehran's own infrastructure.

"Immediately after power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, vital infrastructure as well as energy and oil infrastructure across the entire region will be considered legitimate targets and will be irreversibly destroyed," Ghalibaf said in a social media post.



- Intercepted missiles -



Israel's military said Iran had fired more than 400 ballistic missiles at Israel since the start of the Middle East war, with around 92 percent of them intercepted.



- Qatar chopper crash -



Three Turkish nationals, including a serviceman, and three Qatari military personnel were killed when a helicopter crashed in Qatar's territorial waters, the Gulf country's defence ministry said.

While Qatar has been targeted by several Iranian strikes since the start of the Middle East war, no connection has been made between the chopper and the conflict triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran.



- Iran facilities damaged -



Iran's critical water and energy infrastructure have suffered extensive damage due to US and Israeli strikes, the country's energy minister Abbas Aliabadi said.

"The attacks targeted dozens of water transmission and treatment facilities and destroyed parts of critical water supply networks," he said, adding that repairs were under way.



- US facility attacked -



At least six overnight attacks targeted a US diplomatic and logistics centre at Baghdad's International Airport, two Iraqi security officials told AFP.

"Eight separate attacks, carried out until dawn with rockets and drones targeted the US centre," a senior security official told AFP, while a second security official said there had been six strikes.



- Fatality in north Israel -



Israel said rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person as Hezbollah said it attacked soldiers in northern Israel, the first fatality there in fire from Lebanon since the latest war erupted.

Local firefighters said flames engulfed two vehicles after a "direct hit" in the northern Israeli kibbutz community of Misgav Am.



- Saudi, UAE targeted -



Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said three ballistic missiles were detected around the capital Riyadh, while the UAE said it responded to Iranian missile and drone attacks.



- Israel strikes Tehran -



The Israeli military said its forces launched a wave of strikes on Tehran, hours after Iranian missile fire hit two cities in southern Israel.



burs/pdw/jhb
Israel says probing if own forces killed civilian on Lebanon border



Jerusalem, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Israel's military said it was investigating whether its own fire killed an Israeli civilian near the Lebanese border on Sunday, after Hezbollah claimed an attack in the same area.

Israeli emergency workers said earlier Sunday that a man was killed in a "direct hit" on his car by a rocket from Lebanon, making him the first fatality in the country's north since the latest round of fighting with Hezbollah broke out.

The Iran-backed militant group said after the incident that its fighters had attacked Israeli soldiers in the same area.

But the Israeli army later announced it was "conducting a comprehensive investigation" into the death.

"The possibility that the incident involved fire originating from IDF soldiers is being examined," the military said in a statement.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Israeli-US attacks.

Israel has sent troops into Lebanon and carried out extensive airstrikes in the country, while Hezbollah continues to fire rocket barrages across the border.
Israel launches strikes as Lebanon warns of invasion



Beirut, Lebanon, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Israel struck more targets in south Lebanon on Sunday, including a key bridge, triggering a warning from the Lebanese president that it could be preparing a full ground invasion.

Israel's military was ordered to destroy bridges it said are used by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah to cross the Litani River, and Lebanese official media reported Israeli raids in several areas of the south.

An AFP correspondent saw smoke billowing from a bridge that was hit outside the city of Tyre.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned the attacks "represent a dangerous escalation and flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, and are considered a prelude to a ground invasion."

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israeli-US strike.

Israel has sent troops into Lebanon and carried out extensive airstrikes, while Hezbollah has launched rocket barrages.

Israel's military said Sunday it it began "a wide wave of strikes" against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

According to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA), three strikes on the bridge near Tyre "caused extensive damage, rendering it unusable". It later reported a fourth strike.

Aoun "condemned Israel's targeting and destruction of infrastructure and vital facilities in southern Lebanon, particularly the Qasmiyeh bridge over the Litani River and other bridges".

"Targeting bridges over the Litani River... is an attempt to sever the geographical link between the area south of the Litani and the rest of Lebanon's territory," Aoun added.

The NNA also reported that Israeli forces were "blowing up a number of houses in the town of Taybeh" near the border with Israel.

Earlier Sunday, Israel said rocket fire from Lebanon killed a civilian, but later announced it was investigating whether "the incident involved fire originating from IDF soldiers".



- Bridges -



Two Israeli soldiers had previously been killed in southern Lebanon, according to the military.

Lebanon's health ministry said four people were killed on Sunday in two strikes in the south, while authorities have reported 1,029 dead in three weeks of conflict and more than one million displaced.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a series of attacks mainly against Israeli troops in northern Israel and in southern Lebanon, where Israeli soldiers have been carrying out ground incursions.

The group said it targeted troops in Naqura, near the western side of the border with Israel, as the NNA reported "Israeli incursions" and heavy bombing of the area.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the military "to immediately destroy all the bridges over the Litani River that are used for terrorist activity, in order to prevent Hezbollah terrorists and weapons from moving south".

The Litani River runs around 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the Israeli border.

Earlier this week, Israel attacked two bridges spanning the Litani, also alleging they were being used by Hezbollah.



- 'Commander' killed -



Katz said the military was also instructed to "accelerate the demolition of Lebanese houses in the contact villages in order to thwart threats to Israeli communities".

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency also reported at least one strike on the Bekaa Valley in the country's east.

Hezbollah said its fighters repeatedly targeted Israeli soldiers and vehicles in or near the border town of Taybeh, as well as in or near the strategic town of Khiam, where the group has repeatedly said it has targeted Israeli forces in recent days.

On Saturday, Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli forces in Khiam and in the coastal town of Naqura.

The group also claimed attacks on northern Israel on Saturday, including targeting an air defence system in Maalot-Tarshiha, where Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11 reported three people were lightly wounded.

The Israeli military said it killed a fighter on Saturday who was the "commander of the special forces in Hezbollah's Radwan Force", referring to the group's elite unit.

Israel has warned residents of swathes of south Lebanon to evacuate and has said it wants to create a buffer zone in Lebanon to protect residents of northern Israel.
Israel to 'advance targeted ground operations' in Lebanon: army chief



Jerusalem, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Israel's military will expand its ground operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah, its army chief said Sunday, warning that the offensive against the group was still in its early stages.

"The operation against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation has only begun... This is a prolonged operation," Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said in a statement.

"We are now preparing to advance the targeted ground operations and strikes according to an organised plan," he added.

Zamir's comments came as Israel struck more targets in south Lebanon on Sunday, including a key bridge, triggering a warning from the Lebanese president that it could be launching a full ground invasion.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israeli-US strike.

Israel has sent troops into Lebanon and carried out extensive airstrikes, while Hezbollah has launched rocket barrages.

"In recent weeks, we have achieved significant accomplishments: we have struck more than 2,000 targets, dozens of weapons storage facilities, and struck and eliminated hundreds of terrorists," Zamir said.

"We will not stop until the threat is pushed away from the border and long term security is ensured for the residents of northern Israel," Zamir said.
Three strikes target Iraqi pro-Iranian group



Baghdad, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Three strikes targeted an influential pro-Iranian armed group in its stronghold south of the capital late Sunday, while another targeted a US diplomatic and logistic centre at Baghdad International Airport.

The US diplomatic and logistics hub is located in the international airport complex, which has been repeatedly targeted since the start of the war in the Middle East on February 28.

It was targeted eight times overnight, and an Iraqi security source -- who spoke anonymously citing sensitivities -- said on Saturday that there had been several waves of American departures from the facility to the airport.

Pro-Iran armed groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups.

Late Sunday, three strikes targeted the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), which is part of Iraq's regular armed forces but also includes some pro-Iranian groups.

An official with the influential pro-Iranian Kataeb Hezbollah said the three strikes had targeted them.

"Units of the PMF were targeted by drone strikes and airstrikes, with three strikes in different locations," said a statement from a local emergency crisis cell, saying there were no wounded as the positions were deserted.

Late Sunday, a security official also reported another attack on the US logistics centre at the airport, saying that four explosions were heard near the site.

The same official earlier said that eight strikes were carried out against the US centre overnight, adding that "some rockets landed near the base".

Following a string of attacks, the US embassy in Baghdad was not targeted for a fourth consecutive night, after Kataeb Hezbollah pledged on Thursday -- under certain conditions -- to cease attacks for five days.

Asked by AFP about the withdrawal of personnel from the US embassy in Baghdad and its consulate in Iraqi Kurdistan, a State Department spokesperson said the mission "remains open while on ordered departure".

"Our team in Iraq continues to review all needed actions to promote the safety of US government personnel and facilities," they added.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war on Sunday:



- Israel to expand Lebanon ground ops -



Israel's military will expand its ground operations in Lebanon against Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, its army chief said, warning that the offensive "has only (just) begun".

"We are now preparing to advance the targeted ground operations and strikes according to an organised plan," Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said in a statement.



- 'Weeks' more war -



Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said the country faces "weeks" more fighting against both Iran and Hezbollah, in a televised briefing.



- Iraq strikes -



Three strikes targeted an influential pro-Iranian armed group in its stronghold south of Baghdad, Iraqi authorities said.

The group is a former paramilitary coalition called Hashed al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). It is part of Iraq's regular armed forces, but also includes some pro-Iranian groups.

The strikes came after an attack targeted a US diplomatic and logistics centre at Baghdad International Airport, Iraqi officials told AFP.



- Israel probes civilian death -



Israel's military said it was investigating whether its own fire killed an Israeli civilian near the Lebanese border, in an area where Hezbollah claimed an attack.

Israeli emergency workers said earlier a man was killed in a "direct hit" on his car by a rocket from Lebanon, making him the first fatality in the country's north since the latest round of fighting with Hezbollah broke out.

But the Israeli army later said it was "conducting a comprehensive investigation", including "the possibility that the incident involved fire originating from IDF soldiers".



- West Bank arson -



Palestinian residents said Israeli settlers had torched buildings and cars in attacks on several villages in the occupied West Bank, the latest violence after a spate of killings of Palestinians by Israelis in the area since the start of the war.



- 'Escalate to de-escalate' -



The United States may need to "escalate" its attacks against Iran to be able to wind down the war, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

"Sometimes you have to escalate to de-escalate," he told NBC's "Meet the Press", after President Donald Trump gave seemingly contradictory trajectories for the military campaign.



- Lebanon condemns Israeli strikes -



Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun slammed Israeli strikes on bridges and other infrastructure in the country's south, calling such attacks a "prelude to a ground invasion".

Israel's defence minister said he ordered bridges in the area to be hit after alleging they were used by Iran-backed Hezbollah.



- Iran threatens Hormuz -



If Trump acts on his threats to target Iran's power plants, the Strait of Hormuz "will be completely closed", the Iranian military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement on state television.



- Netanyahu vow -



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to pursue senior commanders of Iran's Revolutionary Guards "personally", during a visit to an Israeli town struck by an Iranian missile the previous day.

"We're going after the regime. We're going after the IRGC, this criminal gang," Netanyahu said as he inspected the damage in the southern town of Arad.



- WHO warning -



The World Health Organization warned that strikes around nuclear sites in Iran and Israel had pushed the Middle East war to a "perilous stage".

"I urgently call on all parties to exercise maximum military restraint and avoid any actions that could trigger nuclear incidents," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.



- Infrastructure threat -



Iran's powerful parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened to irreversibly destroy vital infrastructure across the region, which he said would cause oil prices to rise "for a long time", if the United States and Israel attacked Tehran's own infrastructure.

"Vital infrastructure as well as energy and oil infrastructure across the entire region will be considered legitimate targets and will be irreversibly destroyed," Ghalibaf said in a social media post.



- Saudi, UAE targeted -



Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said three ballistic missiles were detected around the capital Riyadh, while the UAE said it responded to Iranian missile and drone attacks.



burs-jhb/pdw
Lebanon PM says Iran Guards commanding Hezbollah operations in Lebanon



Beirut, Lebanon, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Sunday that members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards are commanding Hezbollah's operations in the group's ongoing war against Israel.

In an interview with the Al Hadath network, Salam once again lashed out at Hezbollah for dragging Lebanon into the Middle East war by firing rockets on Israel.

"It was declared that this war was in retaliation for the assassination of Khamenei, so this means this war was imposed upon us," he said.

Referring to the incident in which an Iran-made drone hit a British base in Cyprus earlier this month, Salam said "that was the Revolutionary Guard, which is present and, unfortunately, is managing the military operation in Lebanon".

"These people have forged passports and entered the country illegally," he added.

An Iranian-made drone hit a British base in Cyprus earlier this month, with Nicosia saying the drone was probably fired by Tehran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, and not from Iran itself.

Salam referred to the IRGC announcing joint operations with Hezbollah against Israel as proof of their commanding of the war in Lebanon.

The Lebanese government decided this month to ban any activity by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the country.

Beirut also took the unprecedented step of imposing a ban on Hezbollah military activities and called on the group to hand over its weapons to the state.

"We are committed to the decisions we have made and we are working to implement them," Salam said.
In his post, written all in capitals, Trump said: "I AM PLEASE TO REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, HAVE HAD, OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika.

As things stand today, the future of Lancia appears increasingly uncertain. Once one of Italys most innovative and decorated automotive brands, Lancia now finds itself struggling for relevance in a highly competitive European market.

Lancias history stretches back to the early twentieth century and includes some of the most celebrated chapters in motorsport and engineering. The brand earned global respect through groundbreaking technical solutions and extraordinary success in world rally competition, particularly during the Group B era. For American readers unfamiliar with the marque, Lancia was once comparable to brands that combined engineering ambition with racing pedigree, blending innovation with distinctive design.

In more recent decades, however, Lancias presence steadily diminished. Strategic decisions made under previous ownership structures, including Fiat and later FCA, gradually reduced the brands footprint. By the time FCA merged with PSA to form Stellantis, Lancias lineup had already been reduced to a single model.

Life as a One Model Brand

Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika.

For several years, Lancia survived solely on the Lancia Ypsilon, a small city car sold exclusively in Italy. Despite its limited geographic availability, the Ypsilon maintained a loyal customer base and consistently ranked among Italys best-selling small cars. Its success was built on familiarity, accessibility, and strong brand recognition at home.

The creation of Stellantis marked a turning point. The outgoing Ypsilon, closely related to the Fiat Panda, was discontinued and replaced by a new generation model. This latest Ypsilon now sits in the European B segment and shares its underlying platform with vehicles such as the Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa, reflecting the group-wide modular strategy.

Sales Numbers Reveal a Steep Decline

Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika.

While the move into a broader European segment initially appeared logical, early results have been sobering. According to still unofficial but widely cited data, Lancia recorded just 9,710 registrations in Italy last year. For context, the Ypsilon achieved more than 40,000 domestic deliveries as recently as 2022. Of those recent sales, only around 10 percent were electric, totaling 951 units, indicating limited acceptance of the battery electric version in its home market.

Performance outside Italy has been even weaker. France accounted for roughly 850 registrations, and Spain for 625, while the Netherlands and Belgium recorded just 165 and 245 units, respectively. Across these five key European markets, total Ypsilon sales remained below 12,000 vehicles, far below expectations for a competitive B-segment hatchback.
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LONDON/SINGAPORE, March 22 (Reuters) - Oil prices look set to rise further on Monday, having closed before the weekend at their highest in nearly four years, after U.S. and Iranian threats to target energy facilities, analysts said on Sunday.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, a significant escalation barely a day after he talked about "winding down" the war, now in its fourth week.

Iran warned on Sunday it would attack U.S.-linked infrastructure, including energy and desalination facilities in the Gulf, if Trump carried out his threat.

On Friday, Brent futures for May settled up 3.26% at $112.19 a barrel, the highest since July 2022.

"President Trump's threat has now placed a 48-hour ticking time bomb of elevated uncertainty over markets," said IG market analyst Tony Sycamore. If the ultimatum is not walked back, oil prices will spike on Monday, he said.

"It clearly means more escalation which means higher oil prices. Some are incorrectly thinking, however, that Iran may cave," said Amrita Sen, founder of Energy Aspects. "Trump is trying to show he can out-escalate and that way ends in scorched earth for Gulf infrastructure."

Iran has attacked ports and refineries in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar in retaliation for attacks on its infrastructure. The closure of Hormuz resulted in a loss of a full four days of global supply - or some 440 million barrels - during the 22 days of the war so far.

Tehran has so far refrained from attacking large desalination plants in Saudi and the UAE, which are responsible for the water supply for millions of people.

Large scale damage to those facilities could make some cities in the Gulf uninhabitable within weeks and force mass evacuations and cascading power failures, according to the Atlantic Council.

Brent gained about 8.8% last week, while the front-month WTI settled down around 0.4% compared with last Friday's close. WTI's discount to Brent hit its widest in 11 years on Wednesday.

Restoring supplies from the Middle East Gulf could take up to six months, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol told the Financial Times on Friday.

The Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported on Friday.

(Reporting by Florence Tan and Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Christina Fincher)
Damaged Russian tanker to be towed to Libya: state-owned company



Tripoli, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



A damaged Russian gas tanker that was abandoned in the Mediterranean will be towed to a Libyan port, according to a state-owned oil company in the north African country.

The Arctic Metagaz was ferrying about 700 tonnes of fuel and a consignment of liquified natural gas (LNG) from Russia to Egypt when it was hit by a series of explosions on March 3. Russia accused Ukraine of trying to blow it up.

The 30 crew members were rescued, leaving the LNG-laden carrier to drift between Malta and Libya for nearly three weeks.

Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced on Saturday that it would collaborate with Italian group Eni to fetch the wrecked vessel.

"Managing this environmental threat is fully achievable," NOC said in a statement. "It will be towed safely to one of the Libyan ports following coordination with the relevant authorities."

The company said it had already taken action to "reduce the risk of pollution".

AFP footage taken from a plane earlier this month showed the carrier listing to one side, parts of it blackened and seriously damaged by fire, with two holes on either side in the middle of the hull.

According to Italy's Civil Protection Department, the carrier is located in international waters, but within the Libyan search and rescue zone.

It said that towing the wreck would be a "complex operation" due to the "large breach along its side".

The WWF environmental group warned that any spill could cause long-lasting pollution in the area, among the most biodiverse in the Mediterranean basin.

The ship faced US and European Union sanctions as a suspected part of Russia's "shadow fleet" of vessels carrying Russian oil and gas in contravention of international sanctions.

bur-lb/tc
A herd stop: Train kills 3 rare bison in Poland



Warsaw, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Three wild European bison died on Sunday morning after being hit by a train in Poland's vast UNESCO-listed Bialowieza Forest in the east, the local police told AFP.

According to a police spokesman, a herd of Europe's largest mammals, whose male specimens can reach 900 kilograms (nearly 2,000 pounds), crossed onto the train tracks as a locomotive carrying some 50 passengers between Bialystok and Warsaw was steaming ahead.

"No passenger was injured but three animals perished in this accident, which happened at 7:00 am, near the village of Witowo," spokesman Konrad Karwacki told AFP.

The "Zubr" line train, which takes its name from the Polish word for bison, did not derail and was able to resume its journey around an hour and a half after the collision.

Some 1,200 bison, an emblematic animal in the eastern European country, currently inhabit the Polish part of the great Bialowieza Forest, considered the last primeval woodland in Europe.

The forest, which is divided by the Poland-Belarus border, is a treasure of biodiversity and a giant carbon sink.

Yet several bison fall victim to road accidents in the region every year.

"They are sometimes hit by trains, but these are usually isolated incidents," Professor Rafal Kowalczyk, from a local branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences, told AFP.

"I don't recall an accident where three bison were killed at the same time, run over by a train," the mammals specialist added.

Devastated by hunting, deforestation and the expansion of agriculture, the European bison nearly became extinct at the beginning of the 20th century.

After disappearing from Bialowieza, its last habitat in Europe, before the outbreak of World War II, the species was saved at the 11th hour thanks to the release of bison reared in zoos back into the wild.
Water emerges as a dangerous new war target



Paris, France, March 22 (AFP) Mar 22, 2026



Attacks on water systems are uncommon in wartime, but Iran has threatened to target desalination plants after it said its own water and energy infrastructure had sustained damage in the ongoing war with Israel and the US.



- What has Iran said? -



Iran's military renewed its threats on Sunday against the region's infrastructure after US President Donald Trump vowed to "obliterate" power plants in the Islamic republic if the Strait of Hormuz was not swiftly reopened.

"Following previous warnings, if Iran's fuel and energy infrastructure is violated by the enemy, all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the regime (Israel) in the region will be targeted," the Iranian military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement carried by the Fars news agency.

The statement came after Trump gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to open the vital route in the Gulf to shipping traffic after it was effectively closed early in the Middle East war.



- Who was previously targeted? -



Bahrain's interior ministry said on March 8 that an Iranian drone attack damaged a water desalination plant, accusing Tehran of "randomly" targeting civilian infrastructure.

The country's national communications office later said the Iranian attack had no impact on water supplies or network capacity.

The strike came a day after Iran accused the United States of setting a precedent by attacking a desalination plant on Qeshm Island that supplies 30 villages.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard force said the United States attacked Qeshm from a base in Bahrain.

Such attacks have been limited so far, but "the first side that dares to attack water triggers a war far more enormous than the one we have today", water economist Esther Crauser-Delbourg told AFP earlier in March.



- Why does desalinated water matter? -



The Middle East is among the driest regions in the world, with water availability about 10 times lower than the global average, according to the World Bank.

That makes desalination plants essential to the economy and drinking water supplies in the region.

About 42 percent of the world's desalination capacity is located in the Middle East, according to a study published in the journal Nature.

Desalinated water provides 42 percent of drinking water in the United Arab Emirates, 70 percent in Saudi Arabia, 86 percent in Oman and 90 percent in Kuwait, according to a 2022 report from the French Institute of International Relations think tank.

"Over there, without desalinated water there, there is nothing," said Crauser-Delbourg.

The supply is particularly strategic for large cities such as Dubai and Riyadh.

As far back as 2010, the CIA warned that disrupting desalination facilities in most Arab countries "could have more serious consequences than the loss of any other industry or commodity".

A 2008 US diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks said Riyadh might have to evacuate within a week if the Jubail desalination plant or its pipelines were severely damaged.



- What threats do the plants face? -



Besides military strikes, desalination plants are vulnerable to power outages and contamination of seawater, including oil spills, according to experts.

"We have strengthened access security and controls in the immediate vicinity of the plants," said Philippe Bourdeaux, regional director for Africa and the Middle East at French firm Veolia.

The company supplies desalinated water to regions including Jubail in Saudi Arabia, and Muscat, Sur and Salalah in Oman.

"The recent events are of course prompting us to be extremely vigilant," Bourdeaux said.

"In some countries, authorities have placed missile batteries around the largest plants to counter the drone or missile threat," he added.

Operators also have tools to limit damage from oil spills.



- What are the precedents? -



There have been few other attacks on desalination facilities over the past decade.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have targeted desalination plants in Saudi Arabia in the past, while a Saudi-led coalition has struck back at water infrastructure in Yemen, according to the Pacific Institute, which tracks water-related conflicts.

Israeli strikes have hit water infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, according to the institute.

Before 2016, similar attacks date back to the Gulf War in 1991.



- What if attacks escalate? -



The impact could range from short disruptions to far more severe consequences if outages last.

"We could potentially see major cities facing an exodus. And rationing," Crauser-Delbourg said.

Water shortages could also ripple through the economy, hitting tourism, industry and data centres, which consume large amounts of water for cooling.

Some safeguards exist, Bourdeaux said. Desalination plants are often interconnected, which can limit the impact if one facility shuts down.

Most also hold reserves equivalent to two to seven days of water consumption -- enough to prevent shortages as long as disruptions are not prolonged.

alb/lt/pdw/jsa/smw
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Abby Huntsman, who co-hosted The View from 2018 to 2020, is returning to guest host ABCs daytime talk show years after she claimed the show had a toxic environment.

From March 23 until March 27, the former Fox News personality will join her former co-stars and serve as the conservative voice on the panel while Alyssa Farah Griffin is still away on maternity leave.

The 39-year-old journalist will join the growing slate of conservative commentators who have filled in for Griffin in recent weeks, including Savannah Chrisley, Sara Eisen and Elisabeth Hasselback.

When she left The View in 2020, Huntsman initially said she was stepping down from The View in January 2020 to become a senior adviser for her fathers gubernatorial campaign, but later claimed the real reason for her departure was that the shows workplace environment was rewarding people for bad behavior.

She claimed that The Views executives created an environment that was all about money and the tabloids, she said on her podcast I Wish Somebody Told Me in 2021.

Abby Huntsman is returning as a co-host on 'The View' while Alyssa Farah Griffin is away on maternity leave ( Getty )

You would see people act in ways that were not okay, that was very much part of the toxic environment of The View, and here we were going on the air criticizing others for toxic culture, Huntsman said.

Additionally, her feud with former co-star and friend McCain was highly publicized at the time the show aired.

She said in 2021 that she did not regret leaving The View, telling People at the time: "I don't talk much about that time, and I won't, but the decision that I made was probably the best decision I could have made for my life, for my mental health, for my happiness, for my family.

Guest stars who will be featured on Huntsmans week as a co-host on the talk show include Senator Cory Booker, the American Idol judges, comedian Chelsea Handler, Paradise stars Thomas Doherty and Julianne Nicholson, and actor Amanda Peet.

Huntsman, the daughter of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., got her start as a TV personality while working on shows like MSNBC and NBC News. She then worked as a reporter for Fox News Channel from 2015 to 2018.

She joined The View in September 2018, appearing alongside co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Meghan McCain. The five-person panel was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for hosting in 2019.

After her move out of the TV spotlight, Huntsman decided to focus on her podcast and her family. She shares three children with her husband, Jeffrey Livingston.
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Jon Bernthal is reprising his role as Frank Castle in The Punisher for a Disney+ special that will make history for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The upcoming Punisher special will run for 60 minutes, according to a Writers Guild of America listing, making it Marvel Studios longest special yet.

The studio has only released two special presentations so far, both in 2022. Werewolf By Night runs for 53 minutes, while the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is 42 minutes long.

Written by Bernthal and director Reinaldo Marcus Green, the untitled television special will continue Castles story that was established in the characters appearances in Netflix series Daredevil and The Punisher. Bernthal will be joined by supporting actors Jason R. Moore, Roe Rancell and Mila Jaymes.

The special was created after Bernthal came up with an idea for it while filming Daredevil: Born Again, a Disney+ series that released last year.

Jon Bernthal is reprising his role as the Punisher in a Disney+ special ( Getty Images )

The Walking Dead actor took on his role as the Punisher, a vigilante who kills criminals, during season two of Netflixs Daredevil before the character received his own self-titled spinoff show.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter last year, Bernthal assured fans that the new hourlong special will stay authentic to the beloved anti-hero character, even with the jump from Netflix to Disneys platform.

Its going to be dark, Bernthal told the outlet at the time. Frank has no interest in breaking out the darkness. Its not going to be easy. I dont know if thats the Netflix tone then thats what its going to be. It will not be Punisher-lite, I promise you that.

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The forthcoming project, which was filmed during a 12-day shoot in New York City last summer, will be released on Disney+ later this year. The Walking Dead actor said it would come out around the same time as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will hit theaters in July.

Bernthal will also make his theatrical debut as Castle in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The MCU movie, starring Tom Holland and Zendaya, will feature a showdown between Spider-Man and The Punisher.

"Around that same time, there will also be this Punisher special that's coming out, that I think will be as high-octane Punisher as you've ever seen," the actor told ScreenRant in December.

Bernthal said, I think what was really important to me and to Destin [Daniel Cretton] and to Tom [Holland] is that we believed that The Punisher could walk off of the Spider-Man set and could walk onto the special set, and I do believe that we achieved that."
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Savannah Guthrie is making plans to return to the Today show, according to recent reports.

The morning show anchor, 54, is reportedly hoping to come back into her role, according to a report by Page Six, after a seven-week absence from the show that began when her 84-year-old mom disappeared from her Arizona home in January.

NBC did not return The Independents request for comment about the report.

The outlet says the host wants to get back into her anchor chair once her two children  her 11-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son  are back in school after their spring break.

Most New York schools are back in session by April 10, meaning that Guthrie could be on TV again in just a couple of weeks.

open image in gallery Savannah Guthrie, who visited the set of Today March 5, is reportedly planning to return to the show as soon as next month ( Invision/AP )

open image in gallery Savannah Guthries mother Nancy, 84, has been missing since February 1 ( NBC/Today )

However, a Today show source told Page Six that there is no update on the NBC staples return date, and that Hoda Kotb will continue filling in for her in the meantime.

Guthrie has been a staple on the Today show for over 14 years. She has been a main co-anchor of the NBC News morning show since 2012.

Page Six reported that Guthries plans to come back to the show could change depending on how her mothers case develops.

The TV personalitys mom, Nancy, has been missing from her house outside of Tucson since February 1 in what investigators believe was a targeted abduction. No further details have been released and no suspects have been identified.

open image in gallery Nancy Guthrie and her siblings have issued multiple pleas to the community on social media to help find their missing mother ( Instagram/@savannahguthrie )

Guthrie and her siblings issued a desperate new plea Sunday to the residents of Tucson, Arizona, begging neighbors to search their memories and security camera footage to help find their missing mom.

Its possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant, Guthrie wrote on Instagram. We hope people search their memories, especially around the key timelines of January 31 and the early morning hours of February 1, as well as the late evening of January 11.

We desperately ask this community for renewed attention to our moms case  please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations, or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance, the statement added. No detail is too small. It may be the key.

open image in gallery Savannah Guthrie visited the Today show March 5, where she embraced her co-worker Dylan Dreyer and Hoda Kotb, who is filling in for her ( Invision/AP )

Guthrie returned to the set of the daily show for the first time since her moms disappearance in an emotional visit March 5, where she was seen hugging staff and crew at Studio 1A at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

During her visit, the anchor reportedly thanked her colleagues for caring about my mom as much as I do.

I wanted you to know that Im still standing, and I still have hope, and Im still me, she said, according to People. And I dont know what version of me that will be, but it will be. Im holding onto my faith. I still believe. And as my mom would say, Where else would I go?

She continued: I have every intention of coming back. I dont know how to come back, but I dont know how not to. Youre my family. And, I would like to try.
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Saturday Night Live UKs opening show has been met with mixed reviews from viewers, with some labelling the British edition of the sketch show fantastic while others dubbed the first episode not funny at all.

The programmes first instalment opened with a monologue from SNL stalwart comedian Tina Fey, 55, who joked she was on stage to host the programme because no British performer wanted to do it.

Among opening night viewers was former House of Games and Pointless co-presenter Richard Osman (OBE), who said he was loving SNL UK, as he voiced his opinion from the safety of his sofa on X/Twitter.

Osman, who also has extensive production credits on UK programmes including Deal or No Deal, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Whose Line is it Anyway?, Total Wipeout, and 24 Hour Quiz, was not alone in his positive verdict.

While many viewers acknowledged that they hadnt loved every sketch in the episode and that overall it was quite hit or miss, they praised the new and refreshing material the show brought to UK screens.

Really good. Some bits havent quite landed as much as others but thats gonna happen. Looking forward to seeing how it develops, one person wrote of the long-anticipated opening episode.

Meanwhile another fan added that the first instalment was a good start to the eight-episode run, adding, The only gripe is you can see the cast reading from cue cards, [Id] not noticed this in the US version.

open image in gallery Tina Fey pulls Epstein files from bag in Mary Poppins gag for SNL UK ( SNL UK/Sky TV )

Significant praise was heaped on cast member Jack Shep, who made headlines for his eerily accurate impression of Princess Diana, with some fans even calling for the comedian to win a BAFTA.

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My main SNL take so far is that Jack Shep is gonna be huge, one person wrote on X/Twitter following the episode.

The Independents Nick Hilton awarded SNL UKs first instalment three stars, writing that there were some hits and some misses in the programme  much like online armchair commentators.

open image in gallery Jack Shep impersonates Princess Diana on SNL UK ( Sky )

But judging a show like SNL off its opening episode is foolish, Hilton wrote. The chemistry between the cast needs time to settle, and the reaction on TikTok and Instagram will likely inform which sketches have legs and which end up in the writers room bin.

What SNL UKs opening episode does demonstrate is a willingness to push the envelope, to risk bad taste, he added. Borrowing a beloved American format might feel a bit stale, but there are notes of new ingredients that could offer something fresh.
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Two decades after a fatal shooting in Moreno Valley, California, investigators say a suspect in the cold case is finally behind bars.

Corey Sampson, 45, of Hesperia, was arrested on March 19 and charged with murder in connection with the 2004 killing of 29-year-old Israel Rangel, according to the Riverside County Sheriffs Office.

The case dates back to September 1, 2004, when deputies responded to reports of a shooting just before 11:30 p.m. in the 15000 block of Perris Boulevard in Moreno Valley.

When deputies arrived, they found Rangel suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

An extensive investigation led to Sampson being identified as a suspect in the murder. But there was insufficient evidence to file charges at the time, and the case eventually went cold, the sheriffs office said.

open image in gallery Corey Sampson, 45, is a suspect in the 2004 killing of 29-year-old Israel Rangel, cops said ( Riverside County Sheriffs Department )

The investigation stalled for years until it was recently reopened as part of the departments ongoing review of unsolved homicides.

As part of the Sheriffs Offices ongoing efforts to review unsolved homicide cases, investigators recently reexamined this case, the department said. During the review, several leads and follow-up tasks were identified, and the case was reopened.

The renewed effort uncovered new leads, allowing detectives to build a case. Investigators ultimately developed sufficient evidence to support Sampsons arrest.

On March 19, 2026, with the assistance of the Riverside County District Attorneys Gang Impact Team, Sampson was arrested without incident in Hesperia.

Investigators have not released a possible motive or details about any connection between Sampson and Rangel. The case is still under investigation and anyone with information is urged to contact Master Investigator Robertson or Deputy Lucifora at 951-955-2777.

Sampson remains behind bars at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Riverside County.
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A Texas man accused of abusing a corpse allegedly threw a bucket of human remains over the fence of the FBIs Dallas field office  and captured it on video, according to newly released arrest documents.

Michael Chadwick Fry, 41, was taken into custody Friday and charged with abuse of corpse without legal authority following an investigation that has revealed disturbing details.

An investigation was launched earlier this week when Frys mother called the Bartonville Police Department after he asked her for money to rent a U-Haul, claiming he had a body that needed to be moved, according to the arrest warrant affidavit viewed by FOX4.

Police responded to the Bartonville home in Denton County, but Fry had already fled after he became irate following the conversation with his mother.

The investigation escalated when Frys sister showed officers a YouTube video he had posted titled, We send Elizabeth over the FBI fence to summon them by force  which allegedly shows Fry throwing a closed white bucket, which he claimed contained Elizabeths remains, over the fence at the FBIs Dallas office.

open image in gallery Michael Chadwick Fry is accused of throwing a bucket of human remains stolen from a nearby cemetery over the fence of the FBI Dallas office ( Denton County Jail )

Investigators later reviewed footage that they say shows Fry at the location referencing Elizabeths remains before tossing the bucket.

FBI Dallas confirmed that the bucket contained human bones.

In another video posted on March 16 and titled, Fry and Barto news! Where we reveal mass killers, Fry is seen displaying a human skull on a table outside his Bartonville home.

Fry refers to the skull as Elizabeth Virginia Lyon, in the video and investigators believe it may be connected to the bones found at the FBI office. The remains are being tested to confirm the identity.

Frys mother also told police she discovered GPS searches for cemeteries in his car. One cemetery was located in Arlington, Texas, and two were located in Oklahoma City. She also reported that she had noticed a new shovel at the home and said Fry had recently started locking a shed thats behind the house.

Investigators later determined that Fry had stolen an urn containing human remains from a cemetery in Oklahoma City, where an active theft case began in February. Authorities also found evidence at a Denton cemetery indicating a coffin had been removed from a mausoleum, according to a police release.

Police confirmed to FOX4 that Fry is also the same man involved in a 2018 incident in which a truck was driven into the stations building in downtown Dallas during a morning newscast.

open image in gallery Fry, who was most recently arrested on March 20, 2022, on a criminal mischief charge, has been arrested nearly 30 times since 2003 ( Bartonville Police Department )

In that case, investigators said Fry crashed a rented pickup truck into the station and scattered thousands of papers with phrases including high treason and witchery. The documents were printed news reports related to a 2012 Denton County shooting in which deputies killed a driver who had been ramming a police vehicle. Fry was a passenger in that vehicle.

No one was injured in the 2018 incident. Police said Fry appeared to be seeking media attention and was mostly rambling. He later apologized to FOX4 during a court hearing.

A search of court records revealed a lengthy criminal history for Fry. He has been arrested more than two dozen times since 2003 on charges including assault causing bodily injury, burglary of a habitation, theft, terroristic threat, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.

In the current case, Fry is charged with two counts of abuse of a corpse and one third-degree felony count of tampering with evidence, according to Bartonville police.

He is currently being held at the Denton County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
With the price of oil approaching $100 per barrel and energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf under attack from all sides, it's a good idea to buy a little protection for your portfolio from the risk of an extended period of relatively high energy prices. The risk isn't just a spike in oil prices; there's also a risk that infrastructure damage will be lasting, and that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could be closed for an extended period. In this context, buying into energy companies Equinor ASA (NYSE: EQNR), PBF Energy (NYSE: PBF), and Chevron (NYSE: CVX) provides investors with a nice mix of investment themes to benefit from in the current environment.

Equinor: A stock ideally placed to serve Europe's energy needs

About 20% of the world's energy passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and its closure has severe consequences for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG), crude oil, and petrochemicals such as urea and fertilizer. The immediate impact will be felt in Asia. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that 80% of oil passing through the Strait is destined for Asia, and 90% of LNG, too.

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.

However, if there's a shortage of crude and LNG from the region, Asian countries will compete for energy supplies to Europe, pushing up energy prices for Europeans. The answer to your next question is... Norway. The next answer is Norwegian energy giant Equinor, which is the largest supplier of natural gas from the Norwegian continental shelf to Europe.

As you can see in the following chart, Norwegian energy exports to the European Union received a massive boost after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Wall Street analysts are expecting a similar outcome from recent events. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the analysts' consensus for Equinor's 2026 earnings per share (EPS) has jumped from $2.66 a month ago to $3.26, putting Equinor at a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.4 based on full-year estimates.

While there's no guarantee that the near-term conditions will persist, it's a good idea to protect the downside in a portfolio, and a 3.9% dividend yield doesn't hurt in the process.

PBF Energy and Chevron

These two are discussed together because they help offset each other's risk. It's a nuanced argument, so bear with me.
Some Cajuns may already be Canadian citizens, lawyers say. Heres what you need to know about new law.
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BusinessCompaniesFood & drink Burger chain Grilld plots aggressive expansion despite mounting business costs Jessica Yun March 23, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Grilld is planning to roll out new stores at an aggressive pace, despite the burger chains latest set of accounts showing rising business costs that are climbing faster than burger sales, affecting its bottom line. The restaurant chain recorded an 11 per cent revenue increase to $441.3 million during 2025, but growth in revenue was outpaced by growth in the cost of doing business, such as ingredients, which rose 16.9 per cent to $181.5 million. The fast-food business latest financial report filed to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) showed it posted a loss of nearly $9 million in the 2025 financial year, marking the second annual loss in a row for the business, which made a loss of $1.5 million the year earlier. Grilld on Carltons Lygon Street in Melbourne on May 22, 2016. Arsineh Houspian A spokesperson for the company said the accounts filed with ASIC did not reflect the full picture for the business and denied that the company was loss-making, saying all 175 restaurants, most of which are corporate-owned, were generating profits.

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Grilld is a very profitable business. We operate a number of separate companies, some of which are interrelated, and only one of these meets reporting requirements with ASIC, the spokesperson said in a statement. Related Article Food & drink Not just raw fish: How Aussie sushi became a billion-dollar phenomenon Grilld has been profitable every year of its 22-year history, the spokesperson added, while declining to provide alternative financial figures. Our reporting to ASIC does not reflect an accurate picture of the entire financial performance for the Grilld group of companies. Grilld was founded by director Simon Crowe, who opened the first store in Hawthorn, Melbourne, in 2004, and employs more than 6000 people. He also owns artisan chocolate maker Koko Black. The burger chain has had a turbulent year that included protracted negotiations with the fast-food union, a wages deal that was blocked by the national industrial relations umpire, and a class action.

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In May 2025 the Fair Work Commission rejected an enterprise agreement that set penalty rates as flat dollar amounts and offered annual pay rises of just 1 per cent. Despite 94 per cent of staff supporting the agreement, Fair Work Commission deputy president Bernadette ONeill found that Grilld had not given staff adequate explanations and had painted a rosy picture of the agreement to workers, offering some of them just 77 a week above the minimum award. In October, the commission ultimately approved a deal that requires Grilld to top up pay over the life of the agreement. The company is also facing a class action lawsuit on behalf of past and present employees, filed by Gordon Legal and backed by the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA). The suit claims the burger chain did not give thousands of workers 10-minute rest breaks on shifts of four hours or longer between December 2019 to December 2025. Grilld is defending the case. When the action was launched last year, the company said it took its obligations to staff seriously and pointed to the recently approved enterprise agreement. Grillds expansion plans include adding 10 new stores in the current financial year, 20 new stores next year and 25 stores every year after that. New restaurants and drive-thru sites are notching sales far higher than existing restaurants, and Grilld is planning to hire new franchise partners to expand the national network, the company spokesperson said. We are working hard to further increase sales by 20 to 30 per cent within the next 12 to 18 months by focusing on new lines and products including snacks, drinks, desserts, late-night offerings and our membership program called Relish, the spokesperson said.

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Oscar Piastri is the new face of Grilld, which launched the limited edition OP81 burger featuring a charcoal bun, carrot, and chipotle sauce. Getty Images, Grilld Grilld struck a year-long partnership with Formula 1 star Oscar Piastri that led to two new burgers which are now driving more than 5 per cent of sales, and a range of two-pack branded wagyu patties sold in Coles. The Piastri sponsorship has been and continues to be a huge success. Piastri is an approachable, humble, performance-driven young Australian achieving success on an international stage. These qualities very much reflect the Grilld brand, the company spokesperson said. The financial accounts show the company spent $9.1 million on marketing in 2025, a decrease of 14.7 per cent from the year before. Grillds costs for employee benefits rose 9.4 per cent to $145.8 million. Marketing efficiency has increased, but by decreasing it in the short term, overall sales are slowing, which is messy when you have such a high-growth leasing/depreciation model, said influencer marketing expert Jordan Michaelides. Their gross margin is getting squeezed hard.

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Contributing to the loss in fiscal 2025 were higher depreciation expenses, according to the directors report, included in financial accounts, which might include building and construction costs and equipment. Related Article Mergers & acquisitions We are not selling out: El Jannahs new investor is a $180 billion US giant The accounts showed that earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, another measure of financial performance, were $10.7 million, down from $15.5 million a year earlier. After the 2025 financial year ended, the company moved $15 million to a related entity owned by Crowe, which the spokesperson said was used to fund the opening of four new stores, in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. Our 22 years of experience provides us confidence in the future of our brand, which involves reinvesting profits in new restaurant openings and providing long-term hospitality career paths to our staff in every state across the country, the company said.

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Investigation BusinessCompaniesInvestigation The phone call, the $5m cash offer  and insider trading allegations Kate McClymont and Max Mason March 23, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The corporate regulator has been provided with an explosive phone recording which casts doubt on controversial billionaire Richard Whites defence to insider trading allegations. Youll get at least 5 million net cash, tax-free, White is heard telling an ex-employee in a call made in early February 2025. Richard White offered an employee $5 million tax-free. Ocar Colman The employee had raised allegations with the WiseTech Global board about underpayment, inappropriate conduct by White and emails sent by his wife, Zena Nasser, to the employees work email. The phone call raises questions about whether White was acting in a management position or as a consultant to the company after he had been forced to step down as chief executive in October 2024 following a slew of damaging allegations about his inappropriate conduct towards women.

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The nature of the billionaires position within the company is central to the Australian Securities and Investments Commissions ongoing investigation into potential insider trading by White, who offloaded about 1.87 million shares between December 2024 and February 2025. WiseTech directors had warned White in December 2024 not to sell any more shares as they considered him key management personnel. Whites estimated $229 million share sell-off came when the global logistics company was in a blackout period, during which time company executives, directors and key personnel are banned from buying or selling shares. The company informed the ASX that White would take up a full-time, long-term consulting role with pay of $1 million a year.

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White has justified his share sales, saying he obtained legal advice and was a consultant, not an executive, during the relevant period. The phone recording, which has been provided to the corporate regulator, appears to show White believed he was still able to call the shots at WiseTech. Trading records show White traded more than 200,000 shares in the two business days before and after the Sunday call. In the call to the woman, whom the Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review have not named for privacy reasons, White can be heard attempting to negotiate a settlement regarding her complaint to the board. Theres a deed which we use with all employees, substantial employees, called the deed of settlement and release, White told the woman on February 2, 2025. It just says, Ive settled, everythings paid, theres no other issues outstanding, Im walking away clean.

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White told the woman he was going to pay her the next day and she would get at least $5 million tax-free. In the call, he said WiseTech would pay somewhere near $350,000 and he would make up the difference from his personal funds. All youve gotta do is tell them that youre gonna withdraw your claim and that youll sign a deed of settlement. Ill take  Richard Dammery [WiseTechs then chairman] through the exact payments and itll be a termination  which will not be a for cause, therell be no claim against you that you didnt perform or anything like that. It would just be a standard separation document, White told the woman. During the call, White told the employee that the boards gonna sign that youre a good leaver and youre done  White also complained to the woman about corporate governance. Honestly, this whole governance process is so bad, it turns companies into average by the way it functions. In the phone conversation, White also disclosed that another woman who consulted to the WiseTech board had made a complaint against him and was demanding $30 million or she would go to the media.

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White settled with Sydney wellness entrepreneur Linda Rogan. The problem is someone can say, I dont care, I feel injured. Im going to go to the press unless you pay me $30 million, White said in the call. Its irrational  its extortion. In October 2025, a year after he stepped down, ASIC raided the Sydney headquarters of WiseTech as part of its investigation into potential insider trading by White and three other WiseTech employees. The billionaire had been forced to resign as chief executive in October 2024 following multiple allegations of inappropriate conduct. That month, lurid headlines followed his legal stoush with wellness entrepreneur Linda Rogan, who claimed White expected her to have sex with him in exchange for an investment in her business. The claims were made after White sued Rogan over a $92,000 furniture bill. Rogan then claimed she was stuck with the bill after Whites wife, Nasser, a former criminal lawyer, discovered the affair and kicked her rival out of the $13.1 million Vaucluse house White had secretly purchased for Rogan in September 2022.

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Subsequent investigations by the Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review revealed White had paid for a multimillion-dollar house for an employee with whom he had been in a relationship and that he was selling millions of WiseTech shares to pay his ex-wife. In April 2025, the mastheads revealed White reached a settlement with a third woman, a former employee, who had raised allegations against him that he had provided her with financial assistance and help with her visa in return for sex. The board did not accept Whites personal attempts to settle the matter with the employee in the February 2025 phone call. Three weeks after this phone conversation, there was a mass exodus of WiseTechs board. Four independent directors  Lisa Brock, Michael Malone, Fiona Pak-Poy and chairman Dammery  resigning due to intractable differences in the board and differing views around the ongoing role of the founder and founding CEO, Richard White. In February 2025, the then-independent directors wanted to release the findings of an external report conducted by Seyfarth Shaw. However, White threatened to sue the independent directors as he regarded the findings defamatory and accused them of leaking to the media.

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Following the mass resignation, the new board released partial findings. They found White was not fully transparent and candid with the investigation, and was misleading about personal matters concerning the ending of the relationship. However, the board took no action against him. By the time the female employee eventually signed a settlement agreement with WiseTech, White had returned as executive chairman. The employees allegations remain unproven. The settlement negotiations by White, and later by the company, did not make any admissions of wrongdoing. The corporate regulator declined to comment on its ongoing investigation. White and WiseTech also declined to comment. Prior to the scandals erupting around White and WiseTech in October 2024, shares were trading about $135 per share. At the close of business on Friday, the shares were at $42.84. White, who owns a third of WiseTechs shares, has had billions of dollars wiped from his fortune. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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LifestyleLife & relationshipsSunday Life After seven years of IVF, we turned to a surrogate. Its been a challenging journey Jane Rocca March 22, 2026  5:00am 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 22 Edition of Sunday Life. See all stories .

Designer Sener Besim has had numerous roles in the Australian fashion industry. These days, he is the founder and designer of his eponymous jewellery and clothing label. Here, the 54-year-old father of two talks about the important women in his life, including his wife Kelly, and Mecca founder Jo Horgan, who gave him some invaluable business advice. Sener Besim met his wife during a chance fashion industry encounter. Nicole Reed My maternal grandmother, Ilmie, raised six kids while managing a tobacco farm in the Balkans. She came to Australia with my grandfather, Qemal, and lived on a fruit orchard with their eldest son in Kyabram, Victoria. I was one of 14 grandchildren; we had a close relationship. Her English was non-existent and my Albanian wasnt great, but we conversed. Food was her love language. She was an incredible cook who instilled this in my mother, Feride, and my sister, Julie. She was always humble, hard-working and had a wicked sense of humour. She enjoyed going out and seeing people, and was a great conversationalist with a beautiful smile. Behind the smile, however, was pain; she lived with the grief of losing her 17-year-old son Samit in a car accident six months before I was born. My paternal grandmother, Gulizar, died when my father, Richard, was 16. She was born in Istanbul and looked beautiful from the photos I have of her. My sister is named after my grandmother, and became known as Julie when she started school. She is 18 months older than me.

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My mum came to Australia with my father in 1971. I attribute the healthy relationships I have with women to her. Mum is calm, feminine and beautiful. She worked full-time as a pastry chef, ran the house and took care of us all. I get my work ethic from her. She instilled in me empathy for those less fortunate. My father lavished us with quality products, and together they influenced my love of fashion and beauty. Its been a challenging journey, one that not only strengthened our bond and love  but also ignited a passion to be the best parents we can be. I had a celebrity crush on Deborah Harry in Blondie. She was punk and anti-establishment. How could you ignore those beautiful high cheek bones and her great style? I joined [fashion brand] Scanlan Theodore in 2000. Co-founder Fiona Scanlan encouraged me to learn about fine art, photography and fashion. I had a few long-term relationships in my 20s; the longest was three years. I had settled into life as a bachelor, building my career, purchasing a home and was happy going with the flow.

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When I met my wife, Kelly, 20 years ago, she changed everything. She was working in fashion and looking for advice when someone mentioned my name. She called, and I met her and a designer. I was taken by her beauty and felt something during that meeting, but I wasnt sure if it was mutual. I quickly set up another meeting, but this time with just her and me. The rest is history. She was mysterious and I was hooked. I got to know her and quickly realised she was the one. Weve been married for 17 years. Related Article Sunday Life Joes had five kids with three women. Now he doesnt know how to ask a girl out Kelly did seven years of IVF. Eventually, we went to Los Angeles and chose a surrogate to birth our children: Ines, 9, and Maddox, 7. Its been a challenging journey, one that not only strengthened our bond and love for each other, but also ignited a passion to be the best parents we can be. Mecca founder Jo Horgan is the real thing: a woman of absolute integrity, more than I have seen in any other person. I worked as a buyer for [Melbourne department store] Georges and met her when she took over its cosmetics floor. We became friends and have remained so ever since.

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When I launched the Sener Besim brand in 2020 during COVID-19, then relaunched it in 2022 after lockdown, Jo always said, Focus on the customer journey. She always knew I was striving for perfection; she told me, Dont wait for the perfect moment, keep fine-tuning it and just do it. Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter.
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Conservative Liberal MP Ann-Marie Hermans has been relegated to second spot on the state Liberals upper house ticket amid a round of tense preselection battles that coincides with a surging threat from One Nation. The shift comes as outspoken Liberal MPs Moira Deeming and Bev McArthur are preparing to defend their positions against incoming challenges, while fellow conservative Renee Heath successfully survived a move to unseat her during a preselection vote on Saturday. Liberal MP Ann-Marie Hermans has been relegated to second spot of the Liberals South Eastern Metropolitan upper house ticket. Justin McManus On Sunday, South-Eastern Metropolitan MP Hermans lost the top spot to Phillip Pease, a former staffer to moderate ex-MP Matthew Bach, but managed to retain the second position on the ballot after fending off a challenge from Manju Hanumantharayappa. Hermans thanked Opposition Leader Jess Wilson for her unwavering support and acknowledged the delegates who backed her candidacy.

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We have an election to win and a state to save  and thats exactly what well do, Hermans told The Age. Related Article CBD Proud Liberal: Renee Heath stresses loyalty to her party after One Nation hold meeting at family-linked venue She has previously courted controversy, most recently coming under fire after comparing former premier Daniel Andrews to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. At the 2022 election, Hermans was the only Liberal to win a seat from the South Eastern Metropolitan ticket, meaning a second-spot ranking would not have seen her elected under those results. However, multiple Liberal MPs and senior figures believe Hermans remains well-positioned to retain her seat, noting the party fell only a few hundred votes short of a second MP in 2022.

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They are banking on a surge in support across Melbournes south-east, which party strategists view as essential to winning the next election. Insiders noted that despite the relegation, Hermans defied the expectations of some critics simply by securing the second spot. On Saturday, conservative MP Heath staved off a challenge from author Sue Smethurst to retain the Liberal top spot for Eastern Victoria. Heath had come under scrutiny in the lead-up to the vote after it was revealed a venue linked to her family  and partially owned by her  was used to host a One Nation branch meeting. Two sources speaking on the condition of anonymity so they could discuss party matters, said Smethurst had raised questions about the process of the vote, after a delegate was suddenly deemed ineligible late on Friday and others failed to show up.

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Smethurst supporters were also frustrated that Senator James Paterson had intervened to phone delegates on Heaths behalf. Related Article Analysis

Australia votes The Malinauskas Mandate: How the SA premier became the nations most formidable politician Heath said she was honoured to have been chosen to represent the region and remain part of Wilsons team entirely focused on changing the government in November. Wilson attended both Heath and Hermans preselection, and has provided written endorsements for any MPs who requested them. Conservative MPs Deeming and McArthur, who is upper house leader, will also face preselection challenges in the coming weeks.

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Deeming, who was readmitted to the Liberal party room in late 2024 following a successful defamation suit against former leader John Pesutto, is being challenged by Dinesh Gourisetty for top spot on the Western Metropolitan ticket. Liberal sources say he is currently well placed to win convincingly. The challenge has fuelled speculation among Liberals that Deeming could be among the first high-profile defections to One Nation should she lose preselection. The fiery preselection battles come amid the fallout from the South Australian election, where a surging One Nation savaged the Liberal primary vote. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
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NationalVictoriaBushfires Fire breaks make for long and winding roads for burnt-out farmers Benjamin Preiss March 22, 2026  7:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

More than two months after the Longwood blaze ravaged north Victorian communities, the scars and defensive lines still mark the landscape where emergency services sought to suppress the fires. The Longwood fire, which started in early January, claimed one life and destroyed hundreds of houses and sheds as it burnt for almost two weeks. Despite the best efforts of firefighters, the agricultural community was hit particularly hard. The fire killed thousands of sheep and cattle while destroying thousands of kilometres of fences. Farmers Chris Dekkera, Brian Kelly and Michael Stubbe are worried about the response to rehabilitating land used for containment lines in the Longwood fire. Justin McManus It has been longstanding practice for farmers to allow the Country Fire Authority and its contractors to create control lines on their property with bulldozers and graders on the understanding they will return later to repair the land. Emergency services use control or containment lines by clearing vegetation from a stretch of land to remove unburnt fuel and prevent a fire spreading. That will often include cutting fences for property access. But some farmers are now struggling to rehabilitate their land where control lines were created, and they fear their properties will be seriously damaged by erosion if left unrepaired.

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Cattle farmer Michael Stubbe said his entire 770-hectare property at Gooram was burnt in the fires. We saved two houses, but that was it. Machine sheds, hay sheds, water tanks and everything else  gone, he said. The Longwood bushfire caused extensive damage over summer. Chris Hopkins Stubbe estimated contractors established about 2.5 kilometres of firebreaks on his property, but he is still waiting for the land to be returned to its former state. He evacuated hundreds of head of cattle before the fires, and he now wants to return them to the land so he can begin to recover from the disaster. Fences were burnt but also cut on Stubbes property to provide access for emergency services, and they have not yet been repaired.

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Stubbe, who is the volunteer captain of the Gooram CFA brigade, said that in years gone by containment lines would be repaired promptly  usually within a week or two. But he said frustration was growing locally about the length of time it was taking for the authority to roll out its containment line rehabilitation program. We agree theyre a vital part of firefighting and trying to control it. They give us the safety that we need. But theyve also got to be remedied again promptly, and they havent been. He said unrepaired containment lines could create erosion on farmland particularly in heavy rain and farmers were becoming concerned about the looming problem. Sheep wander across burnt ground near Longwood. Getty Images Some farmers have questioned whether delayed rehabilitation of their land is due to a lack of government funding for the CFA.

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However, the authoritys acting chief officer, Alen Slijepcevic, insisted there were sufficient funds for emergency stabilisation works. He said CFA volunteers, staff and external contractors were repairing and replacing private infrastructure impacted by fire suppression activities in response to the Longwood blaze. The team is currently assessing, mapping and gaining approval from landholders to complete the scope of works, Slijepcevic said. Landholders are made aware of when the team will be attending to their home. He said all fencing and water replacement work was done in response to requests from landholders. So far, 250 landholders have submitted requests for support. CFA fire crew battling the Longwood fire. Jason South The CFA has mapped 90 per cent of the Longwood fire, including 1600 kilometres of control lines. The fires perimeter stretched to 540 kilometres. Although summer has passed, Slijepcevic said the risk was not over.

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Following a dry and hotter than usual summer, most of Victoria will face an increased risk of fire over the coming months. Farmer Brian Kelly said it was crucial that farmland was reclaimed quickly after containment lines were created, so farmers could rebuild after fires had passed. He said fences needed to be repaired too. Fences and pastures are all part of our infrastructure, he said. Sheep farmer Neil Devanny has reinstated about 1.2 kilometres of fencing after the Longwood fire, mostly with the help of farming charity BlazeAid. His property was previously burnt out completely in 1990, and he said that experience helped him better understand the process of getting support from the CFA to repair containment lines.

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Neil Devanny and Jayme Sexton rebuilding a fence on Neils property. Justin McManus The important ingredient is patience, he said. Devanny, who is also a CFA volunteer, said the authoritys representatives had visited his property last week as part of the containment line repair program. He was not frustrated with the length of time it took to have containment lines reinstated. There are heaps of people who have got to be the recipients of this. He said it was sometimes impractical to repair fences and containment lines soon after a blaze due to the risk of fires returning in unburnt land.

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The state government was contacted for comment. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalVictoriaPlanning Ministers fast-tracked housing towers become ghost projects Daniella White March 23, 2026  5:42am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Major housing projects fast-tracked by the Allan government to bypass community consultation on the basis they were shovel ready are sitting dormant more than a year after receiving the green light. Internal government figures show that just six homes have been completed and construction has started on only a quarter of the almost 10,000 homes approved by Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny through the Development Facilitation Program (DFP) since its expansion in September 2023. The figures cast serious doubt on the effectiveness of the scheme to increase housing supply, as well as the criteria used to deem multimillion-dollar developments ready for immediate work. The property industry is now calling for the creation of a homes commissioner to hold the government to account on its housing promises  including on land availability, infrastructure servicing, project feasibility and barriers slowing new development.

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Government officials have admitted they anticipate at least a two-year construction lead time for the major housing projects, despite the programs extensive shovel ready branding. The expanded program was a centrepiece of the 2023 Housing Statement, which set an ambitious target of 800,000 new homes over a decade. The program stripped local councils of decision-making power for eligible projects, allowed the minister to override local height and planning regulations, and removed third-party appeal rights at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The government justified the removal of democratic checks due to the need for urgent supply, and accusations councils were holding back thousands of homes from the market.

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However, in a letter to the public accounts and estimates committee, Department of Transport and Planning secretary Jeroen Weimar said only six homes had been built under the DFP pathways since the 2023 statement. While Weimar confirmed a further 12 projects totalling 2471 homes are currently under construction, he said 7053 homes  or almost 75 per cent of all fast-tracked approvals  are yet to start. Related Article Development Andrews promised Victoria a record number of homes. Instead, were going backwards He maintained the home completion figures were generally within expectations given the department now anticipates an average lead time of at least two years between planning approval and construction commencement for significant residential projects. Despite Weimars admission of an extended lead to construction, department communication and press releases spruiking the program from Kilkenny frequently describe it as a process designed for shovel ready projects.

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Application documents show DFP projects must also provide the department evidence to demonstrate they are shovel ready, including financial feasibility. Greens housing spokeswoman Gabrielle de Vietri said the government had allowed profit-driven developers to bypass usual checks and balances for no tangible result. The fact that years later developments sold as shovel ready havent even started and an embarrassing six homes have actually been built just doesnt pass the pub test, she said. Property Council of Australia Victorian executive director Cath Evans said while the DFP helped projects move through the planning system, developers were still being hit by a complex wave of post-permit requirements. If we want to see more of these approved homes move into construction sooner, the program needs stronger capacity to direct referral agencies and resolve these bottlenecks.

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Referral authorities are agencies  including Melbourne Water, VicRoads, the CFA, EPA Victoria and power and utilities providers  that must be consulted on a planning permit. Developers have long complained that these agencies can sit on approvals for months, or even years. Ahead of this years state election, Evans called for a new independent role of housing commissioner to provide transparency and identify bottlenecks. The role would provide greater transparency and accountability across the housing system and help the government identify bottlenecks earlier. Among the shovel ready DFP-approved projects yet to proceed beyond planning is an 18-storey, 400-home build-to-rent development in Hoddle Street, Collingwood, which was approved in late 2024. A former Honda dealership remains on the site.

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Malaysian developer UEM Sunrise said it remained committed to the Collingwood project but is searching for new investors after a funding agreement fell through in mid-2025. Early works are not expected until late 2026. In Clayton, a 700-home development near the planned Suburban Rail Loop station remains occupied by industrial businesses nearly a year after it was approved. Developer Assemble would not answer questions regarding the projects status. Similarly, in Glen Iris, the Wilmot housing and retail development was approved in October 2024, but no work has begun and a for lease sign remains on the existing office building. Developer Time & Place said work is now likely to start in late 2026. Its no secret that construction costs and feasibilities have posed significant challenges across most Victorian projects, but now that the tender process has been finalised we are looking forward to commencing works across this exciting site, a spokesperson said. A spokeswoman for Kilkenny said thousands of homes fast-tracked through the DFP would have otherwise been stuck at council level or held up at VCAT for years.

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While were cutting red tape to get more homes built, [Opposition Leader] Jess Wilson and her Liberals want to hand housing supply back to council blockers, which is how we got a housing crisis in the first place, the spokeswoman said. Related Article Exclusive

Planning The suburbs set to be transformed by ministers sweeping powers The minister did not respond to questions regarding whether a two-year lead time was consistent with her definition of shovel ready. A spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Planning declined to comment. The stall in delivery comes as the state struggles to meet its lofty 80,000-home-a-year target, and the industry continues to grapple with high construction costs and the availability of cheaper established apartments.

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Opposition planning spokesman David Southwick said it was farcical the program had delivered just six homes in 2 years. Under Labor, Victoria has the highest property tax burden in the nation and construction of new homes is at a decade low, he said. In a budget submission released on Monday, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Sally Curtain said the state must shake the Anywhere but Victoria moniker driving away investment thanks to high taxes and poor sentiment. She called on the state government to cut land tax and red tape to encourage more housing supply. We must get the property sector moving again, provide a clear energy road map and back the industries that will drive the next generation of jobs, Curtain said. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  Chinas decision to end value-added tax rebates on solar panel exports and phase out incentives for making battery storage equipment could push up the cost of solar installations in Africa, which relies heavily on imported Chinese technology.

The changes, expected to take effect April 1 for solar panels and beginning next year for batteries, may complicate efforts to expand renewable energy to close vast electricity gaps across Africa, though experts say the impact likely will be manageable.

We are likely to see solar panel prices increase in Africa because most of the inputs come from China, said Wangari Muchiri, an energy analyst focused on Africas clean energy sector. Removing the rebate will add to existing costs, especially when you consider shipping, logistics, and other import fees.

Africa already pays significantly more for solar equipment than other regions because of transport costs, smaller import volumes and tariffs.

China's policy change reflects broader shifts after fierce competition among Chinese manufacturers pushed solar module prices to as little as $0.07 per watt in 2025, from $0.25 in 2022. That helped drive global adoption of solar energy, but left many companies with heavy losses.

Some Chinese companies built VAT rebates into their export pricing, effectively transferring those subsidies to their overseas buyers. But Beijing has cut back on those payments as it reins in overcapacity and shifts toward more advanced technologies.

Rather than a sharp price shock, the loss of such rebates will likely gradually raise prices, setting a firmer global price floor.

The changes are significant, but not catastrophic, said John van Zuylen, CEO of the Africa Solar Industry Association.

The entire recent solar boom was built on artificially cheap Chinese pricing, van Zuylen said. That era is now ending.

When a structural rebate is removed, exporters typically either absorb the cost, raise prices, or reduce discounting, van Zuylen said. African countries will likely feel this as a gradual upward shift in pricing rather than a single dramatic spike.

Even with modest price increases, solar is expected to remain competitive across much of the continent since it's the cheapest source of energy in Africa, Muchiri said.

Even with higher panel prices, it will still be significantly cheaper than alternatives like diesel, she said.

"It will increase project costs slightly and might delay the project construction pipeline due to supply chain shortages and contractual changes, stockpiling rush, congestion in shipment for the countries heavily reliant on Chinese imports," said Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council, an industry association.
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Exclusive NationalWAAI More jobs, more houses: Mining giants push government to pilot AI Connor McGoverne March 22, 2026  6:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The mining industry has claimed it can buck the trend of artificial intelligence sparking a jobs bloodbath and instead create an employment boom, slashing years off approval wait times for major developments in the process. The Minerals Council of Australia will ask for $13 million in the May federal budget to pilot AI, which it believes will provide a billion-dollar benefit to the economy in the long run by improving regulatory decision-making. Tania Constable, Minerals Council of Australia chief executive, at the Financial Review Mining Summit 2025 in Perth. Photo Ross Swanborough Around 26,000 homes across the country are caught in an approvals backlog, while the peak body for the nations miners estimates $51 billion in resources projects are stuck in the pipeline each year due to slow decision-making processes. Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable said application wait times could be halved by using AI to sift through thousands of pages of approvals.

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It takes about 3.8 years to get the statutory approval time met, thats up from 2.3 years in 2019  an increase of 60 per cent, Constable told this masthead. We think that can be paired right back with the use of AI. The endgame is faster approvals. It takes about 16 years to get an idea off the ground to a final decision made and construction occurring with a project. You want to make sure that every part of the process is as efficient as you can so that a project proponent, an investor, can make a decision that puts Australia first. Were in a major competition with the rest of the world and we want Australia first.

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Approval application delays have long been a source of frustration for industry. Last year, Woodsides application to extend the life of the North West Gas Shelf in WA until 2070 was approved by the federal government  the oil and gas giant first made the application in 2018. Emerging from its economic roundtable last August, the federal government said it would cut red tape and speed up delays by implementing reforms, including two areas that could be acted on immediately. An AI pilot was among those reforms. This masthead understands the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has undertaken preparatory work for a pilot, but no operational tools have been deployed at this stage.

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Housing was to be a primary beneficiary from deploying AI. Liberal-aligned think tank, the Menzies Research Centre, said the government would not meet housing needs without adopting the technology, and would miss the opportunity to lower energy prices with approximately 5000 kilometres of transmission lines waiting to be built. The risk is that Australia will miss out on a lot of this investment thats funding these major projects because weve got one of the more lengthy approval time processes in Australia, executive director David Hughes said. Were talking about big new electricity transmission lines that can help lower power prices and were also talking about 26,000 new homes which are currently part of this backlog. The government really needs to take action now. Shadow Housing Minister Andrew Bragg promised to hold the governments feet to the fire, for what the opposition said was a failure to fix approval times through environmental reforms.

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What we want to see going forward is the use of technology to approve applications because its ridiculous that it takes years, sometimes decades, to get approvals under this federal planning rule, Bragg said. In fact, the department says that there are at least 10,000 waiting to be approved because a parrot flew over a block of land in 1971, he added facetiously. Albo and his environment minister [Murray Watt] havent pulled their fingers out. The artificial intelligence disruption has pushed software companies to make massive job cuts, headlined by Mike Cannon-Brookes Atlassian slashing 1600 jobs. The Minerals Council of Australia believes the use of AI would instead lead to more jobs in the sector by fast-tracking major developments.

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There is about $140 billion worth of critical minerals ready to take out of the ground by 2040, so thats a huge opportunity, Constable said. Editor's pick Renting Record low rental affordability in Perth could have hidden silver lining Delays in approval processes are a handbrake on the economy, creating severe bottlenecks for job-creating developments. [Faster approvals] means that we get more jobs occurring all the way around Australia. The Minerals Council has promised if Treasurer Jim Chalmers granted its funding request for an AI pilot, the final decision of any development application would rest with a human, a stance backed by the Menzies Research Centre. I think Australians are concerned about the potential of AI taking their jobs, but what we shouldnt be concerned about is using these technologies to help us do our jobs better and faster, Hughes 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.
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Reviews & adviceTravel tips Opinion The world seems scary right now. Heres why I wont be staying home Ben Groundwater Travel writer March 23, 2026  5:00am

March 23, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Theres turmoil in the world right now, which you may have noticed. Attempt to summarise current global events, and you feel like youre writing a new verse for the Billy Joel song We Didnt Start the Fire. Flights cancelled, airports closed, upheaval in the Middle East. Im toying with taking my family to Mexico later this year. iStock Violence erupted in Mexico after a cartel leader was eliminated. Venezuela has an interim president after the old one was kidnapped. The Russia-Ukraine war rages on and the ceasefire in Gaza is uneasy at best. And youre telling me you want to go travelling? This is the world we face. Its the reality were presented with. Its not nice to talk about, and its fairly depressing when you write it all down like that, but this is what we have to deal with.

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Theres probably a tendency among some travellers to just stay at home, which is a reasonable, and even very good, travel decision. Australia has a huge amount to offer, from ancient culture to modern cuisine to some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet  why wouldnt you take the opportunity to see a little more of it? Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. Theres even a good chance your flight will take off. If, however, youre keen on the idea of overseas adventure, there needs to be another plan. You need to deal with this somehow. I do, too. Ive been tossing up taking my kids to Mexico at the end of this year. My wife is desperate to try the food over there. I love the country, its people, its colour and its culture. And our kids would get a kick out of Mexico City, the buzz, the artwork, the lucha libre wrestling. But this already volatile country has recently experienced an upswing in violence. Tasmania is looking pretty good right now. To travel overseas now is to take on a certain amount of risk. Maybe youre not flying directly into a conflict zone, but if youre going across one, your flight might be diverted or even cancelled, as so many that fly in and out of Middle Eastern hubs have. Your plans on the ground might be scuppered by a lightning-fast turn of events.

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Several platforms and services are required here if you still want to go overseas. You need good travel insurance. You need to know that if you get into trouble, or even if you have hassles with cancellations or flights and other bookings being rescheduled, you wont be too far out of pocket (though be warned, you probably wont be covered if you just change your mind, and almost all insurers exclude force majeure events, which include acts of war). The world can seem intimidating from the far reaches of our own nation, but the reality is often refreshingly normal and welcoming. Smartraveller, the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trades travel advisory, is also crucial. Read up on the places you want to go, understand the risks, monitor changes, and also be aware that anywhere rated do not travel will almost certainly not be covered by travel insurance. You could consider, too, booking through a travel agent for any holidays that are particularly complex. Its always nice in times of difficulty to have a friendly, professional voice on the other end of the phone ready to tap a few keys and get things rescheduled for you. And finally, theres a need to be clear-eyed about the dangers the world presents right now. Because for the most part, theres little thats out of the ordinary. There are a lot  like, a huge amount  of travel destinations out there that remain unchanged, untouched by the feeling of global unrest.

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WorldMiddle EastTrump diplomacy Opinion Trump and Netanyahu have formed a convenient coalition. But clear divisions are emerging Rodger Shanahan Middle East and security analyst March 22, 2026  3:30pm

March 22, 2026  3:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Friction is a characteristic of war, and the military coalitions that prosecute them are not immune from its effects. National priorities and rules of engagement may impact targeting considerations, risk acceptance or the willingness to conduct certain tasks. But the nations that join together to fight wars generally agree on what the strategic aim of the conflict is. What has been noteworthy about the US-Israeli coalition prosecuting their war against Iran, has been the increasingly public differences between the objectives they are both pursuing. The US Secretary of War Peter Hegseth, when asked about Israels targeting of oil storage facilities near Irans capital that unleashed a large and dense pall of smoke over Tehran said that Where they [Israel] have different objectives, theyve pursued them. Ultimately, weve stayed focused on ours. Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, Israels parliament, in October last year. AP Later, after Israel targeted Irans South Pars gas field resulting in a retaliatory strike against Qatari energy infrastructure, US President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to say that he knew nothing about the attack and No more attacks will be made by Israel. Of course the idea that during an extended air campaign with the need for significant air space and targeting deconfliction, that the United States would have been unaware of an Israeli attack on South Pars, is not really credible. The reality is that Israel is pursuing a maximalist agenda, with an ideal outcome of regime change in Tehran. Trumps agenda is likely less ambitious and certainly less well articulated. Regardless, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that in Trump there is finally an incumbent in the White House who shares his belief in direct military force against Iran and in tactical victories without much concern about strategic consequences. It is an opportunity that he has no intention of squandering.

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For all the talk of a rift between Israel and the United States though, there is little practical indication of it other than some vaguely critical Truth Social posts by the US president. The real tension is likely to manifest itself when the decision to cease military operations is taken. Netanyahu remains convinced that the regime can fall if sufficient military pressure is applied to it and sufficient Iranian military and security assets destroyed or degraded. It also believes that it can further degrade Hezbollah the longer it can pummel Lebanon. Washington appears less convinced that the regime can fall and is far more concerned with the economic costs of a war without a decisive victory, or a negotiated end that Trump can portray as victory. Each of Washingtons and Tel Avivs desired goals require different levels of military pressure over different periods of time, but it will be the White House that ultimately decides when the bombing stops. And when that happens it is likely that nobodys goals will have been achieved. Dr Rodger Shanahan is a Middle East analyst. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
Global liquefied natural gas exports have declined to a six-month low, erasing recent supply additions from the US and elsewhere as the conflict in the Middle East throttles flows.

The 10-day moving average for LNG shipments has fallen about 20 per cent from the start of the month to 1.1 million tonnes, the lowest since September, according to Bloomberg analysis of ship-tracking data on Kpler.

The drop is primarily from Qatar  and to a lesser extent the United Arab Emirates, the data shows. Both nations need to ship fuel through the Strait of Hormuz to reach customers in Asia and Europe.

The US-Israeli war in Iran has spiralled into a regional conflict that has upended the global LNG market. Qatar was forced to shut its LNG export plant in Ras Laffan  the biggest in the world  earlier in the month after Iranian strikes. A further attack last week damaged the facility, and it will take years for two of the plants 14 production trains to be repaired.

LNG output around the world had been rising steadily over the past year, thanks primarily to new projects in the US and Canada. This is now being offset by the loss of Qatari LNG and the effective closure of Hormuz  a key waterway for about a fifth of global LNG supply.

Bloomberg
The oil world includes the International Energy Agency and hundreds of millions of barrels of strategic petroleum reserves that governments can release in emergencies. The LNG world has nothing equivalent. The international community spent decades building a safety net for oil shocks. It never built one for gas. That oversight just became everybody's problem.

TEHRAN, IRAN - MARCH 01: 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. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) building after Iranian authorities said it was targeted in the attacks, as the Iranian army announced it had launched new strikes against U.S. and Israeli targets (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"Unfortunately, theres no spare capacity in the LNG market, so the disruption in the LNG market will be immediate and immense," Florence Yu, LNG market analyst at Vortexa, told Lloyds List . Yu noted that 20% of global LNG and 90% of Qatars LNG exports pass through the Strait of Hormuzthe heart of the conflict. This is notable given that Qatar is responsible for 20% of global LNG supply.

The combined disruption has removed approximately 5.8 million tons of liquefied natural gas from global markets in March aloneroughly 14% of what the world expected to receive this month. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which a significant share of the world's energy passes, has effectively shut down as a shipping lane, with dozens of tankers now idling offshore, unable to move in or out of the region, according to Kpler , which tracks vessel movements in real time.

Before the war began on February 28, global natural gas prices were relatively stable. When QatarEnergy halted production on March 2 following the initial drone attacks, prices nearly doubled in a single week. Asian LNG spot prices have since surged to roughly $20 per MMBtufive times the current U.S. benchmarkaccording to Wood Mackenzie research director Miaoru Huang. After the missile strike on Ras Laffan, gas prices in Europe surged another 24% and in the UK another 23% within hours .

The conventional coverage of this crisis is too narrow. While everyone is watching oil prices, the more consequentialand longer-lastingimpact is on global LNG markets. Gas infrastructure has become a weapon of war, similar to the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. But the world has no strategic reserves, no emergency stockpiles, and no quick fixes. The ensuing problems that unfold in the coming weeks and months will be measured not in barrels, but in heat, electricity, and fertilizer, while the ripple effect will resound worldwide.

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Even if the war stopped tomorrow, Ras Laffan cannot simply be switched back on. The facility requires a careful, weeks-long restart process before it can produce and ship a single cargo. But that is the least of the problems. The damage from repeated missile strikes is so severe that full repairs are estimated to take up to five yearsand not a single repair crew can set foot inside until the conflict is completely over.

Qatars Energy Minister confirmed that disruptions to Qatari LNG exports may last far longer than initially assumed, and that a complete cessation of hostilities is required before restart operations can even begin. Production is one matter. Shipping the gas is another. Ali Jabbar, an Iraqi-born American citizen who works as a crisis management specialist, told me that shipping and insurance costs also factor into decisions.



Chartering a vessel to transport LNG can be very expensivesometimes around $400,000 per day," he explains. "On top of that, insurance costs have gone up significantly, and many companies are hesitant to take the risk."



The shortfall cannot be filled by other countries stepping up production. The United States and Australiathe two most obvious alternativesare already pumping as much LNG as their facilities can handle. There is no spare capacity sitting idle waiting to be turned on. Nigeria, Algeria, and Trinidad face their own supply limitations. When you add up everything the rest of the world could realistically produce, it covers less than 2 million of the 5.8 million tons that have gone missing from the market this month alone.

The countries that face the sharpest immediate pain are not Japan or South Korea, as most coverage assumes. Taiwan is actually the most vulnerable, having relied on Qatar and the UAE UAE for 35% of its LNG imports last year. Making matters worse, Taiwan shut down its last nuclear plant in mid-2025 and retired several coal units, leaving it with almost nowhere else to turn for power. India is equally exposed, importing nearly 58% of its natural gas from the Middle East, according to Wood Mackenzie. Singapore draws 27% of its supply from the same region.

Alternative Suppliers Possible?

The Greek-flagged LNG tanker Maran Gas Pericles unloads liquefied natural gas from the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in the USA at the Revithoussa terminal near Athens, Greece, on March 12, 2026. The cargo is imported by DEPA Commercial, and via its joint venture with the AKTOR Group, Atlantic SEE LNG Trade, it appears likely that part or all may be destined for Ukraine's Naftogaz via the Vertical Corridor. (Photo by Nicolas Koutsokostas/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images

Some analysts argued the market was overreacting and that alternative suppliers would eventually fill the gap. That view may have been plausible a week ago, but it is very difficult to make now that Qatar's gas field has been bombed. Ras Laffan is not a pipeline that can be rerouted. It is not a tanker that can be redirected. It is a complex industrial facility that has been hit twice in three weeks, with damage that energy engineers say could take three to five years to fully repair.

The optimistic scenario requires a complete end to the conflict, the restoration of safe passage through Hormuz, and a two-week restart processall without another strike. Goldman Sachs warns prices could more than double from here if the Strait stays closed another month. Europe survived a similar crisis in 2022but only because it had months to prepare.

Tom Kloza, senior energy advisor at Gulf Oil, put the broader stakes plainly in Open Magazine: "Can you imagine the response in the world if Iran targeted something outside of the Persian Gulfa refinery in Rotterdam or a facility somewhere in the United States? That's when all bets are off and prices could go absolutely apocalyptic."

The world has spent 50 years building a system to manage oil supply shocksstrategic reserves, spare capacity, and the ability to redirect tankers at a moment's notice. It built almost nothing equivalent for LNG, because that type of infrastructure was considered off-limits to conflict. That assumption died during this war.

What is already clear is that the crisis will accelerate LNG investment in the United States, Australia, and Canadacountries with the resources and stability to become reliable global gas suppliers. The disruption is painful. The build-out it triggers may ultimately reshape global energy trade for decades.
Chakankars resignation not enough, big fishlinked to rape-accused godman must face action





MUMBAI

A DAY after Maharashtra State Womens Commission chief Rupali Chakankarresigned over her links with rape-accused Ashok Kharat, Opposition leaders on Saturday demanded that thebig fishincludingministers whoallegedlypatronised theselfstyled godman must face probe. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar said she has forwarded Chakankarsresignation to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for acceptance.

Chakankar, who belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party headed by Pawar, tendered her resignation on Friday. But the Opposition continued to pile pressure on the BJP-led Government, with Congress leaders Vijay Wadettiwar and Varsha Gaikwad saying that her resignation was not enough and there should be a comprehensive probe. Wadettiwar alleged that attempts were under way to shield the influential people linked to Kharat who was arrested by Nashik Police earlier this week after a woman accused him of raping her multiple times.Action must also be taken against the big fish. Attempts are being made to suppress the Kharat case, and there is pressure on the police, Wadettiwar told reporters.The call detail records (CDRs) of all those in contact with Kharat, including ministers and other close associates, should be scrutinised, he demanded.Given the enormous wealth and patronage enjoyed by Kharat, it appears there is an attempt to shield certainindividuals, he alleged.
Character-building is foundation of strong leadership





Vice President C P Radhakrishnan addressing the gathering. Prof Srinivasa Varakhedi, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Chandrashekhar Bawankule and others look on.

Staff Reporter :

The 29th Indian Youth Parliament Conference inaugurated

The Indian Youth Parliament Conference is not merely a platform for discussion, it is an effective medium for moulding the youth into responsible citizens of tomorrow. Through this conference, your thoughts are given shape, and your character is forged. Character-building constitutes the very foundation of strong leadership. If our lives are built up with strong character, our leadership will undoubtedly prove effective, asserted Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan. Radhakrishnan was speaking during the inauguration of the three-day 29th Indian Youth Parliament Conference at the Maharshi Vyas Auditorium in Reshimbag. Governor of Maharashtra Jishnu Dev Varma, Revenue Minister and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Sahsarkaryawah of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Dr Krishna Gopal, Vice-Chancellor of the Central Sanskrit University Prof Srinivasa Contd from page 1 Varakhedi, and National Convener of the Indian Youth Parliament Conference Ashutosh Joshi were seated on the dais. The Vice-President further stated that, the potential and strength of any nation depended upon the size and vigour of its youth. Indias large youth demographic is a distinct asset. Today, approximately 65 per cent of the countrys population is under the age of 35.

Radhakrishnan pointed out, Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government has launched numerous initiatives aimed at education, skill development, and leadership enhancement of the youth. Radhakrishnan lauded the relentless service rendered over the past two decades by the Indian Youth Parliament National Trust. Conferences organised by the Indian Youth Parliament have been successfully conducted in every nook and corner of the country. Speaking on the occasion, Radhakrishnan remarked that the work of Indian Youth Parliament is commendable, serving as a vital link connecting the nations youth. During the nations Amrit Kaal (Golden Era), we have collectively set our sights on achieving the objective of a Developed India by the year 2047. The youth are poised to play a pivotal role in realising this trajectory of success. The youth should seize the opportunity to actively participatedrawing upon the strength of strong character and leadershipin the endeavour to build a stronger, more inclusive, and prosperous India, encouraging them to make the most of this chance, advised Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan. Social, cultural contributions crucial in building a developed India: Governor Indias young generation constitutes the nations greatest strength.

This vibrant and dynamic generation is set to play an invaluable role in the task of nation-building. To realise the vision of a Developed India by 2047, our efforts cannot be confined solely to economic contributions; social and cultural contributions will be equally vital, stated Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma. Unity in Diversity stands as the defining characteristic of our nation. Although language, religion, caste, and creed vary across different regions of the country, the nation remains a cohesive and unified entity. He noted that, while the country has faced numerous invasions throughout history, we have successfully repelled them, drawing strength from our inherent unity, said Varma. Varma observed that, young leaders and youth from every corner of the country are converging at this conference to engage in discussions regarding nation-building. In todays eracharacterised by extensive screen timesuch fruitful and substantive dialogue proves to be of immense significance, added Varma.

Vice-President, Governor visit Smruti Mandir

Earlier, Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan arrived at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport on Saturday morning. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Revenue Minister and District Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Mayor Neeta Thakre, Air Marshal Yalla Umesh, Major General Navtej Singh Sohal, Divisional Commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari, Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, Special Inspector General of Police (Nagpur Range) Sandeep Patil, and Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar received him at the airport. It was the first visit of both Radhakrishnan (after becoming Vice-President) and Jishnu Dev Varma (after assuming charge as Governor of Maharashtra). After reaching Reshimbag, both Vice-President and Governor visited Smruti Mandir and paid tributes to Founder Sarsanghchalak of RSS, Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and second Sarsanghchalak Golwalkar Guruji. After inauguration of the conference organised by Indian Youth Parliament, C P Radhakrishnan departed for Mumbai from the Nagpur airport with Governor Jishnu Dev Varma accompanying him. Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Neeta Thakre, Air Marshal Yalla Umesh, Major General Navtej Singh Sohal, Vijayalakshmi Bidari, Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, Sandeep Patil, and Dr Vipin Itankar were present.
Split wide open





THE longer the war against Iran continues, the messier it is going to get for United States President Mr. Donald Trump. That America has been dragged into the war, that was most-desired by Israel, is becoming amply clear by now and Mr. Trump is finding it hard to justify the US attack on a country that was marked as no imminent threat by its own anti-terror unit head. Yet, America is emptying its coffers on the war that has now stretched into the 23rd day making mockery of the assessment by the US-Israel combine.

The wrangling over the war has also started to unsettle Mr. Trump as cracks are slowly opening up between him and Israeli Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu. Adding to that, the snub by American allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) force has further made the ground slippery for the maverick US President. A visible split over the goals of the war came out in the open a couple of days ago when Israel attacked a critical Iranian gas field in South Pars. Mr. Trump did not approve of the attack and made it pretty clear during his meeting with the visiting Japanese Prime Minister Ms. Sanae Takaichi. He looked livid with Mr. Netanyahu as the Americans realised that their President was finding it hard to rein in the Israeli PM. The divergent views by both the leaders sum up the incoherent strategy with which the US-Israel combine entered the conflict. More such differences are set to pop up in the coming days as Iran puts up a sterling fight against the US-Israel might. The ill-advised war has clearly put Mr. Trump on the backfoot. His advisors were downright stupid in making him believe that Iran was a sitting duck. On the contrary, despite losing its Supreme Leader right at the start of the fight, Iran has stood up to the attacks with a fierce resolve. Not only has it put up a fight against the barrage of missiles and hi-tech drones but also surprised the US with a unique strategy of attacking its bases in the Gulf Arab nations.

It has come as a bolt from the blue for the US even as the war is forcing the Trump administration to seek Congressional clearance for billions of dollars. This development has gone totally off the script for the US which is now caught in the bind due to the unrelenting approach of Israel on the future of the war. Frustration of the series of setbacks is palpable in the outburst of the US President against the NATO allies. The NATO countries simply shot down Mr. Trumps demand of employing warships to clear the Strait of Hormuz. Not a single ally has warmed up to Mr. Trumps request bringing the nasty side of the POTUS out in the open, yet again. By terming the NATO countries as cowards, Mr. Trump has further risked isolation for America as the world will move on from this war as and when it ends. It was really foolish for Mr. Trump to think that his word would be the final command for all nations in the world. Fighting a war is a different ball-game and if Mr. Trump was in the delusion of the American superpower holding total influence on the world, then his dream must have shattered by now. Not only the NATO countries, even far-off Sri Lanka refused to toe the American line when it denied permission to two US warplanes to land on its southeast airport at Mattala. It was a prudent decision by the Island Nation which seeks neutrality in this war. Such snubs are rising as the world finds its voice against Mr. Trumps utter nonsense.
Trump hints at wind-down of war... ...US sends 3 assault ships and 2,500 Marines to Middle East ...US-Israel hit Natanz N-facility; Iran says, no radiation leak





22 countries urge Iran to cease attacks, reopen the Strait of Hormuz

DUBAI,

TWENTY-Two countries on Saturday urged Iran to cease attacks and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Countries including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, the UK, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea and Australia have condemned Irans attacks on commercial vessels as well as oil and gas facilities in the region. The effects of Irans actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable, they said in a joint statement Saturday.

DUBAI :

IRANS Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was hit in an airstrike on Saturday, the official Iranian news agency Mizan reported. There was no radiation leakage, it said, as the war in the Middle East entered its fourth week. Natanz, Irans main enrichment site, was hit in the first week of the war and several buildings appeared damaged, according to satellite images. The United Nations nuclear watchdog had said that no radiological consequence was expected from that earlier strike. The nuclear facility, located nearly 220 kilometres (135 miles) southeast of Tehran, had been targeted by Israeli airstrikes in the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025, and by the United States. The strike comes a day after US President Donald Trump said he was considering winding down military operations in the Middle East even as the US is sending three more amphibious assault ships and roughly 2,500 additional Marines to the region.

Trumps post Friday on social media followed an Iranian threat to attack recreational and tourist sites worldwide and another day of the airstrikes and drone and missile attacks that have engulfed the region. The mixed messages from the United States came after another climb in oil prices plunged the countrys stock market, and was followed by a Trump administration announcement it was lifting sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded on ships, a move aimed at wrangling soaring fuel prices. The three-week-old war has shown no signs of abating, with Israel saying Iran continued to fire missiles at it early Saturday, while Saudi Arabia said it downed 20 drones in just a couple of hours in the countrys eastern region, which is home to major oil installations. The attacks came a day after Israeli airstrikes hit in Tehran as Iranians celebrated the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz, a normally festive holiday that has been muted by the war. The US and Israel have offered shifting rationales for the war, from hoping to foment an uprising that topples Irans leadership to eliminating its nuclear and missile programmes. There have been no public signs of any such uprising and no end to the war in sight. On social media, Trump said, We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East. That seemed at odds with his administrations move to bolster its firepower in the region and request another USD 200 billion from Congress to fund the war.

The United States is deploying three more amphibious assault ships and roughly 2,500 additional Marines to the Middle East, an official told The Associated Press. Two other US officials confirmed that ships were deploying, without saying where they were headed. All three spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations. Days earlier, the US redirected another group of amphibious assault ships carrying another 2,500 Marines from the Pacific to the Middle East. The Marines will join more than 50,000 US troops already in the region. Trump has said he has no plans to send ground forces into Iran but also has asserted that he retains all options. Irans top military spokesperson, Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, warned Friday that parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations worldwide will not be safe for the countrys enemies.

The threat renewed concerns that Tehran may revert to using militant attacks beyond the Middle East as a pressure tactic. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei praised Iranians steadfastness in the face of war in a written statement read on Iranian television to mark Nowruz. Khamenei has not been seen in public since he became supreme leader following Israeli strikes that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and reportedly wounded him. With little information coming out of Iran, it was not clear how much damage its arms, nuclear or energy facilities have sustained in the punishing US and Israeli strikes, which began February 28 -- or even who was truly in charge of the country. But Irans attacks are still choking off oil supplies and raising food and fuel prices far beyond the Middle East. The Israeli military said early Saturday that it began a wave of strikes targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Beiruts southern suburbs. Smoke was seen rising, fires broke out and loud explosions were heard across parts of central Beirut, hours after the Israeli army renewed evacuation warnings for seven neighbourhoods. Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 1 million, according to the Lebanese government. More than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran during the war. In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian missiles and four others have died in the occupied West Bank. At least 13 US military members have been killed. Brent crude oil, the international standard, has soared during the fighting and was around USD 106 per barrel, up from roughly USD 70 before the war.

The newly announced US pause in sanctions applies to Iranian oil loaded on ships as of Friday and is set to end April 19. The new move does not increase the flow of production, a central factor in the surging prices. Iran has managed to evade US sanctions for years, suggesting that much of what it exports already reaches buyers. Looking for ways to boost global oil supplies during the Iran war, the Trump administration has previously paused sanctions on certain Russian oil shipments for 30 days, which critics said rewarded Moscow while having only a modest effect on markets.
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NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) has received approval to develop up to 10 gigawatts of new natural gas power generation in Texas and Pennsylvania.

The projects are tied to the U.S. Japan trade agreement and are part of Japan's planned US$550b investment in the U.S.

The announcement involves presidential approval and positions the company to build large scale natural gas infrastructure supporting rising U.S. electricity demand.

For investors following NYSE:NEE, this move extends a business that is widely associated with renewables into major gas fired generation, supported by cooperation at the government level. The projects sit within a wider push to support U.S. industrial activity and data center growth, which both require significant, reliable power capacity.

Approval for up to 10 gigawatts gives the company a large potential project pipeline. However, actual build out, timing, and returns will depend on permitting, construction costs, and long term offtake agreements. Readers may want to watch how NextEra Energy balances this natural gas build with its existing clean energy ambitions, and how management discusses capital allocation between these areas over time.

Stay updated on the most important news stories for NextEra Energy by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on NextEra Energy.

NYSE:NEE Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026

1 thing going right for NextEra Energy that this headline doesn't cover.

This approval gives NextEra Energy a large natural-gas project slate that sits alongside its renewables and grid businesses rather than replacing them. For investors, the key angle is how 10 gigawatts of potential capacity could support power hungry data centers, industrial loads and reliability needs in regions already seeing tight supply. Because the projects would be jointly owned under the U.S. Japan deal and operated by NextEra Energy, they could deepen relationships with long term customers and governments, but only if contracts, fuel supply and regulatory approvals come together on acceptable terms.

How This Fits Into The NextEra Energy Narrative
China's commerce minister meets with Apple CEO Tim Cook

Xinhua) 10:50, March 22, 2026

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao met with Apple CEO Tim Cook on Friday and exchanged views on topics including China-U.S. economic and trade relations, and Apple's business operations and development in China, according to a press release from the Ministry of Commerce.

During their meeting, Wang said that under the strategic guidance of the two countries' head-of-state diplomacy, Chinese and U.S. economic and trade teams have held six rounds of talks that led to a series of important consensuses, and both sides agreed that a healthy, stable and sustainable China-U.S. economic and trade relationship serves the interests of both countries and is important for the stability and development of the global economy.

Wang said China is committed to building an open world economy, and the country is providing stability and certainty for a turbulent world with its economic development.

Noting that the country is advancing high-standard opening up and focusing on building stable, resilient, green and innovative industrial and supply chains, Wang said China hopes that Apple will keep firm confidence in its development in the country and share the opportunities presented by China's development.

Reaffirming the importance of China, Cook said that China is Apple's most important production base and the primary source of its supply chain.

Cook said that Apple is continuously deepening its innovation cooperation, green development and industrial chain collaboration in China, which is highly aligned with China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), adding that Apple hopes to see the stable development of U.S.-China economic and trade relations, according to the press release.

The company is "very appreciative of the government's incentives that are stimulating consumption in the country and very pleased to participate" in it, Cook said, as showed by a video footage of the meeting released by the ministry.

On Friday, Cook also sat down for a meeting in Beijing with Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. During their discussion, held in the form of a Chinese-style afternoon tea, Cook reaffirmed Apple's emphasis on the Chinese market and its investment commitment in the country.

"Continued growth" was the company's new plan for the Chinese market this year, the CEO told reporters.

Cook embarked on his first visit to China this year earlier this month, the latest of his many trips to the country in recent years as a testament to Apple's close ties with the Chinese market.

His Beijing trip followed a visit to Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, earlier this week. The CEO is expected to attend the China Development Forum 2026 scheduled to be held in Beijing on March 22-23.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
Norwegian oil production slipped 0.2 % in February as output fell slightly by 3,000 barrels per day (bpd) compared to January, averaging 1.97 million bpd, according to preliminary figures from the Norwegian Offshore Directorate. Production came in 262 kbpd higher than a year earlier, when oil output totaled 1.708 million bpd.

Total liquids production on the Norwegian continental shelf averaged 2.176 million bpd last month, including 1.97 million bpd of oil, 188,000 barrels of natural gas liquids (NGL), and 18,000 barrels of condensate.

Oil output came in 5.7 % above the Directorate`s forecast, exceeding expectations by 106 kbpd. Total liquids were 4% above forecast, or 83 kbpd above projections.

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate expects crude production to fall in the first half of 2026, before climbing after the maintenance season in the summer.

Gas Production

Norwegian gas output fell to 355.1 million standard cubic meters (Msm) a day in February, down from 364.6 Msm in January. Production fell short of the Directorates forecast by 2.1%, with expectations set at 362.8 Msm a day for the month.

Forecasts indicate gas production will ease in the first half of 2026, averaging about 337 Msm a day in the first 6 months. After maintenance season, gas production is expected to climb to an average of 348 Msm a day in the second half of 2026.

No more spare capacity

During the 2022 energy crisis, Norway stepped in as Europes emergency supplier, boosting exports by nearly 10%. The Scandinavian producer ramped up production and adjusted maintenance schedules on the Norwegian continental shelf.

Since overtaking Russia as Europes biggest gas supplier in 2022, Norway has remained the backbone of European energy security. In 2024, the country exported gas volumes equal to more than 30% of total consumption in the EU and the UK. Crude flows are similarly critical: almost all Norwegian oil is exported, and Europe typically absorbs 7080% of those barrels.

The escalating conflict in the Middle East has caused a 95% drop in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, tightening supply and sending Brent back over the $100 mark. With key export routes under threat and volatility rising, traders have been looking for stable producers for relief.

They wont find it in Norway

Equinor CEO Anders Opedal told Reuters that the state?controlled energy giant has no spare oil or gas capacity to bring online in response to the latest supply shock. After two years of elevated output, the Norwegian shelf is already running flat out.
Scott Kirby said the moves were aimed at ensuring United Airlines was in a stronger position to react if oil prices stayed elevated - Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

One of the worlds largest airlines has begun taking fuel-saving measures as managers brace for the possibility that the price of oil could surge 60 per cent higher.

United Airlines said it was scrapping flights on less-profitable routes following a doubling of jet fuel prices since February.

Scott Kirby, the airlines chief executive, said the moves were part of steps to prepare for a scenario in which oil hits $175 (131) a barrel and remains above $100 through 2027.

That would push up Uniteds annual fuel bill by about $11bn  more than twice the companys best-ever profit, Mr Kirby warned.

In a memo to staff, the chief executive said: Honestly, I think theres a good chance it wont be that bad  but there isnt much downside for us to preparing for that outcome.

Mr Kirby said the moves aimed to ensure that the company was in a stronger position to react if oil prices remained elevated.

He added that United did not plan to furlough staff, defer aircraft orders or delay investments. The airline would have to be smart and nimbly manage our schedule to cut fuel spending, he said.

In the short term, that means tactically pruning flying thats temporarily unprofitable in the face of high oil prices, Mr Kirby said. Theres no point in burning cash in the near-term on flying that just cant absorb these fuel costs.

Delta Air Lines, Uniteds rival, has also said it is looking at cutting flights if fuel prices remain high.

Since late February  when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran  the price of Brent crude has rocketed from $70 to $110 a barrel.

That has followed strikes on regional energy facilities and the Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping chokepoint. This shutdown has locked huge amounts of oil and gas into the Gulf, and sent markets into a panic.

In response, United has begun trimming flights that are less busy and so have been rendered unprofitable by fuel price increases.

The airline has cut midweek, Saturday and overnight services as well as keeping services to destinations such as Tel Aviv and Dubai suspended. Overall, the cuts amount to about 5 per cent of the companys total capacity.

American carriers are more exposed to jet fuel cost increases because, unlike many of their European counterparts, they do not tend to hedge. The companies have instead relied on raising fares and trimming capacity to cut costs.

So far, major airlines have said strong demand for flights is giving them room to do that. United said the first 10 weeks of this year were the strongest for bookings in its history.
A recent trope pushed by sections of the opposition claims that India has been silent on the Iran war. The accusation is worth examining, because it raises several questions. Is India really silent? Does this mark a departure from our traditional foreign policy? And, most important, what has New Delhis chosen course achieved?

Let us start with the consequences, because the proof of the pudding lies in outcomes rather than on rhetoric. Two recent developments strongly suggest that Indias approach is yielding tangible dividends.

First, the decision by the US to ease pressure on Indias purchases of Russian oilat least temporarilyhas provided valuable breathing space at a time of volatile global energy markets. For a large, energy-dependent economy, such flexibility is no small gain.

Second, Iran has ensured safe passage for Indian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. At least three oil tankers, and nearly 30 other ships carrying hundreds of Indian seafarers, were able to pass without incident. Tehran has even publicly acknowledged Indias balanced approachthis gesture, in a conflict zone, carries considerable weight.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, speaks with PM Narendra Modi during their meeting in Tehran, Iran, on May 23, 2016 | AP

Together, these developments have generated a quiet buzz in diplomatic circles. Some observers have even suggested that Indiaand Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particularmay be uniquely positioned to play the role of an honest broker should efforts towards dialogue and de-escalation gather momentum.

But what exactly has India saidor chosen not to sayduring this crisis? And how does this compare with earlier phases of Indian diplomacy?

A closer look shows that India has issued carefully calibrated statements rooted in universal principles: respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the importance of restraint, dialogue and de-escalation. At the same time, these statements have consistently highlighted Indias own interests, including the safety of her 9.5 million diaspora in the region.

In essence, the Modi government has taken Indias long-standing doctrine of strategic autonomy to the next level. The principle remains the sameindependent decision-makingbut is now more aligned with national interests.

This marks a contrast with some opposition voices, including Sonia Gandhi, which echo the rhetoric of the old non-aligned movement. In its heyday, NAM spoke the language of strategic autonomy but invariably aligned India with the have-nots of the global order in opposition to the west. That posture may have been understandable for a newly independent republic struggling with poverty. But India, today, occupies a very different position in the world.

We are now among the worlds five largest economies and, for several years, the fastest-growing among them. The India that once sloganeered alongside the global southwithout corresponding influenceis no longer the India of today.

The new India sits confidently at the global high table. It engages with multiple partners simultaneously, navigates complex rivalries with pragmatism, seeks outcomes rather than ovations, and has emerged as a true champion of the global south.

This evolution may discomfit those who prefer the familiar certainties of earlier decades, often invoking principle as justification. Yet, the current approach is arguably rooted in a deeper principle: the ability to influence outcomes constructively rather than merely issue statements of solidarity.

Indias diplomacy today is guided by an ancient insight attributed to Chanakya but often forgotten in modern timesthat the core of all foreign policy should be national interest.

As Indias measured response to the Iran war achieves stability, protects our citizens and commerce, and fortifies our influence, it demonstrates that quiet diplomacy often speaks far louder than slogans.

Baijayant Jay Panda is National Vice President of the BJP and is an MP in the Lok Sabha.
THE FORMER HEAD OF RESEARCH at THE WEEK, K. Manoharan, had an interesting snakebite story which bordered on the unbelievable. Considering that Manoharan was efficient and meticulous to a fault, I am confident about his recollection of the sequence of events.

The schoolboy Manoharan was playing in the paddy field close to his ancestral home in Thrissur when he was bitten by a cobra. The family rushed him in an Ambassador that had brought a politician to a nearby meeting. Destination: a local Christian priest known for treating snakebites.

When the family reached the church, the priest and his assistant were waiting by the gate, expecting them. There was no phone call, nor was a messenger sent. Then how did he know? And the priest was not pulling a fast one, because freshly ground medicines were waiting for Manoharan.

The rest of the story is equally interesting, but let me share that another time. I know the possibilitiesit could have been a dry bite, or even the snake could have been identified wrongly. Yet, I have heard many similar stories. In some of them, traditional healers would even predict the direction from which the patient would be coming.

This is not to recommend traditional medicine over modern medicine, or to turn it into a battle between the systems of medicine. My appeal is only for a closer study of all systems under Ayush to separate the credible from the snake oil salesmen. Hence, this cover.

While on the matter of snakebites, an Indian success story is the five-year-old Sarpa App, short for Snake Awareness Rescue and Protection App. The volunteer-driven app has successfully enabled accurate snake identification, guided victims to the nearest hospitals with venom antiserum, and supported the relocation of snakes to safe habitats. As with all things, success depends on teamwork between common people, government agencies and academics.

My sincere thanks to Union Minister of State Prataprao Jadhav, who was interviewed for this issue by Chief of Bureau (Mumbai) Dnyanesh Jathar. The minister holds independent charge of the ministry of Ayush, and is minister of state in the ministry of health and family welfare. The main article was written by Senior Correspondent Shubhangi Shah, while Chief Bureau (Chennai) Lakshmi Subramanian, Principal Correspondent Abhinav Singh and Special Correspondent Prema Rajaram contributed from their bureaus.

Beyond the cover, we continue our coverage of assembly polls and it is Assam this week. Correspondent Badar Bashir travelled widely in the state to bring you ground reports. He interviewed Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and the BJPs Pradan Baruah, the Lok Sabha member from Lakhimpur.

Coming back to the cover, in December 2025, we lost Dr Palpu Pushpangadan, 81, a Padma Shri award-winning ethnobotanist. In August, Kuttimathan Kani, 72, a venerable elder from the Kani tribe, died. Kuttimathan and two fellow tribesmen had introduced Pushpangadan and his team to the Arogyapacha herb, which the Kanis have used for ages to beat fatigue on long treks.

Pushpangadan took the knowledge forward and left behind a model in which traditionally known herbs can be monetised while ensuring that traditional keepers are compensated. I am told that the licence to manufacture Arogyapacha-based medicines was granted to the Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore, and that half of the licence fee is channelled towards the welfare of Kanis.

As with all models, there might be gaps that can be plugged and the process streamlined. But it is an auspicious beginning nevertheless.
Two centuries have passed since Lord Amherst made a pit-stop at St Helena on his way back from a failed trade mission to China, and was told by the exiled emperor of the French: Let China sleep; when she wakes she will shake the world.

Much water has flowed down the Yellow River and other streams since. Napoleon died shortly of suspected poisoning; Amherst became governor-general of India and expanded the British empire beyond the Brahmaputra on to the banks of the Irawaddy to make the famous remark, The emperor of China and I govern half of the human race and yet we find time for breakfast. The empire collapsed after a century and half of lording over a quarter or more of the world; the US rose from its ruins as the western superpower and held sway for half a century and in half the world; Soviet Russia challenged it, overstretched itself and collapsed; communists took over China and are now claiming to be making it a superpower militarily, scientifically, technologically and geostrategically.

Yet the wake-up and the shake-up that Bonaparte talked about hasnt come about. Wake-up signs were detected early this century after China caught the global optics with an Olympics in Beijing, some bullying about in the South China Sea, a bit of sabre-rattling in the Taiwan Strait, and a little muscle-flexing against India on the Himalayan peaks. Geopolitical and strategic scholars have since been spending much of their waking hours analysing Chinas every factor and action that could make it a superpowerits techno excellence, its fast-growing missile might, its ocean-going navy, its command over strategic minerals, its control of the global trade chains, its fast-growing economy, its ever-running factories, and its overall socio-economic resilience. All of these, we were told, would soon give the US a run for its greenbacks, industrial might, stealth bombers, space missiles, and its much-resented political will to command lesser lands into submission.

Chinese soldiers march to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of Communist China in Beijing | AP

But the dragon is still sleeping like a giant Kumbhakarna or, at best, yawning. The problem of this somnolence is easily diagnosed. China may have all the attributes of a superpowermoney, minerals, missiles, manufacturing plants, digital skills and even AI wizardry, but it lacks two things. One, the political will to command countries. Two, the soft skills that a superpower needs for making the rulers of submitting states feel comfy in its tenta sort of Pax Sinica, much like Pax Britannica or Pax Americana.

Look at how Beijing is responding to the Connecticut Yankees war against the Achaemenian ayatollahs, who had been their friends. The self-styling superpower hasnt been able to lift even a diplomatic finger, let alone a military one, to save Iran, or even to persuade the trigger-happy Don to stop shooting and try talks.

This despite China being hit directly by the blockade of the Hormuz Strait. Much of the oil that greases Chinas much fabled industrial machine comes through the strait. Yet China has meekly accepted the fait accompli, and started looking towards its only strategic ally, Russia, for oil.

Indeed, Cold War history tells us that superpowers are loath to confront each other militarily, but fight only through proxies. So it might be with China. But where are Chinas client states who would take up cudgels on its behalf?

China is yet to develop strategic stake in distant lands, and defend them against others. Till it does, it will remain a sleeping Rip Van Winkle with his trusty musket rusting away, and decades of eventful history passing him by.

prasannan@theweek.in
Shivaji has been rightly considered as one of the greatest Indian heroes of all time. His life reads like a storybook. He captured his first fort when he was just 16, waged a three-decade-long war against Aurangzeb and carved a Maratha Empire against all odds. Yet few of his exploits have gripped public imagination as much as the capture of Sinhgarh Fort  or to give it the name it had then, Kondhana Fort.

The fort of Kondhana stands 25 kilometres away from Pune, on the highest point of the Sahyadhri ranges. This triangular fort with its two-mile-long perimeter wall has the natural defences of a 40-foot-high cliff on three sides and is only accessible from two gates  the Kalyan Darwaza in the South East and the Pune Darwaza at its North East. It was considered virtually impregnable, and by its strategic location in the centre of a string of other fortsRaigad (Shivajis own capital), Purandhar and Tornait was considered to be the linchpin in the defence of the Deccan.

The fort has a chequered history. It was built 2000 years ago by the Koli dynasty, which held on to it till its capture by Mohammed Bin Tughlaq in 1328. It then came under the control of the Nizams of Bijapur. In 1647, as Shivaji began his campaign for Independence, he gained control of the fort, only to lose it in 1649. He regained it again in 1656, and, in spite of concerted attacks by Mughals in 1662, 1663 and 1665, held on to this prized possession. In 1665, Aurangzeb sent his best General, Mirza Raje Jai Singh, to curb Shivajis rise in the Deccan. In a year-long campaign, he inflicted a series of reverses on Shivaji, forcing him to sign the Treaty of Purandhar. Amongst the terms of the agreement, Shivaji had to hand over 23 of his forts, keeping just 12 for himself. One of the forts handed over was Kondhana, which was soon garrisoned by Mughal troops.

In the five years following the Treaty of Purandhar, an uneasy truce existed between the Marathas and the Mughals. Then in 1670, Aurangzeb once again decided to bring the Deccan under his sway. He attacked the Deccan and tried to imprison Shivaji, who escaped just in time. With the truce broken, Shivaji gave the order, Take the Forts. As he set about recapturing the forts held by the Mughals, his first target was the strategically vital Kondhana fort.

Folklore says that one morning, Shivajis mother, Jijabai, was combing her hair in her fort at Pratapgarh, when her eyes fell upon Kondhana. By its location, Kondhana was visible to both Raigad and Pratapgad and dominated both. The thought that this prized fort was occupied by the Mughals infuriated her, and she summoned Shivaji, ordering him to recapture the fort. Shivaji vacillated, but then succumbed to his mothers wishes and sent for the only person who would be capable of the taskTanaji Malusure.

Tanaji, the Koli chieftain of Umrathe village in the Konkan, was engaged in the preparations for his sons marriage when Shivajis summons reached him. Putting off his sons marriage, he gathered a force of 1,000 Mavala soldiers and, accompanied by his brother Suryaji and uncle Shelar, set off for Raigad. He was a veteran of many campaigns with Shivaji and widely respected for his ingenuity and courage. He knew the import of the task and swore that he would capture the fort or die in the attempt.

The fort was occupied by around 1,700 Mughal, Afghan and Rajput troops under the command of the renowned warrior, Uday Bhan Rathod. Tanaji kept his troops some distance away. He then dressed as a commoner and mingled with the local Koli people, seeking out information. He discovered that the fort had one weakness. There was one spot in the West, known as the Dongri Cliff, from where its walls could be scaled.

Tanaji reconnoitred the area himself and the next night  on 04 Feb 1670 - moved his army in small groups toward the Kalyan Gate, moving them along different routes to avoid detection. Guided by two of the locals, he moved to Dongri Cliff with 300 men and began the silent, arduous climb along its walls. Legend has it that he used a giant monitor lizard to scale the wall, tying a rope to it and sending it scurrying up the walls and onto the other side. But in all probability, it is just a legend. Ghorpadeas these lizards are called in Marathiis a common Maratha name, and it is likely that the first person who climbed the wall and then threw a rope ladder down was named Ghorpade. That individual is lost in history, but the story of the lizard remains.

Using the rope ladder, Tanaji and the rest of his men scaled the walls, their swords gripped between their teeth. They were undetected, but when around 50 men had climbed up to the ramparts of the forts, the rope broke. Tanaji and his small band were on their own inside the heavily defended fort.

Tanaji kept his nerve and silently led his party towards the Kalyan Gate, where they killed the guards and tried to open the massive gates. As they were doing so, one of the guards raised an alarm, and the party was soon surrounded by angry, vengeful Mughal guards.

The small band of Marathas held their own against immense odds, and to break their ranks, the war elephant Chandravati was launched against them. The elephant had been fed copious amounts of opium before its attack, and perhaps its senses were dulled. It was killed, either by a spear throw or by a Maratha warrior who managed to mount it and kill it with a sword thrust to its brain.

Yet, this was a small victory. The party was hemmed in and came under repeated attacks by the Mughal garrison, first by Sidi Hillal, the second-in-command of the fort and then by Uday Bhan Rathod himself. Uday Bhan attacked Tanaji, and a furious duel ensued. Uday Bhans powerful thrusts broke Tanajis shield, and he wrapped a cloth over his left hand and used it to parry the thrusts. Another powerful slash severed his hand, but in a final desperate lunge, he hurled himself at Uday Bhan, killing him with a blow to his head. Then weakened by the loss of blood from the many wounds he had suffered, he fell dead to the ground.

Seeing their leader fall, the Marathas were on the verge of collapse when Tanajis brother Suryaji, with around 200 other warriors, clambered over the wall with another rope ladder. Suryaji rallied the wavering troops and led them on a fresh counterattack, which kept the Mughals at bay and also enabled them to open the gates of the Kalyan Darwaza. The 700 Marathas waiting outside poured in and routed the defenders, killing most. Many of the defenders hurled themselves across the walls to their deaths below, and the rest were taken in as prisoners. By daybreak, the fort was in their control, and a thatched hut was set ablaze as a signal of success.

Shivaji saw the plumes of smoke from his fort at Raigad, indicating the capture of Kondhana. He rushed to the fort and entered through its gates, now held by Marathas. But there was no jubilation amongst the victorious Mavalas. They stood silently around the body of their fallen leader. Shivaji himself wept at the loss of his friend and comrade and said, Gadh aala, pan Sinh gela (The fort has been gained, but the lion is lost)

Kondhana was renamed Sinhgarh after the lion-hearted Tanaji Malusure, and even today his bust stands at the spot where he fell. With Sinhgarh under his control, Shivaji soon captured the adjoining forts of Purandhar, Moholy, Kurnalla and Lohgarh and reached as far as Bhiwandi and Kalyan. With the critical forts forming the crux of his defences, he launched a skilful guerrilla campaign in the rugged valleys of the Deccan that repulsed successive Mughal offensives for over a decade.

On 06 June 1676, he was coroneted at Raigad as Chattrapati, and with this act asserted his complete independence from the Mughal yoke. Over the next few years, he carved out the Maratha Empire, fighting both the Mughals and the Nizams of the Deccan, till his death in 1680. His legacy was carried forward by the Peshwas, who followed and extended Maratha rule virtually till Afghanistan till their eventual eclipse in the Third Battle of Panipat.

Sinhgarh remained in the hands of the Marathas till it was recaptured by Aurangzeb in 1703, only to be retaken three years later. The fort remained in Maratha hands till 1818, when it was eventually captured by the British after a three-month-long siege. Although the fort changed hands often, one thing about the fort remained constant. It retained the name of the lion that captured it  SINHGARH.
The Twenty20 partyan ally of the BJP-led Democratic Alliance in Keralais betting heavily on star power for the upcoming Assembly elections, drawing both curiosity and scrutiny. The party has fielded popular television actors and social media celebrities in several of the 20 seats it is contesting across the state.

The 'star power' politics has worked for the NDA in many states. In Kerala, too, the alliance successfully tested it in Thrissur, where veteran actor Suresh Gopi won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and later became a Union minister. But can the same strategy work in Assembly elections for Twenty20 led by businessman Sabu M. Jacob?

Political observers view this as a highly ambitious expansion for the party, whose primary stronghold remains concentrated within the Kunnathunad Assembly segment in Ernakulam districtspecifically across its home turf of Kizhakkambalam, Aikkaranad, Thiruvaniyur, and Mazhuvannoor panchayats.

The party, however, suffered setbacks in Ettumanoor and Perumbavoor constituencies, where it had to pull back its celebrity candidates and look for new faces following the voter list controversy.

In Ettumanoor, actress Veena Nair was replaced by 25-year-old Athira D. Nair. Athira, an entrepreneur with a Masters degree in Computer Science, is also a trained classical musician and dancer. She is the youngest NDA candidate in the state. In Perumbavoor, actress Lakshmipriya was replaced by Jibi Pathickal, who is a member of the managing committee of the Jacobite Syrian Church.

In Tripunithura, the party has fielded actress Anjali Nair, who will be contesting against Congress's Deepak Joy and CPI(M)'s K.N. Unnikrishnan.

Twenty20 has fielded activist Sunny Kadoothazhe in the Muvattupuzha constituency. A prominent figure in agrarian activism, Kadoothazhe has been at the forefront of farmers' protests against controversial amendments to wildlife and agricultural laws. He also serves as the president of the Catholic Congress for the Kothamangalam Diocese.

Social media influencer Promy Kuriakose will contest from Angamaly, while filmmaker and Bigg Boss winner Akhil Marar has been fielded in Thrikkakara.

In Pathanapuram, Twenty20 has fielded Anil Kumar S. (also known as Anil Pillai), a former Indian Air Force officer. He currently serves as the National Vice Chairman of the National Ex-Servicemen Coordination Committee. In Punalur, the party's candidate is Advocate B. Raghunathan Pillai.

In Kodungallur, Twenty20 has fielded Dr Varghese George, the son-in-law of the late Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. He brings to the table a PhD and extensive international management experience. Meanwhile, in Chalakudy, Advocate Charlie Paula High Court lawyer and Church PRO committee memberhelps maintain the party's professional image.

Similarly, Jibi Abraham in Piravom and Thomas K. Samuel in Ranni represent the grassroots and social activism faces of the party.

Meanwhile, the party's move to give tickets to several lesser-known political faces in constituencies where its ally, the BJP, has a considerable vote base has given rise to allegations from some corners of a larger deal between the BJP and the CPI(M).

Opposition leader V.D. Satheeshan raised allegations of an implicit deal on Sunday, highlighting that the BJP had allocated several seats to a party with a limited presence in only certain areas of Ernakulam district.

The CPI(M) rejected the charges, with party state president M.V. Govindan accusing Satheeshan of spreading falsehoods throughout the day.
Kannada actor Ranya Rao lost Rs. 50 crore to a Ugandan Agent named Ben on her initial attempt at gold smuggling, officials said on Saturday.

Rao and her associate, Tarun Konduru Raju, had reportedly tried sourcing gold through Dubai after they were cheated by the agent who offered to get them gold directly from the African country. The EDs charge sheet also revealed that the Rao and Raju had tried to source gold initially from African countries like Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, using Dubai as a transit and trading hub.

Ranya Rao was intercepted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence after she arrived at Bengaluru airport from Dubai with a consignment of 14.213 kg of gold, valued at 12.56 crore, concealed on her body. The agency had also snatched attached assets worth Rs 34.12 crore held in the name of Rao after an ED probe into the case.

Between March 2024 and March 2025, the gold syndicate run by Rao and Raju had smuggled over 127 kg of gold valued at Rs 102 crore, the agency said.

Rao and Raju sourced the gold in Dubai by opening a company called Vira Diamonds Trading LLC in Dubai to facilitate the import of precious metals. They were advised that the primary source of gold was mined, so they attempted to procure the metal from countries on the continent.

In late 2023, they came in contact with Ugandan Agent Ben, who agreed to give them a 5-kilogram trial, which would be followed by a 50 kg contract.

They signed the deal and paid the agent $25,000, followed by $10,000 two times for purported taxes and fees. The gold never arrived, and Raju travelled to Kampala on January 1 2024, to meet the agent. At the refiner in Kampala, he was shown the gold, but they asked for an additional payment of Rs 1.70 crore to release the consignment

Raju eventually discovered that it was a scam, resulting in a loss exceeding 2 crore, the official said.

The ED said that the WhatsApp chats recovered from the accused showed that payments were made to the African suppliers, but that they didn't have material evidence to substantiate the alleged scam.

In one WhatsApp exchange with contact Ben EGR (Uganda), Ranya explicitly inquired about the receipt of $110,000 and the return of $210,000, indicating that substantial sums had been advanced for gold purchases, the official added.

The two had also had to abort a similar venture in Renya, and that Raju had even sought help from Kenyan officials regarding the fraud, officials said.

After their failed attempt, The duo began purchasing old directly from Dubai's local market.

Rather than importing directly from African mines, they began purchasing gold within Dubais local market from African dealers based in the Deira gold souk. By early 2024, they connected with African gold dealers in Dubai who offered limited quantities at discounts, essentially tapping into African-origin gold that had already reached Dubai. These Dubai-based suppliers insisted on cash payments and refused bank transfers, as is common in illicit bullion trades. Rao, who managed the finances, accordingly arranged large cash sums in Dubais currency (AED) to buy gold from such dealers, the official said.

The ED recorded a total of 15 trips of Rao from Dubai to India between March 2024 and 205 to smuggle 127.87 kilograms of gold. The charge sheet against the accused also elaborated on the misuse of the airport meant for VIPs by Rao. DRI officials had intercepted Ranya Rao who is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, Kempegowda International Airport on March 2, 2025. A prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA against Rao, Raju and hawala dealer Sahil Sakariya before a Bengaluru court.

The agency is now investigating the role of public servants in the case, officials said.
India's energy and fertiliser situation were top concerns at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sundaysaid to be the third since the beginning of the war between Iran and US-Israel forces on February 28.

PM Modi reviewed India's progress in ensuring the uninterrupted supply and efficient distribution of crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and fertiliser across the country.

Senior ministers present at the meeting included Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Health Minister J.P. Nadda, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

#WATCH | Delhi | PM Narendra Modi chairs a high-level meeting to review the situation related to petroleum, crude, gas, power and fertiliser sectors in view of the evolving West Asia situation. pic.twitter.com/SOP5TDzWmc  ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2026

This is said to be the third such meeting chaired by PM Modi after a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on March 1the first emergency response meeting chaired to discuss the safety of Indians in the Middle East and the impact of the Hormuz Strait closure when the war had just begunand a high-level March 9 meeting with top security and defence officials to review the progress of the Gulf crisis.

This comes a day after the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) announced that an additional 20 per cent of commercial LPG had been allocated across the country.

The petroleum ministry has said that the highest importance was being given to LPG and PNG to be used for domestic purposes, as well as in hospitals and educational institutions.



(lpg crisis petroleum ministry mopng, iran war us israel, hormuz strait)https://t.co/tdLgAfqRcW  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) March 21, 2026

This move takes the total commercial LPG allocated for commercial purposes to 50 per cent, as the supply crisis remains a "concern", the MoPNG said in its latest statement on the LPG supply crisis.

 Raids continue across States/UTs to curb #LPG hoarding and black marketing



 Port operations across India remain normal with no congestion



 Since 28 February, over 3,50,000 passengers have returned from the region to India



 Around 90 flights are expected to operate  PIB India (@PIB_India) March 22, 2026

Meanwhile, the Singapore-flagged Pyxis Pioneer, which reached the New Mangalore Port early on Sunday morning, became one of the latest LPG tankers to reach Indian shores, providing a major boost for the country's LPG reserves. This comes as the Centre confirmed that port operations are progressing routinely as well.

The Centre has also declared that crackdowns on black marketing of LPG cylinders is continuing, as panic buying eases.

The meeting also takes place amid disruptions to the fertiliser sector as urea plants have been operating at sharply reduced levels because the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) continues to be disrupted due to the chaos in the Gulf, which triggered force majeure declarations, a PTI report noted.

This, in turn, has led to state-run gas distributors such as GAIL (India) Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), to restrict supplies under RasGas contracts to fertiliser units across the country.

Gas supplies have been curtailed to approximately 60-65 per cent of normal levels, a senior industry official said in the report, adding that it had led to urea output at affected plants dropping by around 50 per cent.
Three weeks into the joint USIsraeli military campaign against Iran, US President Donald Trump finds himself in a far more uncomfortable position than he seemed to expect at the start. What he had described as a short, controlled excursion has turned into a prolonged confrontation that shows no real sign of ending soon. The question for the president is no longer simply how to defeat Iran. It is how to explain a war that is growing more expensive, more dangerous and more difficult to control with every passing day.

At the centre of the problem is a widening gap between what the administration is saying and what is actually happening on the ground. Trump has repeatedly suggested that the United States is close to achieving its goals and has even hinted that the military operation could soon wind down. Yet at the same time, Washington has continued to send more ships, more aircraft and thousands of additional Marines into the region. The Pentagons request for huge emergency funding only deepens the contradiction. It feels more like an acknowledgement that the war may last much longer than the White House initially imagined.

There is also a clear shift in the tone of the administration itself. In the early days of the conflict, Trumps language was strikingly uncompromising. He spoke about Irans unconditional surrender and openly encouraged the Iranian people to rise against their own government. That rhetoric has now largely faded. The focus has quietly narrowed to weakening Irans military capabilities and preventing it from moving closer to a nuclear weapon. But politically, it creates a new difficulty. When the objectives become smaller, the claim of a decisive victory becomes harder to sustain.

What makes the situation even more uncomfortable for the president is the economic fallout. Irans ability to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has turned a regional war into something that ordinary people can feel in their daily lives. Rising oil prices have translated directly into higher fuel costs, more expensive goods and growing anxiety about the wider economy. For a president who has built much of his appeal around economic stability and low energy prices, this is a deeply awkward moment. The longer the disruption continues, the more difficult it becomes to explain why the war is worth the cost.

In response, the administration has been forced into decisions that seem almost contradictory. Efforts to stabilise the oil market have, in effect, allowed more Iranian and Russian oil to reach global markets. That may help soften the immediate price shock, but it also weakens the broader strategy of isolating Iran. In other words, Washington now appears to be trying to pressure Iran while simultaneously depending on Iranian oil to keep prices under control. This tension lies at the heart of the current dilemma. Every move to ease economic pressure risks strengthening the very regime the United States is trying to weaken.

The military choices facing Trump are equally difficult. Escalation remains an option to force Tehran to back down. But Iran has demonstrated that it is prepared to retaliate across the region and inflict a severe cost on the US and its allies.

An American withdrawal, meanwhile, carries its own risks. Pulling out now will allow critics to portray the entire operation as a costly miscalculation. Trump has always projected strength, and a retreat at this juncture would damage that image. He is therefore caught between two deeply uncomfortable choices  a military escalation that could spiral out of control, or a withdrawal that could look like failure.

The pressure is also growing from allies and from within the United States itself. Many traditional partners were not closely involved when the campaign began, and there is little enthusiasm among them to share the burden now that the conflict is becoming more complicated. At the same time, members of Congress are demanding a clearer strategy and a more convincing explanation of how the war will end. As the financial costs rise and the number of casualties grows, the scepticism is becoming harder to ignore. That political pressure narrows the presidents room for manoeuvre even further.

At its core, the current crisis seems to stem from a basic miscalculation. The administration appears to have believed that a short, sharp show of force would compel Iran to step back quickly. Instead, Tehran has shown that it can absorb military pressure while using economic disruption  especially in the energy market  as a powerful counter-weapon. The conflict has therefore evolved into something far more complex than a brief punitive strike. It now feels like a slow, difficult struggle in which neither side can easily claim a clear victory.
In a fresh escalation of the ongoing Middle East conflict, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at the Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad on Saturday night, injuring at least 100 people.

Brigadier General Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the Israeli military, confirmed that while Israels air defenses were operational, they failed to intercept the missiles. "We will investigate the incident and learn from it," he wrote in a post on X.

Dimona is home to Israels secretive nuclear reactor, located about 13 kilometers southeast of the city. Both Dimona and Arad are near several military sites, including Nevatim Air Base, one of Israels largest.

READ: Where is Israel's Dimona nuclear site that Iran threatens to strike if the regime change push isn't abandoned?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Arad's Mayor Yair Maayan, offering prayers for the injured. "This is a very difficult evening in the campaign for our future, Netanyahu said. I just spoke with Mayor Maayan and asked him to convey, on behalf of all Israeli citizens, our prayers for the injured."

The prime minister added that he had instructed the Director General of his office to coordinate assistance with relevant government ministries.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, saying, The Iranian regime deliberately struck civilian areas in Arad and Dimona with missiles, resulting in over 100 injuries, including children. This is a blatant war crimepure terrorism.

In a statement on Sunday morning, Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) claimed responsibility for targeting "military installations" and "security centers" in southern Israel.

Major General Seyed Majid Moosavi, head of Iran's IRGC Aerospace Force, declared that Iran now controls the skies over what he called the occupied territories. He warned that future missile attacks would leave the US and Israel "dumbfounded."

"From this moment, I declare the missile dominance of Iran's sons over the skies of the occupied territories," Moosavi said. "The new tactics and launch systems in the upcoming waves will leave American-Zionist commanders stunned. Tonight, the skies over southern Israel will remain illuminated for hours."

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Irans Parliament, also weighed in, calling Israels inability to intercept the missiles in the heavily fortified Dimona area a sign that the war had entered a new phase.

"Israels skies are defenseless," Ghalibaf said. "It seems the time has come to implement the next phase of our pre-designed plans. Happy Nowruz to the Iranian nation."
Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has claimed that the military doctrine of the Iranian armed forces has officially shifted from a "defensive" strategy to an "offensive" strategy.

He added that the field tactics have been completely changed to align with this shift. Abdollahi added that the armed forces and "jihadist scholars" have succeeded in producing advanced equipment and weapons capable of "disrupting the enemy's calculations."

He also warned that Irans enemies have so far only realised "limited aspects" of these capabilities and promised to deliver "new" and unprecedented surprises in any future field confrontation.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is both the backbone of the theocratic regime and is said to be controlling the regime at present, in the absence of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. IRGCs top leadership is also said to be calling the shots, in attacking the US and Israel.

According to Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, two military bases in the region, which were used for attacks against Iranian islands, have been targeted by the IRGC. The IRGC Navy has crushed the facilities of the two air bases of Al Minhad and Ali Al Salem, as well as the hangars and fuel storage tanks of American-Zionist aircraft, with a massive volume of ballistic missiles and destructive drones, he said.

Rear Admiral Tangsiri stated in a message on X that the bases that originated attacks on Iranian islands were struck with a barrage of ballistic missiles and destructive drones.

Iran has also issued a counter warning to Trump, warning that if its fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked, it will target all fuel, energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure used by the United States and Israel in the region.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said any attack on Irans fuel and energy infrastructure would trigger strikes on all fuel, energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure used by the United States and Israel in the region.
Quick Read

Evolution Petroleum (EPM) maintained its 50th consecutive quarterly dividend at $0.12 per share, yielding 10.5%, despite Q2 net income of only $1.07 million against dividend payments of $4.2 million; adjusted EBITDA grew 41% year-over-year to $8.0 million with lease operating expenses down to $16.96 per BOE, while trailing twelve-month operating cash flow covered dividends 1.87x.

Natural gas tailwinds and a shift toward capital-light minerals and royalty acquisitions are sustaining Evolutions dividend payout, but structural oil price weakness, $54.5 million in debt against only $13.5 million in liquidity, and a thin earnings cushion expose the streak to commodity volatility.

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Founded in 2003, Evolution Petroleum (NYSE:EPM) is focused on developing and producing onshore oil and natural gas properties in the US and just declared its 50th consecutive quarterly dividend, a milestone that puts it in rare company among small-cap energy producers. With the stock at $4.48 and the annualized payout at $0.48 per share, the implied yield is roughly 10.6% - nearly 577 basis points above the 10-year Treasury at 4.28%, and this spread demands scrutiny.

The Math Behind the Milestone

In Q2 FY2026 (ending December 2025), Evolution Petroleum reported net income of $1.1 million and paid $4.2 million in dividends. Operating cash flow of $5.425 million covered the dividend payment for the quarter. The company has maintained $0.12 per share every quarter since Q3 2022, never wavering even through net losses.

24/7 Wall St.  24/7 Wall St.

This infographic analyzes Evolution Petroleum's (EPM) financial performance to assess the sustainability of its 50-consecutive quarterly dividend streak and 10% yield. It details the company's Q2 FY2026 metrics, supporting factors, and significant risks impacting dividend coverage.

Have You read The New Report Shaking Up Retirement Plans? Americans are answering three questions and many are realizing they can retire earlier than expected.

CEO Kelly Loyd framed the outlook on the Q2 call: "We remain focused on a disciplined approach to capital allocation that balances sustainable shareholder returns with high conviction investment opportunities."

What's Actually Holding It Up

The headline earnings figure understates cash generation. Adjusted EBITDA jumped 41% year-over-year to $8.0 million, with margins expanding to 39% from 28% the prior year. Lease operating expenses fell to $16.96 per BOE from $20.05, reflecting genuine cost discipline. On a trailing twelve-month basis, operating cash flow covered dividends at 1.87x.
Iran on Friday rattled the US and the UK by firing two Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) at Diego Garcia, a joint U.S.-U.K. military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean, marking the first use of the IRBMs into a region far beyond the Middle East. This also hints that Iran possesses in its stockpile missiles that can go beyond 2,000 kms, which was believed to be the range of its most advanced weapon.

The missiles, however, did not hit the targets. While one failed in flight, the next was intercepted by an SM-3 interceptor fired from a US warship, the Wall Street Journal quoted two unnamed sources.

The attack happened on Friday morning, just before the UK government announced on Friday that it would allow the US to use some of its bases to target Iranian sites being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran fired 2 ballistic missiles at the joint U.S.-UK base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean which is 2,485 miles (4,000 km).



According to the report, one missile failed in flight and the other was engaged by a U.S. destroyer utilizing an SM-3 interceptor, but a successful pic.twitter.com/pX029nVeVE  Doug Billings (@DougBillings) March 21, 2026

The use of IRBM at Diego Garcia has stoked fears that Western Europe could now be within the range of Irans missile arsenal, though Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had earlier claimed that Iran had deliberately limited the range of its missiles to 2,000 kilometres, with Diego Garcia being at twice that range. This statement was intended to counter American claims that Iran was developing intercontinental missiles, which could also hit the US mainland.

However, US officials have long alleged Irans space program could allow it to build intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The statement from Irans semi-official Mehr news agency on Saturday also seems to confirm the speculations, after it stated that the attempted strike was a significant step  that shows that the range of Irans missiles is beyond what the enemy previously imagined.

Unknown Iranian missile

Ballistic missiles are classified primarily by range: short-range missiles (SRBMs) that reach up to 1,000 km, medium-range missiles (MRBMs) between 1,000 and 3,000 km, and intermediate-range missiles (IRBMs) between 3,000 and 5,500 km. Above that are intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which have ranges exceeding 5,500 km. Until last night's launch, Iran's known arsenal consisted mainly of MRBMs. The Diego Garcia launch, if it did reach a range of about 4,000 km, places Iran in the IRBM category for the first time - one step below intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The identity of the missile fired at Diego Garcia has not yet been officially confirmed, but Israeli Defence Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir described it this evening as a "two-stage ballistic missile with a range of 4,000 kilometres."

Many believe this description rules out the Khorramshahr, the most advanced in Iran's ballistic arsenal, whose official range is 2,000 kilometres, as it is a single-stage missile that does not fit the military description.

According to Tal Inbar, a missile expert who consults for Israeli defence companies, Khorramshahr can easily cross 3,000 kilometres. "It's not just about putting less weight on the missile and hoping for the best. There are challenges in control, guidance and steering," he told Israel Hayom, adding that the missile gains such high speed when its body penetrates the atmosphere and it has to withstand enormous loads, heat and other things. It is very difficult to build a body that can withstand these extreme conditions." Reaching 4,000 km, he added, "is something very challenging."

Another possibility raised by experts is that Iran is using technology developed as part of its space program to extend the range of military missiles. Inbar points to the Revolutionary Guards Qam-100 satellite launcher as the main candidate. This also fits the fact that the missile fired at Diego Garcia was a multi-stage missile, which fits Zamirs description of it as a two-stage one.

According to Inbar, the Qam-100 is theoretically capable of reaching 4,000 km or even a little more, but so far it has not been tested as a missile carrying a warhead.

A range of 4,000 km puts European capitals such as Berlin, Rome, Vienna and even London on the map, which is about the same distance from Iran as Diego Garcia. However, Inbar says this was an attempted Iranian threat, rather than a real intention.



Geopolitical experts believe Irans attempts have several implications. For Trump and the US, it proves that Iran is much more advanced in developing ballistic missiles than it declares, and may even be approaching the ability to strike the territory. For the rest of the countries, the firing may allow for increased pressure on European countries to join the effort to open the Strait of Hormuz, since the firing at sovereign European territory positions Iran as a direct threat to Europe.
Hinting that an invasion of Irans oil hub, Kharg Island, couldnt be far away, the US Navys Amphibious Assault Group led by USS Boxer set sail for the Middle East after loading Marines and helicopters from Camp Pendleton in San Diego. The amphibious assault ship, accompanied by the dock-landing ship USS Comstock and amphibious transport dock USS Portland, left San Diego on Wednesday.

The assault group also carries the 11th MEU with roughly 2,500 personnel, besides the air and ground components. This comes as America class amphibious assault ship, USS Tripoli and its elements, with over 2000 Marines of the 31st MEU, is set to reach the Middle East waters by mid-week. The ship was last spotted crossing the Malacca Strait and will be there on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The deployment of USS Boxer has set tongues wagging about the potential invasion of Kharg Island, considering that the amphibious group is designed to bring marines and their equipment to shore on deployment and support them on their mission.

USS Boxer seen loading Marines and helicopters at Camp Pendleton, carrying elements of the 11th MEU (~2,2002,500 Marines) as it deploys toward the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/82f7rg6yLQ  Abhi  (@Patelizm) March 22, 2026

Hal Kempfer, a former Marine intelligence officer, said the USS Boxer is basically a mini-aircraft carrier. But, it also has a well deck. So, what it can do is it can launch these vehicles or amphibious vehicles that are on it. They can be launched directly into the water, Kempfer was quoted by San Diego-based 10 News.

He added that this allows rapid ship-to-shore movement back and forth, which means that it's not just putting the Marines ashore but also fast. But it's how fast, fast we can build up combat power ashore to push in and to uh go in and take more territory faster and quicker, he added.

He says the Amphibious Ready Group doubles the amount of ground force capability and is a complete air-ground package. It comes with a composite squadron, Kempfer said. They can do a variety of things, attack, airlift, a lot of different things, very robust combat service support element, a very capable command element with a lot of things that they can do, which really is a force multiplier in terms of the actual forces that are out there, he added.

Though it is not clear whether the USS Boxer ARG would be replacing the USS Tripoli in Okinawa or would aid in the invasion. The White House has not confirmed a physical invasion or occupation of Irans Kharg Island. Reports indicate that the U.S. has considered a military takeover or blockade of the key oil terminal as a means to step up pressure on the regime in Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz.
About 47 people were injured in Israel's Dimona also known as "Little India" after an Iranian missile struck it on Saturday evening.

Footage shows the moment an Iranian ballistic missile struck the southern city of Dimona this evening. pic.twitter.com/fCYwtgAj5x  Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 21, 2026

Videos circulating online show the moment a ballistic missile struck near the towns residential areas.

The missile carrying a heavy warhead struck a community building, damaging nearby homes.

Dimona is called Little India due to its high Indian population. There are about 7,500 members of the Jewish Indian community in the area, making up about 30 per cent of the towns population. The locals speak in Marathi and Hindi.

The residents immigrated to the town in the 1950s and 1960s. The majority of the population is made up of Bene Israelis from Maharashtra; there are also a relatively smaller number of Cochin Jews from Kerala and Baghdadi Jews. Some Indian Jews from Mizoram and Manipur (Bnei Menache) have been immigrating to Israel.

The residents are employed as diamond traders, IT professionals, and caregivers for the elderly.

Indian-origin population also resides in cities like Haifa, Tel Aviv, Arad, Netanya and Afula.

The city is just 2 kilometres away from one of Israel's key nuclear sites.

Israels military said that it was not able to intercept missiles that hit Dimona and Arad. In Arad, a total of 84 people were injured.

Irans Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that it targeted Dimona due to the Natanz nuclear enrichment site. "If the Israeli regime is unable to intercept missiles in the heavily protected Dimona area, it is, operationally, a sign of entering a new phase of the battle," he said on X.

The strike marks the first time Iran was successful in bypassing Israels air defence near the nuclear site.

Both Dimona and Arad are two towns in Israel that lie close to Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Centre,which is believed to house Israels undeclared arsenal of nuclear weapons.

The towns also house the countrys military, technology and critical infrastructure, with Dimona being the defence centre and Arad serving as a residential and logistical hub.
Former Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basits recent comments about Pakistan's relations with India have now sparked widespread outrage. In a recent video, Basit is seen saying that the Islamabad could target Indian cities if the US were to attack Pakistan, in a hypothetical situation.

The remarks, made during the discussion on a TV discussion, come amid heightened tension in the region just months after India carried out Operation Sindoor against terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The operation followed the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu Kashmir that the led to the deaths of 26 civilians.

Basit, during the discussion, said, If America attacks Pakistan, we have to attack India. Our missiles may not reach America, but we will attack Mumbai and New Delhi in India without a second thought. We wont leave it, well see what happens later,

#BREAKING: Pakistans most radical Islamist Diplomat Abdul Basit threatens United States amid West Asia crisis. Basit former Pak High Commissioner to India says if US attacks Pakistan, Rawalpindis Asim Munir will attack Mumbai & New Delhi if Pak missiles dont reach Middle East. pic.twitter.com/j4OxSg0ZnY  Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) March 22, 2026

The remarks were made in response to US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's statements on Pakistans long-range missiles. "She is Indian-origin after all. Pakistan's deterrence is India-specific. Tulsi Gabbard saw our missiles, but not India's Agni 5 and Agni 6. They are intercontinental missiles. We don't have that kind of range. I pray this increases. We should at least be able to target Israel," he said.

India is their strategic partner. We get carried away and think Pakistan has strong ties (with the US). It is true that after (US President Donald) Trump came, some things have improved, but we must remember that the US will never be our strategic partner in the long term," he said. "India and the US are strategic partners, like we are with China. You take whatever benefit you can from President Trump, but don't think you have become a strategic partner. Don't assume that not mentioning Agni 5 and Agni 6 was a mistake. They don't see India the way they see Pakistan," he said.

The remarks that came after this are what sparked widespread criticism. They made a direct reference to possible strikes on major cities.

"If push comes to shove, suppose the situation in Iran deteriorates, and Israel has its eyes on us, circumstances develop in which the US has its eyes on our nuclear programme and tries to destroy it... This is impossible, but just as a worst-case scenario... let's say the US attacks Pakistan, even if the US is not in our nuclear range, what do you think is our option?

"India, we don't have to do anything... If anyone casts an evil eye on us, we must not think twice and attack Mumbai and New Delhi. We will see what happens later. If we do not have a choice, and the US attacks us. This is an impossibility... but the world must know that if anyone casts an evil eye on Pakistan. It will not have any option but to attack India," he said.

He then added, We dont even want that to happen, and said it was only a hypothetical situation. India doesnt want that either, the news anchor replied to his statement.

There has been no official response from India on the comments.

Basit served as Pakistans envoy to India between 2014 and 2017, a period which saw strained bilateral relations. His previous roles have amplified the relations to his comments, given his involvement in diplomatic engagements between the two nations.

The comments have been made when there are a number of wide regional conflicts in the region including between Pakistan and its neighbour Afghanistan, and the war in Iran.
Interview/ Prof Saiyad Shah Alam, director, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bengaluru

Q/ How did the unani system of medicine originate?

The history of the unani system of medicine can be traced back to Greece. It is around 5,000 years old. The first interaction of unani medicine with the prevailing medicine in India is noted with Alexanders invasion in 326 BCE. From Greece, it travelled to Eurasia, including Turkey, Iran and Arabia. In India, it was formally introduced from 12th century. Our system of medicine was given the name unani tibb (medicine) by Indian scholar Shah Waliullah Dehlvi in the 18th century. After the British established their rule in India, they introduced allopathic medicine. However, one needs to understand that each pathy has a unique beauty and certain limitations as well. In the unani system, we focus a lot on health-promotive procedures and treat the patient and his/her disease as one bio-socio-spiritual unit. The treatment depends a lot on the temperament of the body, medicine and severity of the disease assessed by the parameters that enumerate derangement in four humoursdam (blood), balgham (phlegm), safra (bile), and souda (black bile). Health promotion is achieved by modulating the six pre-requisite essentials (asbab sitta zaruria) of ambient air, food and drinks, movement and repose of body, movement and repose of mind, sleep and wakefulness and evacuation and retention of necessary constituents of the body.

Q/ What types of diseases are usually treated by unani?

Unani medical literature mentions the treatment of most prevailing diseases. Presently, we focus on noncommunicable diseases and diseases that have epidemic dimensions. Its strategy for treatment has an allowance to treat emerging diseases, as it views the disease as a pattern reflecting deranged humour or mizaj. Unani has treatment for different types of ailments such as liver diseases, skin diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, neurological disorders. We are also screening cancer ailments and providing possible palliative treatment. Unani is very cost-effective, and the drugs are easily available. For instance, the treatment for diabetic foot is very expensive and different in the allopathic system of medicine. Compared to this, in Unani, there are many formulations and treatment modes that manage it locally.

Q/ Do unani medicines have any advantage over allopathic systems? Are there any side effects?

A majority of the drugs in unani are derived from plant and herbal sources. Isolated phytochemicals are not used, unlike in English medicines. No drug in any medicine system can be claimed to be absolutely safe. However, in unani, drugs of first and second degree are considered safe.

Similarly, food may have a different effect on different people. One may be allergic to one type of food. So, a few medicines may not suit some people at times. Eighty per cent of drugs are plant-based, and most of our medicines are easily available.

Q/ Any precautions one needs to take while taking unani drugs?

In our system of medicine, things such as proper dosage, timing and with what to take itwhether it is with normal water, warm water, hot milk, cold milkor drugs before or after food are very important aspects. If such aspects are not taken into consideration, the drugs may not show their full effect and may not help the patient fully.

Q/ What kind of surgery options are available in unani?

Most surgery options are limited to general surgery, and they focus mainly on skin tumours, piles, fistula and gallbladder issues. We do not have advanced, invasive kinds of surgeries that need high-end technology, such as heart surgeries, brain surgeries or cancer surgeries.

Q/ How has the popularity of unani grown over the years?

This system has grown and expanded in India, particularly in north India. It has grown in popularity in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh, South Africa, the UAE, Iran, Uzbekistan and Turkey. We have students from different countries who are pursuing postgraduation at our institute. In the last 20 years, we have published more than 1,000 publications in the form of original indexed papers and books.

Q/ Despite being in India for so long, unani is yet to gain mass adoption compared to the allopathic system.

Unani is becoming increasingly popular, as it is based on evidence-based innovation, which requires more time. Validation of the body temperament is required to diagnose any ailment. Skin treatments in unani have gained significant popularity. In addition, treatment for prostate enlargement, asthma and other respiratory diseases and gastrointestinal tract problems, neurological and psychiatric disorders are gaining popularity in the unani system.

Unani medicine has unique procedures for health promotion and wellness. Among more than 20 procedures, hijama (cupping), irsal alq (leeching) and dalak (massage) are globally practised now.

Q/ What kind of initiatives has the Ayush ministry taken to popularise unani?

Initiatives by the ministry of Ayush to promote and popularise unani include the establishment of key institutions such as: Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), which is the apex research body for Unani medicine, and the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute for postgraduate teaching, training and research in unani medicine. A satellite campus of NIUM has been set up in Ghaziabad, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to expand access to clinical services and training.

Both CCRUM and NIUM conduct clinical research on various health conditions (arthritis, asthma, metabolic disorders, skin diseases, lifestyle diseases, mental health issues) to build evidence for unani therapies.

New central initiatives to expand unani institutes and infrastructure include supporting Centre of Excellence projects, which help build advanced research infrastructure and training facilities for unani practitioners. The Ayush ministry has also collaborated with the World Health Organization for the global reach of traditional systems, including unani. NIUM has signed MoUs with national research entities and universities (such as the Indian Council of Medical Research) as implementation of the central initiative to expand scientific research collaboration and innovation in unani medicine.
Russia and Ukraine traded attacks that killed at least four people Saturday, officials said, ahead of U.S.-Ukraine talks on ways to end Russias invasion of its neighbor.

A man and a woman were killed and six people wounded, including two children, when a Russian drone hit a house in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, regional head Ivan Fedorov said. Russian strikes also knocked out power across much of the northern Ukrainian region of Chernihiv, according to local officials.

In Russia, two women were killed and another wounded by Ukrainian shelling of the Belgorod border region, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

The attacks came ahead of U.S.-Ukraine talks in Miami that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said on X were constructive. He said the meetings, which included U.S. President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, were part of ongoing mediation efforts, with discussions focused on narrowing and resolving remaining items to move closer to a comprehensive peace agreement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Thursday he had sent a delegation to the U.S. in a bid to move forward suspended U.S.-brokered talks on ending Russias invasion. Trilateral talks involving Russia, which have yet to produce any breakthrough on key issues, have been on ice while the Iran war has dominated international attention.

Zelenskyy said the main goal of the meeting was to ensure that the trilateral talks resume and that Washington continues to allow other NATO countries to purchase American weapons to send to Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that a new round of U.S.-mediated negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv will likely take place soon.

Western European officials have over the past year repeatedly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in negotiations while he tries to press his bigger armys battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land. Russian forces hold nearly 20% of Ukraine.

The latest conflict in the Middle East that began Feb. 28 with Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran has diverted international attention from Ukraines plight. At the same time, Russia is getting a financial windfall from a temporary U.S. waiver on oil sanctions, while Ukraine is desperately short of cash and still waiting for a 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) loan promised by the European Union.

(AP)
Iran claimed Shabbos that its key Natanz uranium-enrichment facility was targeted in a strike it attributes to the United States and Israel, according to the state-affiliated Tasnim news agency.

Iranian officials said no radioactive leakage occurred and that nearby residents were not in danger following the reported attack.

The Israeli military quickly pushed back, with the Israel Defense Forces telling CNN it was not familiar with any IDF attack on that facility.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed it is reviewing the reports and stated there has been no increase in off-site radiation levels. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi also reiterated a call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident.

This marks the second reported strike involving the Natanz facility since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

Despite significant damage sustained during the 12-day conflict in June 2025, new satellite imagery indicates Iran has since rebuilt portions of its missile and nuclear infrastructure. The IAEA has also suggested that enriched uranium may still be present at or near the Natanz site, even after previous joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that destroyed parts of Tehrans nuclear program.

Additionally, evidence suggests some infrastructure in the Natanz area remained intact following earlier attacks, raising ongoing concerns about Irans nuclear capabilities.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Cubas power grid collapsed Saturday leaving the country without electricity for a third time in March as the communist government battles with a decaying infrastructure and a U.S.-imposed oil blockade.

The state-owned Cuban Electric Union reported a total blackout across the island without giving a cause for the outage.

Authorities said they were working to restore power.

Power outages, whether nationwide or regional, have become relatively common in the last two years due to breakdowns in the aging infrastructure. The breakdowns are compounded by daily blackouts of up to 12 hours caused by fuel shortages, which also destabilize the system.

The last nationwide blackout occurred on Monday. Saturdays outage was the second in the past week and the third in March.

The blackouts have a significant impact on the population, whose lives are disrupted by reduced work hours, lack of electricity for cooking, and food spoilage when refrigerators stop working, among many other consequences.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel has said the island has not received oil from foreign suppliers for three months. Cuba produces barely 40% of the fuel it needs to power its economy.

Cubas aging grid has drastically eroded in recent years. But the government also has blamed the outages on a U.S. energy blockade after U.S. President Donald Trump in January warned of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. The Trump administration is demanding that Cuba release political prisoners and move toward political and economic liberalization in return for a lifting of sanctions. Trump also has raised the possibility of a friendly takeover of Cuba.

(AP)
In one Russian city, officials blocked a rally due to a tree inspection. Elsewhere, they blamed snow removal problems or still-existing COVID-19 restrictions. And in one location, administrators argued that the reason for the protest didnt exist.

Authorities in nearly a dozen Russian regions in recent weeks cited various excuses to prevent demonstrations against internet censorship and the blocking of the popular messaging app Telegram.

In most cases, they succeeded. Mindful of a crackdown on dissent since the 4-year-old invasion of Ukraine, activists decided not to risk holding unauthorized rallies, even if they werent about the war. Some went to court to challenge government refusals to authorize pickets, while others scaled them back to smaller indoor gatherings.

But the disapproval persists across the political spectrum over moves against Russias second-most popular messaging app, adding to frustrations over a growing list of various issues that plague the country.

Clearly the situation has changed, the laws have become stricter, but the protest hasnt gone anywhere, said Alexander Sustov, a legislator in Russias far eastern Primorye region where a pro-Telegram rally was blocked last month.

Discontent remains. And any ban only fuels that discontent, he said.

Online control

Restricting Telegram is Russias latest move to put the internet under government control. Thousands of websites and platforms are blocked, as are multiple virtual private networks that allow users to circumvent censorship. Widespread cellphone internet shutdowns leave only a handful of government-approved websites available.

Telegram trails only WhatsApp  also severely restricted  in popularity among Russians, and is widely used by government agencies for their official social media presence, as well as by pro-Kremlin commentators and military bloggers with hundreds of thousands of followers.

Authorities encourage users to switch to MAX, a government-backed messaging app that critics say is a state surveillance tool.

Military bloggers criticize the moves against Telegram, arguing it is an indispensable communications tool for Russian troops in Ukraine and for activists running crowdfunding campaigns to help Moscows forces.

The government initially promised not to restrict Telegram on the battlefield, but a different signal later came from the Kremlin.

At a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin for International Womens Day, a servicewoman called Telegram an adversarial communications tool and agreed with him when he said that the use of communications systems that are not ours, not under our control, poses a danger to personnel in battle.

Unconfirmed media reports predict the coming weeks will see a complete blocking of the app, which in December 2025 had 93.6 million monthly users in Russia, or 76% of the population, according to monitoring group Mediascope.

Protests stifled from Moscow to Siberia

Blocking Telegram prompted various political forces  including those who support the war or the Kremlin in general  to act.

Widespread dismay and the lack of a black-and-white narrative to justify the restrictions made people feel like they can afford to protest here, said political analyst Abbas Gallyamov.

Last month, members of Other Russia, an ultranationalist, pro-war group, blocked the entrance to the Moscow office of state media and internet regulator Roskomnadzor with a bicycle cable and displayed a banner saying: Give us an internet without supervision, (and) Russia without Roskom-disgrace.

In December, the group hung a banner at the agencys St. Petersburg office, saying, Roskomnadzor, ban this banner.

All were arrested, with the Moscow activists facing criminal charges.

Regional branches of the Communist Party, which generally supports the Kremlin, tried to organize rallies in several places. In Siberias Altai region, they were turned down after local officials said claims of an internet clampdown were at odds with reality. In southern Krasnodar, a rally for later in March has been authorized on the outskirts of the city.

In the northern cities of Naryan-Mar and Syktyvkar, Communist Party activists managed to hold pickets, with placards saying, It is not up to officials to decide what we read, and The internet is not a prison.

But those were exceptions, with authorities elsewhere refusing to allow rallies or blocking them at the last minute.

Organizers in the Ural Mountains city of Perm secured a permit for a March 15 demonstration, but two hours before its start, activists were told of a potential emergency situation at the rally site that made it unsuitable for a gathering.

Some still showed up. Viktor Gilin, 80, unfurled a banner that read, Vladimir Putin! I demand that you bring back freedom of thought and speech  the internet! He was swiftly detained and fined.

In the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, 16 people were detained this month at the site of a planned pro-Telegram rally. Although authorization for the protest at that square wasnt needed, participants arrived to find the site marked off with tape for a purported tree inspection, said activist Roman Malozyomov.

Malozyomov and other activists, journalists and some passersby were detained but let go after a few hours. He went straight to the Lenin Square for a one-man picket with a sign proclaiming he wanted to stay connected, with the Roskomnadzor logo crossed out.

This week, activists in several regions filed for authorization of more rallies on March 29. Some were swiftly rejected.

Protesting other issues  cautiously

Rallies have been rare since anti-war protests were brutally suppressed in 2022, with political prosecutions skyrocketing and laws restricting dissent multiplying.

Smaller demonstrations persisted in spots, including unauthorized ones. Wives of soldiers picketed at the Kremlin and the Defense Ministry in 2024, and over 1,000 people gathered that same year in the Bashkortostan region to protest the jailing of a local activist, resulting in mass arrests.

Farmers in Siberia protested this month over cattle culling they deem unwarranted. In northern Komi, workers at a woodworking plant rallied to demand back pay.

Hundreds joined an authorized rally in October in Vladivostok to protest increased car registration fees, one of the largest gatherings in the Pacific coast city in years.

In Siberias Tomsk, activist Anton Isakov recently managed to organize an authorized demonstration against the blocking of popular online game platform Roblox and another against animal cruelty.

If authorities allow protests, there are ready participants because of the many issues that people want to speak out about, he said. His attempts to get a permit for a pro-Telegram rally have been refused so far.

Malozyomov, the Novosibirsk activist, said small, authorized rallies on issues such as high utility costs are often allowed there because the authorities are trying to give people an opportunity to vent, so that the tension doesnt build up.

Some are trying measures other than rallies.

Konstantin Larionov in Kaluga, southwest of Moscow, and 41 others filed a lawsuit against Roskomnadzor and other government officials last year, arguing that restrictions on Telegram and WhatsApp violate their free speech and privacy rights.

Larionov urged others to join by petitioning the court via email, and the number of plaintiffs swelled to 105. He said it was encouraging to see people from different parts of the country willing to take part.

The court sided with the authorities. Larionov appealed and lost but plans to go all the way up to the Supreme Court.

He admits the ability to protest in Russia has shrunk but believes its important to keep trying.

We are, maybe, retreating a little bit, but were not giving up, he said.

Analyst Gallyamov says the Telegram protests are more about signaling popular discontent than fighting the regime.

But it is another crack in the foundation of Putins rule, he said.

(AP)
South Korean rescue workers on Saturday recovered the remains of 14 people from the charred wreckage of an auto parts factory in the central city of Daejeon, where an explosion and fire injured at least 59 others.

Fire officials said 25 people were seriously injured but it wasnt immediately clear whether any were in life-threatening condition. More than 500 firefighters, police and emergency personnel were deployed to contain the fire and conduct rescue operations after it broke out Friday afternoon.

Videos and photos from the scene showed thick gray smoke billowing from the complex and some workers jumping from a building belonging to Anjun Industrial.

Nam Deuk-woo, fire chief of the citys Daedeok district, said the blaze destroyed a factory building that firefighters initially could not enter over fears it might collapse. Searches for the missing workers began late Friday after officials deployed unmanned firefighting robots to cool the structure and conducted a safety inspection.

Nine of the 14 dead were discovered in what is believed to have been a gym on the third floor, while three were found near a water tank on the second floor. All the missing have now been accounted for.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited the site Saturday afternoon, meeting with relatives of the victims and calling for safety measures to prevent the damaged structure from collapsing during search operations.

The fire was reported at about 1:18 p.m. Friday. Nam said the cause was not immediately known, but the blaze appeared to have spread rapidly, with witnesses reporting an explosion. Firefighters focused on preventing the blaze from spreading to an adjacent facility and isolating explosive chemicals. Nam said workers recovered more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of highly reactive chemicals from the site.

Some people were injured when they jumped from the building to escape, while others suffered smoke inhalation, officials said. As of Saturday morning, 28 people were hospitalized and four of them underwent surgeries for broken bones and other injuries.

About 120 vehicles and pieces of equipment, including aircraft, an unmanned water cannon vehicle and two firefighting robots for hard-to-reach areas, were deployed, along with hundreds of personnel.

(AP)
Irans attack this week on Qatars natural gas export facility threatens to disrupt not just world energy markets but also global technology supply chains because the helium it produces is crucial for a range of advanced industries.

Best known as the gas that makes party balloons float, helium is also a key input in chipmaking, space rockets and medical imaging.

Qatar supplies a third of the worlds helium, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, but the nation had to halt production shortly after the war erupted three weeks ago. The latest Iranian strikes against the regions energy producing infrastructure have added to supply worries, with Qatars state-owned gas company saying it would crimp helium exports by 14%.

Heres a deeper look at heliums industrial role:

Qatars role in helium supply

Helium is a byproduct of natural gas production, when its separated out by cryogenic distillation. Qatar, which sits on the worlds biggest single natural gas field, produces about 30% of global helium supply, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Qatars helium is produced at its Ras Laffan facility, the worlds largest liquefied natural gas plant. But state-owned energy company QatarGas halted production of LNG and associated products on March 2 because of Irans drone attacks and two days later declared force majeure, meaning its unable to supply contracted customers due to circumstances beyond its control.

After Ras Laffan was hit again by more Iranian strikes on Wednesday and Thursday, QatarGas reported extensive damage that will take years to repair and cut annual helium exports by 14%.

It makes the story worse, said Phil Kornbluth, president of Kornbluth Helium Consulting. Your best case scenario would be youre back producing some helium in six weeks or something like that. As it looks right now, thats highly unlikely.

Helium prices are on the rise

Spot prices for helium have doubled since the crisis erupted and will probably rise further, Kornbluth said.

But spot trading only accounts for about 2% of the total market in normal times, he said. Helium is a thinly traded commodity and is mostly sold through long-term contracts.

Still, contract prices could go up a lot, Kornbluth said. Theres lots of room for price increase if this is an extended outage.

Kornbluth said the shortage hasnt hit yet, because helium containers that would have been filled when the conflict erupted at the start of March would have still taken several weeks to arrive in Asia.

Nobodys run out of helium yet. But its a few weeks out when the shortage really hits.

Its not just party balloons

Helium is essential for manufacturing semiconductors, including the cutting-edge chips used for artificial intelligence models produced in Asian fabrication plants.

Its great at conducting or transferring heat, making it ideal for rapid cooling.

Chipmakers use it to cool wafers  the discs of silicon printed with tiny electronic circuits. Helium is used during the etching process, when material thats been deposited on a wafer is scraped away to form transistor structures, said Jacob Feldgoise, an analyst at Georgetown Universitys Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

During the etching process, you really want to maintain a constant temperature over the wafer. And in order to do that, you need to be able to draw heat away from the wafer thats being processed, said Feldgoise. Helium is an excellent thermal conductor. And so chip fabs will blow helium over the back of the wafer in order to speed heat removal and keep heat removal consistent.

Under current semiconductor manufacturing processes, theres no viable replacement for helium to cool wafers, said Jong-hwan Lee, a professor of semiconductor devices at South Koreas Sangmyung University.

The medical industry uses helium to cool superconducting magnets powering magnetic resonance imaging machines.

And the space industry uses helium to purge rocket fuel tanks, a demand that is expected to grow because of more frequent launches by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin.

A complicated supply chain situation

Heliums atomic properties make it tricky to store and transport.

In gas form, heliums tiny molecules can easily escape containers by leaking through even the smallest of gaps.

Helium is typically chilled by Qatars gas company into liquid form and stored in insulated containers for transport through the Strait of Hormuz. The specialized containers can store helium for 35 to 48 days. Any longer and they start warming up, letting the helium transform into gas that escapes through pressure release valves.

About 200 of these containers are stuck in the Middle East, Kornbluth said. They cost about $1 million each, so there arent a lot of extra ones sitting around elsewhere.

Its going to take a fair amount of time to get these containers out of Qatar and to get them somewhere else where they might be able to be filled with helium, he said.

So this initial period when you lose Qatar supply and have to rejig the supply chain and reposition containers, thats going to be the worst part of the shortage most likely.

Other major suppliers of helium

There only are a handful of countries that produce helium.

The United States is the biggest producer, accounting for 81 million cubic meters last year. Qatar, Algeria and Russia are the other major producers, but Russian supplies are banned under Under States and European Union sanctions.

USGS estimates the United States has 8.5 billion cubic meters of recoverable helium in geologic reservoirs, while the rest of the world has 31.3 billion cubic meters.

Asian chipmakers on edge

The war highlights the sprawling global supply chains that underpin South Koreas semiconductor industry, which has seen a surge in global demand for its chips amid the AI boom.

Fitch Ratings said in a report this week that the country  home to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the worlds largest memory chip makers  is particularly vulnerable to supply shortages because it imports about 65% of its helium from Qatar.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix likely have several months of inventory, but its crucial that they accelerate efforts to secure alternative sources, Lee said, as the war could drag on and potentially disrupt supplies of more materials beyond helium.

Helium is among 14 semiconductor supply chain materials the Seoul government has flagged for monitoring due to their heavy vulnerability to the war.

Even disruptions affecting just a handful of materials could destabilize the entire semiconductor manufacturing process as each stage of production depends on the previous one, Lee said.

Still, a full-blown helium crisis is unlikely, experts said. In the event of a shortage, Kornbluth said the helium industry allocates supplies based on importance so critical industries such as chipmaking and medical would be at the front of the line.

And because helium is a small part of the overall production cost of a semiconductor, its likely that chip fabs would be willing to pay a higher price to secure supplies, Feldgoise said.

Samsung and SK Hynix declined to respond to questions about inventory or plans to diversify supplies. The Korea Semiconductor Industry Association said short-term supplies are sufficient and companies have been diversifying their supply routes.

Chipmaking giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company also said it does not anticipate any significant impact at this time but will continue monitoring the situation.

(AP)
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has been designated a priority target by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as federal prosecutors in New York probe his alleged ties to drug traffickers, according to people familiar with the matter and records seen by The Associated Press.

DEA records show Petro has surfaced in multiple investigations dating to 2022, many based on interviews with confidential informants. The alleged crimes the DEA has investigated include his possible dealings with Mexicos Sinaloa cartel and a scheme to leverage his total peace plan to benefit prominent traffickers who contributed to his presidential campaign. The records also suggest the use of law enforcement to smuggle cocaine and fentanyl through Colombian ports.

The priority target label is reserved for suspects DEA deems to have a significant impact on the drug trade. Its unclear when the DEA gave Petro that designation.

Petro denied all ties to drug traffickers and maintained he never accepted their funds during his campaign. Writing on X Friday, he argued that U.S. legal proceedings would ultimately dismantle accusations from the Colombian far right, a group he claims is actually the one involved with traffickers.

Colombias Embassy in Washington downplayed what it called unverified and anonymous reports of preliminary law enforcement investigations against Petro.

The reported insinuations have no legal or factual basis, the embassy said in a statement.

The inquiry

In recent months, prosecutors in Brooklyn and Manhattan have been questioning drug traffickers about their ties to Petro and specifically about allegations the Colombian presidents representatives solicited bribes to block their extradition to the United States, according to one of the people who werent authorized to discuss the ongoing inquiry and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The person said it wasnt clear whether federal prosecutors have implicated Petro in any crime.

The investigation is focusing at least in part on allegations that representatives of Petro solicited bribes from drug traffickers at the Colombian jail La Picota in exchange for a promise that they not be extradited to the U.S., one of the people said.

Petro has consistently denied allegations of drug trafficking, particularly after Trump labeled him an illegal drug leader and the Treasury Department sanctioned him in late 2025 for alleged ties to the trade without offering evidence.

U.S. federal prosecutors declined to comment. The DEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The federal inquiry was reported earlier Friday by The New York Times.

The inquiries into Petro are in the early stages, and it is not clear whether they will result in charges, according to another person familiar with the matter, adding the White House has had no role in the investigations.

The DEA records reviewed by the AP are based in part on tips from confidential sources that point to Petros possible involvement with a range of criminal groups that have dominated the South American drug trade for years. Those include Mexicos Sinaloa cartel as well as the Cartel de los soles, or Cartel of the Suns, a term used to describe a loose network of corrupt, high-ranking military officers in neighboring Venezuela.

The records also cite a 2024 interview with an unnamed source who claimed Petro is utilizing former campaign aides and officials from state-run oil company Ecopetrol to launder presidential funds into foreign countries for Petros use upon completion of his presidency.

Ecopetrol President Ricardo Roa vehemently denied the allegations in a statement to AP, saying they lacked all reality or logic.

Family members under scrutiny

Petro, a former rebel leader, soared into office promising to reduce the countrys dependence on fossil fuels and reallocate state resources to addressing entrenched poverty.

A leftist politician known for winding sometimes incoherent speeches, he has regularly criticized the Trump administration over its support for Israel, bombing of drug boats in the Caribbean and likened the White House migration crackdown to Nazi tactics.

After one such outburst, at a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, Trump retaliated by revoking Petros U.S. visa. He also briefly slapped high tariffs on Colombia over Petros refusal to accept deportation flights from the United States.

But more recently the two have shown signs of getting along. After a meeting at the White House in February, Trump described Petro as terrific.

Colombian authorities have for years been investigating members of Petros family for possible criminal acts.

His son, Nicolas Petro, was charged in 2023 with soliciting illegal campaign contributions from a convicted drug trafficker to fund a lavish lifestyle of expensive cars and homes. The younger Petro has pleaded not guilty and his father has said none of the money was used to fund his campaign.

The presidents brother, Juan Fernando Petro, has also been implicated in secret negotiations that allegedly took place with imprisoned drug traffickers to shield them from extradition to the U.S. in exchange for their disarmament.

Politics and cocaine

Politics in Colombia have long been tainted by cocaine, of which it is the worlds largest supplier. In the 1980s, drug lord Pablo Escobar was elected to the countrys Congress with the support of one of Colombias most traditional parties. A decade later, his rivals from the Cali cartel flooded the presidential campaign of Ernesto Samper with illegal donations.

The now defunct urban guerrilla group Petro belonged to, the 19th of April Movement, has long been suspected of taking money from Escobars Medellin cartels as part of its deadly siege of the Supreme Court in 1985. Petro did not participate in the attack, which left several guerrillas and around half the high courts magistrates dead. Leaders of the group have always denied any links to the cartel.

(AP)
The White House said Friday that Congress should preempt state AI laws that it views as too burdensome, laying out a broad framework for how it wants Congress to address concerns about artificial intelligence without curbing growth or innovation in the sector.

The legislative blueprint outlines a half-dozen guiding principles for lawmakers, focusing on protecting children, preventing electricity costs from surging, respecting intellectual property rights, preventing censorship and educating Americans on using the technology.

House Republican leaders swiftly endorsed the framework and said theyre ready to work across the aisle to pass legislation, but doing so would be a heavy lift, requiring agreement with Democrats in the Senate as public divisions over AI run deep.

The announcement comes as state governments have forged ahead on their own regulations for AI while civil liberties and consumer rights groups lobby for more regulations on the powerful technology. The industry and the White House have pushed back, arguing that a patchwork of rules would hurt growth. Trump signed an executive order in December to block states from crafting their own regulations.

This was in response to a growing patchwork of 50 different state regulatory regimes that threaten to stifle innovation and jeopardize Americas lead in the AI race, said White House AI czar David Sacks in a social media post Friday.

Sacks said the next step is to work with Congress to turn the administrations principles into federal legislation.

AI legislation could need bipartisan support to pass

While passing sweeping AI legislation will be difficult, especially in a midterm election year, the framework appeared designed to appeal to some AI-wary Republicans and Democrats with a focus on widespread and bipartisan concerns, such as the harms that AI chatbot companionship can pose to children and the electricity costs of AI infrastructure.

It covers basically all the key sticking points I think that might stop an AI bill from moving through Congress, said Neil Chilson, a Republican former chief technologist for the Federal Trade Commission who now leads AI policy at the Abundance Institute. It reads to me as an attempt to build a larger tent, even if it doesnt give everybody everything that they want.

But it has already been panned by some Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, who said in a statement it fails to address key issues, including strong accountability for AI companies, under the guise of protecting children, communities, and creators. Americans need protection  but this means nothing if we allow the AI industry to be the Wild West.

Whether AI legislation can pass both chambers of Congress could also rely heavily on the support of Republicans like U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who has introduced her own AI bill, and last year was instrumental in thwarting Trumps earlier attempt to deter state governments from regulating AI. Blackburn on Friday called Trumps framework a roadmap and welcomed the administration to the important discussion of getting a bill passed.

States already regulating AI dont want to be preempted

Several states  including California, Colorado, Texas and Utah  have already passed laws that set some rules for AI across the private sector.

With bipartisan support in the Texas legislature, a new AI law that took effect this year in the Republican-led state requires government agencies and health care providers to disclose when they are using AI to interact with consumers or answer questions. The law also prohibits the development of AI that encourages a person to commit suicide, harm themselves, harm another person or engage in criminal activity.

A federal law following Trumps framework could knock out parts of Texass AI code while leaving some parts standing, said Saurabh Vishnubhakat, a professor at Yeshiva Universitys Cardozo School of Law. The fact that its a Republican governor I dont think is going to save Texas law from preemption.

Also vulnerable is Colorados law, which is aimed at preventing AI from discriminating against people when making consequential decisions about things like hiring and medical care. It was passed in 2024 but isnt set to take effect until later this year. Lawmakers hope to rework the regulations before then.

Colorado State Rep. Jennifer Bacon, a Democrat, said voters dont want to stifle innovation or fall behind China but our constituents are interested in not becoming China.

Californias Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed some AI bills while signing into law others. His office criticized Trumps framework Friday.

Yet again, Donald Trump is trying to gut laws in California that keep our residents safe and protect consumers  a core state responsibility, Newsoms spokesperson Marissa Saldivar said in a statement.

The Trump administration says it doesnt think Congress should preempt all state regulatory powers over AI, including enforcement of general laws against AI developers, to protect children, prevent fraud, and protect consumers. It also says Congress shouldnt interfere with local authorities in deciding where to place data centers and other AI infrastructure, or how states procure their own AI tools for law enforcement or education.

However, it says states should not be permitted to regulate AI development, shouldnt penalize AI developers for a third partys unlawful conduct using their product, and should not unduly burden Americans use of AI for activity that would be lawful if performed without AI.

Trumps AI proposal appeals to concerns about data centers, copyright

As backlash against data centers has increased along with rising power prices, the White House had previously stepped up pressure on AI companies and the power sector to do more to address the issue  including having AI companies sign voluntary pledges earlier this month to build their own power generation plants.

Some AI safety advocates are pushing for Blackburn and other influential Republicans to insist on more protections against AIs most catastrophic risks to national security or the economy, such as out-of-control AI agents or the widespread replacement of human workers.

We have companies that explicitly are hoping to replace human labor, said Brendan Steinhauser, a former Republican strategist who now leads The Alliance for Secure AI and believes Trumps framework doesnt do enough to address risks. Tinkering at the edges with upskilling and job training is just not going to make an impact on that. I just dont think we as a country are taking this seriously enough.

The framework aims for a more balanced approach to another controversial topic: AI and copyright.

It recommends against wading into the legal fights between artists and creators and the technology companies that have ingested huge amounts of copyrighted works to build AI systems that can generate new text, images and sound.

The Trump administration believes that training of AI models on copyrighted material does not violate copyright laws, according to the document, but acknowledges arguments to the contrary exist and therefore supports allowing the Courts to resolve this issue.

That language was welcomed by trade group AI Progress  a coalition that includes Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Midjourney and OpenAI.

Tech companies have been fighting dozens of copyright infringement lawsuits from writers and publishers, visual artists, music record labels and others. Judges have largely sided with AI developers in allowing for the fair use of copyrighted works to create something new, but some have questioned how the materials were obtained. A federal judge in September approved a $1.5 billion settlement between Anthropic and authors who allege nearly half a million books had been illegally pirated to train its chatbot.

(AP)
CBS News said Friday it will shut down its storied radio news service after nearly 100 years of operation, ending an era and blaming challenging economic times as the world moves on to digital sources and podcasts. Said longtime CBS News anchor Dan Rather: Its another piece of America that is gone.

When it went on the air in September 1927, the service was the precursor to the entire network, giving a youthful William S. Paley a start in the business. Famed broadcaster Edward R. Murrows rooftop reports during the Nazi bombing of London during World War II kept Americans listening anxiously.

Today, CBS News Radio provides material to an estimated 700 stations across the country and is known best for its top-of-the-hour news roundups. The service will end on May 22, the network said Friday.

Radio is woven into the fabric of CBS News and thats always going to be part of our history, CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss said in delivering the news to the staff. I want you to know that we did everything we could, including before I joined the company, to try and find a viable solution to sustain the radio operation.

But with the radical changes in the media industry, she said, we just could not find a way to make that possible.

Not the first radio cuts at CBS

CBS News cut some of its radio programming late last year, including its Weekend Roundup and World News Roundup Late Edition, in an attempt to keep the service going.

It was unclear how many people will lose their jobs because of the radio shutdown. CBS News was cutting about 6% of its workforce, or more than 60 people, on Friday. Its not the end of turmoil at the network, as parent company Paramount Global is likely to absorb CNN as part of its announced purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Given the way things are going, I was saddened but I wasnt surprised by it, said Rather, who succeeded network legend Walter Cronkite in 1981 and anchored for 25 years.

When Rather covered the civil rights era for CBS News during the 1960s, he said he would file reports as frequently as a dozen times a day. Cronkite told America on television that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated; Rather relayed the news for radio.

Radio was considered an equal responsibility to television, Rather, now 94, said in an interview.

Along with newspapers, radio was the dominant medium in how Americans got their news from shortly after the dawn of commercial radio in 1920 through the 1940s, with people in their living rooms listening to President Franklin Delano Roosevelts Fireside Chats during the Depression. CBS News Radios broadcast about Germanys invasion of Austria in 1938, the first time Murrow was heard on the air, was an historic marker for the service.

Broadcasters like Douglas Edwards, Dallas Townsend and Christopher Glenn were familiar voices on CBS News Radio. The beginning of the television era in the 1950s began a long slide for radio, often an afterthought today with the world online and on phones. Those seeking audio often turn to podcasts before radio.

This is another part of the landscape that has fallen off into the sea, said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers, a trade publication for radio talk shows. Its a shame. Its a loss for the country and for the industry.

A major radio player for many decades

CBS News Radio was a major force for generations of Americans. Its heyday spanned decades, Harrison said. It was quality on every level. It sounded good. Its coverage was as objective as possible within the realm of human nature. Its resources were extensive. It had a very high trust factor that was considered the standard of the day.

The front page of CBS News website did not immediately carry news of the demise.

Weiss, founder of the Free Press website and without broadcast news experience before being hired by CBS parent Paramounts new management, has quickly become a headline-maker and polarizing figure in journalism. She held a 60 Minutes story critical of President Donald Trumps deportation policy from being broadcast for a month and has critics watching to see if shes moving the network in a Trump-friendly direction.

Addressing her staff in January, three months into her job as CBS News boss, she invoked Cronkites name as a symbol of old thinking and said that if the network continues with its current strategy, were toast. She announced the hiring of 18 new contributors and said CBS News needs to do stories that will surprise and provoke  including inside our own newsroom.

(AP)
An Israeli man was murdered on Sunday morning when a rocket fired by Hezbollah hit the vehicle he was traveling in near Misgav Am, a kibbutz in the Upper Galil, along Israels northern border with Lebanon.

The victim was later identified as Ofer Moskovitz, Hyd, 60, who served as the kibbutz spokesperson and owned an avocado farm.

The rocket struck two cars, causing them to go up in flames, and instantly killing one driver. Firefighting teams worked to extinguish the flames and ensure no additional people were trapped at the scene.

As emergency response forces worked at the scene, Hezbollah continued to fire at Israel, and sirens blared in the area.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

A report was received a short time ago regarding a weapons impact on a vehicle in the Galilee Panhandle border area, a statement from the police said. According to an initial report, one person was pronounced dead at the scene, and several vehicles are on fire. Police forces, including Northern District officers, Border Police units, and bomb disposal experts, are operating at the scene.

Police also urged the public to follow instructions, avoid arriving at missile impact or destruction sites, refrain from touching debris or interception fragments, and allow emergency and security forces to carry out life-saving operations.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Qatar on Sunday confirmed that six people were killed in a helicopter crash over its territorial waters.

A statement from Qatars Interior Ministry blamed the crash on a technical malfunction during routine duty but did not provide further details.

Irans attack last week on Qatars natural gas export facility threatens to disrupt not just world energy markets but also global technology supply chains because the helium it produces is crucial for a range of advanced industries.

Best known as the gas that makes party balloons float, helium is also a key input in chipmaking, space rockets and medical imaging.

Qatar supplies a third of the worlds helium, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, but the nation had to halt production shortly after the war erupted three weeks ago. The latest Iranian strikes against the regions energy producing infrastructure have added to supply worries, with Qatars state-owned gas company saying it would crimp helium exports by 14%.

Heres a deeper look at heliums industrial role:

Qatars role in helium supply

Helium is a byproduct of natural gas production, when its separated out by cryogenic distillation. Qatar, which sits on the worlds biggest single natural gas field, produces about 30% of global helium supply, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Qatars helium is produced at its Ras Laffan facility, the worlds largest liquefied natural gas plant. But state-owned energy company QatarGas halted production of LNG and associated products on March 2 because of Irans drone attacks and two days later declared force majeure, meaning its unable to supply contracted customers due to circumstances beyond its control.

After Ras Laffan was hit again by more Iranian strikes on Wednesday and Thursday, QatarGas reported extensive damage that will take years to repair and cut annual helium exports by 14%.

It makes the story worse, said Phil Kornbluth, president of Kornbluth Helium Consulting. Your best case scenario would be youre back producing some helium in six weeks or something like that. As it looks right now, thats highly unlikely.

Helium prices are on the rise

Spot prices for helium have doubled since the crisis erupted and will probably rise further, Kornbluth said.

But spot trading only accounts for about 2% of the total market in normal times, he said. Helium is a thinly traded commodity and is mostly sold through long-term contracts.

Still, contract prices could go up a lot, Kornbluth said. Theres lots of room for price increase if this is an extended outage.

Kornbluth said the shortage hasnt hit yet, because helium containers that would have been filled when the conflict erupted at the start of March would have still taken several weeks to arrive in Asia.

Nobodys run out of helium yet. But its a few weeks out when the shortage really hits.

Its not just party balloons

Helium is essential for manufacturing semiconductors, including the cutting-edge chips used for artificial intelligence models produced in Asian fabrication plants.

Its great at conducting or transferring heat, making it ideal for rapid cooling.

Chipmakers use it to cool wafers  the discs of silicon printed with tiny electronic circuits. Helium is used during the etching process, when material thats been deposited on a wafer is scraped away to form transistor structures, said Jacob Feldgoise, an analyst at Georgetown Universitys Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

During the etching process, you really want to maintain a constant temperature over the wafer. And in order to do that, you need to be able to draw heat away from the wafer thats being processed, said Feldgoise. Helium is an excellent thermal conductor. And so chip fabs will blow helium over the back of the wafer in order to speed heat removal and keep heat removal consistent.

Under current semiconductor manufacturing processes, theres no viable replacement for helium to cool wafers, said Jong-hwan Lee, a professor of semiconductor devices at South Koreas Sangmyung University.

The medical industry uses helium to cool superconducting magnets powering magnetic resonance imaging machines.

And the space industry uses helium to purge rocket fuel tanks, a demand that is expected to grow because of more frequent launches by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin.

A complicated supply chain situation

Heliums atomic properties make it tricky to store and transport.

In gas form, heliums tiny molecules can easily escape containers by leaking through even the smallest of gaps.

Helium is typically chilled by Qatars gas company into liquid form and stored in insulated containers for transport through the Strait of Hormuz. The specialized containers can store helium for 35 to 48 days. Any longer and they start warming up, letting the helium transform into gas that escapes through pressure release valves.

About 200 of these containers are stuck in the Middle East, Kornbluth said. They cost about $1 million each, so there arent a lot of extra ones sitting around elsewhere.

Its going to take a fair amount of time to get these containers out of Qatar and to get them somewhere else where they might be able to be filled with helium, he said.

So this initial period when you lose Qatar supply and have to rejig the supply chain and reposition containers, thats going to be the worst part of the shortage most likely.

Other major suppliers of helium

There only are a handful of countries that produce helium.

The United States is the biggest producer, accounting for 81 million cubic meters last year. Qatar, Algeria and Russia are the other major producers, but Russian supplies are banned under Under States and European Union sanctions.

USGS estimates the United States has 8.5 billion cubic meters of recoverable helium in geologic reservoirs, while the rest of the world has 31.3 billion cubic meters.

Asian chipmakers on edge

The war highlights the sprawling global supply chains that underpin South Koreas semiconductor industry, which has seen a surge in global demand for its chips amid the AI boom.

Fitch Ratings said in a report this week that the country  home to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the worlds largest memory chip makers  is particularly vulnerable to supply shortages because it imports about 65% of its helium from Qatar.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix likely have several months of inventory, but its crucial that they accelerate efforts to secure alternative sources, Lee said, as the war could drag on and potentially disrupt supplies of more materials beyond helium.

Helium is among 14 semiconductor supply chain materials the Seoul government has flagged for monitoring due to their heavy vulnerability to the war.

Even disruptions affecting just a handful of materials could destabilize the entire semiconductor manufacturing process as each stage of production depends on the previous one, Lee said.

Still, a full-blown helium crisis is unlikely, experts said. In the event of a shortage, Kornbluth said the helium industry allocates supplies based on importance so critical industries such as chipmaking and medical would be at the front of the line.

And because helium is a small part of the overall production cost of a semiconductor, its likely that chip fabs would be willing to pay a higher price to secure supplies, Feldgoise said.

Samsung and SK Hynix declined to respond to questions about inventory or plans to diversify supplies. The Korea Semiconductor Industry Association said short-term supplies are sufficient and companies have been diversifying their supply routes.

Chipmaking giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company also said it does not anticipate any significant impact at this time but will continue monitoring the situation.

(AP &YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
The NYPD has acquired a nearly $1 million high-tech vehicle designed to detect and neutralize hostile drones over New York City.

According to a NY Post report, the department paid $984,280 for the Maverick Unmanned Aerial Systems mobile command unit, a heavily customized Chevrolet Suburban built by FlyMotion LLC of Tampa, Fla. From the outside, it looks like any oversized SUV in a police fleet. Inside, its a different story: hidden compartments conceal launch-ready drones and a live-feed command screen capable of monitoring the skies for aerial threats.

The vehicle will be used by the NYPD for counterterrorism capabilities in securing and protecting large-scale events and critical infrastructure, the department said in a public announcement Thursday.

According to FlyMotion, the Maverick is built to function as both a standard patrol vehicle and a full command-and-control hub for unmanned systems  a dual capability that gives it a significant edge over the NYPDs existing drone-command vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van known as the Trident Series Command Center. That van, purchased last year from Sky Motion for $500,000, serves a similar mobile command role but lacks the Suburbans agility and low profile.

They can pull over and launch drones from portable drone compartments, a law enforcement source told the Post, adding that the Mavericks compact footprint makes it far more maneuverable and better suited to rapid, discreet deployment.

At least one official expressed hope that the vehicle comes equipped with drone-mitigation software  technology that would allow operators to effectively hijack and take control of a hostile drone mid-flight.

At a million dollars, Im hoping that they put the software for drone mitigation, the source said. Its just like jail-breaking into another device.

The purchases are part of a broader counter-drone push backed by a $6.5 million federal Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems grant recently awarded to the department. The city is preparing for a wave of high-profile events, including a massive celebration of the nations 250th birthday in New York Harbor this summer.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced on Feb. 10 that federal authorities are working to authorize the NYPD to neutralize hostile drones, with final sign-off expected from President Trump.

The department has also been moving toward acquiring the Iron Drone Raider, a system developed by American Robotics that deploys interceptor drones to hunt hostile devices using radar and then fires a lightweight mesh net to entangle the targets rotors. A parachute allows the captured drone to float safely to the ground. The Post first reported that effort exclusively in June.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
President Donald Trump declared Sunday that Iran is already finished, which results in the Democratic Party now being the single greatest threat facing the United States.

Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democrat Party! Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The post came just hours after the president issued a sweeping ultimatum to Tehran, threatening to obliterate Irans power plants if it does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

If Iran doesnt FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST! Trump wrote.

His declaration that Iran has effectively already fallen is a bit premature. The Defense Department has reportedly requested $200 billion in additional funding for the war effort, a figure that would suggest the conflict is far from over.

The Iran posts were part of a broader weekend barrage on social media. On Saturday, Trump reacted to the death of former FBI Director and Special Counsel Robert Mueller with open contempt.

Good, Im glad hes dead, the president wrote. He can no longer hurt innocent people!

Mueller, who led the yearslong investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, had long been a target of Trumps ire.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Israels intelligence leadership assessed ahead of the current war that military action against Iran could potentially trigger the collapse of the regime, according to a new report detailing pre-war deliberations at the highest levels of government.

Mossad chief David Barnea told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials that if key objectives were achievedincluding decapitating Irans leadership and weakening its ability to repress its populationconditions could emerge for internal unrest that might destabilize the regime, Israels Channel 12 reported, citing unnamed sources.

According to the report, Barnea suggested that Israeli and U.S. intelligence agencies could play a role in facilitating renewed protests and helping identify alternatives to Irans ruling system. However, he reportedly emphasized that such an outcome was far from guaranteed and could take significant time to materialize.

The assessment appears to align with early messaging from both Netanyahu and President Trump at the outset of the conflict, when both leaders signaled that military pressure could open a path for political change inside Iranwhile stressing that any ultimate shift would have to come from the Iranian people themselves.

In the weeks since, U.S. and Israeli officials have largely avoided explicitly framing the campaign as an effort to achieve regime change, instead focusing on degrading Irans nuclear and missile capabilities.

Recent intelligence assessments suggest the regime remains in place, though weakened. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Thursday that Irans leadership structure appears intact, but largely degraded, and warned it could attempt to rebuild its military capacity if it survives the current conflict.

Netanyahu has struck a similarly cautious tone, saying there are signs the regime may be under pressure but stopping short of predicting its collapse.

Were working to create the conditions for it to collapse, but it may survive, it may not, Netanyahu said at a press conference. If it survives, it will be a lot weaker.

The Israeli prime minister also indicated that while airstrikes alone are unlikely to bring down the regime, additional options remain under consideration, without elaborating.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Iran launched two ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia, the joint UK-U.S. military base in the Indian Ocean, on Friday morning. Neither missile hit the base, with one failing mid-flight while the other was intercepted or diverted at sea by a U.S. warship using a naval missile-defense system.

Despite the failed strike, Irans launch at the base approximately 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) away, suggests that it has missiles that can reach Western Europe, a fact that it has denied until now.

A UK source confirmed the strikes on Saturday, adding that the attack occurred before the British government announced on Friday that it had given the green light to the US to use some of its bases to strike Iranian targets that are attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The UK previously approved the use of its base for US bombers to attack Irans missile sites, following criticism by US President Donald Trump over Londons reluctance to take a more active role.

UK broadcaster Piers Morgan warned that Iran may have concealed the true range of its missiles, claiming the UK currently has zeroliterally zerodefense against such threats.

At the same time, Irans foreign minister warned that the use of British bases to target the Islamic Republic could endanger UK civilians, saying that Iran would exercise its right to self-defense.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir spoke on Motzei Shabbos, warning Europe that its capitals are within the Iranian range while addressing the latest developments in the war against Iran.

Iran launched a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 4,000 kilometers toward a US target on Diego Garcia Island, Zamir said. These missiles are not intended to strike Israel. Their range reaches European capitalsBerlin, Paris, and Rome are all within direct threat range.

We have learned from world and Jewish history that denying a threat or appeasing it does not make it disappearon the contrary, it projects weakness and encourages extremist regimes. Whoever fails to confront a threat at its outset will, in time, become hostage to it. The possession of lethal strategic capabilities by radical, dictatorial regimes poses a danger not only to Israel but also to the world, he concluded.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
This week, a topic that has been boomeranging around Silicon Valley bounced into the spotlight: AI tokens as compensation.

The idea is straightforward enough  rather than giving engineers only salary, equity, and bonuses, companies would also hand them a budget of AI tokens, the computational units that power tools like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini. Spend them to run agents, automate tasks, crank through code. The pitch is that access to more compute makes engineers more productive, and that more productive engineers are worth more. Its an investment in the person holding them, is the idea.

Jensen Huang, the leather-jacket-wearing CEO of Nvidia, seemed to capture everyones imagination when he floated the notion at the companys annual GTC event earlier this week that engineers should receive roughly half their base salary again  in tokens. His top people, by his math, might burn through $250,000 a year in AI compute. He called it a recruiting tool and predicted it would become standard across Silicon Valley.

It isnt entirely clear where the idea was first, well, ideated. Tomasz Tunguz, a renowned VC in the Bay Area who runs Theory Ventures and focuses on AI, data, and SaaS startups  and whose writing on all things data has garnered a loyal following over the years  was talking about this in mid-February, writing that tech startups were already adding inference costs as a fourth component to engineering compensation. Using data from the compensation tracking site Levels.fyi, he put a top-quartile software engineer salary at $375,000. Add $100,000 in tokens and youre at $475,000 fully loaded  meaning roughly one dollar in five is now compute.

Thats no coincidence. Agentic AI has been taking off, and the release of OpenClaw in late January accelerated the conversation considerably. OpenClaw is an open source AI assistant designed to run continuously  churning through tasks, spawning sub-agents, and working through a to-do list while its user sleeps. Its part of a broader shift toward systems that dont just respond to prompts but take sequences of actions autonomously over time.

The practical consequence is that token consumption has exploded. Where someone writing an essay might use 10,000 tokens in an afternoon, an engineer running a swarm of agents can blow through millions in a day  automatically, in the background, without typing a word.

By this weekend, The New York Times had put together a smart look at the so-called tokenmaxxing trend, finding that engineers at companies including Meta and OpenAI are competing on internal leaderboards that track token consumption. Generous token budgets are quietly becoming a standard job perk, the paper reported, the way dental insurance or free lunch once was. One Ericsson engineer in Stockholm told the Times he probably spends more on Claude than he earns in salary, though his employer picks up the tab.
Iran fired multiple barrages of missiles at the southern Israeli city of Dimona on Shabbos, and another three consecutive barrages on Motzei Shabbos. One of the missiles scored a direct hit on a building, injuring at least 51 people, including a 12-year-old boy in serious condition.

A 30-year-old woman was moderately injured, and most of the other victims are in light condition after being injured by shrapnel, or falling while running to shelter, or suffering from shock.

At least 12 impact sites in the city were reported, with heavy damage to buildings and infrastructure.

The IDF said that it is investigating the interception failure.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Irans state-affiliated Tasnim news agency said that the launches at Dimona were to avenge the attack on the Natanz uranium enrichment site earlier on Shabbos and a previously reported attack at the Bushehr nuclear power plant. However, Israel denied any involvement in the Natanz strike. According to Israeli mediia reports, US forces attacked the site with bunker buster bombs.

This is a developing story.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
An unsettling mystery is unfolding at the highest levels of Irans leadership, as U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies race to answer a question few expected to ask: Who is really in charge in Tehran?

According to a report from Axios, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Israels Mossad, and other intelligence bodies are actively searching for signs of lifeand leadershipfrom Mojtaba Khamenei, who was declared Irans new supreme leader following the assassination of his father.

Yet days into his supposed rule, Khamenei has not been seen in public.

The absence is raising questions across intelligence circles. Agencies had anticipated a traditional Nowruz video address, a hallmark of Irans leadership meant to project authority and continuity. Instead, only a written statement was released.

We have no evidence that he is really the one giving orders, a senior Israeli official said, casting doubt on whether Khamenei has truly assumed control.

A U.S. official went even further, describing the situation as beyond weird.

We dont think the Iranians would have gone through all this trouble to choose a dead guy as the supreme leader, the official said. But at the same time, we have no proof that he is taking the helm.

Behind the scenes, intelligence analysts are now dissecting every available clue. The CIA is reportedly working to verify whether images released alongside Khameneis Nowruz message are recent or recycled. The lack of visual confirmation has only deepened suspicions.

Adding to the intrigue, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian did release a video message marking the holiday, underscoring the glaring absence of the countrys supposed top authority.

We would have expected to see Mojtaba too in some form, the U.S. official noted. He didnt take advantage of the opportunity and tradition. Its a big red flag.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A sizable number of U.S. Patriot air defense missiles have been moved from Europe toward the Middle East as Washington diverts resources toward its war on Iran, leaving concerning gaps in Europes air defenses against Russia, U.S. defense officials told The Associated Press.

The war in Iran, about to enter its fourth week, has seen the U.S. deploy thousands of troops to the region and pushed the Pentagon to seek an additional $200 billion in funding. Iran meanwhile has fired missiles and drones across the Gulf, including at U.S. bases and hotels in vacation hot spots.

Two Patriot missile systems were sent from Germany to Turkey after several ballistic missiles were fired toward Turkey from Iran since the start of the war, the Turkish defense ministry and three U.S. officials said. The U.S. officials said missiles for the Patriot system were moved from various locations around Europe in an effort to reinforce air defenses towards the Middle East. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

One of the officials said stocks of Patriot missiles are absolutely dwindling in Europe and elsewhere because of the war in Iran, and added the situation is pretty concerning.

Asked to comment on the missiles being moved, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to AP: The US military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and weapons stockpiles to achieve the goals of Operation Epic Fury laid out by President Trump  and beyond.

One of the three U.S. officials said there is still plenty of capacity in NATO to defend Europe, adding that part of the reason the US has assets in different places is to project power globally.

Patriots used against low-tech Shahed drones

The Patriot is a surface-to-air guided missile system that was first deployed in the 1980s and can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles.

The war in Ukraine has shown how effective the Patriot system is against a wide range of threats including maneuverable hypersonic missiles such as Russias Kinzhal, one of the U.S. officials said.

But in the Middle East, the U.S. and its allies are using Patriots against threats that dont require them, one of the officials said, such as against comparatively cheap and low-tech Iranian Shahed drones.

Patriots, the official said, should be used to protect high-end ground systems  such as precision strike missiles the U.S. is firing from HIMARS launchers in the Middle East  from enemy attack.

The Patriots are being redeployed as Russia is continuing to pursue its war in Ukraine, with some of the European countries near Russia facing the effects, including incursions of Russian drones from the Baltic states to Poland and Romania. Officials in Europe say Russia is waging a hybrid war on Europe including with sabotage and cyberattacks.

Everything that moves out of Europe is a capability that cant respond to Russia, if Moscow decides to take advantage of an opportunity, the U.S. defense official said.

Building up defenses on NATOs southern flank

NATO defenses have intercepted three ballistic missiles fired from Iran over Turkeys airspace since President Donald Trump launched his war with Iran on Feb. 28, Turkeys defense ministry said. The Turkish defense ministry said a Patriot missile system was sent from Ramstein air base in Germany to Incirlik Air Base where U.S. and NATO forces are based.

Last week Turkey said NATO had positioned another Patriot system in the southeastern Malatya province, where a NATO radar station is based. General Alexus Grynkewich, commander of U.S.  and NATO  forces in Europe, also said Wednesday that some air defense capabilities in Europe were moved toward the Middle East.

Captain Reann Mommsen, spokesperson for U.S. European Command, which is responsible for American military operations in Europe, did not comment on the concerns of shortages and said she could not discuss movement or locations of missiles due to reasons of operational security.

Ukraine has repeatedly asked for more Patriot missiles and systems, and this week President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Kyiv will definitely face shortages of Patriots because of the U.S. war against Iran.

A German military official said he has not yet seen information to suggest there are operational shortfalls in Ukraine caused by the war in the Middle East. But he said shortfalls may occur in the near future, eventually weakening Ukraines endurance and capabilities. He also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

In an interview with the BBC, Zelenskyy said the U.S. produces 60-65 Patriot missiles per month, around 700-800 a year and that 803 were used on the first day of the war in the Middle East.

According to the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a security think tank based in Pennsylvania, the U.S. used around 325 Patriot missiles during the first 96 hours of the war with Iran. It said the total number used by Washington and its partners including Gulf states was approximately 943.

Drone-against-drone system now being deployed

Shortly after war broke out in the Middle East, the AP was told the U.S. had limited effective anti-drone defenses in the Middle East but was planning to deploy the Merops anti-drone system.

The Merops system can fit in the back of a pickup truck and takes down drones much more cheaply than by using a missile as it flies drones against drones.

Officials said the U.S. response to countering Irans Shahed drones was disappointing, particularly because the Shaheds are a much more basic version of the same drone that Russia is continuously refining and updating in its war in Ukraine.

The U.S. now has a limited amount of operational Merops anti-drone systems in the Middle East, one of the U.S. defense officials said. Further systems are on their way and training in the Middle East is being carried out, they added.

(AP)
Defense Minister Yisrael Katz conducted a situational assessment on Sunday and announced a sharp escalation in IDF operations in Lebanon. The new directives focus on fully isolating southern Lebanon by destroying all bridges over the Litani River and intensifying the pace of demolitions in frontline villages.

Katz said that he and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered the IDF to immediately destroy all bridges over the Litani River that are used for terrorist activity. The purpose is to create a complete blockade that will prevent Hezbollah terrorists and weapons from moving toward the Israeli border. This move follows the destruction of two additional bridges last week that had served as major smuggling routes.

Katz also ordered an acceleration in the demolition of structures in Lebanese villages near the border, stating that operations are being carried out according to a Gaza model, similar to actions taken in Beit Hanoun and Rafah. The goal is to eliminate threats to Israeli communities and prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing a presence along the front line.

At the same time, IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee issued an urgent warning to residents of southern Lebanon. He stated that Hezbollah is using civilians as cover to move operatives and equipment. He warned that the IDF is preparing a wide and precise strike and identified the Al-Qasmiya Bridge on the coastal highway as a target. Civilians were urged to avoid heading south and to remain north of the Zahrani River for their safety.

On the ground, troops from the 91st Division, together with the Israeli Air Force, killed nine Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon as part of efforts to expand the security buffer zone. The incident began when Unit 869 identified an armed cell approaching IDF forces. Ground troops engaged the cell, and the Air Force carried out a rapid strike to eliminate them. No Israeli casualties were reported.

Reports in the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat indicate that IDF forces are advancing into Lebanon along four main axes, aiming to secure key positions and isolate the southern region.
About a day after Iranian missiles with heavy warheads hit the southern cities of Arad and Dimona, the IDF released a preliminary investigation on the unsuccessful interception of the missiles.

Despite the two incidents, the interception success rate stands at over 92%, a figure the IDF defines as one of the highest ever achieved.

A senior Israeli Air Force officer noted that since the beginning of the conflict, over 400 ballistic missiles have been fired toward Israel, while the Air Force has simultaneously struck thousands of targets in Iran. Its not just about technology, he said, but also the human factor operating it and delivering results.

The IDF emphasized that the two incidents in the south do not indicate a systemic failure, but rather a rare combination of circumstances. This was a chain of isolated failures, not a breakdown of the overall system, the officer explained, adding that the enemy is also learning and improving its tactics during the war.

The investigation revealed that in Dimona, the muddy ground conditions caused by the copious amounts of rain over Shabbos absorbed part of the blast and significantly reduced the level of destruction. In Arad, the missile struck an area between residential buildings, preventing the collapse of an entire building and a far greater loss of life.

However, the IDF highlighted one central conclusion that repeats across incidents: most of the injured were not in protected spaces when sirens sounded. A senior Home Front Command official stated that those who were in safe rooms or shelters were not injured, underscoring the critical importance of civilian discipline.

The impact sites suffered extensive damage to infrastructure and buildings. In Arad alone, dozens of casualties were evacuated in varying conditions, and some buildings have been declared unsafe and designated for demolition. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as residents fled in panic and tried to assist one another amid the destruction.

At the same time, the IDF notes that the airdefense network is operating on a broad scale, in coordination with American and regional systems, though the vast majority of interceptions are carried out by Israel. Isolated failures, they emphasize, are statistically inevitable in an operation of this magnitude.

Ultimately, the army stresses that protecting civilian lives depends not only on military performance but also on public behavior. Discipline saves lives, the IDF says, urging the public to continue following Home Front Command guidelinesespecially in moments of emergency.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
The Trump administration has begun internal discussions about potentially restarting negotiations with Iran, as officials weigh a possible diplomatic off-ramp amid the ongoing conflict.

According to a report from Axios, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are involved in early efforts to lay the groundwork for renewed talks. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the United Kingdom have been relaying messages between Washington and Tehran, signaling tentative movement toward reengagement.

Iranian officials are reportedly open to returning to the negotiating table, but only under strict conditions, including a ceasefire, guarantees against future military action and compensation for damages sustained during the war. One U.S. official suggested there may be flexibility in how such compensation is framed, pointing to the potential return of frozen Iranian assets as a point of negotiation.

They call it reparations. Maybe we call it return of frozen money, the official said. Theres many different ways that we can wordsmith so that it solves politically what they need to solve.

The renewed diplomatic push comes as President Donald Trump signaled he may begin winding down military operations. We are getting very close to meeting our objectives, Trump wrote Friday, as the conflict entered its fourth week.

Efforts to restart diplomacy face additional complications, including uncertainty over the role and condition of Mojtaba Khamenei, who was appointed supreme leader following his fathers death but was reportedly injured in the same strike. He has not been seen since.

Irans Foreign Ministry has also tied any reopening of the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz to a ceasefire and assurances that future strikes will not occur. U.S. officials, meanwhile, expect at least several more weeks of fighting even as preliminary diplomatic channels begin to take shape.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
As Operation Roaring Lion enters its fourth week, an Israeli official said Sunday that Jerusalem does not expect the Iranian regime to fall during the current fighting, but believes its collapse could follow within months of the wars end.

At no stage did we think the regime would fall during the war, the official said, according to Ynet. The assessments were that the regimes collapse would come several months after the war. No one thought the public could take to the streets while under bombardment.

The remarks offer a rare window into Israels strategic calculus as the United States intensifies its own strikes against Iran, with the pace of American operations accelerating in recent days, according to the official.

Israel now assesses that President Trump is moving toward seizing control of Irans Kharg Island oil terminal, the regimes economic lifeline. The official described such a move as a potential game changer that could cripple Tehrans finances.

It would create extreme economic strangulation, the official said, adding that a loss of oil revenue could leave the regime unable to pay salaries  a scenario that could trigger internal collapse.

Regarding the status of Mojtaba Khamenei, the official said Israel believes he is alive, though Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps is currently managing the countrys affairs.

Behind the scenes, Washington has opened exploratory contacts with Tehran on a possible agreement, with Qatar pushing to broker a deal. But the official characterized the talks as preliminary and said Trump is holding firm.

The Americans are talking with the Iranians about a deal, but its all preliminary, the official said. The Qataris are pushing for an agreement, but Trump is not giving in and wants a surrender deal on his terms.

Those terms would reportedly include the removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian soil and a commitment to fully dismantle Irans nuclear program with no deadline attached.

Asked whether Israel would prefer a negotiated surrender or regime change, the official said Israel favors the latter. A new regime would abandon the nuclear program and hand over the enriched uranium, he said, while acknowledging that the final decision lies with Trump.

The diplomatic maneuvering comes against the backdrop of a sharp escalation overnight. Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran, threatening to destroy Irans power stations if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Irans armed forces fired back with a warning of their own: if the Islamic Republics energy infrastructure is attacked, all energy infrastructure belonging to the United States in the region will be targeted, according to Iranian state media.

The strait, one of the worlds most critical shipping chokepoints, has been effectively choked since the start of the war. Iran imposed restrictions on vessel traffic early in the conflict, sending global oil and gas prices surging. Before the war, more than 130 ships passed through the waterway daily. That figure has now plummeted to just three or four per day.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The IDF said it killed the commander of Hezbollahs Radwan Force special operations unit in an airstrike in southern Lebanon on Saturday, along with two other operatives.

The strike targeted Abu Khalil Barji in the Majdal Selm area and was directed by the IDFs Northern Command. According to the military, Barji had recently taken command of the Radwan units special forces  an elite arm of Hezbollah responsible for planning and executing attacks against Israeli troops.

Two additional Hezbollah operatives were killed alongside Barji in the strike. The military did not identify them.

The IDF said it also struck Hezbollah infrastructure across several areas of southern Lebanon later Saturday, though it did not provide further details on those operations.

The killing marks a significant blow to Hezbollahs offensive capabilities. The Radwan Force is considered the organizations most capable and battle-tested unit, tasked with cross-border operations and direct engagement with Israeli forces.

Hezbollah entered the current conflict in support of Iran, and the IDF said it will continue operating against the group and will not allow threats to Israeli civilians.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The French navy on Friday intercepted and boarded a tanker in the Mediterranean Sea that President Emmanuel Macron said is linked to Russias sanctioned shadow fleet shipping oil in violation of international sanctions over Moscows war on Ukraine.

According to the French maritime authorities for the Mediterranean, the tanker Deyna is suspected of operating under a false flag designation. The interception took place in the Western Mediterranean and was carried out in cooperation with allies, including the United Kingdom, which monitored the ship, the authorities said.

This operation aimed to verify the nationality of the vessel, which was flying the flag of Mozambique and was coming from the Russian port of Murmansk, the maritime authorities said in a statement. The documents found onboard confirmed doubts about the validity of the flag, they said.

The tanker was diverted and escorted by the French navy to an anchorage point for further checks, the statement said and the case was referred to a prosecutor in the port of Marseille.

In a post on X, Macron called the Deyna a shadow fleet vessel.

These vessels, which circumvent international sanctions and violate the law of the sea, are war profiteers. They seek to generate profits and finance Russias war effort, Macron said. We wont let this happen.

Russia is believed to be using a fleet of hundreds of ships to evade sanctions over its war against Ukraine. France and other countries have vowed to crack down.

In January, Frances navy intercepted an oil tanker in the Mediterranean sailing from Russia. The vessel was released last month after paying a multimillion-euro penalty.

Last September, French naval forces boarded another oil tanker off Frances Atlantic coast that Macron also linked to the shadow fleet. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced that interception as an act of piracy.

(AP)
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Nexstar, which owns KTLA-TV Channel 5 in Los Angeles, this week received FCC approval to grow to 265 stations. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta is asking a judge to unravel Nexstar Media Group's $6.2-billion acquisition of rival TV station owner Tegna  the latest in a flurry of merger twists.

Nexstar announced late Thursday that it had consummated the Tegna takeover  despite a lawsuit that Bonta and seven other Democratic state attorneys general had filed in federal court the previous day.

The state officials sued to block the union of the station groups, alleging the new colossus would violate antitrust rules and a federal law limiting broadcast station ownership.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento.

Hours after that filing, the Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau in Washington approved Nexstar's deal  clearing the way for the nation's largest TV station group owner to swallow the third-largest station group.

Read more: Eight state attorneys general file suit to block TV station group merger

The purchase gives Nexstar, which owns KTLA-TV Channel 5 in Los Angeles, 265 television stations.

On Friday, Bonta and the other attorneys general asked a judge for a temporary restraining order to freeze the takeover until a hearing on the matter.

"Nexstar/Tegna is not a done deal," Bonta said Friday in a statement. "I will not let these corporate behemoths merge without a fight."

It was not immediately clear when a judge might rule on the request for a restraining order.

Bonta appeared at a lawmakers' hearing in Burbank on Friday to explore the impacts of another huge merger: Paramount Skydance's proposed $111-billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. Bonta's office has opened an investigation into the Paramount-Warner merger, but Bonta said Friday that no decision has been made on whether he or other attorneys general will seek to block it.

For now, he is focused on derailing the Nexstar-Tegna deal.

Read more: Nexstar finalizes acquisition of Tegna's TV stations, despite opposition

"We filed a suit before that deal closed," Bonta told The Times. "We think our case is extremely strong. There is no way this should be approved."

At issue is whether the FCC had the power to grant a waiver that would allow Nexstar to control TV stations that reach nearly 80% of U.S. households. In 2003, Congress set the station ownership cap at 39% of the country.

The Department of Justice also gave its blessing to close the deal.

The three FCC commissioners did not vote on the matter  despite pleas from the lone Democrat on the panel who advocated for an open process.
Statement from Congressman Dan Goldman on Helping Americans Stranded in the Middle East

Over the past week, nearly 2,000 American citizens have reached out to my office with urgent pleas for assistance returning home from the Middle East  including students, pregnant mothers, and elderly and medically vulnerable individuals. Among them are many Jewish Americans hoping to reunite with their families to celebrate Pesach.

I am relieved to announce that, after extensive work over the past week to develop a plan of action, my office has helped facilitate a coordinated solution with the U.S. Department of State and the Government of Jordan to provide a safe means of travel out of the region through Amman, Jordan.

The State Department will be providing secure buses transporting U.S. citizens to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman for departure from the region. With the conflict continuing to escalate and a limited travel advisory currently in place at Ben Gurion Airport, this route offers a safe and reliable alternative for those seeking to leave.

See here for the most critical recent update from the State Department: https://il.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-jerusalem-march-22-2026-update/

Busing operations will begin tomorrow, Monday, March 23. U.S. citizens interested in securing a seat must complete the State Department form at the following link:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=dFDPZv5a0UimkaErISH0SwacxChOQjhLmAXdLyLFaHpUNUEzQjNDVzBBQVhFUVo3RzUwT1dNWTQ3VC4u&route=shorturl

Please note the following requirements and fees for travelers entering Jordan:

A visa on arrival is available at the King Hussein Crossing for $60 USD (cash only).

A departure fee of 110 NIS (Israeli shekels), payable in cash only.

###
Jeff Bezos is in early talks to raise a $100 billion fund that would acquire manufacturing companies and use artificial intelligence to automate their operations, the Wall Street Journal reported March 19. The fund would be one of the largest of its kind ever assembled, rivaling SoftBank's Vision Fund in scale.

Bezos has spent recent months meeting with major asset managers to secure backing, including trips to the Middle East, where he pitched sovereign wealth funds, and to Singapore. Talks are still at a preliminary stage, according to people familiar with the matter cited by the Journal.

The move marks a major escalation of Bezos' ambitions in industrial AI and his most significant operational bet since stepping down as Amazon (AMZN) chief executive in 2021.

What Bezos' fund would actually do

Investor documents describe the vehicle as a "manufacturing transformation vehicle," according to the Journal. The fund would target companies struggling with labor costs, production backlogs, or the capital demands of retooling for new technologies.

Sectors the fund is targeting:

Chipmaking: where capacity constraints and geopolitical pressure are driving demand for domestic retooling

Defense: where production backlogs and aging infrastructure create openings for AI-driven modernization

Aerospace: where Blue Origin's David Limp, now on Prometheus' board, brings direct operational credibility

The strategy is directly linked to Project Prometheus, the AI startup Bezos co-founded with Vik Bajaj in November 2025. Bezos serves as co-CEO alongside Bajaj, a physicist and chemist who previously led AI projects at Google X and co-founded Alphabet's life sciences division Verily. The startup launched with $6.2 billion in funding, according to Fortune, and is separately in talks to raise up to $6 billion more, the Journal reported.

More Retail:

Project Prometheus is building AI models designed to understand and simulate the physical world, covering factory operations, supply chains, product design, and engineering processes. The idea is to apply that technology to companies the fund acquires, using AI to drive automation at industrial scale.

David Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, has joined Prometheus' board of directors, adding aerospace engineering credibility to the venture's leadership structure.

Why Bezos is betting on manufacturing now

The timing reflects a convergence of pressures on U.S. manufacturing that Bezos appears to see as an opening. Labor shortages, production bottlenecks at major aerospace and semiconductor companies, and the heavy capital costs of transitioning to electric vehicles have left large parts of the industrial economy vulnerable to outside intervention.
Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika.

In an auto industry that spent years charging toward full electrification, Porsche is now making a sharp turn back, and it is doing so out of necessity rather than choice.

After one of the most difficult financial years in its modern history, the company is returning to the fundamentals that long sustained it: gasoline engines, plug-in hybrids, tighter cost control, and a more cautious approach to EV expansion.

The numbers explain why. Porsche said its 2025 financial year was hit by about $4.2 billion in extraordinary expenses tied to product strategy changes, battery-related costs, and U.S. tariffs. Group operating profit fell 92.7% to about $446 million, while return on sales dropped to 1.1%. Deliveries also fell 10.1% to 279,449 vehicles.

Porsche Is Reversing Course Under A New CEO

Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika.

The man now leading that reset is Michael Leiters, who officially became Porsche CEO on January 1, 2026, after previously running McLaren Automotive. In his first earnings presentation as chief executive, Leiters made it clear that Porsche now has to become leaner, simplify parts of the lineup, and lean harder on higher-margin products while it rebalances its drivetrain strategy.

That shift is closely tied to the brands EV troubles. The Taycan, once positioned as the spearhead of Porsches electric future, has struggled badly. Reuters reported that Taycan sales plunged 50% in the first nine months of 2024 in China, and Porsche later said full-year 2025 Taycan deliveries fell another 22% globally to 16,339 cars.

That is not just a model-level slowdown. It is a sign that the market Porsche expected for high-priced EVs has become far more difficult, especially with Chinese rivals moving faster and pricing more aggressively.

The Macan decision left a painful gap.

Photo Courtesy: Autorepublika.

An even bigger strategic problem has been the Macan. Porsche had planned to move the model fully into the electric era, even though the Macan had long been one of the companys biggest volume and profit generators. That decision looked much riskier once EV demand softened. Reuters reported in 2024 that Porsche still planned to end combustion Macan production for non-European markets by 2026, while later company statements acknowledged a broader product realignment and confirmed that new brand-defining combustion models are now back on the table.

The company is no longer pretending that a pure EV transition can carry the whole business on its own timetable. Porsche has now confirmed that the Cayenne Electric will be sold alongside combustion and plug-in hybrid Cayenne models, and it says the Panamera and Cayenne will remain available with combustion engines and plug-in hybrid powertrains well into the 2030s. That is not a minor adjustment. It is a clear admission that flexibility now matters more than ideological purity.
Here's a glimpse at election reform advocacy and criticism of progressives for their reservations about legislation championed by the White House . . .

Letter to the Editor: American Elections Should be Decided by American Citizens

For well over a decade, Democrats have accused President Trump of fomenting division and lamented a lack of national cohesion. Given their professed desire for unity, you might think theyd join with Republicans to pass something that the overwhelming majority of Americans support.



If so, you thought wrong.



As it stands, Senate Democrats have pledged to block passage of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. Its based on a simple premise: American elections should be decided by American citizens.



To this end, the legislation stipulates that those registering to vote prove they were either born or naturalized here. It also requires government-issued ID to be presented at polling stations. The bill goes on to mandate that states remove noncitizens from the voter rolls as well as limit mail-in ballots to military personnel along with others who are legitimately unable to vote in-person.



Democrats contend that foreign citizens arent voting in our elections, but that would come as news to the Department of Justice. In a press release put out earlier this month, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania David Metcalf accused Mahady Sacko of unlawfully voting in the 2024 presidential election. Sacko, who is originally from Mauritania, has resided illegally in the United States since at least 2000.



Nor was Sacko unique, as Indian national Kaushalkumar Patel also stands accused of voting in the Keystone State. Meanwhile, Chinese citizen Haoxiang Gao is alleged to have cast an illegal ballot in Michigan but fled the country prior to being indicted. Whats more, officials at Pennsylvanias Department of Motor Vehicles have acknowledged a glitch which may have resulted in as many as 100,000 noncitizens being mistakenly registered as voters. Thats a larger figure than former President Joe Bidens 2020 margin of victory there.



Instead of addressing the issue, New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer has decried the SAVE Act as Jim Crow 2.0, suggesting that obtaining valid ID is an insurmountable task for minorities; how minorities are able to drive cars, take out mortgages, get married, or return items at Walmart is apparently a mystery to him.



Its far less of a mystery to minority voters themselves, which explains why the SAVE Acts provisions enjoy widespread support. A survey carried out by Harvard CAPS / Harris Poll in February found that 75% of voters favor proof of citizenship, 81% want voter ID, and 80% believe noncitizens should be removed from voter rolls.



America is a divided country, and there isnt much these days that her citizens can come together over. The one thing that most of us can agree on?



That Senate Democrats are on the wrong side of this issue.



 Adam Peters, Ellis County GOP Chairman

########

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 22. Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, expressed his condolences to Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Turkiye Yasar Guler and to Qatars Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense.

The message of condolence states: The news that a helicopter belonging to the Qatar Armed Forces, which was carrying out a training flight within the framework of the QatarTurkiye Joint Combined Forces Command, crashed into the sea due to a technical malfunction, resulting in the deaths of one serviceman of the Turkish Armed Forces, two technical employees of ASELSAN, and four servicemen of the Qatar Armed Forces, has deeply saddened me.

I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, share in their grief, and pray for the souls of those who lost their lives.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 22. On March 20, the National Council (the lower house) of the Swiss parliament discussed the cantonal initiative Canton of Geneva 24.321: Annexation of Nagorno-Karabakh. Release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

The National Council overwhelmingly rejected the initiative by 108 votes to 33. Since the Senate (the upper house) of the Swiss parliament had already rejected this cantonal initiative last year, the issue is considered closed and is no longer subject to further discussion.

Moreover, during last years discussions in the Senates Foreign Affairs Committee, there was a call to refrain from further debates on issues related to Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, as they undermine the successful peace process in the region.

Thus, the latest attempt by the Armenian diaspora in Switzerland to achieve any success in the countrys legislative body has failed completely.

However, local Armenian organizations, clearly influenced by Dashnaks, continue to use various propaganda activities during Armenias election year to undermine the peace process, which is the main advantage of Pashinyans administration.

On March 18, a press conference was held at the Geneva Press Club, organized by Christian Solidarity International (CSI), the Swiss-Armenian Association (lAssociation Suisse Armenie), the Armenian Legal Defense Front, and an organization presenting itself as the Committee for the Protection of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Nagorno-Karabakh, on the topic Switzerland, SOCAR and the South Caucasus: Anniversary of the Swiss peace initiative on Nagorno-Karabakh.

During the event, a complaint was voiced against SOCAR Trading, alleging that through its commercial activities it had provided financial support to a state allegedly responsible for the expulsion of the Armenian population from the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

This is far from the first attack by Armenian revanchist groups in the country against SOCARs activities in Switzerland. Like previous ones, it is considered doomed to fail. However, it may still have a propaganda effect in the run-up to elections in Armenia. According to independent observers, the complaint in question had a pre-election nature and did not create any legal obligations.

At the same event, it was also noted that a year ago the Swiss government refused to comply with a demand by the Federal Assembly (parliament) to hold a so-called peace forum between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and representatives of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh due to the unwillingness of both states. The fact that the Swiss government categorically rejected this initiative, given Azerbaijan and Armenias refusal to participate in some forum in the Alps instead of a real peace process supported by the United States, caused dissatisfaction and resentment among the participants.

It is also noteworthy that, while members of the Swiss parliament had attended previous similar events organized by the Armenian diaspora, this time lawmakers ignored the gathering of Armenian revanchists and Christian radicals.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 22. The Azerbaijani delegation led by Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova are in Georgia to attend the funeral of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia His Holiness Ilia II, Trend reports.

At the funeral liturgy held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi in the early hours of 22 March, the Azerbaijani delegation led by Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova expressed to the people of Georgia the profound grief and reverence of the people of Azerbaijan.

The Ecumenical Patriarch as well as the President of Georgia, the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister and the Honorary Chairman of The Georgian Dream addressed those gathered at the event in the cathedral.

The funeral procession to accompany the Patriarch on his final journey set out from the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and the Patriarch's coffin was conveyed with special reverence to the Sioni Cathedral. Funeral bells tolled in all churches across the country and hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to pay their last respects to the Patriarch.

The Azerbaijani delegation includes Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board, Sheikh of All the Caucasus Allahshukur Pashazade, Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov and a group of Members of the Milli Majlis.
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University of California's chief investment officer Jagdeep Singh Bachher said this week that the school system, including the University of California at Berkeley, faces "probably the biggest question of our lifetime." (Yalonda M. James/S.F. Chronicle)





The University of California's chief investment officer Jagdeep Singh Bachher said this week that the school system faces "probably the biggest question of our lifetime" as it grapples with changes wrought by artificial intelligence on its students' job prospects and risks to its $214 billion investment portfolio.

"The biggest thing that is a surprise to me and the team in the last 60 days is how fast we're all waking up to realize that AI is actually a risk," he said at a UC board of regents meeting in San Francisco.

"We need to start figuring out, what does the future of every one of our 300,000 students at the University of California look like? That in my humble opinion is probably the biggest question of our lifetime. And you don't have six years to figure it out. You need to figure that out sooner than later because things are moving at a pace that are alarming to us on a day-to-day basis," he said, adding that his daughter is preparing to go to college and her future job could be at a company that "doesn't even exist today."

For instance, AI can replace a software company's product, leading to significant stock price drops, rather than the tech boosting their business, he said. Some public software company shares are down 20% this year, he noted.

When asked if UC was overinvesting in AI, Bachher said the university can't afford to miss out on AI's growth, even if there is a bubble. He equated the AI boom to Amazon's rise, which included years of losses until it became a dominant and profitable company.

"If you sold your Amazon stock too early  you never took advantage of this growth," he said.

He noted that Nvidia expects $1 trillion in chips revenue opportunity through 2027, which is unprecedented.

"We're not managing this money for a year or two," but rather with a 30-year horizon, he said. "I fully expect even if there is a correction of some sort and things come down in value, having the patience to be able to ride this out over the long run is what is important."

Bachher said his team must "dissect our portfolio asset-by-asset and ask the question, what could be at risk" of obsolescence like a "horse and buggy."

He called AI "the biggest technological revolution at the fastest pace  let's not get caught with legacy assets that might lose their edge very quickly because everyone gets surprised."

AI has helped make Bacher's own team more efficient and may cut the need for as many workers in the future, he said.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 22. In Iran, 25 individuals have been detained on suspicion of links with Israeli intelligence services in the provinces of Markazi and Golestan, Trend reports citing Iranian media.

The detainees maintained contact with the media center of the opposition channel Iran International and transmitted coordinates of military facilities and locations of security forces.

In addition, in Golestan province, a two-person intelligence and sabotage cell preparing an attack on law enforcement agencies in order to seize weapons and ammunition was neutralized. Combat ammunition, bladed weapons, stun guns, smoke and sound grenades, U.S. flags, as well as forged documents and stolen vehicle license plates were seized from the suspects.

Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States (U.S.) 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 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 as Irans third Supreme Leader by majority vote.

From March 1 through March 5, the confrontation expanded further, affecting several countries across the Middle East.

According to information, the U.S. side suffered losses of 13 dead and more than 140 wounded.

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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 22. US and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities are a violation of international law, Abbas Araghchi stated in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Trend reports.

The minister called on the UN to take a firm stance on the issue and demanded that the US and Israel compensate for the damage caused to Iran's nuclear facilities.

He added that attacks on nuclear facilities could lead to the widespread dissemination of radioactive materials and extremely dangerous consequences for people and the environment.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 22. On Saturday, the Israeli Air Force carried out an airstrike on a nuclear research and development facility in Tehran, Trend reports, citing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The targeted site is reportedly located on the grounds of Malek Ashtar University of Technology, which is believed to be used by Irans military industry to produce components for nuclear weapons.

The university, part of Irans Ministry of Defense, is subject to Western sanctions due to its involvement in the nuclear program and ballistic missile development.

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 as Irans third Supreme Leader by majority vote.

From March 1 through March 5, the confrontation expanded further, affecting several countries across the Middle East.

According to information, the U.S. side suffered losses of 13 dead and more than 140 wounded.

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.
Interview: China's innovation, partnerships drive future growth, Audi strengthening localization, says CEO

Xinhua) 10:59, March 22, 2026

INGOLSTADT, Germany, March 21 (Xinhua) -- China remains a central focus for Audi as the German automaker ramps up electric vehicle (EV) production and strengthens local partnerships, said Gernot Doellner, Audi's global chief executive, highlighting China's rapid technological advancement and market potential.

As Audi unveiled its 2025 financial results, Doellner told Xinhua that China's rapid pace of innovation is reshaping the automotive landscape.

He depicted China as not just a large market but also a place where technology adoption and mobility trends evolve faster than anywhere else, particularly in the new energy vehicle (NEV) segment, creating both opportunities and responsibilities for Audi.

Audi has a long-standing presence in China, with nearly 40 years of engagement and over 35 years of local production, he said. "These decades of collaboration reflect how closely Audi is connected to Chinese customers."

According to Doellner, China remains one of the world's most dynamic automotive markets and a central hub for technological innovation and industrial development.

The Audi CEO said that the automotive market is changing rapidly as NEV makers and technology companies enter the sector. "Competition is intensifying, but we see it as a challenge and a driver for our own improvement."

"The old model of engineering cars in Germany and shipping them directly to China no longer works. To succeed, we need to develop products locally, with Chinese consumers and ecosystems at the center," he said.

To respond to these shifts, Audi launched a sister brand in China two years ago, targeting the fast-growing NEV market while strengthening the localization of its core four-ring brand. "This dual-brand strategy allows us to address a broader range of customer needs and accelerate product introduction," Doellner said.

Audi is working closely with local car-marking partners, including FAW and SAIC, as well as technology firms such as CATL and Huawei. Doellner said these collaborations enable the company to combine German engineering expertise in chassis, safety and body structure with China's digital ecosystem, connectivity, and battery technology.

"This is how we bring the best of both worlds together," he said.

Since 2025, Audi has introduced several battery-electric vehicles in China and plans to roll out additional models, including the A6L e-tron, in 2026.

Doellner said the company develops each model in close collaboration with local teams and partners to ensure alignment with Chinese customer preferences and usage patterns. These vehicles integrate German engineering standards with locally relevant technologies in infotainment, driver assistance, and connectivity.

Doellner called German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's February visit to China a "positive signal for business and cooperation," noting that stable and open Germany-China relations are critical amid global uncertainty, and that government engagement provides confidence for foreign companies investing in the market.

Beyond products, Audi is adapting its internal structure and global operations to meet market challenges. Doellner said that the company is streamlining decision-making, clarifying priorities, and shortening development cycles to respond faster to market changes.

On supply chains, he emphasized diversification to increase resilience. "We want a robust supply chain, not one dependent on a single source," he said.

Audi's strategy has appeared to be paying off. In 2025, the company delivered 617,514 vehicles in China, ranking among the leading high-end automotive brands in the country. Doellner noted that sustained market openness and rising consumer demand provide German automakers with long-term growth opportunities.

Looking ahead, Doellner said that Audi will continue its dual approach of internal combustion and EVs to meet diverse consumer needs, while accelerating the rollout of locally tailored EVs. "China not only offers significant growth opportunities for Audi, but also serves as a benchmark for innovation in the global automotive industry," he said.

"Our goal is to combine German automotive DNA with the pace and creativity of the Chinese ecosystem to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market," he added, stressing that the company's commitment to Chinese partnerships is long-term, with a focus on strengthening technological capabilities and its position in the market.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 22. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published a joint statement by 22 countries expressing their readiness to contribute to ensuring security in the Strait of Hormuz, Trend reports.

We express our willingness to contribute to relevant measures aimed at ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. We welcome the commitment of countries participating in the preparatory planning, the statement says.

The statement was signed by Australia, Bahrain, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, the UAE, Romania, Slovenia, Finland, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Estonia, South Korea, and Japan.

Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States (U.S.) 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 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 as Irans third Supreme Leader by majority vote.

From March 1 through March 5, the confrontation expanded further, affecting several countries across the Middle East.

According to information, the U.S. side suffered losses of 13 dead and more than 140 wounded.

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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 23. Military action against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon will continue for several more weeks, Israeli army spokesman Efi Defrin said at a briefing, Trend reports.

"Military actions against Iran and Hezbollah is expected to continue for several more weeks," he said.

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 as Irans third Supreme Leader by majority vote.

From March 1 through March 5, the confrontation expanded further, affecting several countries across the Middle East.

According to information, the U.S. side suffered losses of 13 dead and more than 140 wounded.

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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 22. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has committed $40 million (34.5 million euros) to the Templeton Turkiye Fund II (TTF II) to finance equity investments in mid-sized companies in Turkiye, Trend reports, citing the EBRD.

"The fund plans to raise a total of $300 million (258.8 million euros) and will invest across various sectors of the economy, focusing on companies with high growth potential, strong business and technological metrics, and scalable models. The partnership aims to support the expansion, competitiveness, and long-term development of mid-market companies.

Templeton Turkiye is already an EBRD client with a proven track record of portfolio value creation and successful exits. The fund operates as an independent team within Franklin Templeton, a global asset manager with over $1.6 trillion (1.38 trillion euros) under management and more than 9,000 employees worldwide. "Franklin Templeton has been investing in Turkiye since the late 1990s, demonstrating a long-term commitment and significant experience in the market," the bank said.

Meanwhile, it is noted that fundraising conditions in Turkiye have been exceptionally challenging in recent years, and the EBRDs investment played a key role in TTF IIs first closing.

"The project is expected to contribute to the stability of Turkiyes financial markets by supporting the use of private capital as an alternative source of financing. Additionally, it will enhance the competitiveness of mid-market companies by providing strategic capital and expert support in value creation," the EBRD reports.

Furthermore, it is emphasized that Templeton Turkiyes investment approach incorporates principles of sustainable growth and takes environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects into account within the portfolio.

According to the information, part of TTF IIs capital will be directed toward "green" financing, while a gender-focused approach will be applied to ensure more inclusive outcomes.

The EBRD is one of the key institutional investors in Turkiye, having invested more than 23 billion euros in the country since 2009, primarily in the private sector. In 2025, the bank invested a record 2.7 billion euros in Turkiye, once again making it the country with the largest annual investment volume.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - The 16-year-old boy who died after being shot in a mall parking lot in Champaign has been identified.

Champaign police said they responded to a fight near the Dick's House of Sport store at the Market Place Shopping Center on N. Neil Street around 6:15 p.m. Saturday.

It's unknown how many people were involved in the fight or how it started. Police said at least one person fired a gun.

The teen, later identified by the Champaign County Coroner as Jaylen Bailey, was taken to a hospital but died several hours later.

No arrests have been made. It's not clear if there are any security cameras pointed at the parking lot where the fight happened.

Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen release a statement on Facebook following the shooting:

The loss of young life, or any life, is the hardest part of being Mayor. The pain of losing a child, family member, or friend knows no limits - especially when someone this young is involved. My condolences to the family and friends affected by yesterday's shooting. Following this tragic incident, the city launched a coordinated response to ensure timely, comprehensive support and assistance. From the initial actions of our police and fire departments to the ongoing efforts of our Equity and Engagement Department's Community Safety and Justice Division, the Street Outreach teams, and our Blueprint partners, I appreciate how these teams came together in a challenging moment.

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.

The mall is owned by Chicago-based GGP. The company owns shopping malls all over the U.S.

A company spokeswoman issued a statement to WAND News after the shooting:

A senseless, tragic incident happened outside our shopping center last night. We are grateful to our security officers and partners at CPD for their quick action and diligence to contain the situation. This remains an active investigation, and we have to direct all inquiries to law enforcement.

The company did not answer questions about security or cameras at the mall.

Champaign police are asking for the public's help with any information. Crime Stoppers is also taking anonymous tips at 217-373-8477.

Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
(WAND)  Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is warning Illinois residents about a surge in text message scams falsely claiming to be from the Secretary of State or the DMV.

The Secretary of State's Office said the messages threaten vehicle registration suspension, license penalties or other enforcement actions if someone does not click a link or pay an alleged fine.

According to the office, scammers have recently improved their tactics, crafting messages that look more official by referencing fake regulations, deadlines or penalty commencement dates.

"These text messages look legitimate and are designed to frighten people into acting quickly before they have time to think," said Giannoulias. "Our office will never send a text message demanding payment or threatening to suspend someone's license. If you receive a message like this, remember it's a scam  plain and simple."

The Secretary of State's Office said if you receive a suspicious text, do not lick the link, reply or provide personal or financial information. The office said to report suspicious messages to scamalert@ilsos.gov.

Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
Italians vote this weekend in a constitutional referendum on the separation of judicial careers, in a defining test for Meloni and her right-wing government.

Italians began casting their votes early on Sunday in a referendum that could reshape the country's justice system and determine the political fortunes of premier Giorgia Meloni.

Polling stations are open across Italy on Sunday, from 07.00 to 23.00, and again on Monday from 07.00 to 15.00.

The vote is the culmination of months of fierce political and civic debate, and is widely regarded as the most consequential domestic test of Meloni's tenure since she came to power in 2022.

Reform

The justice reform, championed by Meloni's right-wing government, was approved by parliament last October but requires a referendum to become law.

The proposed measures seek to address long-standing criticisms regarding the efficiency, accountability and impartiality of the Italian courts, with proponents arguing that sweeping changes are essential to modernise a system often perceived as slow and overly politicised.



The central pillar of the reform is the permanent separation of careers for judges and prosecutors.

Currently, those wishing to become a magistrate take a single public competition valid for both positions and can subsequently decide whether to become a public prosecutor or a judge, and can switch between the two roles once within the first nine years of their career.

The reform aims to force an early and permanent choice, theoretically ensuring that judges remain entirely neutral arbiters rather than former colleagues of the prosecution.



The proposed changes would also replace the current single judiciary council, which oversees appointments, careers and disciplinary actions, with two distinct councils - one for judges and one for prosecutors - while a new, separate high disciplinary court would be established to handle sanctions against magistrates.

The campaign



Meloni has hailed the reform as an important step towards a more efficient, balanced and citizen-orientated system, insisting that no one is thinking of getting rid of the judiciary.

She has argued that the power of magistrates is enormous and unaccountable, and that the reform addresses the root causes of the system's malfunctioning rather than any desire to undermine the separation of powers. She has also vowed not to resign if the No side wins.



In recent weeks, after remaining silent, Meloni was increasingly vocal in her calls for a Yes vote.

In an unconventional final push, she appeared as a guest on the Pulp Podcast hosted by rapper Fedez - a figure who has frequently clashed with her administration on civil rights and freedom of expression.

The move was seen as an attempt to sway younger voters and reach a demographic that remains largely disengaged from mainstream political debate.

The podcast's producers clarified that they had repeatedly invited opposition leaders Elly Schlein of the Partito Democratico and Giuseppe Conte of the Movimento 5 Stelle to participate. They said that Schlein turned down the offer and that Conte failed to respond.

Opposition

Critics of the reforms, including the National Association of Magistrates and the centre-left opposition, warn of potential risks to judicial independence.

Schlein accused the government of seeking to decide which crimes should be prosecuted and which should perhaps receive less attention, arguing that the reform is being pursued by a government that wants to tell judges which charges they should bring.



Meloni herself has been stepping up her attacks on the judiciary in the final days of the campaign.

She has referred to alleged left-wing factions within the magistracy and criticised what she described as surreal rulings, including in the so-called Forest Family case , in which a court ordered the separation of a family living off-grid.

She claimed that if the reform fails to pass, Italy will find itself with even more powerful factions, even more negligent judges who advance their careers, and even more surreal decisions.

What is at stake

The outcome of the vote carries significant weight beyond its immediate constitutional implications.

Polls in the days before the vote suggested the No side held a slight lead, though a substantial portion of the electorate remained undecided or unaware of the reform's specifics.

Meloni and her right-wing coalition have long been at odds with Italy's judiciary, regularly accusing magistrates of stymying government plans from immigration to public works.

A victory for the Yes side would represent a generational transformation of a justice system that has been the subject of political controversy for decades.

A defeat, even one she has pledged not to treat as a resignation trigger, would nonetheless embolden her opponents and cast a shadow over the government's broader legislative agenda ahead of the next general election in 2027.



Photo credit: Paolo Bona / Shutterstock.com.
Sinn Fein TD for Waterford Conor McGuinness has accused the Government of delaying action while families and workers are hammered by rising fuel prices.

Skyrocketing prices are hitting travel, home heating and other areas, and Deputy McGuinness said Waterford families, already under pressure, are expected to absorb the cost.

Across Waterford, people are struggling to keep up - struggling to heat their homes, to fill the car to get to work, and to make ends meet.

People are delaying filling their tanks, cutting back on heat, and worrying about how they will get through the week, said Deputy McGuinness.

The Waterford TD said the governments response has been wholly inadequate and called on his local colleagues to act.

Instead, they are telling people to wait - wait for meetings, wait for decisions - while costs continue to rise. That is simply not good enough. Sinn Fein has brought forward legislation to reduce fuel costs, including cutting excise and scrapping planned increases in the cost of home heating oil.

TDs in this constituency - Ministers Mary Butler and John Cummins - now have a choice.

They can stand with workers and families who are under real pressure, or they can continue to back a government that is refusing to act.

I am calling on them to support Sinn Feins motion and to back the legislation we have put forward to bring fuel prices down, said Deputy McGuinness.
Waterford Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane has called for the formation of a multi-agency taskforce to examine a council-owned apartment block, following an incident in which two young children fell from a two-storey balcony.

On March 20, Nevaeh and Jayden ONeill fell from the balcony of Block C of Mount Suir Manor after their apartment's balcony windowpane came loose and fell to the ground.

Nevaeh ONeill (7) suffered minor scratches and returned home in the evening, while Jayden ONeill (3) is understood to have suffered a brain bleed.

The apartment block has been at the centre of long-standing complaints about poor living conditions. Originally developed by William Neville & Sons Ltd, the apartment block has been in the remit of Waterford City and County Council since 2020.

Deputy Cullinane said a taskforce should be led by the local authority with a full internal and external examination of every single apartment.

A previous Council inspection in 2023, carried out by Doyle Morris Group, declared the property largely in good condition.

What has happened at Mount Suir is deeply serious and the response so far is not good enough, said Deputy Cullinane.

Residents in this complex have been left down for years and they cannot be left waiting any longer for meaningful action.

There is growing and understandable anger that families have been left in such appalling conditions.

Residents have every right to ask why it has taken so long to reach this point and why stronger intervention did not happen sooner.

It is shocking to see the state of some of these apartments, inside and out. Residents have been left high and dry for far too long. They deserve better and urgent action.

The key priority now is that every resident knows the full extent of the problems in this complex and that immediate steps are taken to protect them.

Deputy Cullinane said he would raise the issue in the Dail next week.
It was a shocking experience to wake up on the morning of March 1 to hear news reports that the United States and Israel had unleashed a ferocious attack on Iran, killing the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the first wave of strikes. An extremely reckless and immoral action in my view. I was horrified.

To date, as of March 18, almost 3,114 people have been killed, of which 207 were children.

Christian leaders throughout the world (theologians, bishops, leaders of Christian organisations such as Trocaire) have unequivocally condemned this war. Christians, following the example of Jesus, respect human life and abhor violence. Rather than engage in a violent self-defence, Jesus faced death by crucifixion. Many Christians believe that peace is an absolute value and that violence is never justified.

However, Christians recognise that lasting peace is impossible without justice (which includes the right to freedom and to self-defence). Sometimes the demands of justice and the imperative of non-violence can be in conflict. That is why the Christan tradition also endorses the doctrine of the Just War. It allows for exceptions to the ethic of non-violence.

Theologically, the doctrine is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus, which represents the victory of God over sin and death. Christians believe that they should cooperate in the building of a more just earthly society.

The criteria for the Just War Theory set down the conditions under which an exception to the general prohibition of violence can be made.

Firstly, the decision to resort to arms can only be made by a legitimate authority. In the case of the war in Iran, it is highly likely that the war is illegal. Switzerland, traditionally a neutral country, has declared it so.

According to the United States Constitution, Congress (The Senate and House of Representatives) must authorise major military attacks. Congress was not consulted. Also, in International Law, the United Nations Charter prohibits the use of force against another country unless authorised by the UN Security Council (The United States is a founding member of the UN). No such authorisation was granted.

There must be a just cause to engage in war. In the modern world, it is argued that the only just cause is defence against attack. President Trump was incorrect when he claimed that Iran was about to attack American forces. Also, peaceful alternatives to the use of force must have been exhausted. International mechanisms such as the UN must have been fully engaged to make every effort to avert war.

A third criterion states that there must be proportionality between the good that is to be achieved and the harm caused. All the effects, which can be expected to flow from hostilities, must be weighed up.

Apart from the lives lost, an estimated 3,114 so far, including 190 school children, we have soaring oil and gas prices. The poor will be hit hardest by increases in the price of fuel and heating oil. Drastic reductions in supply of fuel will destabilise economies across the world.

We are also witnessing destruction rippling throughout the Middle East. There is a potential for future terrorism to be unleashed in the Gulf area for generations to come.

The war is costing over $1 billion per day, yet the Trump government has drastically reduced spending on healthcare and has formally shut down the US Agency for International Development.

According to the Just War Theory, there must be a clear statement of purpose. In this case, we ask ourselves what does Trump hope to achieve. So far Mr Trump has failed to provide a coherent rationale for going to war. Some stated goals are inconsistent and indeed contradictory.

He says he wants to bring about a regime change. Analysts claim this is highly unlikely to succeed, as there is only a very weak opposition in Iran and those protesting the regime have fled the country.

The government has a firm grip on power. It will be impossible to achieve a regime change without a ground-force invasion. Such an action will only serve to prolong the war and risk escalating the conflict by dragging other Gulf states into the war, thus destabilising the whole Middle Eastern region.

Trump wants to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power. The airstrikes may have delayed the nuclear programme, but it wont destroy the knowledge or capability.

Cardinal Robert McElroy in Washington has proclaimed that the war is not morally legitimate under just war teaching. I have argued that it fails to satisfy any one of the criteria to justify an attack on Iran.

Pope Leo has called on Mr Trump to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss, warning that the conflict could become a tragedy of enormous proportions.

It is heartening to see that European leaders will not support this war. Lets hope that Christians throughout the United States will do all in their power to oppose this war through mass demonstrations, organised protests and lobbying of politiciansjust as they did in opposing the Vietnam War and forcing Congress to agree to a peaceful resolution.
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Exclusive NationalMental health Revealed: The biggest predictors of depression, anxiety in teenagers Kate Aubusson March 22, 2026  2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Bad sleep and trouble at home can set adolescents on a trajectory towards depression and anxiety, says an Australian-first study aimed at predicting and protecting the teenagers at greatest risk. But strong friendships and feelings of belonging in those first years of high school can be powerful inoculators against mental health problems, the Black Dog Institutes Future-Proofing Study found. An Australian-first study has revealed bad sleep and problems at home are among the factors contributing to poor teenage health. Monique Westermann Researchers tracked more than 6000 students from year 8 to year 11 across more than 130 schools, starting in 2019, to provide the clearest picture to date of how the most common mental health issues manifest and evolve in adolescence. Preliminary findings released today showed two-thirds of the 13- to 18-year-olds had minimal or no significant depression and anxiety symptoms, but one in four participants reported persistently high or worsening mental health, with 26 per cent reporting anxiety symptoms and 19 per cent depression.

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The studys co-lead investigator Professor Aliza Werner-Seidler said, by the time many of these teenagers were in year 8, mental health problems had already set in. Related Article Exclusive

AI The people using AI for therapy  and the scientists trying to catch up We have to get in earlier if we want to lower their risk of developing anxiety and depression, Werner-Seidler said. Younger children are reporting things like instances of self-harm and suicidality, which is pretty new. So, we have had to adjust our focus to looking at upper primary school years for prevention work. Focusing on those modifiable factors like sleep, connection and belonging at school can probably yield the greatest impact.

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Sleep on it Sleep was one of the strongest predictors of poor mental health, the studys preliminary findings showed. An alarming one in three participants reported persistent and increasing insomnia symptoms, including 11 per cent with clinically significant insomnia who were four and six times more likely to experience high levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively. Sleep health was the missing pillar in public health education efforts, Werner-Seidler said.

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Most young people and their parents dont know how much sleep theyre meant to be getting, or how to help a child who is lying in bed and worrying so much they cant fall asleep. Before-school extracurricular activities were completely ill-suited to a teenagers circadian rhythm, she added. If school starts at 8 or 9am, that should be the first thing they do in the morning. University of Queensland Conjoint Professor of Child and Youth Psychiatry James Scott said poor sleep was one of the most common problems he sees in his practice, describing the problem as kids staying on their phones with or without social media until all hours of the night. This is a big public health challenge thats modifiable, Scott said. We really need to focus on talking to families and kids about how we improve sleep hygiene.

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The study authors suggested routine screening for sleep problems, stronger sleep education in schools, and investing in training clinicians to treat insomnia as options to make a significant difference. Sleep tips for teens Adolescents aged 13 to 18 need eight to 10 hours of sleep a night. Heres what can help: Exposure to daylight in the morning Have a regular bedtime and wake-up time Follow a bedtime routine (e.g., shower, brush teeth, dim the lights) Limit the occasional sleep-in to two hours Put screens away 30 to 60 minutes before bed Avoid daytime naps Avoid caffeine four to six hours before bed Get some exercise during the day Peer protection Participants who reported higher levels of school connectedness and positive peer relationships in year 8 were more likely to report higher wellbeing in year 10. But about one in four students reported low levels of connectedness at school.

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If young people experience exclusion and bullying at that age, it has such a negative impact on their mental health, Werner-Seidler said. Related Article Healthcare Lucia had time-blindness and missed social cues. Finding out why changed her life Teenagers brains are super sensitive to rejection, more so than younger children or adults. There is something about being a teenager where fitting in matters at a neural and emotional level. She said that schools can play an important role by fostering peer relationships and creating environments where students feel a sense of belonging. The study also confirmed that girls and gender diverse adolescents were significantly more likely than boys to be anxious and depressed, a divide not typically seen in primary school.

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It blows my mind that this is not well known: there is a massive gender difference in the prevalence of mental health symptoms, which you dont see until kids hit puberty, Werner-Seidler said. For Cassia, whose surname has been withheld, teenage troubles began early. I was in year 5 when I got quite depressed, I had eating issues and friendship struggles, Cassia, now 18, said. She was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but it wasnt until high school that her mental health plummeted. She struggled to make friends. Cassia was 10 years old when her mental health struggles began. But a friendship breakdown in high school was a tipping point. Steven Siewert

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There was one girl, my best friend  but something happened in year 9. We had a big falling out, and that made everything a lot worse, she recalled. I started to get intrusive thoughts  self-harming thoughts, and I felt like I didnt have anyone to talk to about it. Cassia was getting just six hours sleep a night and self-harming at school. She was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in year 10. When she was not permitted to return to school, her peers stopped speaking to her. That was really hard, she said. But with psychotherapy, medication and two supportive schools with strong wellbeing programs, Cassia graduated with a lasting group of friends.

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My mental health is great now, said Cassia, who is studying to be a teachers aide. Adversity at home Experiences such as verbal abuse, parental divorce, household mental illness and life-threatening danger at home by year 8 predicted a range of mental health-related issues by year 10, including new incidents of self-harm and suicidal ideation, an increase in hyperactivity problems, and peer problems. More than half of the participants reported at least one such adverse experience in their home life.

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Scott said adversity in childhood was common and often unavoidable. It was also not harmful for many children, and some of these experiences, such as divorce, were not always adverse. For some kids, divorce is actually a relief, he said. Mental illness in the household will be very common, he added. Whats important is having supports in place to help that child and the rest of the family through any tough times. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511.
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NationalPolitical leadership Opinion Young Australians are despairing. I decided to find out why Parnell Palme McGuinness Columnist and communications adviser March 22, 2026  2:00am

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Australia is doing policy all wrong. Measures designed to help young people are causing them harm. In 2020, economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton published their findings that non-college-educated, middle-aged, white Americans were dying deaths of despair. Just a few years later, young people are living lives of despair. Recent studies have found that young people in Australia and other developed countries are more miserable than any other age group. Theyre starting their adult life with worse emotional and mental health than previous generations experienced at the peak of their unhappiness, in middle age. The report found that online platforms are major vectors of hate, particularly for those aged under 35. Matt Davidson Many young Australians have lost faith that they will be able to live the lives they hope for. This week, the Centre for Independent Studies released my new research paper, Generation Trapped. I started the research with a question: Whats making 18- to 34-year-old Australians so unhappy? And what can we do about it? To find out, I asked them.

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I conducted in-person interviews and, together with pollster Morgan James from Spectre Strategy, undertook extensive qualitative research into the aspirations, perceived barriers and values of Australians 18-34 years old. To dig deeper into young Australians from different backgrounds, we took a Pew Research-style approach of segmenting young Australians into six tribes according to their dominant characteristics and behaviours. Related Article Opinion

AI What are the kids going to do? This weeks job losses are the ripple before the tsunami Malcolm Knox Journalist, author and columnist This approach revealed a core finding: young Australians who have a low sense of control over the barriers in the way of achieving their aspirations also have low life satisfaction. And those who feel a greater sense of personal agency have higher life satisfaction. This held true regardless of the financial situation in which the tribes found themselves. Unsurprisingly, though, young people who have inherited or expect to inherit money from their family have the highest sense of personal agency. Money is a tool which creates agency, or in less jargony terms, choice. But choice is also valuable by itself. Young people who feel they have agency  the ability to shape their future according to their wishes  have higher life satisfaction, even when they dont have money or expect to inherit any. In an ideal world, in which politicians were primarily motivated to make the lives of citizens better, that insight by itself should trigger a radical rethink of the way we do policy.

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Instead, as the plight of young Australians has become a bigger issue at the ballot box, successive governments have attempted to respond to its symptoms. Access to cheaper rental property has become a key focus, as most young people now consider buying a home an almost unattainable goal. Mental health services and psychiatric drug prescriptions have proliferated. To help with the cost of living, governments have offered young people free TAFE and one-time rebates on already-discounted higher education loans. Related Article Opinion

Gender pay gap The conversation women cant afford to avoid Cherelle Murphy Economist Rather than making the aspirations of young people more accessible, these policies offer a pacifier: a substitute vision for the future that governments believe is more within their power to deliver than the one young people imagine for themselves. These short-term fixes and attempted redirections represent a failure to address underlying issues. More affordable rental housing is not as good as home ownership. Therapy and antidepressants are a poor substitute for a strong sense of purpose. Free or discounted education doesnt remove the costs that credentialism transfers onto young people  in the form of student debt and delayed earnings  especially now that the wage premium post-school qualifications used to attract is declining. Yet theyre often vote winners because anything seems better than nothing. Think of it this way: if the government passed a bill providing everyone with subsidised fast food, many people struggling with the cost of living would gratefully take it, even though it would make their health worse over time. Only people wealthy enough to make ends meet without the food subsidy would continue to eat healthy food and, consequently, live better, longer and more vigorous lives. Handouts and subsidies are too often junk policies that restrict which choices are affordable, and therefore available, to many people.

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As well as yielding insights across the 18-34 age cohort, disaggregating the group into tribes creates a better understanding of different young people. Related Article Opinion

Population Its one of the greatest challenges we face, but oh baby, simplistic solutions wont fix it Luara Ferracioli Associate professor Very briefly (there is a long chapter in the paper describing each of these groupings in more detail) the tribes are as follows. Progressive Identitarians, who tend to be students, LGBTQIA+, and identify as on the far left of the political spectrum. Head-Starts either have received, or expect to receive, an inheritance or significant financial assistance from their family, and often already own a house and have started a family. Dislocated Post-Traditionalists tend to have done no post-school qualifications, have children and live in de facto arrangements.

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Natals, who tend to be family-oriented men identifying as far right, are concerned about immigration and crime. Detacheds, a generally male group with few strong views, except that they really want a family, find that goal difficult to achieve. And finally Strivers, a tribe of young people who dont come from advantaged backgrounds, but believe they will be able to achieve their goals with hard work. (The groups arent of equal size.) Despite the huge spectrum of life experience within those different tribes, all identified common aspirations: financial security, home ownership, meaningful work, and family formation (although many of the Progressive Identitarians have already given up on them). The fact that such different people want pretty much the same things that previous generations have aspired to shows that young people dont have unrealistic expectations of life. But many are fighting an uphill battle to achieve them, as governments take away their earnings with one hand and return them with another in the form of a handout. The first best type of reform would be the kind that offered these very different young people the ability to shape their own version of the good life on their own terms, according to their personal preferences. All governments like to pretend theyre benevolent. But these gifts, which take choices and control away from recipients, can end up making individuals more miserable.

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Parnell Palme McGuinness is an insights and advocacy strategist. She has done work for the Liberal Party and the German Greens and is a senior fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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WorldMiddle EastTrump diplomacy Opinion Trump and Netanyahu have formed a convenient coalition. But clear divisions are emerging Rodger Shanahan Middle East and security analyst March 22, 2026  12:30pm

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Friction is a characteristic of war, and the military coalitions that prosecute them are not immune from its effects. National priorities and rules of engagement may impact targeting considerations, risk acceptance or the willingness to conduct certain tasks. But the nations that join together to fight wars generally agree on what the strategic aim of the conflict is. What has been noteworthy about the US-Israeli coalition prosecuting their war against Iran, has been the increasingly public differences between the objectives they are both pursuing. The US Secretary of War Peter Hegseth, when asked about Israels targeting of oil storage facilities near Irans capital that unleashed a large and dense pall of smoke over Tehran said that Where they [Israel] have different objectives, theyve pursued them. Ultimately, weve stayed focused on ours. Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, Israels parliament, in October last year. AP Later, after Israel targeted Irans South Pars gas field resulting in a retaliatory strike against Qatari energy infrastructure, US President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to say that he knew nothing about the attack and No more attacks will be made by Israel. Of course the idea that during an extended air campaign with the need for significant air space and targeting deconfliction, that the United States would have been unaware of an Israeli attack on South Pars, is not really credible. The reality is that Israel is pursuing a maximalist agenda, with an ideal outcome of regime change in Tehran. Trumps agenda is likely less ambitious and certainly less well articulated. Regardless, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that in Trump there is finally an incumbent in the White House who shares his belief in direct military force against Iran and in tactical victories without much concern about strategic consequences. It is an opportunity that he has no intention of squandering.

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For all the talk of a rift between Israel and the United States though, there is little practical indication of it other than some vaguely critical Truth Social posts by the US president. The real tension is likely to manifest itself when the decision to cease military operations is taken. Netanyahu remains convinced that the regime can fall if sufficient military pressure is applied to it and sufficient Iranian military and security assets destroyed or degraded. It also believes that it can further degrade Hezbollah the longer it can pummel Lebanon. Washington appears less convinced that the regime can fall and is far more concerned with the economic costs of a war without a decisive victory, or a negotiated end that Trump can portray as victory. Each of Washingtons and Tel Avivs desired goals require different levels of military pressure over different periods of time, but it will be the White House that ultimately decides when the bombing stops. And when that happens it is likely that nobodys goals will have been achieved. Dr Rodger Shanahan is a Middle East analyst. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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Updated WorldNorth AmericaUS politics Lawless threat: Trump to deploy ICE agents to airports over funding stoush Jason Lange , Mike Scarcella and Nolan McCaskill Updated March 23, 2026  3:07am ,first published March 22, 2026  6:57am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Washington: US President Donald Trump said that he would send Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to help out Transportation Security Administration personnel in US airports. On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job, he said in a Truth Social post on Sunday (Washington time). Air travellers endure long lines and two-hour wait times at the TSA security check point at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, on Friday. AP Trump had on Saturday threatened to deploy ICE agents to airports if congressional Democrats do not immediately agree to fund airport safety. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel are set to miss a second full pay cheque on March 27 amid a partial government shutdown in its 36th day as lawmakers clash over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, the parent agency for TSA and ICE.

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TSA officers have called in sick as pay cheques have dried up, and the shortage of security agents has disrupted travel at major airports. More than 400 TSA workers have quit since the partial shutdown began on February 14, NBC News reported on Saturday, citing DHS. Related Article Updated

Trump's White House Trump sacks Kristi Noem, the face of his immigration crackdown Trumps border czar Tom Homan said ICE agents would only conduct non-significant tasks such as guarding exits. Were simply there to help TSA do their job in areas that dont need their specialised expertise such as screening through the X-ray machine, he told on CNN on Sunday. Not trained in that, wont do that. However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that ICE agents know how to pat people down, they know how to run the X-ray machines.

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On Saturday, Trump said ICE agents at airports will do Security like no one has ever seen before, and that they would conduct immediate arrests of any undocumented immigrants with an emphasis on Somalis. But Homan downplayed that aspect of the assignment, saying ICE had been present and conducting immigration enforcement at airports. Its not going to change, he said. When we deploy tomorrow, well have a well-thought-out plan to execute. The labor union representing TSA workers criticised Trumps decision, saying their members spend months in training learning to detect explosives and weapons. Our members at TSA have been showing up every day, without a paycheck, because they believe in the mission of keeping the flying public safe, Everett Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees, said. They deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they can be.

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TSA has about 65,000 employees, including 50,000 airport security officers. ICE has played a central role in the Trump administrations immigration crackdown, drawing criticism from many Democrats, civil liberties advocates and immigration advocacy groups. A TSA staff member at a check point at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. AP Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, criticised Trumps proposal as another reckless, lawless threat to misuse ICE agents. He seems to have no concept of what the limits are on ICE, and I think America would be absolutely appalled to see ICE agents roaming through airports, just as theyve been breaking down doors at homes, Blumenthal told reporters in Washington.

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Homeland Security historically had shifted resources across agencies during emergency staffing shortages, said Stewart Baker, who was a DHS policy official in president George W. Bushs administration. Keeping TSA going without paying staff creates serious trouble for the agency, Baker said. Using ICE agents for airport security may be slower than using trained people, but it would be better than having nobody, he added. Loading ICE, along with Customs and Border Protection, has deployed agents over the past few months to multiple areas as part of the crackdown, most recently to Minnesota in an operation that resulted in agents fatally shooting American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Their deaths sparked a backlash and led the Trump administration to adopt a more targeted approach in Minnesota.

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Trump this month fired Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem amid growing criticism of the administrations immigration tactics. The US Senate is considering the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican, as the next DHS secretary. Trump has said his immigration policies are intended to curb illegal immigration and improve national security. Last year, the American Civil Liberties Union said TSA had provided lists of airport travellers to ICE, calling the move a break from TSAs prior practices. Reuters, Bloomberg 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.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)  A small fire put a pause on events at a Louisville community center.

Louisville Metro Parks and Rec posted Friday on Facebook the fire at the Newburg Community Center occurred in a partner's section of the building. No one was hurt, and the building is structurally sound, the post said.

However, the damage is being assess and cleanup needs to be done before the community center can reopen, so all programming is cancelled for now and the center is closed.

Those who participate in Kid's Cafe can visit the South Louisville Community Center at 2911 Taylor Blvd or contact Dare to Care.

Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
Leesville, LA (71446)

Today

Cloudy early, then thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High near 80F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Just weeks after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez revived the No to war slogan associated with the mass anti-war movement against the 2003 Iraq invasion, and declared that Spain would refuse the use of US-Spanish military bases for the war against Iran, Madrid has signed off on 1 billion ($1.1 billion) in military aid to Ukraine.

The commitment was formalised following a bilateral meeting in Madrid between Sanchez and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, exposing the anti-war rhetoric of the Socialist Party (PSOE)-Sumar coalition government.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez with Sumar leader Yolanda Diaz (to his right in the image) at a cabinet meeting, July 2023 [Photo by Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo/Ministry of the Presidency. Government of Spain]

Announcing the package at the Moncloa Palace, Sanchez pledged that Spain would continue backing the far-right regime in Kyiv for as long as necessary. He presented Russias invasion, a response to years of NATOs eastward expansion and the transformation of Ukraine into a proxy against Russia, as a defining test of the international order.

We will stay on your side as we always have, Sanchez said, citing coherence and trust in an international order that, despite its shortcomings, has helped humanity enjoy a long period of peace and prosperity.

These words obscure the direct complicity of Spain, the US and the European powers in the ongoing Gaza genocide, which has claimed over 70,000 lives, as well as their support for the illegal war now being waged against Iran that has led to thousands of deaths.

Sanchez then warned that the US-led war against Iran was distracting from NATOs war against Russia. We cannot deny that the crisis in the Middle East is monopolising conversation, he said, and precisely for that reason nothing and no one will make us forget what is happening in Ukraine. He pledged that Spain would keep our support for the Ukrainian people with the same intensity, as Madrid and Kyiv signed agreements to coproduce military equipment including drones, radar systems and missiles.

He confirmed that the latest 1 billion package is part of a longer-term commitment, adding, In total, Spains assistance in this war has reached 4 billion. This support goes beyond direct transfers of weapons, he said, noting that it provides for joint production of defense products alongside Spains participation in financing mechanisms such as the SAFE programme to sustain Ukraines military needs.

Madrid is following the same trajectory as the other major European powers, which are being inexorably drawn into an expanding imperialist war across the world. While early last week European governments were still claiming that the US-led assault on Iran was not our war, within days Britain, France, Germany, Italy and others moved toward direct involvement, pledging future participation in securing the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies pass. London has authorised the use of its bases for US strikes.

Spain deploying its most technologically advanced frigate to the eastern Mediterranean supports the US-led war effort by shielding key Western military infrastructure and enabling Washington to intensify its bombing campaign against Iran.

On Saturday, Sanchezs government rushed through a series of limited social and economic subsidies to pre-emptively contain social discontent arising from the war in the Middle East. The 5 billion package includes temporary tax cuts on electricity, fuel and gas, modest subsidies for vulnerable households, and targeted support for selected sectors such as transport, agriculture and industry. It introduces a temporary rent freeze and minor labour protections tied to companies receiving state aid. These measures are a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of the economic crisis that is rapidly unfolding.

The passage of these measures exposed the role of the PSOEs coalition partner, Sumar. Its leadership staged a political stunt on Friday, with its ministers refusing to enter the Council of Ministers that was set to pass the measures until the PSOE agreed to include a temporary rent freeze. Confronted with opposition from the right-wing Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), whose parliamentary support is essential for the minority government and which had made clear it would reject any decree containing housing measures, the government split the package in two, ensuring that one would pass while effectively dooming the other. This enabled Sumar to posture as advancing a social measure it knew lacked the votes to succeed.

An anonymous government source close to Sumar commented on the rent freeze in remarks to Publico, stating, that people can continue living in their homes is not exactly a maxim of Lenin.

The remark reveals how deeply the spectre of socialist revolution is haunting the ruling class. The PSOE-Sumar governments response came amid a sharp intensification of the class struggle.

From January through March, a wave of strikes has swept healthcare, transport, education, industry and the public sector. This includes the nationwide strike by doctors and medical staff, involving more than 175,000 workers, one of the largest in the sector in recent decades. Organised in rolling stoppages since February and set to continue through April, May and June, the strike has led to widespread cancellations of consultations, tests and surgeries across multiple regions.

In the transport sector, over 34,000 railway workers participated in a three-day national strike in February. Meanwhile, ongoing and upcoming strikes in airport ground handling services, covering companies with workforces exceeding 6,000 employees, threaten to paralyse air travel during the Easter holidays. The aviation sector is experiencing continuous disruption, with an indefinite strike affecting more than 3,500 workers across multiple airports since late 2025 and continuing into this year.

Additional strike calls in meteorological services, involving around 1,000 workers, and in the rail manufacturing firm Talgo, where approximately 2,700 workers are set to strike over wage disputes, illustrate the breadth of the unrest. General strikes have also taken place on March 8 across several regions and again on March 17 in the Basque Country, demanding a minimum wage of 1,500 in response to soaring living costs.

The scale of opposition was seen on the day the PSOE-Sumar passed the measures, when the Catalan education strike, supported by 90 percent of educators, culminated in more than 100,000 people joining the central demonstration in Barcelona. Teachers, students and families filled streets and blocked roads across the region, expressing unified opposition to deteriorating conditions and rejecting agreements reached by the major unions with the education authorities. A key slogan was less weapons, more education.

This growing movement is intersecting with an intensification of class struggle internationally. In Turkey, thousands of warehouse workers and miners have launched strikes. In the US, 6,000 DHL logistics workers have voted overwhelmingly to strike, while over 68,000 education workers in Los Angeles are preparing for industrial action. In Mexico, nearly 7,000 workers at General Motors are moving toward a strike, threatening production at one of North Americas key auto manufacturing hubs.

This movement of the working class constitutes the decisive social force that must be mobilised to put an end to war and its root cause, the capitalist system. Its development in Spain requires a conscious political break with the PSOE-Sumar government and its backers in the trade union bureaucracy, which have worked systematically to suppress these struggles while supporting the governments pro-war policies. Only through the independent mobilisation of the working class, armed with a socialist and internationalist perspective, can the struggle against war be carried forward.
Arkansas police have arrested Kendra Duggar, the wife of the reality TV personality Joseph Duggar, on misdemeanor child abuse charges, in the latest scandal to envelop the family featured on TLCs 19 Kids and Counting.

Kendra Duggar faces four counts each of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree false imprisonment, according to the Washington county sheriffs office in Arkansas. She has a hearing scheduled for Monday.

Kendra Duggars arrest came days after her husband, Joseph Duggar, was arrested on charges in Florida for lewd and lascivious behavior against a child under 12. He is accused of molesting a girl when she was nine years old during a family trip to Panama City Beach.

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Joseph Duggar acknowledged touching the child inappropriately in a conversation with her father and a detective, saying that his intentions were not pure, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by People magazine.

The charges against Kendra Duggar are unrelated to the ones that her husband faces in Florida, according to KNWA.

The 19 Kids and Counting series portrayed the lives of parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their children, all of whose names began with the letter J. The Duggars, who live in Tontitown, Arkansas, were strict Baptists who home-schooled their children, wore modest clothing and embraced a conservative Christian family values ethic.

The show was canceled in 2015 after the Duggars eldest son, Joshua, faced allegations of molesting four of his sisters as a teenager. He is currently imprisoned for possessing child sex abuse images.

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Joseph, 31, is the seventh-oldest of the Duggars 19 children. He met Kendra at church and married her in 2017, when he was 23 and she was 19.

Their courtship was depicted in a spin-off that TLC released after canceling 19 Kids and Counting called Counting On. Joseph and Kendra Duggar have four children together, ages three to seven.
British actor John Alford, best known for his roles in Grange Hill and Londons Burning, has been found dead in prison.

The Prison Service confirmed to the BBC that Alford, whose real name was John Shannon, was found dead at HMP Bure in Norfolk on March 13, 2026.

John Shannon died in prison on 13 March 2026, a Prison Service spokesman said in a statement. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.

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A cause of death has not yet been released.

His death comes just two months after the 54-year-old began serving his eight and a half years in prison sentence for sexually assaulting two teenage girls. His sentence began on Jan. 14, 2026.

In September 2025, a jury at St. Albans Crown Court found him guilty of sexually assaulting the girls, who were 14 and 15 at the time of the offenses in April 2022.

Prosecutor Chris White told the jury that Alford was fully aware of the girls ages, yet he chose to exploit them  giving them alcohol and then committing sexual offences against them."

Alford was convicted of four counts of sexual activity with the younger girl and of sexual assault and assault by penetration on the older teenager.

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He denied the offenses. When the jury delivered the guilty verdicts, he put his head in his hands and shouted, Wrong, I didnt do this, according to the BBC.

The actor, who hails from Holloway in North London, gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, playing Robbie Wright in the childrens series Grange Hill from 1985 to 1989. In 1993, he joined the ITV drama Londons Burning as firefighter Billy Ray.

Alford previously served nine months in prison in 1997 after being convicted of supplying cocaine and cannabis to an undercover journalist.

Read the original article on syracuse.com. Add syracuse.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Savannah Guthrie and her family have released a new statement about their missing mother, urging Tucson, Arizona, residents to come forward with potential clues about 84-year-olds Nancy Guthries whereabouts.

In their statement on Sunday, the NBC Today show host and her siblings said: We continue to believe it is Tucsonans, and the greater southern Arizona community, that hold the key to finding resolution in this case. Someone knows something. Its possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant.

We hope people search their memories, especially around the key timelines of January 31 and the early morning hours of February 1, as well as the late evening of January 11, the statement continued, referring to a date that investigators have previously expressed interest in without disclosing why.

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Related: Savannah Guthrie plans to return to Today show as mother remains missing

Guthrie and her family continued: We desperately ask this community for renewed attention to our moms case  please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations, or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance. No detail is too small. It may be the key.

We miss our mom with every breath, and we cannot be in peace until she is home. We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder. Our focus is solely on finding her and bringing her home. We want to celebrate her beautiful and courageous life, but we cannot do that until she is brought to a final place of rest, they concluded.

Sunday marks seven weeks since the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, who authorities believe was abducted from her home in the Tucson.

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Alongside drops of blood discovered on Guthries porch, investigators also recovered DNA from a glove found two miles from her home. The glove appeared to resemble one worn by a suspect seen in surveillance footage from the night of her disappearance. However, the glove was later discredited after it was discovered to have belonged to a restaurant worker, not the abductor involved in the case.

Authorities say the investigation remains active, with local and federal agencies continuing to analyze forensic evidence.

Over the last few weeks, investigators have canvassed nearby neighborhoods, reviewed hours of surveillance footage and conducted multiple interviews, though no arrests have been made.

In February, a man was detained in a traffic stop and underwent several hours of questioning in connection to the investigation before being ultimately released.

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Since her mothers disappearance, Savannah Guthrie has used her national platform to raise awareness, frequently sharing updates and appeals for information. Her family has offered up a $1m reward for any information about her mother.

Earlier this month, NBC confirmed that Savannah Guthrie plans to return to the Today show but offered no timeline on when she will resume her duties.
Savannah Guthrie is renewing pleas to neighbors, friends and residents of Tucson, Arizona, to jog their memories in the hopes of sparking new leads in the disappearance of her mother, Nancy.

The "Today Show" co-host posted a new family statement on her Instagram account Sunday morning, hours after the show's Instagram account shared it.

After expressing gratitude to the community, the family said in its statement that it believes someone in Tucson or in southern Arizona may "hold the key to finding the resolution in this case."

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"Someone knows something. It's possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant," the family said.

The family urged people to go back over their memories between Jan. 31  when Nancy Guthrie was last seen  and Feb. 1 as well as the evening of Jan. 11.

"Please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations, or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance," the statement said. "No detail is too small."

They also acknowledged in the statement that their family's matriarch may no longer be alive.

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"We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder," they said.

Law enforcement sources told CBS News last week that additional images were recently obtained from surveillance cameras installed at Nancy Guthrie's Tucson home but nothing was deemed suspicious. No images reviewed showed the suspect captured on the front door camera, sources said.

Lance Leising, a retired FBI supervisory special agent, told CBS News it all points to "a lack of meaningful leads."

"It becomes much harder to keep the investigation going, keep it current and fight for new leads," he added.

Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Feb. 1. Authorities believe the 84-year-old was kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken against her will. DNA recovered from the scene is still being analyzed, with investigators turning to forensic genetic genealogy in hopes of breaking the case open.

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The FBI released surveillance videos of a masked man who was outside Guthrie's front door on the night she vanished.

The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of their mother.

Savannah Guthrie visited the NBC "Today Show" studio in New York City for the first time since her mother's disappearance on March 5. The show said she plans to return to the air at some point but "remains focused right now supporting her family and working to help bring Nancy home."

Tucson is a little over 100 miles south of Phoenix and 70 miles north of the Arizona-Mexico border. The Catalina Foothills, the neighborhood where Nancy Guthrie lives, is known as an affluent area with popular hiking trails.

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Savannah Guthrie has been a co-anchor of the venerable NBC morning show since 2012. One of her former colleagues, Hoda Kotb, has returned to "Today" to fill in while Guthrie has concentrated on finding her mother.

Early legal details on verdict against Meta and YouTube in social media addiction trial

Meta and YouTube found liable on all charges in landmark social media addiction trial

UAE says it intercepted nine Iranian drones
If youre fan of this drink, sorry to be the be the one to tell you this.

The company behind the drink announced not too long ago that beverage  one of its most iconic products  will be discontinued.

According to Good Housekeeping, parent company Coca-Cola plans on getting rid of Minute Maid frozen juice cans in both the United States and Canada by next month. These drinks will disappear entirely from stores once inventory runs out.

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We are discontinuing our frozen products and exiting the frozen can category in Canada in response to shifting consumer preferences, a spokesperson from Coca-Cola informed the publication.

With the juice category growing strongly, were focusing on products that better match what our consumers want.

Parade notes that Minute Maids frozen juice cans first arrived on the scene during World War II: Soldiers were given the frozen concentrate in order to get a necessary dose of vitamin C.

With such a long tenure on grocery store shelves, the frozen juice cans have inevitably become a staple in many an American household. The news of their discontinuation has, understandably, left multiple fans distraught.

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No! cried one on Facebook. Chasing an orange log around the plastic pitcher with a wooden spoon was my childhood!

A staple from my childhood, another echoed. Our deep freeze ran abundant with many flavors, and our Tupperware juice container was never empty.

Did anybody else put them in the microwave for one minute to soften it? mused another. With the lid off, of course.

So, take note, lovers of the Minute Maid frozen juice cans: You have until April to stock up.

Food and dining news

Read the original article on pennlive.com. Add pennlive.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As you may be aware, according to canon 401 of the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church, bishops are requested to submit a letter of resignation to the Supreme Pontiff upon reaching their 75th birthday. Accordingly, reaching that milestone this March 3, I have submitted that letter to Pope Leo XIV via the Papal Nunciature in Washington, DC. My present status as Bishop of Pueblo continues until my resignation is accepted by the Holy See, and a new bishop is installed. As you may recall, when I arrived twelve years ago, the diocese had been a vacant see without a bishop for some time. In this present situation, I will continue my ministry as your bishop and fulfill all episcopal obligations as before, until a new bishop is welcomed into the diocese.

In the process of transitioning of bishops, we note that Archbishop Samuel Aquila, Archdiocese of Denver, is now officially retired. We thank him for his support and encouragement over many years and keep him in our prayers. Bishop James Golka, formerly of the Diocese of Colorado Springs, has now been announced as the next Archbishop of Denver, to be officially consecrated on March 25. We pray for Archbishop-elect Golka upon his acceptance of this new responsibility, as we thank Our Lord for bringing us another dedicated and inspiring archepiscopal leader for our state of Colorado.

There are now some 30+ dioceses and archdioceses in the United States, including Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and, locally, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, which are in transition and awaiting the announcement of a new (arch) bishop. I do not know how long it will take to fill all these positions; the discernment, offering and accepting of the episcopal office is a complicated process which takes many months. I personally know bishops who continued in office for quite some time past the retirement age before being replaced. As to that process of selection of new bishops, I have no information on how that happens. The best answer to why and how I was chosen twelve years ago to be your bishop was given by a second grader in one of our Catholic schools. That is, that you prayed for me.

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In my letter, I indicated to the Holy Father my intentions to continue my residence in Pueblo and to be of assistance as may be determined. I have several ideas about how that can work and am excited by the possibilities. In the meantime, preparing for the transition into new leadership, we shall listen, watch, pray and work together in little ways to serve Our Lord. Our Lenten journey takes on a new aspect of Ad Limina, towards the threshold; we are being prepared. Jesus knows what we need and has already chosen our new bishop for the future. With confidence, we await the revelation of that choice, and pray for this new man, whoever he may be.

With humble gratitude, I thank you for the privilege of being your shepherd. All is to be continued in Gods time and plan. Know also that you and your families have been and always will be kept in my prayers.

Ad Limina! The Road to Easter is Open!

Diocese of Pueblo Bishop Stephen J. Berg

The Most Reverend Stephen J. Berg is the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Bishop Berg: Ad Limina
Mar. 22BEMIDJI  Boy Scouts of America troop 4025 will host its annual community pancake breakfast fundraiser from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, March 29, at the First Presbyterian Church, 501 Minnesota Ave. NW.

The breakfast will include pancakes, sausage, fruit and beverages prepared and served by the Scouts.

Ticket prices are set at $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for those under 6. Tickets will be available at the door, or can be purchased ahead of time from a Scout.

Funds raised will help support the troop's various activities, including camping trips, merit badge classes and community service projects.
The band Spaceskull plays music while marching in the annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and Krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city, Sunday, March 22, 2026. The band Spaceskull plays music while marching in the annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and Krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city, Sunday, March 22, 2026. The annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and Krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city, Sunday, March 22, 2026. A bike made to replicate the Boblo Boat with the Detroit Freakbike Experience makes its way down the street during the annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and Krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city, Sunday, March 22, 2026. The Detroit Freak Bike Experience makes its way down the street during the annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and Krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city, Sunday, March 22, 2026. The sperm buggy makes its way down the street during the annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and Krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city, Sunday, March 22, 2026. The sperm buggy makes its way down the street during the annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and Krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city, Sunday, March 22, 2026. The annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and Krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city, Sunday, March 22, 2026. The annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and Krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city, Sunday, March 22, 2026. Angel Ortega, of the Metro Detroit Flomies, marches in the annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and Krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city, Sunday, March 22, 2026. Kyle Simpson, carrying his daughter Margot just moved to Detroit with his partner Becky Lattenberger and son Walker Simpson from Washington D.C. and participates in their first annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and Krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city. Debbie Patterson, is a teacher in Troy and wears a mask she made out of paper clay during the annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city, Sunday, March 22, 2026. Marche du Nain Rouge in Detroit 1 of 12 The band Spaceskull plays music while marching in the annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-and-cheek parade made up of the citizens of Detroit, and Krewes march down second street in midtown towards the Masonic Temple, where the Nain will be banished from the city, Sunday, March 22, 2026.

Music thumped on West Canfield at Second Avenue in Midtown Detroit on Sunday, March 22, as costumed revelers kicked off the Marche du Nain Rouge  an annual celebration that ushers in spring and pays homage to the city's French roots and a local legend that dates to its founding.

"It's pure fun," said Dave Young, 71, of Huntington Woods, who drove the "Red Dwarf" pedicab along Second Avenue in a procession of cyclists led by the Detroit FreakBike Experience, a red, six-seated hexagon-shaped buggy with bike pedals.

The Nain Rouge means "red dwarf" in French and folklore ties sightings of the devilish imp to some of the biggest catastrophes in the Detroit's history.

Kyle Simpson carries his daughter, Margot, on his shoulders during the annual Marche du Nain Rouge on March 22, 2026, a tongue-in-cheek parade that proceeds along Second Avenue in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood. Simpson said he recently moved to Detroit with his partner, Becky Lattenberger, and son, Walker Simpson, from Washington, D.C.

"It's so inclusive. That's what I like," said Young, whose Red Dwarf pedicab was adorned with a scupture of the Nain. He had to carefully move his head to ensure the horns on his hat didn't hit it. " Everyone is welcome to be in the march."

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Also called the banshee of the city of the Strait, legend has it that a fortune teller gave an ominous warning to the city's founder, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, before he established the 15-square-mile French fort on the shores of what is known today as the Detroit River.

"Appease the Nain Rouge," the fortune teller told him. "Beware of offending him."

The story is detailed in the 1884 book "Legends of Le Detroit," by Marie Caroline Watson Hamlin, which is in the digital collection of the Detroit Historical Society.

Cadillac didn't heed her advice. When he saw the creature six years later while on a stroll with his wife, he hit the imp with a cane and chased it away, Hamlin wrote. In doing so, Cadillac sealed his fate and caused his own financial ruin.

Andrea E. House and Karrington Kelsey of the Mardi Gras Krewe stretch and dance before they set off down Second Avenue in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood for the annual Marche du Nain Rouge on Sunday, March 22, 2026. The tongue-in-cheek parade ended at the Masonic Temple, where the Nain was to be banished from the city.

The little red demon became embedded in Detroit legend as a harbinger of doom, and reportedly was seen prior to the 1763 Battle of Bloody Run between British troops and native Americans, which took place in modern-day Elmwood Park. The Nain Rouge also was spotted before the Great Fire of 1805 that destroyed most of the city, the 1967 riots and an historic ice storm in 1976, lore has it.

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Since 2010, the colorful, riotous parade has made its way through the Cass Corrdior (AKA Midtown), welcoming spring.

Originally, organizers sought to drive the Nain Rouge out of the city  but for many revelers, the mission has shifted to embracing the creature because they oppose anti-indigenous stereotypes that could be associated with banishing the red dwarf.

More: Rehab planned for Midtown Detroit apartments that saw horrific fire

More: Why these 13 metro Detroit restaurants deserve to be called classics

Sunday was Cormac Kelly's first Marche du Nain Rouge. He was born on parade day last year, said his mother, Casey Kelly, 36, of Detroit, as she adjusted his red hoodie as he sat in a wagon skirted with colorful fringe and a first birthday sign.

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Bringing Cormac to the Marche du Nain Rouge felt like the perfect way to celebrate his birthday, said Kelly, who was decked out in a red hoodie and devil's ears.

The band Spaceskull plays music while marching in the annual Marche du Nain Rouge, a tongue-in-cheek parade down Second Avenue in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood on Sunday, March 22, 2026. The parade ended at the Masonic Temple, where the Nain was to be banished from the city.

"It feels so organic to Detroit," she said. "Even if it keeps growing, it has the authenticity. It feels very DIY. You can bring kids, which is cool. And when it starts to get nice out, even 50 degrees here, it feels like a rebirth every year."

Sean Kelly, 35, wore a red wig, and added: "This is our opening day."

Patti Bohl brought her broomstick and was dressed in her best witch regalia  replete with a pointy hat covered in spiders, a long gray wig. Bohl's coven of about a half dozen ornately dressed sorceresses belong to The Real Witch Wives of Grosse Ile, a group that gathers to dance in the streets at parades across the region.

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For the Marche du Nain Rouge, she said, "we can get our witch on in a different season."

Bohl described the event as a Detroit-style Mardi Gras parade, but made a personal connection. "I was born in '67, when the riots went on. I want to get that little guy out of here," she said of the Nain Rouge.

Kim Casteel, 59, and her husband Chris Casteel, 62, live in Detroit's Lafayette Park neighborhood and said they fund-raise for the Marche du Nain Rouge and attend the event every year.

"We love the community, and Detroit is all about community, " said Kim Casteel, who wore an ornate feather boa headdress with a glittering red and gold mask. "We believe that if you contribute to society, it comes back to you twofold. We are here to banish negativity, the Nain, and continue community spirit here in the city. ... It's like Mardi Gras, but a little pluckier."

The Marche du Nain Rouge, an annual parade and celebration steeped in Detroit history, kicked off on Second Avenue at West Canfield on Sunday, March 22, 2026. This year, it included Audra Kubat, 52, of Space Dive. The procession ended at the Masonic Temple, where the Nain was to be banished from the city. The Marche featured Krewes, human-powered floats, live music, themed costumes and hundreds of people representing their Detroit neighborhoods.

Farther down the parade route, Ralph Taylor put together his Caribbean Mardi Gras production. A 2016 Kresge fellow and native of Trinidad, Taylor, 83, created colorful feathered costumes for a krewe of Carnival-style dancers.

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"I've been in Detroit since 1973, and I'm still doing my thing," Taylor said. "The Marche du Nain Rougeis about having a good time.

"Caribbean colors are about happiness, and we need happiness today in the world. We all get to celebrate."

Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Marche du Nain Rouge celebrates folklore tied to Detroit's founder
Thursday, March 22, 1900  126 Years Ago

A jail break in Neptune. The New Jersey State Legislature moves forward on a bill to allow Shore towns to take ownership of their beaches. A Neptune police officer is forced to resign amid rumors of a sensational nature that he is having an extramarital affair. And Avon-By-The-Sea is a day away from becoming the states newest municipality.

Escaped From Jail: Somebody Opened a Cell of the Township Prison Last Night and Liberated John Brown of Ohio

NEPTUNE  A young man, stranger in this section, who gave the name John Brown and said he hailed from Ohio, quarreled with Hartson Poland over a game of cards last night in Henry Venbangos place, Springwood Avenue.

Brown is apparently not over 16 years of age and only weighs about 120 pounds. Poland is much stouter and heavier, and when the quarrel began Poland endeavored to throw Brown out of Venbangos establishment. In this he was unsuccessful, for Brown is said to have turned upon Poland and administered such a thrashing as will cause the latter to remember their meeting for many a day.

Local timetable for the Central Railroad of New Jersey published on page 2 of the Asbury Park Press on Thursday, March 22, 1900.

Poland preferred a charge of assault and battery against Brown before Justice Cross, and Constable L.C. Hubbert arrested Brown and locked him up.

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Somebody who was acquainted with the place where the key of Browns cell was kept went into the jail during the night and liberated the stranger from Ohio. The fact he had disappeared only became known today when the hour for the hearing arrived.

Beach Bill Amended: Measure Will Probably be Presented to Legislature At This Afternoons Session

ASBURY PARK  Reports which have reached this city this afternoon from Trenton seem to indicate that the beach purchase bill will pass this session of the Legislature.

The bill has been amended, covering in detail the unconstitutional features which were pointed out by the attorney general. The main trouble was in the title, which did not specifically set forth the provisions of the measure.

Two bills have been substituted for the original, one of which provides for the purchase of the sewers and the other for the purchase of the beach. A gentleman who arrived in the city from Trenton on the noon train said the bills were in the hands of the printer and would probably be ready for the Legislature when it convenes this afternoon.

Gentlemen, time to step into the 20th century by coming down to Charles Krainzs tailor shop on Bond Street in Asbury Park for the latest spring fashions for 1900. As advertised on page 3 of the Asbury Park Press on Thursday, March 22, 1900.

Joe McLaughlin is a Policeman

NEPTUNE  Joseph H. McLaughlin of West Grove is doing duty on the township police force in place of Harry Davis, who resigned on Monday.

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Davis handed in his badge owing to rumors that have been circulated for several weeks concerning his alleged relationship with a young woman. The details of the story were printed in the Asbury Park Press recently.

At the meeting and reorganization of the Township Committee next Saturday, new officers will probably be appointed.

Whats for dinner? J.J. Parker, The Grocer, invites you to find out at his market on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park as advertised on page 3 of the Press on Thursday, March 22, 1900.

Local Happenings

J. Stanley Ferguson is confined to his home, Main Avenue, Ocean Grove, with a severe attack of the grip.

Liberty Temple, No. 6, L.G.E., will give a masquerade sociable and dance in Wincklers Hall, Wednesday night, April 4.

Col. and Mrs. G.R.M. Harvey sailed from New York yesterday on the White Star line steamer Oceanic for Liverpool.

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The reception to be tendered for Rev. W.G. Moyer tomorrow night at West Grove will be held in the church instead of the parsonage.

Counselor David Harvey Jr. is at Trenton in the interests of the legislative bill which proposes to set apart Avon as a separate borough.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Today in history: Asbury Park Press NJ archives for March 22
Sprouts Farmers Market has a bit of a confusing name that often leads customers to question what the grocery store actually is, with "farmers market" right there in the title. And, although the moniker might throw you for a loop, the answer is definitive: Sprouts is a grocery store, not a real farmers market.

On its website, the chain describes itself as "the very best parts of a real farmers market under one roof, open every day." So, basically, it's a farmers' market-themed grocery store, or a grocery store inspired by the idea of a farmers' market.

That said, the chain does its best to replicate the intentions of the real deal, as it does, indeed, source some of its fresh food from local farms. Many of these farms are family-owned, and all of them are required to follow ethical workplace standards, meet animal-welfare best practices, follow a strict code of conduct and ethics, and be mindful of environmental impact. It may not be a "real" farmers' market, but Sprouts does its best to emulate one, however possible, on a national scale.

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Read more: 13 Secrets Buc-Ee's Employees Don't Want You To Know

Where does Sprouts source its fresh food from?

Fresh produce inside of a Sprouts Farmers Market store - refrina/Shutterstock

Sprouts has made a name for itself with its farm-fresh produce, but what does "farm-fresh" really mean here? Well, the food is technically coming from actual farms, not factories  Sprouts sources its products from regional, national, and international suppliers. That said, you aren't necessarily buying produce grown exclusively in your state. The grocery chain sells fresh food and products from all across the country, from various farms. This is one of the key reasons it doesn't qualify as an actual farmers' market, as it's not strictly inviting local businesses and farmers to sell their wares in-store.

If you're of the mind that this is all one big marketing scheme, think of it this way: Sprouts focuses on fresh, local food when it can and exudes charming farmers' market vibes in an effort to offer a more communal shopping experience. While you aren't solely purchasing fresh produce from local growers, you'll usually at least encounter some of those products.

How does Sprouts choose where to source its fresh food?

The bulk food aisle of a Sprouts Farmers Market store - Khairil Azhar Junos/Shutterstock

Although not a farmers' market, Sprouts still takes steps to ensure its products meet certain quality standards. All vendors must undergo extensive auditing to guarantee the store's supply chain comprises ethical, responsible businesses. The store's seafood is responsibly sourced from fisheries that are actively sustainable, invest in supporting their communities, and don't engage in dubious, dangerous, or downright illegal practices like shark finning and genetic modification. Plus, the chain only sources 100% free-range, organic, grass-fed beef from family farms and helps to combat food waste with its Rescued Organics initiative, which brings to market organic produce that is imperfect and would otherwise be thrown out and not sold in stores.

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Sprouts works with local farms to provide fresh produce in 18 states, but some have access to a wider variety of produce than others. For example, in Arizona, where the company is headquartered, stores source from six family-owned farms, such as Blue Sky Organic Farms in Litchfield Park (organic lettuces, baby greens, herbs) and Duncan Family Farms in Goodyear (romaine lettuce, red chard, baby kale, arugula, spinach). Nevada locations, meanwhile, only source white, yellow, and sweet onions from Peri & Sons Farms. And in Hebron, Maryland, the store gets its watermelons directly from Jim Rash, Inc. So, while you won't get a rigidly traditional farmers' market experience at Sprouts, you should still be able to find a range of local products.

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Read the original article on Chowhound.
The post Teamwork at Sea: Dolphins Tell Humans When to Cast appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

Fishers in Brazil partner with Lahilles bottlenose dolphins to catch mullet more efficiently.

Dolphins herd fish and signal when to cast nets , benefiting both species.

Collaborative fishing boosts catches by up to 4x and improves dolphin survival.

Declining mullet populations threaten this rare human-wildlife relationship.

For over 140 years, traditional fishers in Laguna, Brazil, have hunted for fish as they work together with local Lahilles bottlenose dolphins. In a rare case of mutualism between humans and wild animals, the dolphins and the fishers both benefit from this cooperative relationship. Its one of only three instances that remain where humans collaborate with wild species.

Bottlenose dolphins are incredibly intelligent and socially complex animals. RMMPPhotography/Shutterstock.com (RMMPPhotography/Shutterstock.com)

The Dolphin Herders of Laguna

From May to July, mullet fish migrate north during their spawning season from shallow lagoons to colder waters along the coast of southern Brazil. The fishers catch the fish in shallow waters using large nets that they cast out into the canals. But seeing the fish through the murky water is nearly impossible. The fishers who rely on help from their dolphin guides have much better luck catching fish than those that do not.

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The dolphins round the mullet towards the shore where the fishers stand with their nets. Once the fish are pushed toward the coast, the dolphins dive in a signal to the fishers. The fishers benefit by easily catching large schools of mullet, while the dolphins benefit by grabbing stray fish from the nets. Both parties get more fish by cooperating with each other than they would on their own.

The fishers pass down this human-dolphin fishing knowledge from generation to generation. Scientists wondered if, in a similar fashion, generations of dolphins were passing down the knowledge to their young.

What Scientists Discovered About the Relationship Between Humans and Dolphins

Scientists knew the fishers were watching the dolphins for signals to throw their nets. But what they were unsure of was whether or not the dolphins were acting on purpose. Did the dolphins know what they were doing? A recent study observing 65 dolphins found that over 40 were collaborating with the fishers.

Lahilles dolphins are a subspecies of the common bottlenose dolphin that is seen here. Tory Kallman/Shutterstock.com (Tory Kallman/Shutterstock.com)

Author of the study, and biologist, Mauricio Cantor, said in a statement, We knew that the fishers were observing the dolphins behavior to determine when to cast their nets, but we didnt know if the dolphins were actively coordinating their behavior with the fishers. He continued, Using drones and underwater imaging, we could observe the behaviors of fishers and dolphins with unprecedented detail and found that they catch more fish by working in synchrony. This shows that this is a mutually beneficial interaction between the humans and the dolphins.

Both Humans and Dolphins Benefit

The research showed that 86% of the mullet caught by the fishers were from a collaborative hunt with the dolphins. In fact, when dolphins were around, the fishers caught nearly four times as many fish as when they were absent. And they were more than 17 times likely to catch fish at all. Likewise, the dolphins that participated with the fishers had a 13% higher survival rate than individuals that did not.

About Lahilles Bottlenose Dolphins

Lahilles bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus) are a subspecies of the common bottlenose dolphin. Lahilles dolphins live to be around 50 years old, and travel together in social groups of about five individuals. They grow to be about 13 feet long and can weigh up to 880 pounds.

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Scientists estimate there are around 400 to 600 individuals remaining. They only live along the Atlantic coast of South America. Lahilles dolphins are classified as endangered and are vulnerable to climate change, pollution, and bycatch by fisheries.

Like other dolphin species, Lahilles dolphins are incredibly intelligent. Dolphins brains contain specialized brain cells called spindle neurons, which are only found in humans, primates, and several large-brained mammals. Dolphins have been observed using tools, communicating with each other through vocalizations, and working together to hunt fish.

A Shortage of Mullet Fish Threatens the Collaboration

The mullet fish caught only in the summer is incredibly important to the economy of Laguna. Along with a few other species, the catches of mullet may account for up to 70% of a fishers annual income. Unfortunately, the mullet fish are in decline, threatening the livelihoods of the fishers and the collaborative relationship between humans and dolphins.

Human-Wildlife Cooperation Is Declining Around the World

Honeyguides are birds that guide humans in sub-Saharan Africa to find bee nests filled with honey. PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock.com (PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock.com)

Humans once hunted with wolves and orcas. In fact, scientists are aware of six known instances of human-wild animal mutualism. Today, there are three known cases of cooperation between humans and wild animals. In addition to the dolphin herders of Brazil, Irrawaddy dolphins and local fishers in Myanmar also hunt cooperatively for fish. The third instance is the honey hunters of sub-Saharan Africa who hunt for honey in trees by following honeyguides. At the end of the hunt, the birds get to eat the leftover wax from the honeycomb.

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Cantor said, This phenomenon of mutually beneficial interaction between wildlife and humans is getting more and more rare and seems to be at global risk. The cultural value and the biological diversity are important, and its important to preserve it.

The post Teamwork at Sea: Dolphins Tell Humans When to Cast appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Colored glass and antique tins line the walls of Again Vintage, each ware reflecting gentle window light. Here, the hustle of New York City finds calm, and by design. Co-owners Ryann Holmes and Sara Elise wanted to run a business but also cultivate a sense of relaxation. Some visitors tell them coming inside feels like an exhale, Holmes says.

The tense political moment has made inclusivity in their business approach feel more urgent. Last year, the store joined Everywhere Is Queer, an app that maps out LGBTQ+ businesses globally. Holmes says the platform has united LGBTQ+ business owners and creatives who often operate in silos.

People want to support Black- and queer-owned businesses, especially as a form of resistance to a lot of the stuff that were seeing now politically, Holmes says. Its been a real connective tissue for us that folks are able to see us on the app already knowing that were a queer-affirming space.

someone using the Everywhere is Queer app on a mobile phone

The Everywhere is Queer app helps users find LGBTQ-owned businesses. Jack Walker

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About four years ago, a hub for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs was an idea Charlie Sprinkman had just brought to life. Everywhere Is Queer went live in January 2022 and today is funded through a mix of brand partnerships and paid perks, like in-app prioritization. A string of viral moments since has pushed the app past 20,000 participating businesses.

Sprinkman says threats facing the LGBTQ+ community are cause for strengthening that network even further. As of February, the American Civil Liberties Union reported that at least 398 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were being considered in statehouses around the country this year, many of them targeting transgender rights.

Its a really difficult time for our community right now, Sprinkman says. Its now more than ever important that we really put the money in the hands of the people that see us as our most authentic selves.

LGBTQ-owned businesses that use Everywhere Is Queer submit details about their companies for approval, then get marked by a pin on the map. Businesses can be filtered by type, from bars to hotels to retail, and can even advertise jobs.

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Weve grown tremendously, says Chris Redrich, the apps developer. We have about a quarter of a million app installs at this point, so were seeing pretty regular, repeat usage from users coming back, looking for connection and queer community around them.

Again Vintage shop in NYC

Again Vintage shop in NYC Jack Walker

Sprinkman says he struggled to find centralized resources for LGBTQ+ people when he came out as a young adult. As he gradually found comfort and community in LGBTQ+ spaces, Sprinkman saw value in bridging that gap for others too.

Outside of liberal strongholds like New York City, business owners tell The Advocate that being featured on the app has not spurred a notable uptick in sales, likely because there are fewer users nearby. But they describe different benefits, like networking with other business owners and publicly signaling their connection to the LGBTQ+ community.

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Rachel Csontos of St. Petersburg, Florida, launched their small business in 2024 without a physical storefront. Sales for their brand, Queerd Apparel, came through social media and via the pop-up art markets that dot central Florida. The app has helped them meet other LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.

I kind of expected it to be an avenue for business, but its been more of an avenue for connection, they say.

Kelsey Riker manages Kindred Post  a gift shop, event space, and contract postal unit in Juneau, Alaska. A tourist last year recommended that her store join the app, she says. Riker hopes the listing will draw new attention during this summers cruise season.

Everywhere is Queer creator Charlie Sprinkman

Everywhere is Queer creator Charlie Sprinkman courtesy Everywhere is Queer

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We have a lot of businesses here in Juneau who are very friendly and welcoming and affirming to the queer community, Riker says. We want people to know that when they come and visit us here.

Looking ahead, Sprinkman, who hails from a small town near Milwaukee, says Everywhere Is Queer is looking to develop new features to enhance user experience, though the specifics are not yet public.

In the meantime, he says building the platform has taught him a great deal about creating space for the LGBTQ+ community  and, ironically, starting a business himself.

Its just been the most incredible experience of my life, Sprinkman says. Hundreds of thousands of people have come across and interacted with Everywhere Is Queer. Its just so beautiful.

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This article was written as part of the Future of Queer Media fellowship program at The Advocate, which is underwritten by a generous gift from Morrison Media Group . The program helps support the next generation of LGBTQ+ journalists.

This article is part of The Advocates Mar-Apr 2026 print issue, which hits newsstands March 24. Support queer media and subscribe  or download the issue through Apple News+, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Want to support LGBTQ+ businesses? There's an app for that

RELATED
CHEYENNE  A Laramie County district judge has bound the case of a 14-year-old charged with first-degree murder to district court, despite a request from the defense to lower the charge to second degree.

Fourteen-year-old Havoc Leone faces a felony charge for allegedly shooting his mother, Theresa McIntosh, following an argument over a stolen tablet.

Havoc is being charged as an adult with felony first-degree murder. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. He is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Judge Sean Chambers heard Havocs case Wednesday during a preliminary hearing in circuit court.

After testimony from Laramie County Sheriffs detective Miles DePrimo, Havocs attorney requested that his charge be lowered to second degree, saying that the state lacked sufficient evidence to claim the death of McIntosh was the result of a premeditated and malicious act.

The attorney also requested Havocs bond be lowered from $500,000 cash to $100,000 cash surety. Chambers denied both requests, stating that it would not be appropriate for the circuit court to address the issue of bond. He added that if the district court addresses lowering the bond, it will have to set bond conditions that accommodate Havocs age.

Testimony

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DePrimo testified that he was called to the scene March 7 to assist Detective Abraham Maljian in investigating a reported attempted suicide in the 2300 block of Pine Avenue.

Deputies arrived to find McIntosh in an upstairs bedroom, unconscious with a head wound. Havoc and his father, Thomas Leone, were both present at the scene. Thomas had reportedly been in the basement playing video games with headphones covering his ears at the time of the shooting, according to DePrimo.

He heard a pop and went upstairs to investigate the sound, where he encountered Havoc, who said he didnt know what happened; the gun had just gone off.

Thomas administered medical aid until first responders arrived, at which point McIntosh was transported to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, then to UC Health in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she succumbed to her injuries later that day, according to court documents.

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DePrimo first went to CRMC to gather more information about McIntoshs injuries. Based on the lack of evidence that the gun had made contact with the skin during the alleged suicide attempt, the investigation evolved into an attempted homicide investigation.

The gunshot wound was behind and above McIntoshs right ear, above her neck. CRMC staff noted the wound did not appear to be a contact wound, which was typically consistent with suicide attempts involving firearms, according to court documents.

Medical staff and detectives did not observe an exit wound on McIntosh, which is expected with a close-contact, self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Havoc initially stated that his finger slipped, triggering the gun. But DePrimo further testified that after about an hour and a half of interviews with Malijan, Havoc admitted to shooting his mom.

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Havoc told deputies that he and McIntosh had gotten into an argument over a tablet in his bedroom. McIntosh was in the room working on a puzzle, and they started to argue over the tablet, which Havoc had allegedly stolen from a client of McIntoshs house cleaning business. McIntosh reportedly referred to Havoc as retarded and called him a thief.

When Havoc went to get a notebook/piece of paper with a password for the tablet, he also grabbed McIntoshs gun, which he had reportedly stolen the week prior. He then threw the notebook/piece of paper, and when McIntosh leaned down to pick it up, he shot her, the detective testified.

Intent

DePrimo testified that Thomas had told deputies that McIntoshs black Taurus 9mm handgun typically stayed in her car. He also told deputies, according to DePrimo, that Havoc is familiar with firearms and how to treat them, being taught only to point a firearm at someone if he plans to shoot and kill them.

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Thomas was hesitant to tell law enforcement what he believed happened in Leones bedroom; however, he stated, Itd be a lot easier to accept that she killed herself than my son tried to kill her. DePrimo took that to mean that he believed Havoc might have shot McIntosh.

Havocs initial statement was that after throwing the notebook/piece of paper, McIntosh handed him the firearm, but later, according to DePrimo, he admitted he had stolen the firearm from his moms car after a fight about his grades a week prior.

According to DePrimo, Havoc had told Malijan that he had thought of killing his mom at the time he took the gun.

When they were fighting about the tablet, Havoc allegedly told Malijan that he didnt know if he was retarded, as McIntosh had called him, but he didnt like being called names and was angry.

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The state argued that stealing the gun, thinking of killing McIntosh and then retrieving the gun with the notebook/paper constituted evidence of malicious intent.

Havocs attorney disagreed, noting that DePrimo stated that his client hated his mother, but never stated whether he had asked the 14-year-old whether he loved his mother.

Are you familiar with a love-hate relationship? Havocs attorney asked DePrimo.

He went on to ask if Havoc had been asked about any history of verbal or physical abuse, to which DePrimo responded that there had been no reports of a physical altercation on the day of the shooting.

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Havocs attorney also asked if residue testing had been done on his client to see if he had been holding the gun. DePrimo stated it had not.

The attorney asked whether McIntosh had a history of mental health issues or if Thomas had indicated that he also thought it could have been a suicide, which is what was initially reported to dispatch when Thomas called 911.

DePrimo stated that he later learned that Mcintosh had received mental health care and was medicated for mental health concerns, but he wasnt aware of any recent suicidal ideations or mental health concerns.

Following questioning, Havocs attorney stated that based on the states evidence, which he said was mostly hearsay, there wasnt sufficient evidence to state there was intent. Instead, he said that this was a crime committed in the heat of an argument by a 14-year-old boy.

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The state countered that the hearsay was based on the defendants own statements, in which he admitted to shooting his mother, after previously considering shooting her.

Havocs next court appearance will be for an arraignment in district court. As of Wednesday, no time or date has been set in court.
A local military service member is in custody on suspicion of several sex offenses.

39-year-old Keith Lezama was arrested on March 20.

He serves with the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard, based in Fresno.

Clovis police say Lezama is suspected of a felony sexual assault in the city of Clovis.

This is a developing story. Stay with Action News for updates.
This story has been updated with additional information.

A 15-year-old teen was killed in a shooting in North Avondale early Sunday morning.

Cincinnati police responded to the 800 block of Glenwood Avenue around midnight March 22, according to a department news release.

Officers found Nazir Owens, 15, with a gunshot wound, the release says.

Cincinnati firefighters responded and determined Owens was dead on the scene.

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No additional information about the shooting was available later that morning. Cincinnati police spokesman Sgt. Anthony Mitchell did not return calls from The Enquirer.

The investigation by the department's homicide unit is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call 513-352-3542.

Shooting is second in North Avondale this year

Owens is the second person to be shot in North Avondale this year, according to a city database that tracks shooting victims. He is the first killed in a shooting in the neighborhood this year.

Nobody was shot in North Avondale in 2024 or 2025, according to city data. In 2023, five people were shot in the neighborhood, one fatally.

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Across the city, 53 people have been shot so far in 2026, 14 of whom died. By this time last year, 39 people had been injured in shootings and 14 died.

The uptick in the number of people shot so far this year is driven by two mass shootings at Cincinnati bars. Nine people were shot at Riverfront Live earlier this month, and another four people were shot at a now-shuttered Northside club on Valentine's Day weekend.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Teen killed in North Avondale shooting
Police are searching for multiple people after a residential burglary and car theft ended with a pursuit involving two stolen luxury SUVs in Essex County on Sunday morning.

Authorities received a notification from a license plate reader that a stolen white 2022 BMW X7 entered the town at 6:37 a.m., according to Fairfield police.

The vehicle, bearing New Jersey license plate U55VUA, was reported stolen on March 15 in Clifton and was used in recent residential burglaries in Edison and Franklin Lakes, police said

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An officer saw the SUV on Farmstead Lane, but the driver fled, jumped a curb and drove across a lawn before causing minor damage to a police vehicle.

Police said two people then ran to a silver BMW X5 with plate K41SLT in a driveway.

The department posted footage of the encounter on their Facebook page.

Authorities said they had entered a home through an unlocked rear sliding glass door and had taken the keys, which had been left in the kitchen, before stealing the vehicle.

Both SUVs fled the area, officials said. Police ended the pursuit after losing sight of them on Route 280 East.

No injuries were reported, and the homeowners were unaware that the thieves entered their home, authorities said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police department at 973-227-1400.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A California man was arrested Saturday after Indiana State Police say a routine DOT inspection led to the seizure of approximately $500,000 worth of methamphetamine.

According to ISP, around 4:20 p.m. on March 21, a state police trooper stopped a semi truck on Interstate 70, near the U.S. 231 exit, for a routine DOT compliance inspection. However, police say that during conversations with the driver, the trooper developed probable cause to search the semi.

During the search, police say the trooper found 100 pounds of methamphetamine in the trailer and a handgun in the cab.

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ISP says the street value of the meth was estimated at half a million dollars.

The driver, identified as a 33-year-old man from San Bernardino, California, was arrested and booked at the Putnam County Jail on preliminary felony charges of dealing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine.

(NOTE: 13News has a policy not to name suspects until formal charges are filed by a prosecutor.)

The Putnam County Prosecutor's Office will make the final charging decision.
The 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will be commemorated this year with assurances that survivors and victims families will continue to have access to health care. Advocates announced that the World Trade Center Health Program has secured funding for the next 15 years.

The announcement was made at a luncheon in The Villages. The program supports over 160,000 families of victims and survivors, offering medical treatment for illnesses related to the attacks, with many recipients currently living in Central Florida.

Michael Barasch, an attorney representing 9/11 victims, attended the event to discuss the extensions impact. He highlighted the connection between survivors ongoing health issues and the immediate effects of the 2001 attacks.

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Thats why were here today... eight months after 9/11,

The programs funding was finalized after Congress passed the measure last month, and President Trump signed it into law soon after.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Recently released documents  given by court order to Friends of the Everglades  paint a picture of spending on Alligator Alcatraz to the tune of $1 million a day.

The immigrant detention center built in far east Collier County, Florida, on the edge of the Everglades in Big Cypress National Preserve, needs $1.02 million a day to house 4,000 to 4,100 detainees, according to documents obtained by Friends of the Everglades and shared with the Naples Daily News. Alligator Alcatraz was built in June 2025 and opened July 2.

Alligator Alcatraz is located on what was a Dade County-owned airport training field in Collier County. It was a first-of-its-kind facility, run by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) instead of the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Gov. Ron DeSantis took over the training field via an emergency order.

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In documents obtained by Friends of the Everglades through a court ruling, grant correspondence between FDEM and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about costs and reimbursement included details about number of detainees and costs to feed, clothe and offer medical care and transportation.

In its FEMA grant application dated Aug. 3, 2025, Florida originally requested $1.5 billion. FDEM later amended the request to $608.4 million.

Alligator Alcatraz was Florida's first state-run immigrant detention center

In June 2025, the State of Florida began building an immigration detention center at an airport training center at the edge of the Everglades in Big Cypress National Preserve, off of Tamiami Trail/US 41 at the eastern edge of Collier County just before the Miami-Dade County line. FDEM, which plans for and responds to both natural and man-made disasters, is in charge of Alligator Alcatraz.

On July 1, 2025, President Donald Trump visited the facility with DeSantis and then Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. The next day, detainees started to arrive.

The facility was to hold between 3,000 to 5,000 people. FEMA grant documents indicate the facility has 16 units that hold 4,000 to 4,100 people.

FDEM describes Alligator Alcatraz as "temporary secure holding facilities." It is meant to be a stopover to another facility or deportation. Requests by the Naples Daily News for records with details about detainees have not been fulfilled by FDEM.

Trump, DeSantis and Noem said Alligator Alcatraz would be mostly funded through FEMA's Shelter and Services Program.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security pegged the one-year cost of running the facility at $450 million. On July 31, 2025, DHS announced that $608.4 million was available in federal funds to the Florida Department of Emergency Management and that the application process would run July 31 to Aug. 30.

Environmental nonprofit group Friends of the Everglades, joined by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Miccosukee Tribe, sued in June to stop Alligator Alcatraz, citing a failure to follow federal environmental review requirements before construction. That lawsuit continues on appeal and is set for oral arguments April 6 in the Southern District of Florida.

On Sundays, a coalition of faith leaders and social justice organizations, primarily led by The Workers Circle, hold what they call peaceful gatherings against "inhumane" treatment and "violations of constitutional rights."

Florida's application for FEMA funds for Alligator Alcatraz included a request to forego environmental review

Protestors, media and law enforcement lined U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail July 1, 2025, as President Donald Trump visited Florida Gov. Ron Desantiss immigration detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz.

In its grant application, Florida's Division of Emergency Management said it spends $249 per night per detainee. At 4,100 people, that's $1.02 million a day. That figure becomes $264.2 million spent between July 2, 2025, and March 17, 2026  259 days.

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FDEM made it clear that it was not asking for money for any construction costs but did include "set up" costs.

Other costs included in the budget included in the grant application were for clothing and bedding; feeding services; medical care; transportation; safety and security; communications; record keeping; and management and/or administrative costs.

FDEM wrote: The budget information attached provides the detail justifying the federal award amount and does not include any items requiring an EHP (FEMA Environmental and Historic Preservation) review or additional information in order to release the hold of funds.

In an amendment to its application, FDEM asked to remove "the Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance terms and conditions. FDEM is requesting the removal of the EHP terms and conditions as the detention center utilized is not a permanent structure, as such funding should not be restricted to the limitations of the EHP review and compliance."

The records confirm what Friends of the Everglades has maintained from the outset: This is a federal immigration detention facility, conceived and constructed on the promise of federal funding," said Paul Schwiep, attorney for Friends of the Everglades in a statement sent by Executive Director Eve Samples.

Police officers park outside Alligator Alcatraz in Ochopee, Florida, during the vigil Aug. 10, 2025.

Protestors, media and law enforcement lined U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail July 1, 2025, as President Donald Trump visited Florida Gov. Ron Desantiss immigration detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz.

"Attempting to delay federal reimbursement to sidestep compliance with federal environmental law is gamesmanship  and will not work. Director Guthrie himself concedes that the environmental review required by federal law must occur. That review was required before construction began. Until the mandated review is completed, operation of the facility should cease, Schwiep said.

Florida taxpayers are footing the bill for Alligator Alcatraz

Protestors, media and law enforcement lined U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail July 1, 2025, as President Donald Trump visited Florida Gov. Ron Desantiss immigration detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz.

DeSantis used a state emergency fund to build Alligator Alcatraz and later open Deportation Depot, west of Jacksonville in Sanderson. The fund, which expired Feb. 17, was originally created in 2022 to handle hurricane preparation and response and other natural disasters. But DeSantis has spent $573 million for expenses related to immigration enforcement within the last year alone.

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On its last day of the legislative session, March 13, lawmakers agreed to extend the fund, but with some spending rules. The bill (SB 7040) includes reporting requirements, mandating the governors office and the Division of Emergency Management to provide quarterly spending reports to the Legislature.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visits a temporary migrant detention center informally known as "Alligator Alcatraz" in Ochopee, Florida, U.S., July 1, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

These files illustrate a staggering waste of taxpayer dollars  funds meant to protect Floridians in times of natural disaster  diverted instead to construct an ICE detention center in the heart of the Big Cypress National Preserve that continues to inflict grave harm on the Everglades," Samples said. "We are committed to stopping the harm at Alligator Alcatraz and will return to court next month to advance our case.

What about the federal grant? Is Florida going to receive it?

U.S. President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visit a medical tent at a temporary migrant detention center informally known as "Alligator Alcatraz" in Ochopee, Florida, U.S., July 1, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Florida is still hoping for reimbursement from FEMA, a seemingly slow-moving process.

Stephanie Hartman, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Emergency Management, did not directly answer the question has Florida received the $608 million and when, but said, "As with the existing FEMA reimbursement process, once expenses are incurred, reimbursements will be requested from and reviewed by FEMA. Following approval, the appropriate funds will then be released to the state."

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FEMA Historic Preservation reviewer Portia M. Ross signed off Aug. 31, 2025, along with Donna DeFrancesco, "FEMA environmental officer reviewer or delegated approving official," that environmental reviews for a myriad of topics including historic preservation, endangered species, migratory birds and fishery conservation were concluded and deemed unaffected.

In conclusion, the state would be reimbursed for providing shelter in detention; basic food and nutrition; necessary medical care; and "a trained and equipped staff to care for and secure detainees."

Florida is still waiting on the money.

More: Finish line in site for $97M Collier County I-75 interchange project

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And: CCSO investigating deadly shooting at Whistlers Cove in East Naples

J. Kyle Foster is a senior growth & development reporter for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach her by emailing jfoster1@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: Alligator Alcatraz costs: Florida seeks $608M in reimbursements
In a troubling turn for commercial drone delivery, an Amazon Prime Air drone crashed into a Texas apartment building in early February, according to Fox Business.

What happened?

The incident occurred in Richardson, a suburb north of Dallas, where Amazon and other companies have been piloting drone deliveries. A Prime Air MK30 delivery drone struck the exterior of a multi-unit apartment complex while on a delivery mission, according to local reports. The drone then fell to the ground, leaving debris scattered and prompting swift action from the company and emergency responders.

Video from a nearby resident captured the moment the drone hit the building. Cessy Johnson, who recorded the crash, described hearing unusual sounds from the drone just before impact and then seeing pieces fall off.

"The propellers on the thing were still moving, and you could smell it was starting to burn. And you see a few sparks in one of my videos. Luckily, nothing really caught on fire where it got, it escalated really crazy," she told the news outlet.

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"But they had to come and try to dismantle it. And then shortly after they came, two Amazon guys came and they had to clean it up and like take it in their truck."

Why is the drone crash concerning?

While no injuries were reported, the crash is the latest setback in Prime Air's rollout. Amazon officially announced drone delivery way back in 2013, but several high-profile crashes in Arizona and Oregon (reported here by CNBC and Business Insider), intense regulatory scrutiny, software failures, and high staff turnover have delayed the program for years behind schedule, according to Fox Business.

For residents and regulators alike, the Richardson crash highlights persistent public safety questions about flying heavy autonomous drones over homes.

While the Federal Aviation Administration has been stepping up enforcement of drone safety rules following past incidents, MK30 drones are specifically designed and approved to fly over and deliver to residential and densely populated areas.

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The drones are equipped with advanced sensors and obstacle detection to safely navigate densely populated, complex environments, but they aren't fail-proof. An incident like the recent one could have easily resulted in serious harm or a fire. As companies expand drone fleets to meet fast shipping demands, it raises difficult questions about what could happen in busier cities with heavier air traffic.

Amazon has also faced backlash for massive data center projects in places such as Wilmington, Ohio, that would impact residential areas, farmland, and businesses. However, the company announced it would cool some of its centers in California, Georgia, and other states using recycled water, reducing the environmental impact.

What's being done to help?

Amazon acknowledged the crash with an apology and said it is actively investigating the cause of the malfunction. The company did not immediately release details on what went wrong or how it plans to prevent similar issues.

As companies like Amazon push to scale aerial delivery services nationwide, this episode may fuel calls for stricter oversight and clearer operational safeguards. According to CNBC, Amazon is also updating its software and enhancing some safety protocols to make the tech more reliable after previous incidents.

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.
Long before Pompeii was covered in ash and pumice during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, the people of the doomed city were confronting a threat of a different kind.

Nearly 170 years earlier, the residents of Pompeii were fighting for their independence when the Roman army, led by general Lucius Cornelius Sulla, attacked the walled city and brought it under its control.

But now Italian researchers said they had discovered that the Romans had a secret weapon  a polybolos.

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The repeating catapult of Greek design could launch metal-tipped projectiles at the enemy and knock opposing soldiers off the ramparts in rapid succession, with the researchers likening it to an ancient form of machine gun.

Researchers Adriana Rossi and Silvia Bertacchi, from the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, and Veronica Casadei, from the University of Bologna, found the unusual weapon was responsible for large circular craters found in the citys walls.

The research team recently published their findings in Heritage magazine after five years of engineering research.

Holes in a Pompeii wall, shown in circles, are believed to have been caused by a polybolos - Rossi et al., Heritage 2026 (CC BY 4.0); modified by IFLScience

The researchers were surprised to find archaeological evidence in the walls on the northern side of the city from 89BC had miraculously survived Roman restorations, Second World War bombings and natural disasters.

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It left no doubt about the ferocity of the Roman assault on the 40ft city walls and the critical role the weapons played in subduing the enemy in the months-long siege.

The artillery deployed during the assault was primarily intended for anti-personnel purposes, targeting defenders positioned along the ramparts and between the merlons, rather than to demolish the fortifications themselves, the researchers wrote.

The fan-shaped cavities, well preserved by the ash released by Vesuvius, had been a source of academic fascination for decades.

The researchers used digital data to create three-dimensional models to mirror the depth, width and shape of the weapon and then compared it with the mechanical motion of a repeating catapult.

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The team then reverse-engineered the type of weapon used and found everything pointed to a high-velocity machine  in essence, an ancient machine gun  which pulverised stone on impact.

The researcher said the availability of digital survey techniques had made it possible to record evidence with a level of accuracy and geometric detail that was previously impossible.

A polybolos is a repeating catapult that could launch metal-tipped projectiles at the enemy

Museum collections provided further evidence. Surviving projectiles from other Roman military sites, such as the iron-tipped darts associated with the Scorpion catapult, matched the dimensions of the 3D models created from the damage to the walls.

With a third of Pompeii remaining buried under volcanic debris from the eruption of Vesuvius, archaeologists are still learning more about the citys history and how people lived.

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Researchers believe more could be discovered about the role of the polybolos as more of the city walls are unearthed.

Sullas successful siege transformed the city. By cutting off Pompeii from external support and resources, he forced a surrender through isolation and deprivation.

The siege also played a pivotal role in advancing Sullas political career. It showcased the generals mastery of military tactics, and was considered a positive demonstration of Roman engineering and military discipline.

After the citys capitulation, Pompeii became part of the Roman Empire, which involved a complete overhaul of its governance and legal systems.

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The architectural style of the citys public buildings and private villas began to reflect Roman influence and cultural practice, that they become ingrained in public life. Pompeii also became a holiday location for the empires upper class and their luxury villas.

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.
Global scientists reveal how farming affects soil via new Earth-sensing technology

Xinhua) 11:04, March 22, 2026

BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- A global research team has used a new technique to capture minute-scale structural changes in farmland soil, revealing how farming practices influence soil water dynamics.

The team, led by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, employed distributed fiber-optic sensing, installed across an experimental farm at Harper Adams University in the United Kingdom, to achieve continuous, high-resolution monitoring of soil.

By detecting tiny ground vibrations generated by natural and human activities, the researchers tracked how water moves through soil every single minute.

The findings, published on Friday in the journal Science, address a long-standing challenge in regenerative agriculture -- assessing the impact of tillage on soil structure without disturbing it.

The results show that healthy soil contains a natural internal "plumbing" network composed of microscopic pores and channels that allow water to infiltrate deeply into the ground, where it becomes available to plant roots.

In fields subjected to frequent plowing or heavy tractor traffic, however, this pore network becomes severely disrupted. As a result, rainfall tends to pool near the surface in heavily cultivated soil. Because the water stays shallow, it evaporates rapidly under sunlight, leaving deeper soil layers dry.

In contrast, undisturbed soils act as effective natural filters, rapidly absorbing water and storing it in deeper layers where plants can access it during dry periods.

To explain these observations, the researchers developed a dynamic capillary stress model. "Rather than a simple collection of particles, soil is a porous medium in which the structure functions like capillary vessels within the water cycle," said Shi Qibin, a researcher at the institute.

The findings highlight the need to reconsider how agricultural land is managed. Excessive tillage and soil compaction from heavy machinery do not simply rearrange soil particles. Instead, they break the invisible mechanical bonds that allow soil to breathe, circulate water and maintain ecological stability.

Preserving these natural structures will be critical in helping crops adapt to the increasingly extreme weather conditions caused by climate change.

By bridging seismology and agricultural science, this study offers a new perspective on the relationship between plants and soil. This emerging approach uses distributed fiber-optic sensing to assess the health of soil water systems without physically disturbing the land.

By "listening" to the Earth in this way, scientists and farmers may soon be able to assess the condition of agricultural soils in real time and develop more resilient strategies for sustainable food production.

The research was conducted in collaboration with the University of Washington (UW), Rice University, Harper Adams University, the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), Purdue University and University of Exeter.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
WASHINGTON  For weeks, speculation has grown on Capitol Hill about a second "Big, Beautiful Bill" as some Republicans push for another big legislative swing ahead of a midterm cycle that could cost them full control of Congress.

The talk is starting to get more serious, as lawmakers acknowledge that it may be the only way to pass as much as $200 billion in additional defense spending for the intensifying Iran war.

But the road through Congress for war cash is likely to be a tough one, with the GOP unable to afford losing few (if any) votes within already-thin margins in the Senate and House of Representatives. And it risks fracturing Republicans trying to present a unified party message as the November elections approach.

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Read more: Trump says GOP lawmaker would have been 'dead by June' in awkward moment

See how Middle Eastern countries are caught in the crossfire of the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.

Bahrain

Smoke rises in the sky after blasts were heard in Manama, Bahrain, Feb. 28, 2026. Syria

Syrian children stand on the wreckage of an Iranian rocket that was reportedly intercepted by Israeli forces in the southern countryside of Quneitra, near the Golan Heights, close to the town of Ghadir al-Bustan. Iraq

A plume of smoke rises near Erbil International Airport in Erbil on March 1, 2026. Loud explosions were heard early on March 1 near Erbil airport, which hosts US-led coalition troops in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, an AFP journalist said. Iraq

Members and officers from the Iraqi Interior Ministry's Explosives Directorate inspect the fuel tank of a rocket that landed in a rural village in the Siyahi area near the city of Hilla in the central Babil province on March 1, 2026. Iraq, which has recently regained a sense of stability but has long been a proxy battleground between the U.S. and Iran, warned that it did not want to be dragged into the war that started on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Qatar

A prayer appealing to God for protection is projected on the dome of al-Hazm shopping mall in Doha on March 1, 2026. Qatar

Motorists drive past a plume of smoke rising from a reported Iranian strike in the industrial district of Doha on March 1, 2026. Bahrain

A building that was damaged by an Iranian drone attack, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Manama, Bahrain, March 1, 2026. Saudi Arabia

The empty terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh is pictured on March 1, 2026. Global airlines cancelled flights across the Middle East after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, plunging the region into a new conflict. In Saudi Arabia, Iranian missiles targeting Riyadh's international airport and the Prince Sultan Airbase, which houses U.S. military personnel, were intercepted, a Gulf source briefed on the matter told AFP. United Arab Emirates

A food delivery bike drive close to a plume of smoke rising from the Zayed Port following a reported Iranian strike in Abu Dhabi on March 1, 2026. United Arab Emirates

An oil tanker is pictured offshore in Dubai on March 1, 2026. Attacks have damaged tankers, and many ship owners, oil majors and trading houses suspended crude oil, fuel and liquefied natural gas shipments via the Strait of Hormuz. Oman

Smoke billows from an oil tanker under U.S. sanctions, that was hit off Oman's Musandam peninsula, in this screen grab from a video obtained by Reuters on March 1, 2026. Kuwait

Smoke rises from a reported Iranian strike in the area where the U.S. Embassy is located in Kuwait City on March 2, 2026. Black smoke was seen rising from the U.S. embassy in Kuwait City on March 2 after the latest volley of Iranian strikes, an AFP correspondent saw, Saudi Arabia

A satellite image shows efforts to control a fire as smoke rises in the Ras Tanura oil refinery in Saudi Arabia after a drone attack, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia March 2, 2026. Turkey

People make their way after crossing from Iran into Turkey at the Kapikoy Border Gate in eastern Van province,Turkey, March 2, 2026. United Arab Emirates

Delivery persons ride motorcycles along a road as a tall smoke plume billows following an explosion in the Fujairah industrial zone on March 3, 2026. United Arab Emirates

Pieces of missiles and drones recovered after Iran's strikes are displayed during a press briefing by the UAE government held in Abu Dhabi on March 3, 2026. Iran stepped up its attacks on economic targets and US missions across the Middle East on March 3, as the US president warned it was "too late" for the Islamic republic to seek talks to escape the war. As drones and missiles crashed into oil facilities and U.S. embassies in the Gulf, Washington's ally Israel bombarded targets in Iran and pushed troops deeper into Lebanon to battle the Tehran-backed militia Hezbollah. Lebanon

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on March 3, 2026. The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for dozens of locations in Lebanon on March 3, including warning residents in two southern Beirut neighbourhoods to stay away from several buildings ahead of an imminent operation. Lebanon

Emergency personnel work at the site of an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 3, 2026. Lebanon

Rescuers gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Jamaa Islamiya offices in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Sidon on March 3, 2026. United Arab Emirates

Tankers are seen off the coast of the Fujairah, as Iran vows to close the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, March 3, 2026. See how the Iran wars fallout is hitting the Middle East 1 of 20 See how Middle Eastern countries are caught in the crossfire of the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.

Bahrain

Smoke rises in the sky after blasts were heard in Manama, Bahrain, Feb. 28, 2026.

While the politics of a Pentagon funding influx are complicated, the legislative logistics are relatively simple: Passing a big tax and spending law through a process known as "reconciliation" requires just a simple majority vote in the Senate.

That's how the so-called Big, Beautiful Bill  a behemoth piece of legislation that slashed Medicaid, eliminated taxes on tips and overhauled student loans  came into being last year. Virtually everything else necessitates 60 votes, which requires support from Democrats.

Both strategies have pros and cons. The math for reconciliation, theoretically, is easier. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a hardline conservative, called it a "better approach" than wading into the territory of needing to court Democrats for votes.

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He acknowledged the legislation could quickly balloon, complicating its feasibility of getting to President Donald Trump's desk.

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) gets into an elevator as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 2, 2025.

"Obviously, that raises a lot of questions in terms of what would go along with it, and what we would do," Roy told USA TODAY. "There are issues involving tax policy, health care policy. Everything starts opening up when you start going down the road of reconciliation."

Another potential reconciliation push was a big topic of debate at House Republicans' recent annual policy retreat in Doral, Florida. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, told reporters on the trip that another such megabill would "not be as big, but itd be just as beautiful."

While lots of ideas were floated during lawmakers' excursion to the Sunshine State, neither Republicans nor Democrats are as of yet entirely aware of what could end up included in another reconciliation package.

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"Who would know?" Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, told USA TODAY.

Republicans, she argued, "just continue to skirt the process, to fly in the face of how government does business."

Read more: Trump may need billions for the Iran war. Congress stands in the way.

MAGA, Senate divisions

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), joined by Republican members of the House Oversight Committee walks outside for a media appearance prior to a closed-door deposition with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on Feb. 26, 2026 in Chappaqua, New York.

Two important Republican constituencies on Capitol Hill are already posing threats to another reconciliation bill's success.

For one thing, at least one anti-interventionist conservative isn't happy with the prospect of spending more money to support conflicts abroad instead of fixing problems at home.

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"I am so tired of spending money on the industrial war complex," Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, a stalwart MAGA acolyte, told reporters last week. "I have folks in Colorado who can't afford to live."

Some pragmatists in the Senate are also hesitant to fully endorse such a plan. While some Republicans, such as close Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, already are saying they're "open" to approving war money through reconciliation, others don't want to get on board yet.

"There's no way to know actually what's in it, and the likelihood of it actually moving anywhere, if we don't have context," Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, told USA TODAY.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who cast the key vote last year for the "Big, Beautiful Bill," has been increasingly skeptical of the war effort. She's called in particular on the Trump administration to step up its communication with lawmakers before she can think about approving more Pentagon cash.

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Read more: Murkowski skeptical about war cost estimates

The White House has "got to be able to provide us information as requested," she said. "Don't just take for granted that the Congress' role is basically just to write a check."

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: What the Iran war means for talk of another 'Big, Beautiful Bill'




Just as temperatures begin to climb across Texas, another cold front is expected to move through the state this week, bringing cooler air and reminding residents that spring weather can still be unpredictable.

Temperatures will be unseasonably hot during the week, with highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s for the San Antonio and Austin area from Monday through Friday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Overnight lows will be in the mid-60s during this time.

Unseasonably hot temperatures continue during the week. Then, a cold front will bring "cooler" temperatures next weekend. No rain is currently expected. pic.twitter.com/pkcAD8ukdZ - NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) March 22, 2026

However, don't get used to the warmth. A cold front will push across South Central Texas between Friday and Saturday, dropping the temperatures for the weekend. Highs will be the upper 70s, while lows will be the upper 50s.

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Before of the cold front, the NWS has issued a Fire Danger Statement for the San Antonio-Austin region from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 22. The statement is due to near-critical fire weather conditions across the region, driven by low humidity and breezy south winds. During this time, the NWS advises the public to avoid outdoor activities that could inadvertently cause a wildfire.

North Texas cold front

In North Texas, the hottest day of this ongoing heatwave will be Sunday, March 22, with widespread temperatures in the 90s. A cold front will move in by Monday, leading to cooler temperatures, but a warming trend commences on Tuesday with 90s by the middle of the week, according to the NWS.

The hottest day of this ongoing heatwave will be Sunday with widespread temperatures in the 90s to near the century mark. A cold front will move in by Monday, leading to cooler temperatures, but a warming trend commences on Tuesday with 90s by the middle of the week. #txwx pic.twitter.com/AoB4v3T1Ae - NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) March 22, 2026

This article originally published at Another cold front is heading to Texas just as temperatures heat up.
Atlanta Police Department investigators were asking for the public's help with locating a missing 12-year-old boy.

He was found on Sunday.
On any given day last week, inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center classified as transient outnumbered those with a home address.

Nine years after the city of Albuquerque agreed to adopt more of a noncriminal justice approach to dealing with homelessness, jail bookings of people identified as transient jumped from 3,670 in 2022 to nearly 12,000 last year, according to a recent court filing.

Those incarcerated typically dont stay long. Usually they are arrested for failing to show up for court after being cited for misdemeanors such as criminal trespass or obstructing a sidewalk. But advocates say most shouldnt be there at all.

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In our view, the city is using MDC as a temporary homeless shelter, said Ryan Villa, one of the attorneys who contends the city and the Albuquerque Police Department have failed to live up to a 2017 agreement to remedy unconstitutional and unlawful practices affecting those living on the streets.

The citys compliance is currently an issue before U.S. District Judge James Browning of Albuquerque, who oversees the class-action lawsuit filed in 1995 by plaintiff Jimmy McClendon, then an MDC inmate.

The lawsuits original goal was to prevent overcrowding at MDC, which has since moved from Downtown to the West Side. It houses defendants awaiting court and those serving sentences of up to a year.

An offshoot of the McClendon case led to a settlement agreement in 2017 after the city was accused of conducting street sweeps of people whom APD had referred to as the homeless mentally ill, court records show.

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But last year the city asked to be released from the case. It contended the 10 requirements imposed by the settlement had been not only met but, in some instances, exceeded.

One key remedy directed Albuquerque police to issue citations to nonviolent individuals accused of misdemeanors when circumstances didnt call for an arrest.

While the City intends to continue its programs designed to prevent unnecessary incarcerationit should be permitted to do so without judicial oversight, without remaining a defendant in a decades-long lawsuit, without the duty to pay attorneys fees whenever Plaintiffs believe they have grounds to complain about the Citys actions, stated the motion to dismiss filed in March 2025.

In a response filed last week, the plaintiffs attorneys contended the city has turned back the clock and resumed the very same tactics that led to the agreement.

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The City has significantly and openly increased criminal enforcement against nonviolent misdemeanants, particularly the unhoused and those with mental illness, and begun crowding the jail via the adoption of systematic practices and formal enforcement policies at odds with the Settlement Agreement terms and purpose, stated Villas 30-page motion.

Priscilla Montano has been shuffled between jail cells and the streets over the past year after citations during encampment sweeps escalated to missed court hearings and arrest warrants.

They give us an option, either you go to jail or you go to a shelter, the 68-year-old said in an interview Friday. And they will arrest you right there and, then again, there goes everything that we have.

Montano said she lost belongings in the shuffle  a wedding ring, family heirlooms and, at one point, had to surrender her two dogs. She said she has received more than two dozen citations as the encampment teams appear to follow the homeless population as they move from place to place.

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In the end, every one of the cases against her has been dismissed by prosecutors, the motions stating that the State is declining prosecution at this time.

I get angry a lot because of how APD treats us and how the city treats us, Montano said.

Policy changes

The city hasnt yet filed a response to Villas motion, but APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said Friday that while policies have been revised or updated regarding arrest procedures, they all still conform to the 2017 agreement.

He added that APD has committed more personnel to transport people experiencing homelessness to resources, such as services and housing at the Gateway Center complex.

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Gallegos said the increase in jail bookings doesnt necessarily mean the APD has stepped up enforcement.

The city has responded to more encampment locations due to an increase in the number of encampments, Gallegos said, and complaints from the public about camping, roadways being obstructed, and sidewalks and businesses being blocked.

Plaintiffs attorneys say the city so far hasnt formally attributed the increase to the overall surge in the homeless population in Albuquerque.

It is the city who has the burden to show that they have complied, Villa said. It has not presented any evidence between 2023 and now that is consistent with any increase in the population of homeless individuals.

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The motion under consideration by Browning states that in 2025, people were charged 1,256 times for obstructing sidewalks  nearly six times the number of cases in the previous eight years combined.

The plaintiffs attorneys also say that city officials have initiated tactical plans for sweeping homeless people from the streets and have been arresting people for misdemeanors.

The city revised its encampment policy in February, which states that the city will provide notice before clearing the area where an encampment has formed, but will take criminal enforcement action against those who refuse to leave the area or return to the encampment area after it has been cleared.

In the revised policy, APD also isnt prohibited from taking any law enforcement action based on the conduct of any individual present at an encampment, states the plaintiffs motion.

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Gallegos said the revised encampment policy is meant to clarify protocols.

It does not require criminal enforcement, Gallegos said. The city has procedures in place, in the form of this encampment policy, that spell out how the citys handles most encampment calls.

A city interaction team, composed of civilians, handles most calls, he said, adding that APD is present at a small percentage.

Lapel video from a July encampment sweep showed an officer warning Montano to move down the block or shes going to jail. A man tries to help her gather her belongings, which overflow from a shopping cart, before the officer tells the man to stop or he will be cited.

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Several minutes later, as Montano struggles to roll the shopping cart out of the area with her two dogs in tow, the officer approaches again. He tells Montano that he told her to walk four blocks down the street.

Now, he tells her, shes going to go to jail. The officer says, I gave you so much time to move and she replies, I was moving. As police place her in handcuffs, Montano tells an officer she has court today. He replies, Oh, me too See you there.

Return to sender

More recently, on Thursday, an Albuquerque police officer appeared to be following the policy while working on APDs Encampment Team in the 8100 block of Central NE.

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Court records state the officer noticed an unhoused woman named Cassandra standing on the sidewalk with a green, dismantled tent and a shopping cart containing clothing covered with a white bed sheet.

A check of an APD database showed the 42-year-old was a repeat offender in the area, according to the officers report. She had been contacted and cited by the Encampment Team approximately 21 times. Charges included obstructing the sidewalk four times in December, the officers report stated.

Despite efforts by a city outreach team and the encampment team to provide resources, Cassandra remained in the same area where she was cited, according to the report.

So the officer placed her in handcuffs, conducted a full search, and charged her under a city ordinance that makes it unlawful to place articles, goods, wares or items on a sidewalk.

Cassandra was also charged with unlawful storage of property, obstructing the street right of way and criminal trespass. She was booked into MDC.

By Friday, she had pleaded no contest before a Metro Court judge and was sentenced to two days in jail, which she had already served, court records show. Cassandra was ordered released but couldnt be reached for comment. A phone number listed for her mother was no longer in service on Friday.

Late last year, Montano said, with the help of Albuquerque Community Safety, she was accepted into the Gateway Center. Montano said she stayed at the shelter for 120 days and was then given a voucher to stay at a motel, the next step in her journey to finding a home.

But that step turned into a pothole, Montano said, as the city informed her a week into her stay that  for reasons she did not know  the voucher had run out. She was back on the streets, back to the shuffle.

As the sun rose Saturday, Montano sat alongside the Interstate 40 overpass with all of her belongings, the ones she has held onto, piled around her. She was waiting for the encampment teams to come, with their loudspeakers and dump trucks.

She didnt want to go back to jail, and she didnt want to lose anything else. With nowhere to go, she waited.

Unbeknownst to Montano, a warrant had been issued for her arrest in November. She missed a hearing after being cited for obstructing the street, a petty misdemeanor.

The hearing notices sent by the court  with no known address  had gone undelivered. A stamped on the envelope read: Return to sender.

Journal Staff Writer Natalie Robbins, Journal News Editor Matthew Reisen and Journal photographer Chancey Bush contributed to this report.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied that Americans would foot the bill on Sunday as the Pentagon prepares to push Congress for hundreds of billions of dollars to continue the war in Iran.

Bessent appeared on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday as the war with Iran pushed into its fourth week, and claimed that the administration would not seek a tax increase to pay for the Pentagons reported $200 billion funding request.

Calling a question from NBCs Kristen Welker terrible framing, Bessent simultaneously claimed that the armed forces $1 trillion budget was sufficient  while adding that the administrations supplemental request would help build out the military.

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Why would we [raise taxes]? We have plenty. We have a trillion dollars in this year's budget for the military. And President Trump, even before the conflict started, had said that he would like to further build out the military, the secretary said.

And actually now we have plenty of money to fund this war. What we are doing is  this is supplemental, said Bessent. President Trump has built up the military, as he did in his first term, as he is now doing in his second term. And he wants to make sure that the military is well supplied going forward.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied that the administration would turn to tax increases to fund a war with Iran (NBC - Meet the Press)

He did not, however, explain clearly where the additional money would come from. The administration has used tariff revenue in the past as a catch-all explanation for the funding of various projects, but that possibility dried up to some extent with the Supreme Courts decision to limit the presidents ability to levy tariffs unilaterally.

Global oil prices have surged amid the war as Iranian forces have blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the worlds oil travels. That economic pain has hit Americans hard as theyve watched gas prices spike by nearly a dollar per gallon in less than a month.

Gas prices have risen to their highest levels since October 2023 as the war with Iran impacts oil tankers' ability to pass through the Strait of Hormuz (Getty Images)

Congress is expected to face a political battle in both chambers over the funding request, as both Democrats and Republicans have expressed skepticism to outright hostility over the prospect of funding a major conflict in the Middle East.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who typically sides with the president but is often honest about the limitations of his partys 53-seat majority, did not sound confident about the Senates chances of passing the legislation when asked by a reporter this past week.

It remains to be seen, he told CNN of the bills chance of passage. And obviously we havent seen any of the specifics around it yet. Saw the aggregate number theyre proposing, but were going to need to, obviously, take a look at it.

White House and other Trumpworld officials have characterized the funding as necessary to achieve the U.S.s military objectives, even as their allies on Capitol Hill and around Washington publicly and privately plead with them to end the war in the near future.

Pete Hegseth quipped that the U.S. needed $200bn to kill bad guys at a press conference last week (AP)

Administration officials have offered shifting goalposts for the U.S.s objectives. Explanations have ranged from degrading Irans ballistic missile capacity to ending its nuclear weapons development and replacing the Iranian regime entirely.

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Trump himself continues to insist that the war is won, even as the U.S. continues to clash with Iranian forces over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. On Saturday, the president threatened to target Iranian power plants if the Strait was not reopened within 48 hours.

As the war continues, the president and his team increasingly find themselves accused of not having a plan or clear objectives for the war, which has now claimed the lives of 13 American service members.

Trumps efforts to recruit a multinational coaltion to escort ships and keep the Strait of Hormuz clear largely fell flat. His blustery demand for the Strait to be re-opened comes as his previous efforts to force the resumption of shipping traffic have been unsuccessful, leading to speculation that the U.S. may attempt to invade with a ground force. He and his allies have resorted to lobbing personal insults at European leaders and countries including Sir Keir Starmer, the U.Ks Prime Minister.

Trump denied last week that he was considering a ground force, while cautioning that he wouldnt speak about those plans to the media before triggering an invasion.

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Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth made clear at a press conference last week that the $200bn number is the floor of what the agency could end up asking Congress to pass.

It takes money to kill bad guys, he quipped to members of the media.
Boston police said one person was stabbed and hospitalized with life-threatening injuries on Sunday morning in the Seaport.

According to authorities, at about 2:44 a.m., police responded to the area of 72 Seaport Boulevard for a report of a person stabbed.

The victim was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Boston police said there are no arrests, and the investigation is ongoing.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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We are asking Gov. Tina Kotek to veto HB 4177, an ill-advised measure approved by the Oregon Legislature that undermines Oregons long- revered Public Meetings Law.

A work group that proposed HB 4177 excluded media organizations that were deeply embedded in the creation of our Public Meetings Law in 1973 and in subsequent amendments. Coming late to that table, representatives of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association were shocked to find this warning from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission:

This exception would allow governing body members to meet in private and/or communicate privately with each other, outside of any public meeting, in order to gather information. Much of the information gathering that normally occurs in public meetings (work sessions or executive sessions) could instead be done privately  with no meeting notice, no minutes or recordings, and no news media observers.

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Here are additional notes of caution from OGEC, obtained through a public records request:

It should be noted at the outset that whenever a quorum of a governing body gathers together, whether in public or private, that quorum has the power to exercise government authority and bind the government to any decision. Even if that decision occurs in private and in violation of the Public Meetings Law, the action still binds the government.

It (HB 4177) is effectively rewriting the Public Meetings Law in ways that create much more ambiguity and inhibit enforcement, and doing so in a short session without any public involvement.

HB 4177 contains significant legal and political complications, and there is no emergency needing immediate legislative action without adequate attention to those problems.

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Some portray HB 4177 as a measure simply to clarify issues related to serial communications, which are daisy-chain discussions among members of a governing body allowing deliberation without a meeting.

Instead, as testified by citizens, ONPA and OGEC, HB 4177 actually expands permissions for serial communications while allowing full-quorum gatherings of governing bodies with no meeting notice, no minutes or recordings, and no news media observers.

And of course, no citizen observers.

Enactment of HB 4177 would result in loss of government transparency, and new confusion for OGEC in its role of enforcing the Public Meetings Law.

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Ironically, it required a public records request to uncover the depth of public harm that would be imposed by enactment of HB 4177. Oregons two joined laws  Public Records and Public Meetings  provide the core rights of Oregon citizens to open government.

The Public Meetings Law in ORS 192.620 states state policy unchanged since 1973: The Oregon form of government requires an informed public aware of the deliberations and decisions of governing bodies and the information upon which such decisions were made. It is the intent of ORS 192.610 to 192.690 that decisions of governing bodies be arrived at openly.

HB 4177 is a violation of that 56-year-old open government policy.

We believe, in passing HB 4177 during a short session, that the Oregon Legislature did not have full access to legal analysis about its consequences. This is precisely the time  particularly by a governor who has championed open government through decades of Oregon public service  for a balancing veto.

Gov. Kotek, we offer our full support on behalf of the Oregon public for your consideration of a veto on HB 4177.
Sen. Guthrie

Cheers to Senator Jim Guthrie (District 28) who last week chose people over power. With courage and integrity, he led the way to killing a health and human services budget that would add to harming services to vulnerable Idahoans in every community in our state. Perhaps now we can start looking at logical and real necessities that will have long-term consequences in the state budget. An obvious necessity is passing the Idaho Child Care Program, so Medicaid recipients who are required to work can get some help finding safe and affordable child care for their children. In the recent past, didnt state policymakers, including governors, prioritize young childrens safety, development and learning? What happened?

Mary Lou Kinney, Boise

Voter suppression

Voter suppression seems to be a major policy in our current political climate even though independent experts have debunked the claim of massive voter fraud. One of the biggest problems in the modern era of mass communications and get out the vote efforts is the outdated Electoral College. Every four years a small number of voters in the swing states which currently includes Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and sometimes Nevada and North Carolina decide who will be president. Political consultants can target voters through various media techniques and ignore the vast majority of nearly 150 million voters. In the city of Boise for example a general runoff election is held. If no candidate gets a majority after the first round the top two candidates face each other in a second round. There is a clear winner and all votes actually count equally. Why shouldnt the popular vote replace an Electoral College where only a few votes decides the election? In the 1920s New York governor Alfred Smith stated that the only cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy. All votes should count not just a few in a few states.

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Sidney Asker, Boise

Bathroom bill

A wrathful poem by Marge Piercy about pay stalls in public restrooms has the line what only the dead find unnecessary. The Idaho House just passed a bill criminalizing what only the dead find unnecessary. Trans individuals who were born gender but have gone through a long, medical process of becoming the gender they know themselves to be, become a criminal if they use the wrong restroom in Albertsons or a bar. Stall walls not with standing, the bill just passed mandates they be arrested and fined. If they are in a business, that business will be fined.

So not only are the police supposed to hunt down immigrants, they are supposed to patrol rest rooms? Are stalls on the routes of street cops? That is our tax dollars.

This bill does zilch to protect women and girls. It would not prevent the bruises or broken bones that battered girl friends and wives deal with. It would not teach a teen girl whose first boyfriend turns out to be a batterer that she does not have to tolerate such treatment. The Idaho Senate should not pass this bill.

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Janelle Wintersteen, Boise

Womens bathrooms

Those who oppose HB 752, the Idaho bill that keeps males out of womens bathrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities are turning a blind eye to reality.

Safety and privacy are non-negotiable. Women did not ask for this fight. We never asked for men, regardless of how they identify, to enter our most intimate, private spaces.

Women are increasingly pushing back that self-identification grants access to womens language, protections, and the legal safeguards that recognize girls and women as a protected sex class. These protections were hard-won, built on the recognition that biological differences matter.

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The agenda to redefine reality relies on classic authoritarian tactics: endless slogans, mantras, and repetitive propaganda. Phrases like inclusive, marginalized, discrimination, and trans women are women are weaponized to manipulate truth, control thought, and create false reality. This linguistic campaign doesnt change biology, it only pressures people to deny it.

No special category of men gets a free pass to override womens consent, breach our boundaries, or invade our spaces. Facilities must align with ones birth sex. Biology matters. Privacy matters. Safety matters.

I urge everyone, especially those wavering, to stand firmly on these undeniable truths. Support HB 752. Protect womens dignity, safety and privacy.

April Chainey, Boise

Bob Kustra

I read with incredulity Jason Monks opinion letter in response to Bob Kustras column about Monks resolution. I stand with Kustra on this; the Idaho legislature seeks only to marginalize constituents with whom they feel uncomfortable or those who do not show up on their contributor lists. Please show us where and when justice, compassion and unity has been achieved or even attempted with bills that are anti-transgender, anti-immigration, anti-womens healthcare or anti-education. Vouchers for private for-profit, exclusionary schools benefit the well-to-do suburbanites and neglect the rural and poor districts. Where are the efforts to address real issues affecting so many of our states population, I.e., lack of housing and poor access to healthcare, failing public education and rising utility costs as the State caters to big business and interminable quest for tax cuts and energy grabs? We dont need your words, Mr. Monks; we need the actions that they supposedly seek to compel.

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Constance Carlson, Eagle

SAVE Act

The SAVE Act is an unnecessary and unfair poll tax on women. This act requires proof of every legal name change and places the cost of obtaining copies of these documents on her. Frequently in several states, all across this country and requiring a fee to get the records. It places an unfair burden on us and every other person whose income is connected to her. Bad idea, especially since most, if not all states require identification to register to vote already.

Teresa Murray, Emmett

Voting

Voter fraud is not a problem in Idaho or the United States. I am very upset that the House of Representatives voted to pass the SAVE America Act because it will create barriers for people like me to register to vote.I am an older American and do not have a passport. I also dont drive but I do have a Star ID card.

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The problem is the name on my birth certificate doesnt match my current identification.Finding the paperwork to track my name change will be a challenge.We dont have widespread voter fraud in America and the SAVE America Act creates unnecessary burdens for voting in our elections.If our senators vote to pass the SAVE America Act, I wont be able to vote for them in coming elections.

Lynne Schnupp, Boise
This March marks the sixth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemics onset in Iowa. It was a surreal time, with impacts ranging from mildly inconvenient to life-altering. While some effects have faded (hopefully for good), others revealed lasting lessons that extend far beyond masking and social distancing.

One of the clearest lessons was the extent of the United States reliance on foreign suppliers. Pharmaceuticals, technology products, semiconductors, and even parts of the national defense supply chain depend heavily on overseas production, much of it in China. This reliance raises not only supply chain concerns but also national security risks, including potential cyberattacks and disruptions to critical resources such as food and water.

In addition to supply chain disruptions exposed by COVID-19, U.S.-China relations come into even sharper focus in Iowa, where China is not just a key supplier but also a major export market, making shifts in global relations, tariffs and trade policy especially consequential for our states agriculture-driven economy. In response to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, China temporarily refused to purchase U.S. soybeans, which had a direct impact on Iowa farmers.

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More: Big Tech's dangerous dance with China undermines Trump's America First agenda | Opinion

While subsequent trade negotiations led China to gradually resume soybean purchases, its earlier refusal demonstrated the leverage it can exert over Iowas economy. Although it is often forgotten, it is estimated that Iowa alone lost nearly 34,000 jobs to China, the majority of them in the manufacturing sector.

It is in response to all of these concerns that Gov. Kim Reynolds issued an executive order in February to strengthen protections and reduce vulnerabilities against potential threats by the Chinese government. The order directs the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to conduct an annual state risk assessment that includes, but is not limited to, vulnerabilities related to cybersecurity attacks, economic security, and public health. The agency will also be required to annually evaluate the vulnerability of the states critical infrastructure.

Many of the technology products and services used across Iowa warrant closer scrutiny, especially in industries where supply chains may be influenced by, or unknowingly connected to, Chinese entities. Chinas significant global investment footprint can shape companies and the technologies they produce, raising concerns about hidden vulnerabilities.

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These risks are not hypothetical. They include the potential for cyberattacks that expose sensitive networks, compromise credentials, introduce malicious code, or exploit weaknesses in existing hardware and software. China has also demonstrated the ability to embed backdoor access in certain technologies and communications devices, including drones.

Against this backdrop, the executive order seeks to safeguard Iowas critical infrastructure by ensuring the security of systems that support public health, the power grid, drinking water, and the food supply, areas where vulnerabilities could have far-reaching consequences. When she issued the order, Reynolds stated, As foreign adversaries like the communist regime in China continue seeking ways to penetrate American markets  putting U.S. citizens at risk  I will make certain our systems are fortified to protect Iowans from these threats. We must ensure our state operations are resilient against any hostile actions aimed at undermining our state and nation.

More: Big Tech's dangerous dance with China undermines Trump's America First agenda | Opinion

Februarys executive order is not the first time Iowas leaders have moved to strengthen the states defenses against Chinas overreach. In 2023, the Legislature passed Senate File 418, requiring Iowas public retirement funds, including IPERS, to avoid investing in companies tied to the Chinese government or military and to divest from any such holdings within a set timeframe.

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The following year, lawmakers enacted Senate File 2204, strengthening existing restrictions on foreign ownership of agricultural land by increasing reporting requirements, expanding enforcement authority, and imposing tougher penalties. The governor has also banned TikTok and other Chinese-developed applications, such as DeepSeek and RedNote, on state devices due to potential security risks.

The Legislature is currently considering legislation that would prohibit the hiring of people with H1-B visas from nations that are identified as foreign adversaries or state sponsors of terror, which would include China.

Iowas experience over the past six years makes one thing clear: Global dynamics are no longer distant concerns; they have direct, local consequences. From supply chains to export markets to critical infrastructure, the intersection of economic policy and national security is now unavoidable. Iowa has not been complacent. State leaders have taken meaningful steps to strengthen safeguards and reduce exposure to foreign risks. The challenge ahead is to remain engaged in global markets while ensuring that Iowas economy, institutions, and essential systems are resilient against external pressure and influence.

John Hendrickson serves as Policy Director for Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa takes strong steps to respond to China | Opinion
The Newark Board of Education president said the district plans to open a new school on the site of a shuttered former parochial school in the citys Ironbound section, using a lease-purchase agreement similar to one for a new district high school that opened last fall.

The board president, Hasani Council, said the new Riverfront School will alleviate crowding at other schools in the Ironbound, a growing and densely populated section of the citys East Ward. The new school will also mean more students can attend a school close to home.

You have a lot of East Ward families that have been traveling outside of the East Ward, due to the crowding, Council said.

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Unlike the new high school, which is housed in a redeveloped former hospital, Council made clear that the old Catholic school would be demolished and the new public school built from scratch.

Brand new building, ground up, he said.

Details of the schools projected opening date, grade configuration, cost and other aspects. would be made public during a special meeting at 5 p.m. on March 25, at Lafayette Street School, which is in the Ironbound.

That day had originally been scheduled for a public hearing and possible adoption of the districts 2026-27 school budget, which has now been pushed back a day, to 6 p.m. at George Washington Carver Elementary School in Newarks South Ward.

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John Abeigon, the president of the Newark Teachers Union, said the new Ironbound school was long overdue.

Abeigon said class sizes at the districts Lafayette Street, Wilson Avenue, Hawkins Street and Oliver Street schools in the Ironbound section averaged in the high-20s to low 30s, compared to the states recommended figure of 25.

He said the need for more space was underscored by the full enrollment last fall in the inaugural freshman class of the districts new High School of Architecture and Interior Design, also in the Ironbound, a $300 million facility developed under an unusual lease-purchase agreement with a New York City developer.

Council said the Riverfront School will be developed using a similar lease-purchase scheme as the High School of Architecture and Interior Design. Under the scheme, a third-party developer will acquire the property from the owner, a process now under negotiation, construct and own the building, and lease it to the district under a long-term agreement.

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The arrangement is unusual for public school building, which in the case of relatively poor urban districts like Newark are built using state funds from the New Jersey Schools Development Authority. But, as with the high school, Council said the lease arrangement allows the district to create new schools without SDA funding.

Instead, he said, lease payments will come from the districts operating budget. That said, Council said there are a number of state approvals the district must receive from the Department of Education and other agencies, and that next weeks special meeting is a state requirement under the school building process.

The opening of the High School of Architecture and Interior Design was delayed by two years due to snags that included stop-work orders by the state linked to complaints that the developer was not paying workers prevailing wagers. Council said the new school would not involve the same developer.

Council declined to name the new schools prospective developer in light of their ongoing talks to acquire the property from the parish.

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The new school would be built on the site of the former St. Aloysius Grammar School at the southeast corner of Fleming Avenue and Freeman Street, across the intersection from St. Aloysius Church, an active parish that owns the defunct school.

St. Aloysius Grammar School tree branches

The 2-story red brick building was built in 1902, and hasnt been used as a school for years. It was last occupied by Catholic Charities Mount Carmel Guild Behavioral Health Services, whose sign remains above the buildings locked entrance five years after the nonprofit moved to a new location in Newark.

Tree branches literally sprout from spaces between the bricks on the buildings Freeman Street facade, while profane graffiti on the Fleming Avenue side mocks a masonry cross above the Gothic-arched entrance to the schools Mission Theater auditorium.

Several windows are broken, and many on the ground-floor are sealed with metal shutters.

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A St. Aloysius Church volunteer who answered the door of the rectory referred any questions about the school to The Rev. Elky Reyes, who also works at St. Benedicts Church in Newark. Reyes did not respond to requests for comment on the fate of the old school this week.

St. Aloysius is among countless Catholic schools to close their doors over the decades, within the Newark Archdiocese and elsewhere around the country, typically due to declining enrollment.

The archdiocese announced the closing of 10 schools under a single announcement in 2020, after having announced eight closures in 2012.

If St. Als is knocked down, The Fonz will be sad to see it go.

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Newark native Henry Winkler, whos not the Happy Days actor but sometimes gets called by his iconic characters nickname, grew up in the Ironbound and attended St. Aloysius in the 1950s.

It was a great school, said Winkler, 83, a retired electrical engineer and great-grandfather now living in Maryland.

Winkler said Yankee greats like Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra would walk up to the school gate during recess while they were in town to meet with team sponsors at the massive Ballentine Brewery, which dominated the neighborhood before its closing in 1972.

Winkler, a member of the St. Aloysius eighth grade class of 1956, posts on the Growing Up in Newark Facebook page, with alumni FB Friends from as recently as 1981.

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We had some reunions over the years, but the one fella that organized that passed away, Winkler.

Winkler was intrigued to learn of that St. James Hospital had been redeveloped into a high school in the neighborhood where he grew up and started his own family.

Thats where my first two children were born, he said.

But he could understand the need to knock down his old grammar school, which he had visited in recent years and knew was deteriorating.

I really dont like to see historical places demolished, he said. But what can you do? Progress is progress. You cant fight city hall. Or the board of ed.

St. Aloysius Grammar School Mission Theatre entrance

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
New Mexicos community solar program has struggled to launch since lawmakers established it five years ago. Now, regulators are giving it a makeover to expand access.

The idea behind community solar is to give electric utility customers the savings of a rooftop solar array without actually having to lease, own and install one on their home or small business, making it easier for cash-strapped New Mexicans to go solar. Through the community solar program, New Mexicans can purchase shares or leases of small solar farms, which produce no more than 5 megawatts of power, through a state-approved subscriber organization. In exchange, customers can get a credit on their monthly electric bill for their share in the energy produced from the solar farm, resulting in savings.

A 2021 University of New Mexico study found that a community solar program could generate over half a billion dollars in economic benefits in New Mexico and create 3,760 high-paying jobs over five years.

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But five years after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed New Mexicos Community Solar Act into law in April 2021, the programs promises have yet to fully materialize. Of the 47 projects that received a state award to build nearly a collective 200 megawatts of community solar power in May 2023, only 12 of the solar farms totaling 54.73 megawatts are energized, according to Patrick Rodriguez, a Public Regulation Commission spokesperson.

Its been a hard grind, said Jim Desjardins, executive director of the Renewable Energy Industries Association of New Mexico. The interconnection processes have been slow for a variety of reasons.

The program has gone through rulemaking as well as a state Supreme Court challenge since its establishment. Getting through the interconnection queue  a lineup of power generation projects waiting for approval to be hooked into the power grid  is no easy process; certain projects may require grid studies and upgrades.

The three-member PRC scheduled hearings on rule changes to the community solar program as it prepares to bid out another 300 megawatts of new projects. The PRC will hold a public comment hearing beginning at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, at the New Mexico State Capitol, room 309. (Contact the commission at public.comment@prc.nm.gov to participate via Zoom).

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Community solar stakeholders  utilities, solar farm developers, advocacy groups  spent the better part of 2025 hashing out new rules for the program. The PRC commissioners  all of whom were appointed by Lujan Grisham  will vote on a bevy of proposals on issues including where community solar farms can be built, who pays to connect them to the grid, how consumers get billed and more.

Under law, 30% of a community solar farms output is reserved for low-income residents. New rules under consideration would allow residents to qualify for community solar bill credits if they are enrolled in the following federal programs: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; the USDAs Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations; and tribally administered assistance programs.

Despite the fact that just over a quarter of the programs initial 200-megawatt capacity is online, renewable energy advocates are urging the commission to act fast on the new rule changes so they can publish requests for proposals on an additional 300 megawatts of projects as soon as possible.

The urgency to publish new bids stems from the fact that President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law July 4, phased out lucrative federal investment tax credits and production tax credits for wind and solar energy projects. Those tax credits now expire Dec. 31, 2027, which means that New Mexicos community solar projects need to start work fast to capture the incentives.

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The Coalition for Community Solar Access, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit, submitted joint comments on the rule changes to the PRC with a number of local organizations, including the Coalition for Sustainable Communities New Mexico, which represents the local governments of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Bernalillo County, Santa Fe County, Los Alamos County and Taos County.

If Commission processes do not align with (investment tax credit) deadlines, projects intended to serve New Mexico customers may be unable to fully monetize federal incentives, reducing or preventing the bill-saving benefits that would otherwise flow to subscribers, the coalition wrote.

Theres a need to get these projects up and going, quickly, and comply with the phase-down of the investment tax credit, agreed Desjardins, of the Renewable Energy Industries Association.

In comments to the commission, the association called on regulators to strengthen local-hiring preferences when the state is selecting solar farm developers. The nonprofit said it does not support revisions to the rules that dilute the intent of the local preference and local benefits scoring by treating pass-through contracting or proxy arrangements as equivalent to substantive local performance.

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The utilities, in comments to the commission, argued that their customers who do not subscribe to community solar should not have to subsidize upgrades made to the electric grid to accommodate the new generation. PNM, the states largest electric utility, took a swipe at the private subscriber organizations that enroll customers in community solar farms. Desjardins likened the subscriber organizations, which are vetted by the state, to property managers.

... PNM does not find it appropriate that all utility customers should fund upgrades that are driven for the benefit of private, unregulated subscriber organizations, PNM said in a filing.

Interest in building the farms  from both the worlds largest renewable energy developers such as AES to smaller New Mexico developers  has been strong. In May 2023, a total of 408 projects representing a total of 1.7 gigawatts of power bid into the program  a full 1.5 gigawatts over the program cap.

On March 16, three companies  Pluma Construction, a New Mexico-based renewable energy developer; Forefront Power, a San Francisco-based solar and battery developer; and Standard Solar, a Maryland-based solar asset owner  jointly announced eight new community solar projects across the state, four of which are energized. The new projects are in Las Vegas, Las Cruces, Tularosa, Silver City, Alamogordo and Lordsburg. Two are in Clovis.

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Were proud to already be serving thousands of New Mexicans who have signed up to be part of these solar farms  families who are now seeing savings on their monthly energy bills thanks to clean power generated right here in their own communities, Sandhya Murali, chief strategy and marketing officer at Perch Energy and former CEO of Solstice, said in a statement. With these projects officially online, were excited to continue serving even more households in the months ahead. These active projects have enough capacity to enroll approximately 2,500 additional households, with more on the horizon.

Justin Horwath covers tech and energy for the Journal. You can reach him at jhorwath@abqjournal.com.
People in Monrovia joined together for a community walk on Saturday to honor a bear with two young cubs that was euthanized by wildlife officials this week.

Authorities say the bear clawed a woman who was walking her dog and was deemed a public safety threat by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Now, community members are calling for policy change.

With signs in hand, honoring the Monrovia bear known affectionately as Blondie, more than 100 people showed up to remember the mama bear with two young cubs. The walk began at 9 a.m. Saturday at Monrovia Library Park.

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"I think it's unfortunate and I think it's a tragedy," said Monrovia neighbor Mike Janesin.

"Blondie didn't need to be euthanized," community walk participant Emily Wu Troung said.

A week ago on Saturday, a woman was out walking her dog on Oakglade Drive when Monrovia police say Blondie the bear approached the woman and clawed the back of her knee. The woman and her dog got away, and the woman was taken to a hospital for treatment.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Woman escapes after bear swipes claw in Monrovia, leaving minor injuries

Hours after a woman was clawed by a bear in the Monrovia foothills, two bears were seen making themselves at home under a nearby house.

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The next day, Blondie and her two cubs were captured. Bear DNA collected from last Saturday's incident matched Bear DNA collected from another incident where a man was clawed last June. Ultimately, state wildlife officials deemed the mama bear a threat to the community and decided to euthanize her, despite efforts from the community to prevent that outcome, including more than 3,800 people who signed a petition seeking to spare the bear's life.

"I still think there might have been other options available if they took more time to really think about it and understand the situation that she has two cubs," Janesin said.

"I am sorry to share the unfortunate news," Dylan Feik, the Monrovia city manager, wrote in a statement after Blondie's euthanasia. "The Monrovia City Council requested and lobbied for the bear and her cubs to be relocated into the Angeles National Forest but the decision was never the City's to make. By the time we were able to speak with state officials involved in the decision-making, the decision to euthanize was already made."

The city says the two cubs are healthy and will be relocated to a facility before eventually being reintroduced into the wild.

SEE ALSO: Monrovia bear euthanized after clawing at woman walking her dog

The city of Monrovia says a female bear that took a swipe at a woman over the weekend has been euthanized. DNA revealed this wasn't the bear's first attack.

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On Saturday, people from all over Southern California came together for a two-mile walk, symbolizing the two cubs Blondie left behind.

"I think it's important as people to not just not do anything, but to come and memorialize this bear," said Elizabeth Weisberg, who came to the walk from Redlands.

Now, the tight-knit community is calling on their local and state leaders to help make policy changes to better protect all bears, and on their neighbors to keep educating themselves.

"We need to learn how to co-exist with them, to cohabitate with them, so that they don't get killed," Wu Troung said.

"We need to do more than only walk today. We need to change how we get rid of our trash. We need to have community conversations about human-bear interactions so that this doesn't happen again," Jacqui Malouf from Monrovia said.

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On Wednesday afternoon, the CDFW issued a statement that defended its decision to put the bear down.

"Anytime there is human-wildlife conflict, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's foremost responsibility is the protection of human life and ensuring public safety," the statement read. "With that priority in mind, the black bear responsible for the March 14 attack on a resident in Monrovia, Los Angeles County, has been determined by CDFW law enforcement officers to be a public safety... (threat).

The decision to terminate the bear followed "thorough assessment of the bear's behavior and the circumstances of the incident," according to state wildlife officials, who said killing an animal "is used only as a last resort when an animal poses a risk to public safety and cannot be safely returned to the wild."

The CDFW says the sad outcome and others like it "underscore the importance of prevention."

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"Bears are highly adaptable and will seek out food and shelter when opportunities are present," officials said. "Securing crawl spaces, removing food attractants such as unsecured trash or pet food and eliminating access to sheltered areas around homes are critical steps residents must take to reduce the likelihood of conflict and habituation. These actions help keep both people and wildlife safe and bears wild."

The statement went on to say that mother bears teach their foraging methods to cubs, who can learn to associate people and homes with food, creating potentially dangerous encounters.

"Relocation may seem like a solution, but is not an option when it could put public safety at risk. Bears have strong spatial memory and often return to familiar areas," the wildlife department said. "When translocated long distances, they recreate the same conflict behavior or struggle to survive in unfamiliar habitat. Without humans taking steps to reduce attractants and access to urbanized shelter, the underlying issue remains."

City News Service contributed to this report.
Rogers County Emergency Management and the 911 Center will soon have an additional 5,500 square feet of storage space.

The Rogers County Commissioners voted at their March 9 meeting to spend $170,701.46 in use tax to finish the storage facility. It sits complete but unoccupied next to the 911 Center on State Highway 88.

District 2 Commissioner Steve Hendrix the initial bid the county awarded to Cunningham Construction totaled $620,000, but the project has racked up $32,000 in change orders.

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In 2022, the commissioners awarded Rogers County Emergency Management $765,440.50 in American Rescue Plan Act funds. The agency spent about $200,000 the following year on a mobile command trailer.

At the March 9 meeting, the commissioners moved about $72,000 from the trailer fund to the building fund. Hendrix said that brings the building fund up to about $90,000.

"That is going to create a shortfall to complete the project of $170,701.46, which we anticipated from the very beginning," Hendrix said. "It was our intent, when we reached this shortfall, that we would make up the difference with use tax."

Hendrix said the storage facility, which will double as a backup emergency operations center, would have come in handy March 5 when a pair of EF-2 tornadoes tore through Rogers County. Scotty Stokes, emergency management director, said the storms caused damage to 23 homes.

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Stokes said the new facility is huge for Rogers County Emergency Management. He said having room to store all of its equipment under a roof will make it easier to perform regular maintenance.

Other emergency management agencies around the state rely on Rogers County to loan equipment and expertise, Stokes said, such as during last year's wildfires in Mannford.

"This is going to be a nice facility," Stokes said. "We're gonna have some stuff we've got to get in there and some additional things we're going to need in the future  tables, chairs, stuff like that. But this is going to take us to the next level, as far as emergency management in the state of Oklahoma."

Also at the March 9 meeting, the commissioners cemented their priority order for county roads and bridges they want the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to fund through its County Improvements for Roads and Bridges plan.

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The CIRB is a purse of state funds counties use to fund projects they couldn't otherwise afford, said District 1 Commissioner Dan DeLozier. Counties submit a list of projects rank-ordered by priority, and ODOT decides which projects to help fund.

The No. 1 priority of 2026 is last year's No. 3: Bridge 75, which spans Little Dog Creek near the corner of 4220 and 430 roads. DeLozier said the bridge is structurally deficient, though he said that doesn't mean it's dangerous to use.

According to ODOT's five-year Construction Work Plan for fiscal years 2025-2029, the project would cost $210,000, all from the CIRB fund.

The commissioners also requested at the March 9 meeting for ODOT to reimburse the county about $240,000. DeLozier said this covers the utility relocation and right-of-way acquisition for last year's No. 1 priority CIRB project. It would replace a low-water crossing with a long bridge.

"I've got a project on the county line between Craig and Rogers County on 4310 Road that we've been working on for about 10 years," DeLozier said. "Had it funded a half dozen times, and then they pulled the funds. We finally got this to getting ready to be built."
Mar. 22Humane Society raising funds for shelter turf

COAL GROVE  A campaign to raise funds for artificial grass for the Lawrence County Animal Shelter is half way to its goal and organizers are restarting the effort for spring.

Denise Paulus, director of the shelter, said the idea came about when she was approached by the Lemaster family who owns Giovanni's Pizza, about doing something for the facility.

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Paulus said the interior of the shelter had recently been remodeled by Gigi's, so "the yard was next."

Paulus contacted Brent Pyles, a trustee with the Lawrence County Humane Society about chairing a fundraising effort.

Pyles said the idea is to install the turf on the back side of the shelter, in the area where dogs are walked and let out to exercise.

The current lawn, from years of use, is barren and gets muddy when it rains, Pyles said.

"It's untenable," he said. "It makes a mess of the dogs, messes up the kennels and is more work for caretakers."

Pyles said the plan is to cover the space with artificial grass, with edging around it.

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He said the turf is manufactured By ForeverLawn Southern Ohio, based in Scioto County.

"It is developed for dogs," Pyles said. "It allows urine, water and snow melt to go through to the backing and substrate under. It drains and allows attendees to clean it and they can hose it down."

Pyles said this will promote better hygiene for the animals and the shelter.

"It reduces parvo, it reduces kennel cough and reduces parasites," he said. "And It provides a better area for exercise and socialization, and improves the overall environment."

Pyles said the fundraising goal is $50,000.

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"That's for our half," he said, noting this covers installation cost.

He said they are halfway to that goal, with more donations pledged and "feel we'll meet it by summer."

Pyles said the campaign kicked off six months ago and they are restarting the effort for the spring.

"We want to get word out to the public that we are accepting donations," he said.

He said there are three levels of donations: $1,000  platinum, $500  gold and $200 or less  silver.

He said donors can have their contributions publicized, if they wish, or they can remain anonymous. Donations can be made through Paypal at www.paypal.com/paypalme/ LCHSOHIO, through a QR code on Humane Society materials or by mailing a check to P.O. Box 412, Ironton, Ohio 45638.

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"It's certainly a worthwhile project," Pyles said.

He said the Humane Society has developed a solid leadership team and has helped in the rescue and fostering of many animals, as well as worked on projects such as donating an animal rescue unit to the Ironton Fire Department and bulletproof vests for K-9 unites with the Ironton Police Department and Lawrence County Sheriff's Office.

Todd Crabtree, owner of ForeverLawn Southern Ohio, echoed the concerns at the shelter over the space.

"With the mud and water, it is hard to keep the facility clean," he said. "It is not sanitary for the dogs and not good for the inside."

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Crabtree said the product has a long warranty and takes a week or two to install.

"It will fix a problem that has plagued them for years and years," he said.

Crabtree says "no one ever regrets installing it," and he said he instead hears from clients who "wish they had done it sooner."

He said it is a 15-year product guaranteed, but it can last as long as 20 or 25 years easily.

Pyles asked him about damage to the turf and Crabtree said, though rare, it is easy to fix, with a patch that can be done by the company is about 45 minutes.

Pyles also asked about drainage.

Crabtree said, during installation, they would take up about 5 inches of dirt from the space and install multiple drainage roots and put aggregate under.

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Paulus said the community has stepped up and she has received multiple large donations, with more pledged.

Some of the donors so far include Jeff Mowery, Joe Mason, Giovanni's Coal Grove, Bill Dickens, the Ironton Lions Club, Tracy Bunch and VFW Post 8850 of Ironton.

"This is a big deal," she said. "I'm really thankful for all of these people."
HAVANA (AP)  Cuba began restoring its energy system on Sunday, a day after a nationwide collapse of the entire grid left millions of people in the dark for the third time this month.

Some 72,000 customers in the capital, among them five hospitals, had electricity again early Sunday, according to a report from the state-run Electric Union and the Ministry of Energy and Mines, but it's only a fraction of Havanas total population of approximately 2 million.

In Havana and provinces such as western Matanzas and eastern Holguin, local power microsystems were set up to supply the most vital centers. Residents in some areas of the capital told The Associated Press that power returned during the early morning hours.

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Cuba is currently facing an unprecedented energy crisis. Its aging grid has drastically eroded in recent years, but the government has also blamed the outages on a U.S. energy blockade, after President Donald Trump in January warned of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. His administration is demanding that Cuba release political prisoners and move toward political and economic liberalization in return for a lifting of sanctions. Trump also has raised the possibility of a friendly takeover of Cuba.

Another reason Cuba has been struggling with dwindling oil is the removal by the U.S. of Venezuelas former President Nicolas Maduro, which halted critical petroleum shipments from the nation that had been a steadfast ally to Havana.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel has said the island has not received oil from foreign suppliers for three months. Cuba produces barely 40% of the fuel it needs to power its economy.

Daily blackouts have a significant impact on the population, whose lives are disrupted by reduced work hours, lack of electricity for cooking and damage to household appliances, among many other consequences.

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With the blackout and low voltage, my refrigerator broke  that was today. The day before yesterday, the voltage also dropped around 10 at night, Suleydi Crespo, a 33-year-old woman with two small children, told AP on Saturday. If theres no electricity tomorrow, we wont be able to get water.

Residents also expressed exhaustion from the constant outages, whether nationwide or partial.

The Cuban Electric Union, which reports to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, reported that the total disconnection of the national energy system was caused by an unexpected shutdown of a generation unit at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant in Camaguey province, without providing details on the specific cause of the failure.

The last nationwide blackout occurred on Monday. It took several days to restore power.

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Saturdays outage was the second in the past week and the third in March.

We have to get used to continuing our usual routine. What else can we do? We have to try to survive. Get used to events, with or without electricity, said Dagnay Alarcon, a 35-year-old vendor.

Authorities and Diaz-Canel himself have acknowledged the seriousness of the current energy situation. The Vice Minister of Energy and Mines Argelio Abad Vigo explained this week that the country has gone three months without receiving supplies of diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, aviation fuel or liquefied petroleum gas  all vital for the economy and power generation.

Fuel sales for vehicles are rationed, airlines have suspended flights or reduced frequencies many workplaces have reduced hours.

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Trump has for months suggested Cubas government is on the verge of collapse. After a previous time Cubas electric grid collapsed, Trump told reporters he believed hed soon have the honor of taking Cuba.

Maria Regla Cardoso, a housewife in Havana, said she isn't interested in politics and that Cubans have to keep living.

I leave everything in Gods hands. Whatever form the situation takes, we just have to face it.

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Cuban government has refused a request by the U.S. Embassy in Havana to allow it to import diesel for its generators while the Trump administration continues to impose a fuel blockade on the island, two U.S. officials familiar with the matter said Friday.

The government turned down the request as the U.S. State Department has been weighing a reduction in staffing at the embassy in the Cuban capital of Havana because of the lack of diesel. Such a move would likely lead to a U.S. demand for a similar reduction in staffing at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, say the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

The Cuban government rejection was first reported by The Washington Post.

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The White House, State Department and Cuban Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Cuba has struggled with dwindling oil since the U.S. removed Venezuelas leader, halting critical petroleum shipments from the nation that had been a steadfast ally to Havana. President Donald Trump then threatened tariffs on any country selling or supplying Cuba with oil.

The island is relying on its own natural gas, solar power and its own oil to run thermoelectric plants, but that hasnt been enough to meet demand.

Many of the nations 11 million residents struggle to keep food from spoiling. Hospitals have canceled surgeries. The leading university has reduced classes due to the power outages and transportation shutdowns.

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The standoff on diesel comes as Trump has been pressing for dramatic change in government led by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have also said they see the island nation as the next country where the U.S. can expand its influence.

They are demanding, in part, that Cuba release political prisoners and move toward political and economic liberalization in return for a lifting of sanctions.

The Trump administration is looking for Diaz-Canel to leave his position, The Associated Press previously reported. No detail has been offered about who the administration might like to see come to power.

Trump has for months suggested Cubas government is on the verge of collapse. After Cuba's electric grid collapsed earlier this week, spurring an island-wide blackout, Trump told reporters he believed he'd soon have the honor of taking Cuba.

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Taking Cuba in some form  whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with it, if you want to know the truth," Trump said. "Theyre a very weakened nation right now.

Trump has suggested that top Cuban leaders would be smart to avoid the fate of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was ousted in a U.S. military operation in January and whisked to New York to face federal drug conspiracy charges. Venezuela had been Cuba's closest ally and provided it with heavily subsidized oil.

Any potential staffing reduction at the embassy is not expected to come immediately because the U.S. believes it has enough diesel in reserve to last for another month, according to one official.

There are limited options to tap into fuel reserves in Cuba, which are tightly controlled by the government.

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For example, one of the officials said the Spanish Embassy in Havana has a significant excess of fuel and had offered it to other European embassies facing similar shortages, only to be denied permission to do so by Cuban authorities.

The Spanish Embassys reserves were boosted by the previous importation of diesel meant for Spanish-owned hotels on the island. Most, if not all, of those hotels are currently closed due to a lack of tourists visiting Cuba.

Diaz-Canel said last week that Cuba has held talks with the U.S. government. It marked the first time the Caribbean country had confirmed widespread speculation about discussions with the Trump administration in the midst of the Republican administration's pressure campaign.

Humanitarian organizations began delivering aid to Cuba by air Friday, including solar panels, food and medicine.

Cuba is also preparing to receive a shipment of Russian oil later this month, which would be its first shipment in the past three months.
By Daniel Trotta

HAVANA, March 20 (Reuters) - Cuba on Friday rejected any suggestion that its political system or the term of its president were subject to negotiation in talks with the United States, following reports that Washington sought to remove Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel from power.

"I can categorically confirm that ... the political system of Cuba is not up for negotiation, and of course neither the president nor the position of any official in Cuba is subject to negotiation with the United States," Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told a press conference.

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Cuba said a week ago that it had entered talks with the U.S. government as an oil blockade imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump pushes the Communist-run nation deeper into economic crisis, and as Trump has said he can do "anything I want" with Cuba, a sovereign neighbor.

Speaking later to a group of foreign activists bringing humanitarian aid to Cuba, Diaz-Canel said Cuba was preparing for a possible U.S. "aggression."

"We're not just crossing our arms. In the first place, we recognize that there could be aggression against Cuba," said Diaz-Canel, who has struck a more defiant tone recently.

He said on social media on Tuesday that "any external aggressor will face an impenetrable resistance."

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USA Today, citing two sources with knowledge of the Trump administration's plans, reported before Cuba's announcement that Trump was preparing an economic deal with Cuba that would relax trade restrictions but include an "off-ramp" for Diaz-Canel.

The New York Times, citing four people familiar with the talks, later reported that the Trump administration was seeking to push Diaz-Canel from power with two years remaining on his term as president and five years left as leader of the Communist Party.

Both reports said the U.S. proposal would leave untouched the family of former presidents Fidel and Raul Castro. Fidel Castro died in 2016 but Raul Castro, 94, remains highly influential eight years after handing the presidency over to Diaz-Canel, 65.

Such a deal would resemble what has happened in Venezuela, where the United States deposed President Nicolas Maduro on January 3. Rather than attempt to install an opposition government, the U.S. has cooperated with acting President Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro's former vice president who took power when U.S. forces whisked away Maduro in an early morning raid.

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AUTHORITY SPREAD WIDELY

Authority in Cuba is spread widely among senior Communist Party leaders, other government officials and the armed forces, unlike the concentration of power that characterized the Castro years from the start of the 1959 revolution until Diaz-Canel's term began in 2018.

De Cossio, who has led the foreign ministry's office on U.S. relations, declined to offer further details of the bilateral discussions, leaving unanswered the questions of where and when they are taking place.

But he did say there were plenty of topics of mutual interest, including trade between the two countries that has been severed by the comprehensive U.S. economic embargo against Cuba.

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He also mentioned longstanding economic compensation that each country seeks. Cuba has claims against the United States for damages caused by the embargo, while there are 5,913 claims from Americans whose properties were nationalized in Cuba after the 1959 revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.

"These are very complex issues that can be discussed, but they require dialogue," de Cossio said. "They require sitting down and are legitimate matters."

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Havana; Editing by Alistair Bell and Rosalba O'Brien)
The district attorney announced a man was sentenced to seven years after pleading guilty to indecent behavior with a juvenile last year.

According to a news release from 23rd Judicial District Attorney Ricky Babin, 42-year-old John Bergeron of Morgan City entered the plea Oct. 20, 2025.

The Assumption Parish Courthouse is shown at 4809 Highway 1, Napoleonville.

Per the release, a female victim advised the Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office in June 2022 that she had been sexually assaulted when she was 12 years old.

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An Assumption Parish grand jury indicted Bergeron in December 2022, which led to his arrest, according to the report.

Upon release from incarceration with the Louisiana Department of Corrections, Bergeron must register and notify as a sex offender or child predator for a period of 15 years, the district attorney reported.

Assistant District Attorney Lana Chaney prosecuted, and Judge Cody Martin presided over the matter.

This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen: Morgan City man sentenced to 7 years for indecent behavior with a juvenile
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  A Johnstown woman faces criminal charges, accused of endangering her children and a pet dog inside a "deplorable" Moxham residence, police said.

Lisa McLean, 43, is accused of endangering the welfare of children and cruelty to animals, charges stemming from an investigation that began March 12, according to Johnstown police.

Police were called after a Cambria County Children & Youth Services caseworker was sent to the home to remove two teenagers due to the home's condition, according to police.

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A police sergeant wrote in a criminal complaint that he entered to find cat feces on the floor, food rotting in a non-operating refrigerator and an odor of urine emanating from the house.

"Nothing in the refrigerator was safe to eat," the sergeant wrote, adding that the house had no electricity. Water service was also off at the residence, he said.

Police said a malnourished dog inside the home appeared to be neglected to the point that its bones were visible through its skin.

McLean was arraigned on her charges and released on $40,000 unsecured bond to await a preliminary hearing, which was scheduled for Wednesday before District Judge Kevin J. Price, online court records show.

No attorney was listed Saturday for McLean.
A killer-for-hire is now a convicted liar-for-hire.

Confessed hit man Vincent Smothers, who is serving up to 100 years in prison for a string of contract murders, had more time added to his incarceration following recent convictions for lying to a court and possessing a contraband cellphone, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office.

In 2018, Smothers provided an affidavit to the Macomb County Circuit Court in which he lied about two shooting victims to help bolster another inmate's claim that he'd shot the men in self-defense, Nessel said in a press release. The contraband cellphone, discovered in Smothers' cell in May, uncovered the scheme, in which Smothers was paid to lie, Nessel said.

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More: Nessel: Hit man Smothers, another inmate conspired on false testimony in 2007 murder

Vincent Smothers, seen here in 2008, is spending 50 to 100 years in Michigan prison for a second-degree murder conviction. Two recent convictions pushed his release date to 2061, according to state Attorney General Dana Nessel's office.

Smothers, 45, was sentenced Thursday in Muskegon County Circuit Court to 14 months to 58 months in prison for possessing a contraband cell phone. Smothers, an inmate in Freeland's Saginaw Correctional Facility, was sentenced in Macomb County Circuit Court last month to one to 40 years for providing a false affidavit to a court, an offense that carries up to life in prison.

Smothers will serve the sentences consecutively  after his 50-year to 100-year second-degree murder sentence is completed  the Attorney General's Office said. The recent sentences push Smothers' earliest release date up two years to April 18, 2061.

Providing false evidence undermines the hard work of the many police, prosecutors, judges, and jurors who work tirelessly to hold dangerous people accountable and make our communities safer, Nessel said in a statement. This conviction and sentence make clear that those who attempt to obstruct justice will face consequences, and my office will continue to defend the integrity of our criminal justice system with the full weight of the law.

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In 2010, Smothers was sentenced to 50 to 100 years in prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of second-degree murder. Smothers said he was paid by Detroit drug dealers to kill their rivals, although he also was contracted to kill Rose Cobb, the wife of Detroit Police Sgt. David Cobb, whom he fatally shot on Dec. 26, 2007, while she sat in her minivan in a CVS drugstore parking lot on East Jefferson.

In 2008, after being charged in connection with his wife's killing, David Cobb killed himself.

A prison cellphone discovery kicks off Nessel's investigation

In May, officials at the Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility in Muskegon County found a contraband cell phone in Smothers' cell. The discovery kicked off the Attorney General's investigation, Nessel said.

When authorities inspected the phone, they found communications between Smothers and Shannon Anderson, an inmate in another prison serving up to 40 years following his 2010 second-degree murder conviction. The text messages laid out a scheme in which Smothers was to be paid to lie about the shooting victims to make the killings appear to have been in self-defense, according to Nessel.

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Smothers signed the affidavit in 2018, providing false details about the shooting, according to the attorney general. In February 2020, Anderson's lawyer filed a motion requesting a new hearing based on new evidence  Smothers' affidavit, Nessel said.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced charges against convicted hit man Vincent Smothers in an alleged scheme to profit by falsely confessing to crimes for which other inmates were convicted on Aug. 28, 2025, in Detroit. Smothers has been convicted for lying in an affidavit and possessing a contraband cellphone in prison.

Anderson also was charged with obstruction of justice in Clinton Township's 41-B District Court. An April 2 preliminary examination is scheduled before Chief Judge Sebastian Lucido. Shannon's attorney, Mariell Lehman, did not respond Friday to a phone call requesting comment.

When Nessel discussed the case last year, she said her office was investigating multiple cases in which Smothers was alleged to have lied about for money. Her office did not respond to an emailed request about the status of the other probes.

The crimes Smothers admitted to after his murder conviction included the 2004 killing of drug dealer Jamal Segars, for which Thelonious Searcy was convicted in 2005.

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"We know that with Searcy and other cases, our understanding is that (Smothers) would provide information to shed light that wasn't previously known about a case, even if he didn't specifically take responsibility for the murder or shooting," Nessel said during an August press conference.

Defense attorney plans to call Smothers as a witness in an upcoming trial

Smothers appeared in Wayne County Circuit Court on March 19, 2018, claiming he'd killed Segers, whose street name was "Q," while the victim sat in a traffic jam on Conner near Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport in Detroit.

Searcy's attorney, Paul Broschay, told The News Friday he plans to call Smothers as a witness during the trial.

Vincent Smothers seen here in 2024 inmate photo.

The case has been snagged while defense attorneys and prosecutors wrangled over the admissibility of firearm evidence, Broschay said. The Michigan Supreme Court overruled the lower court's decision to bar the defense from calling expert witnesses to try to discount the strength of the evidence, a scrap of brass that reportedly came from a spent shell casing, Broschay said.

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A hearing to discuss the evidence is scheduled for May 11 before Wayne County Circuit Judge Margaret Van Houten.

Searcy was released from prison in 2021 after the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled he should be granted a new trial. Although Searcy's request for a new trial based on Smothers' claim was denied by former Wayne County Circuit Chief Judge Timothy Kenny, the appellate court ruled Searcy's attorney had not properly objected to alleged prosecutorial misconduct during a hearing.

Wayne County prosecutors have maintained Searcy's guilt, although in 2023, the Detroit City Council granted him a Spirit of Detroit award that called him an "Exonerated hero."

How many murders-for-hire has Vincent Smothers confessed to?

Although Smothers was convicted of eight murders, he confessed to 12 murders-for-hire. Smothers told police he and a partner were paid to kill a drug dealer inside his house on Runyon Street on Detroit's east side in 2007. Four people were killed in the house, and the shell casings found at the scene were shot from the same AK-47 rifle Smothers had used in other hits.

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At the time of Smothers' confession in 2008, 14-year-old Davontae Sanford had been in prison for a few months, following his conviction on second-degree murder charges in connection with the Runyon Street quadruple homicide. Sanford confessed to the crime, although he claimed he'd been tricked into confessing by police and an attorney who was later disbarred.

Sanford in 2022 settled a federal lawsuit against the city for $7.5 million.

ghunter@detroitnews.com

(313) 222-2134

@GeorgeHunter_DN

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit killer-for-hire becomes a convicted liar-for-hire
Polled Americans have sent a clear message to the White House. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows most people expect President Donald Trump to order troops into the war with Iran. But they do not support that decision. The survey offers a consensus of public opinion as the administration considers its next moves.

Donald Trumps new poll regarding Iran war revealed

The survey, which polled 1,545 U.S. adults from March 17 to March 19, carries a margin of error of about 3%. However, its findings are significant: 65% of polled Americans believe Donald Trump will ultimately order soldiers into Iran for a large-scale ground war. However, support for such an action is nearly nonexistent, with only 7% backing the idea.

This Donald Trump-Iran war poll indicates a deep divide between public expectation and public desire. While 34% of respondents said they would support sending U.S. ground troops into Iran, but only in the form of special forces. Whereas a clear majority, as in 55%, stated they do not support sending any troops at all.

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The data further reveals a stark partisan split regarding the current war. According to the poll, 77% of Republicans approve of the U.S. strikes on Iran. This support drops dramatically among other groups, with only 28% of independents and a mere 6% of Democrats voicing approval. Overall, the survey found that 37% of Americans approve of the war, while 59% disapprove.

These figures are released as the administration reportedly weighs significant military options. On March 17, a recent report citing three sources and a U.S. official claimed that the White House is considering deploying thousands of troops. Potential missions under discussion include securing safe passage for oil tankers in the strategic Strait of Hormuz and potentially invading Irans Kharg Island, a vital hub for oil exports. Another possibility mentioned in the report is seizing Irans stock of highly enriched uranium.

As the situation develops, it remains unclear what Donald Trumps next steps will be regarding a potential large-scale deployment of U.S. troops to Iran.

The post Donald Trump Receives Direct Message From Americans in New Iran Poll appeared first on Mandatory.
Drake law school bungled donation dispute

Bill Amor of Naperville, Illinois, initially wished to gift $2.5 million to $3 million of his $22 million recovery for wrongful conviction and 22 years of incarceration to attorney Erica Nichols Cook, as the Register reported Feb. 25.

Nichols Cook devoted six dogged years delving into coerced investigations, arson and unreliable fire science, initially as an attorney with the Illinois Innocence Project and later pro bono, to win Amors innocence and give him back his life. In declining the gift, Nichols Cook said I just didnt think he should try to pay me back with a personal gift because I did the work because of the case, not to get paid someday.

Sadly the high hopes search for an appropriate repository for these funds devolved into an ignoble saga ending with Nichols Cooks dismissal as director of the Drake Wrongful Convictions Clinic. A Des Moines Police Department investigation ended with no charges filed. Then a conversion claim was filed against Nichols Cook for civil theft dropped within weeks of its filing.

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A law schools urgent first duty is to teach its students, by its own example, conflict resolution. Nichols Cooks dismissal shows an appalling ignorance of this duty or a willful disregard of it. All of which could have been avoided by actually talking to her.

I propose a law-school-wide practicum of students, faculty and administration devoted to learning what went wrong and how to fix it.

Nelda Barrow Mickle, Des Moines, Drake University Law School class of 1977

More: Prop 12 is a hogwash 'government knows best' approach | Opinion

Recession risk means caution is warranted in property tax debate

Housing prices across the nation rose on average 40% between 2021 and 2024. Property taxes, based on valuations, rose, too.

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The coming recession, according to Warren Buffett, will reduce property valuations in many cities in the world.

Iowans want and deserve property tax relief, but any cut by the state of Iowa should be measured and cautious in light of the economic cycle bringing recession. Two ideas:

Cut property tax for every homeowner by 10% now.

Then, later, eliminate property tax for homeowners over age 70 with incomes under $80,000 per year, and cut the rate 50% for seniors with incomes between $80,000 and $120,000.

Cutting property tax for well-off seniors will only subsidize their second homes in Florida, Texas or Arizona.

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Randyl Taber, Van Meter

What would be wrong with city-by-city civil rights?

As Iowans we should be proud of our legislative efforts. We are a state that is leading the nation in extinguishing any diversity, and our latest effort needs commendation. Senate File 579, signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, says that an Iowa city can't give its citizens more civil rights than Iowa gives them. A necessary development, don't you think? We simply don't want some people to have more rights than other people have.

And we certainly don't want a person living in Des Moines to have more civil rights than a person living in Waukee, for instance. It just wouldn't be right. Or what about Newton? It certainly wouldn't be appropriate for the citizens of Newton to have more civil rights than a person living in Colfax or Sully, for example.

What Senate File 579 says explicitly is that a municipality cannot decide for themselves what is unfair or discriminatory. Only the state of Iowa can do that. So let's say that Newton, for instance, determines that a restaurant cannot deny service to a person wearing a cap. Since the Iowa Civil Rights code says nothing about caps, Newton would not be able to protect your right to wear a cap while eating your lunch. It may be discriminatory, but it is not forbidden.

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More: Reynolds signs Iowa law barring local trans civil rights protections

Apparently, what has caused all this ruckus is the idea that some people would like to identify as something other than simply male or female. We have taken particular offense to this idea. What Iowa has decided to do is to declare that you are either a male or are female and that's the end of it.

Self-identity is no longer allowed. I am not to suggest, at least publicly, that even though I may have the body of a male, I have the hormones and mental traits of a girl. That could destroy civil society, which is already teetering dangerously.

Now I realize I said the same thing about same-sex marriage and things didn't fall apart, but this has got to be different, surely. This goes way beyond same-sex marriage; when a gay person says they are gay they are not saying they are female when they are clearly male. This transgender stuff is not acceptable and will result in total social catastrophe. Our whole belief system will collapse and anarchy will result. We simply can't let some big bulky guy walk up to us and say, "Hey, I may look like a man, but I'm really a woman."

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Not happening, folks! Enough is enough, and we should applaud our Legislature in attending to things that are really important; those things which will make our lives better.

Richard Phelps, Mingo

'Miracle of Breath' was a reminder that good still exists

As I finish wiping the tears from my eyes after reading Courtney Crowder's series "The Miracle of Breath," I am filled with awe, joy and hope. What a beautifully written and inspiring real-life story she shared with readers reminding us that good still exists in such a chaotic and fearful world. We need more uplifting stories in our lives. Thank you!

Diane Harrigan, Altoona

More: A dying poet. The doctor who saved him. And the night it all changed.

Register's Crowder delivers outstanding work

Courtney Crowder's series on cystic fibrosis is worthy of a Pulitzer Prize. Outstanding.

Don C. Yager, Fenton

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Recession risk means caution is warranted for property taxes | Letters
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi takes part in a welcoming ceremony upon his arrival at an airport in Moscow, Russia, May 8, 2025. (photo credit: Alexander Vilf/Host agency Ria Novosti/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVI)

In the meeting, the leaders discussed the challenges facing the region amid the current clashes with Iran.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Saudi Arabias Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

In the meeting, the leaders discussed the challenges facing the region amid the current clashes with Iran. According to Asharq al-Awsat, they discussed the repercussions of the military escalation in the Middle East and its impact on regional and global security and stability.

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The report goes on to note that they condemned the repeated Iranian hostile attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council countries and their vital and civil installations, which are a dangerous threat to regional security and stability.

Egypt is a historic leader of the Arab world, being one of the regions most populous countries, with the largest economy and a long cultural heritage in the region. This heritage has, at times, played a key role in both Arab Nationalism and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood. As such, Cairo is a key bellwether of the region.

Today, Egypt is outside the circle of countries being attacked by Iran, maintaining close ties with the Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia. Like Riyadh, it had done outreach toIran in the last several years. Iran also wanted better ties with Egypt.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman announces a zero-carbon city called ''The Line'' to be built at NEOM in northwestern Saudi Arabia, January 10, 2021. (credit: BANDAR ALGALOUD/COURTESY OF SAUDI ROYAL COURT/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

Now, Egypt could play a role in regional diplomacy. It appears that, along with Turkey, Cairo has been playing a regional role of influence, and the president's visit shows a strategy symbol.

Egypt reaffirms support for Saudi Arabia

Egypt and Turkey are both close partners of the US and the West.

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Sisi reiterated his condemnation of Irans heinous attacks against Saudi Arabia and the region, saying Egypt stands by the Kingdom against any threat to its sovereignty and security, Asharq al-Awsat said. The meeting was attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, chief of intelligence Hassan Rashad and other officials.

The state Saudi Press Agency noted that during the meeting, both parties emphasized that repeated Iranian attacks on GCC states and the targeting of vital civilian infrastructure constitute a 'dangerous escalation' that threatens regional stability. It also said that the Saudi delegation included Minister of State Essam bin Saad bin Saeed, Royal Court Advisor Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, General Intelligence Chief Khalid Al-Humaidan, and the Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Saleh Al-Hussaini.

Sisi has been on a regional tour. He was also in Bahrain, where he held talks with Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The two heads of state addressed ongoing Iranian aggressions, describing them as violations of national sovereignty and international law that endanger global peace and security. Sisi was received upon arrival by King Hamad and was later seen off by Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa following the conclusion of the talks. Sisi was also in the UAE and Qatar. The tour is intended to underscore Egypts support for GCC states in the face of current challenges and to signal Cairos rejection of 'unjustified attacks' against the security of neighbouring countries, SPA said.

When Sisi was in the UAE on March 19, the local state media WAM said that the meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also addressed developments in the Middle East amid ongoing military escalation and their serious implications for regional and international security and stability. His Excellency El-Sisi reiterated Egypts condemnation of the blatant Iranian attacks targeting the UAE and a number of other countries in the region, noting that they constitute a violation of state sovereignty and international law. In this regard, His Excellency El-Sisi affirmed Egypts solidarity with the UAE in the measures it is taking to uphold its security, territorial integrity, and the safety of its people.

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Meanwhile, Turkeys Daily Sabah wrote on March 22 that Turkeys Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan wrapped up a Gulf tour over the weekend and told reporters that the international community had more confidence in his country as Ankara pursued a principled stand in the US-Israel-Iran war.

We see the confidence in Turkey is rising (after the war began). We never adopted an ambivalent stance on the matter. Everyone is aware that we told each side what mistakes they made. We strongly and clearly voice our opinion about how it was wrong what was done to Iran and as well as to the Gulf countries, Fidan told journalists on Saturday, Daily Sabah noted.

Fidan also said that the Gulf countries said during a meeting in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh that they may have to take action if the current situation persists, stressing the increased risk level. The minister embarked on a regional tour encompassing Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this week, it added.
As floodwaters begin to recede on Oahu, residents are returning home to assess the damage and, in many cases, whats been lost.

Officials lifted evacuation orders across parts of the islands North Shore, including Waialua and Haleiwa, after fears over the aging Wahiawa Dam eased and water levels dropped. But the return has revealed the storms full impact: homes pushed off foundations, streets still partially submerged, and families sifting through mud-soaked belongings in search of anything salvageable.

In communities like Laie, the destruction has been especially severe. Local officials estimate roughly 100 homes were damaged overnight as floodwaters surged through neighborhoods, filling garages and living spaces with debris. Residents described water rising to waist level in just hours  overwhelming properties that had never flooded before and leaving behind a thick layer of mud and debris.

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Rescue efforts during the storm underscored the scale of the crisis. More than 230 people were pulled from dangerous conditions statewide, while crews conducted dramatic rooftop evacuations at the height of the flooding. The United States Coast Guard, working alongside Navy and local responders, rescued seven people and a dog trapped by rising waters  one of many scenes that highlighted how quickly conditions spiraled.

Even as Oahu begins the long process of recovery, the broader emergency is shifting to the southeast. Authorities warn that the same storm system is now threatening other islands, with flash flood alerts and evacuation warnings issued for parts of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Saturated ground and damaged infrastructure mean even moderate rainfall could trigger new flooding or landslides in the days ahead.

Start your day with essential news from Salon.

Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course.

The flooding is described as the worst Hawaii has seen in more than two decades and has already caused widespread destruction, with early estimates suggesting more than $1 billion in damage to homes, roads and critical infrastructure. Power outages, road closures and disrupted water systems continue to complicate recovery efforts. And yet, charity efforts to support residents affected by the flooding are already in progress.

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For residents now returning home, the crisis is no longer about escape, but recovery. And as cleanup begins on Oahu, the danger is far from over  its simply moving.

The post Everything is soaked: Hawaii residents return to flood-ravaged homes appeared first on Salon.com.
When the Department of Justice raided the election offices in Fulton County, Georgia, to seize ballots, tabulations and other materials related to the 2020 election on Jan. 28, it signaled a new phase in President Donald Trumps efforts to prove his conspiracy theory about election fraud. It also raised a new fear that this president, who already tried to steal one election, may be setting the stage to try to steal another.

That raid wasnt just about settling Trumps old scores, but it also looked like a test run for messing with election administrators and the counting of ballots in the midterm elections in 2026, Richard Hasen, an election expert at UCLA Law School, wrote in Slate in January.

Politics: Watch Trump React To Hearing Former Press Secretary Got Kicked Out Of Arkansas Restaurant

Since entering politics in 2015, Trump has claimed, falsely, that every election he has taken part in was marred by fraud. In his second term in office, he has moved to weaponize the federal government against this imaginary fraud by seeking to restrict voting and seize control of the electoral process from the states. This has led to mounting fears that he will seek to interfere in the 2026 midterms in various ways, including deploying the National Guard, surrounding the polls with immigration enforcement officers, declaring a national security emergency  and, following the raid in Fulton County, seizing ballots and voting machines.

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This is easier said than done. First off, any effort to seize ballots on or after Election Day would be wildly illegal.

There is almost no circumstance in which it would be appropriate or legal to seize ballots or election equipment, said Wendy Weiser, vice president of democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice, a progressive voting rights nonprofit organization.

But observers are deeply wary. And importantly, there are myriad ways that state election officials and candidates themselves can counter this threat before or after any action by the administration.

Democratic secretaries of state say they are getting ready for all possible forms of midterm election interference from the Trump administration such as seizing ballots like it did in Fulton County.

President Donald Trump has threatened to "nationalize" and "take over" the midterm elections. Niall Carson - PA Images via Getty Images

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If anything like that happened in Colorado, the first thing that we would do is immediately go to court to try to quash the effort, said Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold. Weve been preparing for this event and many other scenarios of federal disruption in our election.

In Minnesota, Secretary of State Steve Simon said his office is working with national groups and other secretaries of state to plan how to respond if the federal government interferes in the election by attempting to seize ballots or in any other fashion.

Politics: MS NOW Host Details Unexpected Phone Call With Trump: 'I'm Like, This Can't Be Happening'

We are actively gaming out what these scenarios could be, Simon said. Its a sad thing that in 2026 we have to treat this like a bomb threat.

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Griswold said her office has hired an additional attorney to prepare for potential post-election litigation and trained staff to respond to a search warrant seeking to seize ballots or other election infrastructure.

There are two legitimate ways that the administration could seize ballots in the aftermath of an election: issuing a warrant or a subpoena for them. Both must be approved by the courts.

With a warrant, there is a judicial check in advance, Weiser said.

Politics: 'Cowards': Trump Admin Bails On Elections Conference After Promising Fireworks

The raid in Fulton County, however, raises the specter that a judge may approve a warrant based on false information. The legality of that warrant  which was riddled with disproven conspiracies while omitting key facts  is now being challenged in court by Fulton County election officials seeking the seized records be returned. The challenge specifically cites Material Omissions and Misstatements in the affidavit the government used as the basis for requesting the warrant. That may put judges on alert for misrepresentations from the administration in judicial warrants going forward.

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Because of the actions in Fulton County, election officials, law enforcement officials and magistrate judges are very well aware of the threat and are now able to prepare in advance for this potential abuse and to make sure that it is not disruptive, Weiser said. I would be very surprised if another judge approved a warrant like the one in Fulton County.

Another potential line of defense, ironically, comes thanks to Trumps own allies.

It stems from a Supreme Court ruling that only came down a few months ago. In Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections, the court, in an opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, ruled that Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), who backed Trumps election fraud lies in 2020, had standing to challenge election rules  the timing of counting late mail-in ballots, in this case  before suffering any potential harm.

Its a crucial distinction when it comes to potential election chicanery. Normally, those bringing suit have to be harmed first to have standing to sue. In election cases, that usually means that candidates cannot challenge new election rules until after the election has concluded and they perceive that the rules harmed the outcome of their race. But the justices ruled 7-2 that, even if they still win, candidates suffer when the process departs from the law, and that departure can deprive the candidate of a fair process and an accurate result.

FBI agents are seen at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center on Jan. 28 in Union City, Georgia. via Associated Press

It puts a potential new tool in the arsenal of those watching for election denial in 2026 and beyond.

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By this standard, a candidate undoubtedly has an interest in stopping the FBI from taking steps that would (in the chief justices words) deprive the candidate of a fair process and an accurate result, Ohio State Moritz College of Law election law director Edward Foley wrote in a post for SCOTUSblog.

Politics: Former FBI Director Robert Mueller Dies At Age 81

Seizing ballots, voting machines, tabulators or any other piece of election infrastructure directly threatens a fair process and an accurate result because it breaks the chain of custody that is required by state and federal law. Under Foleys theory of Bost, a candidate could then file suit in advance of the election to seek an injunction barring any executive branch agency from seizing election materials.

But even if candidates choose not to test out the courts Bost decision on the theory that it applies to threatened executive actions, states and election administrators can also step in.

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Asked about using the Bost precedent to get a court order preventing federal interference in advance, Griswold noted that, while she wouldnt divulge her litigation strategy, states have used preemptive action before: She pointed to Oregon and Illinois, which went to court to block National Guard deployments in 2025.

So, absolutely, everything is on the table, Griswold said.

Politics: Mike Waltz Justifies Iran War After Indebted College Student Asks 1 Big Question

Courts could also halt interference ahead of time by simply not approving DOJ warrants seeking ballots or other materials. The warrant in Fulton County also targeted materials from a now-six-year-old election, not an election that is underway or just completed. Any judge would be far more skeptical about a similar warrant for an ongoing election, Weiser said.

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Similarly, a subpoena provides an opportunity to counter it: States and election officials may be able to step in and sue for an injunction before any materials are seized. And state election officials are already on high alert to the administrations efforts to interfere in elections, having worked successfully to defeat Trumps executive order on elections and lawsuits to seize sensitive voter roll records by getting judges to block the effort repeatedly in court.

They are trying very aggressively to meddle in elections and expand inappropriate powers, but theres been a lot of success in reining that in, Weiser said of the administration. These are not paths that are viable for them.

Political Updates

Read the original on HuffPost
By Jonathan Landay, M.B. Pell and Travis Hartman

March 22 (Reuters) - An American-operated Patriot air defense battery likely fired the interceptor missile involved in a pre-dawn explosion that injured dozens of civilians and tore through homes in U.S.-ally Bahrain 10 days into the war on Iran, according to an analysis by academic researchers examined by Reuters.

Both Bahrain and Washington have blamed an Iranian drone attack for the March 9 blast, which the Gulf kingdom said injured 32 people including children, some seriously. Commenting on the day of the attack, U.S. Central Command said on X that an Iranian drone struck a residential neighborhood in Bahrain.

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In response to questions from Reuters, Bahrain on Saturday acknowledged for the first time that a Patriot missile was involved in the explosion over the Mahazza neighborhood on Sitra island, offshore from the capital Manama and also home to an oil refinery.

In a statement, a Bahraini government spokesperson said the missile successfully intercepted an Iranian drone mid-air, saving lives.

The damage and injuries sustained were not a result of a direct impact to the ground of either the Patriot interceptor or the Iranian drone, the spokesperson said.

Neither Bahrain or Washington has provided evidence that an Iranian drone was involved in the Mahazza incident.

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The use of costly, advanced weaponry to defend against attacks by far cheaper drones has been a defining feature of the war. The incident points to the risks and limitations of this strategy: The blast from the powerful Patriot, whether or not it intercepted a drone, contributed to widespread damage and casualties, while Bahrains air defenses were unable to prevent strikes that night on the nearby oil refinery, which declared force majeure hours later.

When asked for comment, the Pentagon referred Reuters to Central Command, which did not immediately reply to questions.

In response to questions sent to the White House, a senior U.S. official said the United States was crushing Irans ability to shoot or produce drones and missiles. We will continue to address these threats to our country and our allies, the official said, adding that the U.S. military never targets civilians. The official did not answer specific questions about the Patriot attack.

On February 28, the first day of U.S. strikes on Iran, an Iranian girls school took a direct hit. Investigators at the U.S. Defense Department believe U.S. forces were likely responsible, Reuters first reported, possibly because of outdated targeting data, two U.S. sources previously told the news agency.

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Video of the aftermath of the Mahazza blast in Bahrain verified by Reuters shows rubble around houses, a thick layer of dust in the streets, an injured man and screaming residents.

Both Bahrain and the United States operate U.S. Patriot air defense batteries in the kingdom, a close U.S. ally located on the Persian Gulf that hosts the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet along with the regional U.S. naval command.

Bahrain plays a critical role in the security of the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint that carries about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas and has been almost entirely closed by Iran, causing unprecedented disruption to world oil supplies.

On the night of the explosion in Mahazza, the refinery on Sitra came under Iranian attack, according to Bahraini national oil company Bapco. Videos show smoke rising from the facility on the morning of March 9.

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Reuters could not establish whether the cause of the explosion during a night of Iranian attacks on Sitra would have been immediately apparent to U.S. and Bahraini forces. Bahrain in its statement did not say why it had not mentioned the involvement of a Patriot at the time. Irans mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the incident.

Produced by Raytheon, part of RTX Corp. [RTX], the Patriot is the U.S. Armys primary high-to-medium-range aircraft-and-missile interceptor system and forms the backbone of U.S. and allied air defenses. Raytheon didnt respond to a request for comment about the incident.

Bahrains government declined to say whether the missile that detonated on March 9, was fired by its own forces or by the United States.

But research associates Sam Lair and Michael Duitsman and Professor Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey concluded with moderate-to-high confidence that the suspect missile was likely launched from a U.S. Patriot battery located about 4 miles (7 km) to the southwest of the Mahazza neighborhood.

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The conclusions of the three American munitions and open-source intelligence researchers, reported here for the first time, were based on their review of open-source visuals and commercial satellite imagery.

Reuters showed the Middlebury analysis to two target-analysis experts and one Patriot system missile researcher, who found no reason to dispute its conclusion.

One of them, Wes Bryant, a former senior targeting advisor and policy analyst at the Pentagon, said Lair, Duitsman and Lewiss conclusions were pretty undeniable.

Key to the Middlebury analysis was a video shot from an apartment building and shared on social media. The video shows the suspect Patriot roaring across the night sky at low altitude on a northeastern trajectory. It then angled downward and out of sight. A flash of light in the distance appeared to mark its detonation 1.3 seconds later.

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Hany Farid, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley specializing in digital forensics, reviewed the video for Reuters to determine if it was generated by artificial intelligence. He found no obvious evidence that the video is fake.

Lair, Duitsman and Lewis geolocated the video to a neighborhood in Riffa, Bahrains second-largest city. Reuters confirmed the geolocation. The earliest post of the video Reuters could find online was at around 2 am local time on March 9.

The Riffa sites location and orientation are consistent with the trajectory of that of the suspect Patriot, the analysis said.

Multiple videos posted to social media the morning of March 9 show damage to residences in Block 602 of the Mahazza neighborhood. The researchers first geolocated the visuals using landmarks that appeared to match commercial satellite imagery of the area and visible street addresses. Reuters independently verified the geolocation.

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The researchers then traced the trajectory of the suspect missile from Block 602 straight back to what they assessed  based on commercial satellite imagery  was the U.S. Patriot battery based less than half a mile from where the video of the missile in flight was recorded in Riffa.

A battery consists of a radar unit, a command hub and up to eight launchers that are integrated to detect, track and intercept aircraft and missiles.

Using commercial satellite imagery, the researchers determined that five launchers were visible at the Riffa site two days before the March 9 incident.

The battery has been there since at least 2009, according to satellite imagery. The Bahraini Defense Force did not start operating its own Patriot systems until 2024, according to a Lockheed Martin press release.

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The Riffa site has features that are both distinctive to U.S. Patriot batteries in the region and different from those of known Bahrain-operated batteries, the researchers said, including protective walls, unpaved roads and a lack of permanent buildings. Based on these elements, the researchers concluded that the battery is likely operated by the United States, which uses Patriots to defend its naval sites in Bahrain.

The researchers were unable to say with confidence what caused the Patriot to explode. But they added that based on the available evidence, including the pattern and spread of damage on the ground, it appeared to have detonated mid-flight.

They concluded that it was possible the Patriot was aimed at a low-flying drone and that the combined explosion of the missile and drone ignited the blast, the analysis said.

If this was the case, this was an irresponsible intercept attempt as it endangered the lives and the homes of allied civilians in a residential area, the analysis said

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This scenario matches what Bahrains government spokesperson said happened: that the Patriot intercepted an Iranian drone and both detonated in the air.

However, the analysis said, the direction of the damage and the lack of available evidence of a drone over the neighborhood suggested another scenario, that the explosion was the result of the detonation of the warhead and unexpended propellant of a Patriot interceptor.

Despite the claim by Bahrain, the researchers said it was less likely the missile made contact with a drone. Reuters could not independently verify the presence or not of an Iranian drone during the incident.

The analysis said that videos taken after the attack and photographs released by Bahrani authorities show that the blast damage was concentrated along four streets of Mahazza.

A Bahrain television news broadcast on March 9 and a government press release showed an extensively damaged home about 400 feet (120 meters) from the center of the main blast area, with interior photos showing holes in a wall created by shrapnel, the analysis said.

When all the damage is considered together, the Middlebury analysis noted, it matches what one would expect if a Patriot missile exploded in the air over a road intersection in the neighborhood. Pieces of the missile then flew about 120 meters farther and hit another house, the analysis said.

Robert Maher, an audio specialist who reviewed the video at the request of Reuters, said his analysis supports the approximate location of the explosion over the damaged homes.

In the video, a flash is seen about eight seconds in, but an explosion is never heard before the clip ends 19 seconds later. Thats because light travels faster than sound. Based on how long the sound would take to reach the person who shot the video, the explosion had to be more than four miles away. The damaged homes were about 4.6 miles (7.4 km) away, which fits with the timing.

Maher said that in the audio from the video he heard no drones or other missiles, although their sounds would have been faint or inaudible if they were more than four miles away from where the video was taken.

I dont see anything that is inconsistent with my observations from the audio, Maher said after reviewing the Middlebury analysis.

Defense and industry officials say Patriot misfires are rare, but they do happen, including an errant missile in 2007 that hit a farm in Qatar.

In an X post on March 9, U.S. Central Command denounced Iranian and Russian news reports that said the incident in Mahazza was the result of a failed Patriot, calling it a LIE. It said an Iranian drone struck a residential neighborhood.

Reuters and the Middlebury researchers were unable to obtain or review any visual evidence of missile or drone fragments. Reuters attempted to contact witnesses in Bahrain, but several people declined to speak, citing fear of reprisals. Human Rights Watch has documented arrests of people in Bahrain during the war for posting videos on social media of attacks.

In the video of the suspect missile in flight, the Patriot appears to pass a much steeper smoke trail that the researchers said likely belonged to a first interceptor fired moments earlier.

Patriots are often fired in pairs to increase the chances that one hits the target. Neither the researchers or Reuters could establish what happened to the first missile.

The low trajectory of the second missile and its deviation from the route of the earlier launch could be signs of a possible problem, the researchers said. But they could not rule out the possibility that it was shot in that direction on purpose.

Bahrains spokesperson said any suggestion of malfunction or misfiring of the Patriots in Bahrain was factually incorrect.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay, M.B. Pell and Travis Hartman; Additional reporting by Arthur Wei in Beijing, Aaron McNicholas in London, Maha El Dahan and Samia Nakhoul in Dubai, Andrew Mills in Doha, Idrees Ali in Washington; Editing by Sarah Cahlan and Frank Jack Daniel)
Claim:

In March 2026, Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that anyone who insulted the Prophet Muhammad or the Islamic faith would face a five-year prison sentence.

Rating:

Rating: False

In March 2026, a claim (archived) circulated online that Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced anyone who insulted the Prophet Muhammad or the Islamic faith would face a five-year prison sentence.

The Prophet Muhammad was the founder of Islam and the proclaimer of the Quran, Islam's holy scripture.

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Early versions of the claim circulated in Arabic. A translation into English read:

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez:

There is no place among us for those who insult religions Sanchez: We hold the Holy Quran in high regard, and anyone who insults the Prophet Muhammad or the Islamic faith will face a prison sentence of five years.

     :

      



 :                "5"  . pic.twitter.com/epoi1p6QH9    2 (@L1JmG9xosh7fgo1) March 17, 2026

The claims circulated mainly on X (archived) but also on Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived) and Threads (archived).

Online searches revealed no credible reports that Sanchez had actually announced a new law imposing five-year prison sentences on anyone who insulted the Prophet Muhammed and Islam (archived, archived, archived, archived). Reputable outlets like Reuters or The Associated Press would have reported on the matter if Sanchez had proposed it or announced it as law.

Neither "Muhammad," "Mahoma" (a Spanish version of the Prophet Muhammad's name) nor "Islam" featured in the latest version of the Spanish penal code, which would have included such a law. The image that accompanied the claim, which showed Sanchez holding a Quran, appeared to have been edited using artificial intelligence.

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Given the above, we rate this claim false, meaning Sanchez didn't make the claimed announcement.

Snopes contacted the Spanish government, which Sanchez heads, to ask about the alleged announcement and await a reply to our query.

No evidence of Sanchez announcement in Spanish law

If Sanchez had announced a newly-passed law against criticizing Islam, the law would have appeared in the latest edition of the country's criminal code, the Codigo Penal. That was not the case, though some of Spain's existing legislation has outline punishments for free speech offenses for decades.

The penal code has made promoting or inciting hatred or hostility against groups  including religious groups  punishable by at least a year in prison since 1996. In 2015, Spain increased the maximum prison term for such offenses from three to four years.

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The most recent version of the relevant law, Section 1 of Article 510 of the Codigo Penal from 2022, called for a one-to-four-year prison sentence and fine for people who:

... publicly foster, promote, or incite, directly or indirectly, hatred, hostility, discrimination, or violence against a group, a part thereof, or a specific person on the grounds of their membership in that group.

People who "produce, create, possess with the intent to distribute" material that "is suitable for fostering, promoting, or inciting, directly or indirectly, hatred, hostility, discrimination, or violence against a group," could also face the same punishment, according to Section 1.

Section 2 of Article 510 called for up to two years' imprisonment and a fine for people who "injure the dignity of persons through actions that entail humiliation, contempt or discrediting" of various groups defined in Section 1 that included religious groups.

The punishment for crimes defined in Section 2 could increase to match the one-to-four-year prison sentence and fine that courts gave out for Section 1 offenses if the Section 2 offense promoted or favored "a climate of violence, hostility, hatred or discrimination against the aforementioned groups."

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Article 510 did not specifically mention Islam or the Prophet Muhammad.

Fake image further discredited claim

Aside from a lack of evidence in reports or legal records of Sanchez's claimed announcement, the image that circulated alongside the claim served to further discredit it.

That image, which appeared to show Sanchez holding a Quran, appeared to have been edited using artificial intelligence. It appeared to be based on photos of Sanchez speaking about the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine at a news conference in Slovakia in 2022. The 2022 photos did not show Sanchez holding a Quran.

Closer inspection of said Quran revealed someone had edited the image of Sanchez. According to online searches, the Quran Sanchez held closely resembled a Mushaf al-Madinah edition Quran. The AI or person that edited the Quran into Sanchez' hand incorrectly replicated the front cover, omitting details from the top right and left corners and revealing the image to be fake.

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DeepL.com provided translations from Arabic and Spanish into English.

Sources:

BOE-A-1995-25444 Ley Organica 10/1995, de 23 de Noviembre, Del Codigo Penal. https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1995-25444. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

'EPA Images | Visualize a Wider World'. EPA, https://epaimages.com/search.pp. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

Espana Islam Profeta Mahoma 5 Anos de Prision - Search News. https://www.bing.com/news/search?q=Espa%C3%B1a+islam+profeta+Mahoma+5+a%C3%B1os+de+prisi%C3%B3n&qs=n&form=QBNT&sp=-1&lq=0&pq=%22el+sagrado+cor%C3%A1n+es+respetado+en+nuestro+pa%C3%ADs+y+cualquiera+que+insulte+al+profeta+mahoma+o+a+la+religi%C3%B3n+isl%C3%A1mica+se+enfrentar%C3%A1+a+pena+de+prisi%C3%B3n+de+5+a%C3%B1os%22&sc=0-157&sk=&cvid=262FC1348B6944F58D63DD34C743CA9E. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

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Espana Islam Profeta Mahoma 5 Anos de Prision - Yahoo Search Results. https://news.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A2RRjuuB_rxpoAQAOsfQtDMD;_ylc=X1MDNTM3MjAyNzIEX3IDMgRmcgN5ZnAtdARmcjIDc2ItdG9wBGdwcmlkA0dabmQzd1BQVElTbEd2Z1NCLi5YSEEEbl9yc2x0AzAEbl9zdWdnAzAEb3JpZ2luA25ld3Muc2VhcmNoLnlhaG9vLmNvbQRwb3MDMARwcXN0cgMEcHFzdHJsAzAEcXN0cmwDNDUEcXVlcnkDRXNwYSVDMyVCMWElMjBpc2xhbSUyMHByb2ZldGElMjBNYWhvbWElMjA1JTIwYSVDMyVCMW9zJTIwZGUlMjBwcmlzaSVDMyVCM24EdF9zdG1wAzE3NzM5OTM3MTc-?p=Espa%C3%B1a+islam+profeta+Mahoma+5+a%C3%B1os+de+prisi%C3%B3n&fr=yfp-t&fr2=sb-top. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

Espana Islam Profeta Mahoma 5 Anos de Prision at DuckDuckGo. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Espa%C3%B1a+islam+profeta+Mahoma+5+a%C3%B1os+de+prisi%C3%B3n&iar=news&t=h_. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

Google Search. https://www.google.com/search?q=Espa%C3%B1a+islam+profeta+Mahoma+5+a%C3%B1os+de+prisi%C3%B3n&sca_esv=3d0acf0c92308fb4&rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB1138GB1138&biw=1920&bih=845&tbm=nws&sxsrf=ANbL-n5Sdpx-WUKJCmQA6j_asfH0rGhM8A%3A1773993588809&ei=dP68aaiRMd6JptQPx7Lh8Q4&ved=0ahUKEwiom8eNga6TAxXehIkEHUdZOO4Q4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=Espa%C3%B1a+islam+profeta+Mahoma+5+a%C3%B1os+de+prisi%C3%B3n&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LW5ld3MiMEVzcGHDsWEgaXNsYW0gcHJvZmV0YSBNYWhvbWEgNSBhw7FvcyBkZSBwcmlzacOzbjIFEAAY7wUyBRAAGO8FMgUQABjvBTIFEAAY7wUyCBAAGIAEGKIESJM2UABY-TRwAXgAkAEAmAG9AaABugSqAQMwLjS4AQPIAQD4AQH4AQKYAgSgAtUEqAIAwgIFECEYoAGYAwOSBwMwLjSgB98PsgcDMC40uAfVBMIHAzItNMgHEIAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-news. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

'Mushaf Al-Madinah - Original Large Format (20x28 Cm)'. SifatuSafwa, https://www.sifatusafwa.com/en/quran-mushaf/mushaf-al-madinah-original-large-format-20x28-cm.html. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

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Pedro Sanchez Calls for Urgent EU Action on Electricity Costs and Expresses Solidarity with Slovakia in the Ukraine Crisis. https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/presidente/news/paginas/2022/20220316_visit-to-slovakia.aspx. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

Sinai, Nicolai. 'Muhammad'. Britannica, 9 Mar. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammad.


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Law enforcement across Tennessee and Kentucky are looking for a man after his girlfriend was found dead in his Antioch apartment last weekend.

On Friday, March 13, officials said Kentucky State Police found 26-year-old Kierra Timmons red Dodge Charger abandoned on an Interstate 24 bridge over the Cumberland River with the engine running, the door open, and the hazard flashers on.

La Vergne police came knocking on my door at 9:30, telling me they had found her car abandoned and couldnt find her, and this was in Kentucky, so I tried to reach her, [but I] couldnt get her, Kierras aunt, Stacy Dotson, said.

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ORIGINAL STORY: Metro police investigating apparent strangulation death on Brittany Park Drive

Dotson was notified by the police last weekend that her niece was missing, raising concerns. According to Dotson, Kierra had no family or connections in Kentucky.

I had to get in touch with her best friend, and her best friend happened to have her location, and thats how we found her at his apartment, Dotson explained.

After Kierras loved ones alerted the Metro Nashville Police Department, officers joined two of her friends for a welfare check and found Kierra dead in 37-year-old Darrion Youngs apartment along Brittany Park Drive on Saturday, March 14. Officials ruled her cause of death as strangulation.

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She had talked about him to me, Dotson said, referring to Kierras boyfriend, Young. I disapproved because of certain things he would do I told her it wasnt healthy.

Darrion Young (Courtesy: MNPD)

Authorities said Youngs license was found inside Kierras abandoned car. He was reportedly last seen in Nashville on Friday, hours before the Dodge Charger was located in Kentucky.

I know he has tattoos on his face, so he shouldnt be too hard to recognize, she stated.

RELATED: Woman searching for answers after sister dead from apparent strangulation in Nashville apartment

Kierras sister, Kalee Timmons, met Young and even opened her home to him.

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She was just looking for love, and that guy would treat her good at some points and then he would accuse her of cheating, and it was just a bad situation He seemed like he had good intentions because he was like advising her to get back in school, and he would help her financially, Kalee said.

Kalee knew her sisters concerns, but she did not know how bad things really were behind closed doors.

I just dont understand why he just decided just to take her life, Kalee said. I just cant fathom it in my own mind. Like, it just doesnt make sense. It doesnt add up.

PREVIOUS: Man wanted after girlfriend strangled to death inside Antioch apartment

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Kierras family hopes to one day understand what led up to her death, but for now, they will continue to hope and pray for closure and justice.

I just feel like Kierra deserves justice, Dotson told News 2. She didnt deserve to have her life taken. She was working really hard to become a good person. I mean, she was going to school; she had two jobs. She just didnt deserve this at all, and she deserves justice, so if you know where he is, I feel like you should call in and report him.

MNPD Homicide Unit detectives and KSP are asking the public to look out for Young, who is now named in a criminal homicide warrant for Kierras murder. However, officials said they have not ruled out the possibility that Young may have jumped into the Cumberland River.

If you see Young or have any information regarding his whereabouts, youre asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

For anyone in a crisis, help is out there. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
The family of a 25-year-old man who was shot and killed in East Mount Airy is seeking justice, 20 years after his murder.

"He was my best friend. Someone I could always confide in. It won't be a chapter where that he didn't matter. It's a case that stayed open and he doesn't matter. That's the part that weighs heavy on me. He matters, he was a person, he was here. He left his mark on this world. He was loved," says Natasha Lucien.

Jason Lucien's family is still trying to come to terms with their loss, nearly 20 years after his shocking death.

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Lucien was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the driveway of a home on the 6400 block of Belfield Avenue on May 14th, 2007.

"Not knowing why, who. It's heart breaking," says Natasha.

Lucien's sister says that they still don't know what happened that day.

She says his wallet was taken, but the family still doesn't know if the motive was robbery.

"We're hoping that the person or persons that are responsible find it in their hearts to come in, to come forward and to take accountability so that we can have closure. We just want justice for our brother."

The City of Philadelphia is offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the death of Jason Lucien.

You can remain anonymous.


ABC7 Chicago is learning more about a woman whose body was discovered in an alley on Chicago's West Side last week.

Chicago police said Brandy Fleming was shot and killed near the back of her home in West Garfield Park.

ABC7 spoke exclusively with her family as they're asking for help supporting her 5-year-old son.

Fleming was found dead around 5:30 a.m. March 13 in the 200-block of North Kilbourn Avenue, Chicago police said.

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The victim's family says they aren't sure how long her body was left outside in the back of her home. They told ABC7 it was stranger who happened to be driving to work when they found her body in the alley while the victim's 5-year-old son was in the home and didn't know his mother was killed.

"You took a really good person with a really big heart that cared about her child," aunt Shantel Jamison said.

It's been a heartbreaking week for the family. Relatives said only child was inside their house, at the time, unaware that his mother was taken from him.

"It was a lady actually on her way to work," sister Esha Love said. "The boots are what caught her attention. That's what made her come and assist my sister, and I'm grateful that she did. But I'm saying, in a sense, it was like a little too late."

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Her family says they didn't find out about her death until hours later.

"Where's her son? That's what's going through my mind," Jamison said. "Is he okay? Is it a strong possibility he is hurt, too?"

Relatives say the boy was found safe at daycare, left with an unfillable void while the West Side alley remains shrouded in mystery amid an ongoing investigation.

"Sometimes people do holler out with silent cries in situations," Love said. "I just felt like that I wasn't there at the time of her desperate need."

The family has started a GoFundMe page to support Fleming's 5-year-old son.

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Police haven't determined a motive behind the shooting, only saying the offender is unknown. So far, no one has been arrested.

Area Four detectives are investigating.

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A man previously convicted of federal drug charges now is accused of possessing over $400,000 in illegal drugs in Pierce County.

Prosecutors charged Moises Aispuro Meza, 46, with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

A plea of not guilty was entered on Mezas behalf during his arraignment Friday afternoon. Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille set bail at $250,000, records show.

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Court documents say Meza was arrested in an operation conducted by the Special Investigations Unit of the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. Deputies arrested Meza on Thursday while serving a search warrant at his Lakewood-area apartment on Berkeley Avenue Southwest, according to charging documents.

An investigator said in the incident report they watched Meza for several hours before contacting him at his apartment. Deputies breached the front door when no one answered their knocks.

Documents show deputies detained Meza. He told deputies he only had a Mexican identification card and primarily spoke Spanish.

A Spanish-speaking officer from the Tacoma Police Department advised Meza of his Miranda rights, documents show. Meza told a deputy he had been living in the apartment for a month and that there were drugs inside. He was the only person staying there.

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Documents show Meza said he was in the narcotics business but would discuss details or disclose who he worked with.

Meza was booked into the Pierce County Jail, according to charging documents.

Two plastic totes were found in Mezas bedroom closet that allegedly contained 44,118 grams of meth and 2,273.5 grams of heroin. Documents show the street value of the meth is about $311,240. The street value of the heroin found is about $100,000.

Nearly $9,000 in cash, working digital gram scales, crib notes and packaging material were also found in Mezas apartment, documents show.

Meza was convicted in 2008 in New Mexicos U.S. District Court for possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, 451.5 pounds of marijuana.
(WHTM)  Pennsylvanias only two statewide elected Democrats cant seem to stay away from the media, and they cant seem to be any more different, either.

Both Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Sen. John Fetterman made appearances on popular podcasts this week. Shapiro joined former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett on Pod Save America, while Fetterman sat down with venture capitalists on All-In.

Fettermans comment that drew the ire of Democrats: Right now our party is governed by the TDS.

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AKA Trump Derangement Syndrome.

Thats the gift from heaven if youre a Republican, right? said Christopher Nicholas from Eagle Consulting on This Week in Pennsylvania.

Shapiro, meanwhile, turned his attacks on members of the Trump administration.

Pete Hegseth is wildly incompetent, the governor said. Hes like an eight-year-old playing with toy soldiers every day.

The rest of what Shapiro said about the secretary of defense used language that might only be safe for podcasts. His campaign team reshared the bite in a press release, anyway.

Chalk it up to policy disagreements, or presidential ambitions. Nicholas said its easy to act like a tough guy on a friendly podcast.

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Fetterman and Shapiro have both been candid about their frayed relationship, dating back to when the former served as lieutenant governor and the latter was attorney general. They still share some common policy positions though, such as support for Israel.

However, only one of them is polling well with Democrats in their state, and hes facing reelection this year.

Every week, This Week in Pennsylvania gives a comprehensive look at the weeks biggest news events in Pennsylvania, provided by the abc27 News team, along with the latest updates on local stories.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Local Fraternal Order of Police leadership is calling for answers from the City of Pittsburgh over the release of bodycam videos from an incident involving ICE.

11 Investigates has obtained a letter to the city from FOP Fort Pitt Lodge No. 1 President Robert Swartzwelder.

In the letter, Swartzwelder requests to see the agreement that allowed the bodycam videos release  an action he claims led to FOP members being subjected to threats and significant public ridicule.

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According to Swartzwelder, Immigration and Customs Enforcement requested assistance from Pittsburgh police through a 911 call on Dec. 17.

RELATED COVERAGE >>> Confrontation between man, federal agents leads to large police presence in Pittsburgh neighborhood

Officers responded and recorded the incident on their bodycams as policy requires, Swartzwelder says.

Per the letter, the Allegheny County District Attorneys Office later served the city with a Freedom of Information Act request from a member of the public.

By law, the city is not required to release FOIA requests to the DAs office that arent criminal evidence-based, Swartzwelder says, adding that bodycam video belongs to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

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Somehow, Swartzwelder says, this FOIA request was not sent to the citys law department and FOIA/Right To Know office, nor were officers notified that their bodycam videos would be released.

Swartzwelder claims the videos were released to the DAs office, which provided them to the requester, an anti-police group.

That group then posted the videos on social media, identifying the officers in them and demanding they be fired, Swartzwelder alleges.

If there is an agreement between the city and the DAs office that allows for non-criminal investigative releases, Swartzwelder asks that the city provide him with that agreement by Wednesday.

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The city is obligated to provide this agreement because the Citys policy, if true, has now exposed numerous City officers (FOP Members) and their families to safety threats, Swartzwelders letter reads.

Channel 11 has reached out to the City of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Public Safety and the Allegheny County District Attorneys Office about the letter. Well let you know as soon as we hear back.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
A former local city manager has passed away.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

James Caplinger, 87, died at his home on March 15, according to his online obituary.

TRENDING STORIES:

His career included city leadership, higher education, social research, and law.

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Caplinger served as Springfield City Manager.

He was also president of Unity College in Maine, his obituary said.

Caplinger lived in several places, including the Netherlands, before returning to Springfield to practice law in his later years.

In those later years, he was known for providing affordable representation to people in difficult circumstances. During these years, he also served on several boards dealing with community insurance and/or affordable housing, his obituary stated.

Visitation will be held on March 23 and 24.

A Ceremony of Life will be held at Richards, Raff, and Dunbar in Springfield on Tuesday, March 24, at 10 a.m.

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Former Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple appears to be returning to Kansas politics.

Whipple filed a treasurer appointment form with the Kansas Secretary of States Office, indicating an interest in running for the Kansas House District Seat 83, currently held by Democrat Henry Helgerson.

Were taking the first step, Whipple said in a Facebook post asking for campaign donations.

Whipple also previously served in the Kansas Statehouse, where he represented District 86, a district that covers parts of south Wichita. He held that seat beginning in 2013 until he was sworn in as Wichitas mayor in 2020.

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Whipple lost re-election for mayor in 2023 against Lily Wu.

After serving both in the legislature and as mayor, Ive seen how much state-level decisions impact families directly, and I feel I still have something to offer in terms of experience and getting results, Whipple said in an email to the Eagle.

Whipple said that he respects Helgerson, although hes running for the seat currently held by the Eastborough Democrat.

This isnt about running against someone, its about stepping forward based on the ideas and experience I can bring, and a desire to be an active, present voice for this community moving forward, Whipple said.

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In a statement Friday afternoon, Kansas House Democrats Leader Brandon Woodard backed Helgerson for re-election.

We stand firmly behind Representative Helgerson of House District 83, and we are all-in on ensuring he defeats any challenger both in the August primary and the November general election, Woodard said in the statement. He will have our full, unwavering support every step of the way.

Whipple said hell focus on rising costs for families during his campaign and if elected to the state House seat.

I think the focus needs to be on the issues that directly impact Kansans daily lives, making health care more accessible, including finally expanding Medicaid, protecting fundamental freedoms, and addressing affordability challenges for working families, from childcare to rising costs.

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During his time as mayor, Whipple led the city through the COVID-19 pandemic soon after he was sworn-in.

He also was not immune to controversy. During his re-election campaign, Whipple was caught on Wichita Police body camera arguing with an officer after the officer attempted to bar him from entering a neighborhood clean up event.

The Eagle has reached out to Helgerson for comment and did not receive a response by publication.
The four suspected attempted terrorists, all in their 20s, had reportedly been training with illegal airsoft weaponry in preparation for launching an attack.

Israel Police and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) arrested four Israeli citizens in the city of Umm el-Fahm plotting a terror attack, the police stated on Sunday.

The four suspected attempted terrorists, all in their 20s, had reportedly been training with illegal airsoft weaponry in preparation for launching an attack.

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During the raid in which the suspects were arrested, police also found several other weapons, including pistols, a "Carlo" automatic weapon, an M-16, and ammunition.

POLICE ARREST suspect thought to have allowed illegal immigrants through border, November 30, 2025. (credit: Police Spokesperson )

Border Police arrest 19 illegal residents

Israeli Border Police arrested 19 illegal residents on Sunday after catching them crossing the border wall in Jerusalem, N12 news site stated.

In a video shared by N12, the illegal residents are seen from a distance climbing over the border wall.

The video then shows the captured illegal residents kneeling on the ground, followed by the police escorting them away in single file.
By Casey Hall

SHANGHAI, March 22 (Reuters) - China's aviation regulator has not released an annual update on its investigation into a deadly China Eastern Airlines crash for the second year in a row, letting the fourth anniversary pass without providing any insight into the cause.

On March 21, 2022, the China Eastern Boeing 737-800 jet plunged into a hillside in the southwestern region of Guangxi about an hour after takeoff, killing all 132 people on board in China's deadliest air disaster in three decades.

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Global aviation guidelines call for an initial report within 30 days of an accident and a final one ideally within a year so the industry can learn lessons from what went wrong and work to improve safety.

Failing that, investigators are expected to issue statements on each anniversary, but the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) last provided an update in March 2024 and victims' relatives remain in the dark about what caused the plane to nosedive from cruising altitude rather than land in Guangzhou as planned.

The regulator's earlier updates were only a few paragraphs long, offering scant details but indicating there were no faults or abnormalities found in the aircraft or engines before takeoff from Kunming, or with the weather or communications.

The crew held valid licences, had adequate rest and passed health checks on the day of the flight, and there was no dangerous weather or dangerous goods on board the plane, the regulator has said.

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Investigators examined the China Eastern crew's actions after finding no malfunctions, two people briefed on the matter said at the time. The pilots did not respond to repeated calls from air traffic controllers and nearby planes during the rapid descent, authorities said.

In May 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported that "black box" data indicated someone had intentionally crashed the plane, citing a preliminary assessment from U.S. officials.

CAAC had said it would release relevant information based on the progress of the investigation and also said speculation surrounding the crash had "gravely misled the public" and interfered with accident investigation work.

CAAC and China Eastern did not respond to requests for comment.

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a global airlines body, this month issued its 2025 safety report, which reminded carriers of their obligation to file final reports.

"Accident investigation helps us improve safety, but many reports are not published in a timely, complete, or accessible way. Some are not made public while others lack clear recommendations," IATA Director General Willie Walsh said in a statement. "While compliance with this obligation is improving, anything less than 100% shortchanges everyone on opportunities to improve."

(Reporting by Casey Hall in Shanghai; Editing by Jamie Freed)
A Gonzales teenager received a 60-year sentence in connection with the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Mekhi Darville in 2022, the district attorney announced.

Jeaon Pindexter, 18, pled guilty to manslaughter and obstruction of justice as a result of a plea agreement March 17, according to a news release from 23rd Judicial District Attorney Ricky Babin.

Pindexter was 16 years old at the time and was prosecuted as an adult, per the release.

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As previously reported, officers with the Gonzales Police Department responded Nov. 11, 2022, to a convenience store in reference to a shooting.

When officers arrived, they found Darville suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

After he was transported to a hospital, he later died of his injuries.

Assistant District Attorney Lana Chaney prosecuted the case and Judge Steven Tureau presided.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Pindexter was sentenced to 60 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen: Gonzales teenager sentenced to 60 years in fatal shooting
Gov. Ron DeSantis expressed his opposition to a proposal by the Florida Immigration Council aimed at reducing mass deportation efforts.

The council, made up of different law enforcement leaders, recently asked the federal government to change immigration enforcement priorities.

The proposal was detailed in a letter from several sheriffs and police chiefs on the states Immigration Council. It asks federal authorities to reduce mass deportations and instead prioritize creating a pathway to citizenship for immigrants without criminal records.

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Members of the Florida Immigration Council wrote to the federal government, urging it to focus enforcement on individuals with criminal records and to establish a process for residents without criminal histories to attain legal status.

They particularly called for a pathway to citizenship for those who have not committed any crimes.

Gov. DeSantis publicly dismissed the councils recommendations, asserting that noncitizens without legal status violate current laws irrespective of their criminal records.

This idea that unless youre an axe murderer you should be able to stay, that is not consistent with our laws and its also not good policy, DeSantis said. He emphasized that the proposal does not align with current state or federal legal standards.

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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd previously suggested that immigrants lacking permanent legal status who do not have criminal records should be allowed to remain in the country.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
LEBANON, OH  Cincinnati Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman explained his vote against the war powers resolution to dozens of constituents at a town hall on March 22.

Landsman was one of four Democrats to vote against a war powers resolution to stop military action in Iran without congressional approval. He's faced criticism from his primary opponent and on social media in recent weeks after the vote.

At a town hall on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Lebanon, a city of 21,000 north of Cincinnati, Landsman told a crowd of dozens "it's time to be done" in Iran, echoing a statement he released two days earlier.

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"I just thought and still believe with the regime and the opportunity to be done, at least for a period of time, with this threat, was an important step to take," he said.

Landsman said at the event hosted by the MLK Community Coalition of Lebanon that the original plan was to destroy the shield of ballistic missiles and other weapons in Iran, and while he supported that he didn't believe the United States should be involved in regime change.

The congressman also fielded questions about the SAVE Act, civil discourse, affordable housing, data centers and immigration at the event at Lebanon Theater Co., a nonprofit community theater. Landsman hosts publicized town halls more frequently than Greater Cincinnati's other Ohio congressmen, Rep. Warren Davidson and Rep. David Taylor.

Congressman Greg Landsman speaks with guests prior to a town hall in collaboration with the MLK Community Coalition of Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Lebanon Theatre Co. in Lebanon, Oh. Congressman Greg Landsman gives opening remarks at a town hall in collaboration with the MLK Community Coalition of Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Lebanon Theatre Co. in Lebanon, Oh. Congressman Greg Landsman gives opening remarks at a town hall in collaboration with the MLK Community Coalition of Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Lebanon Theatre Co. in Lebanon, Oh. Moderator Emiko Moore poses a question to Congressman Greg Landsman during a town hall in collaboration with the MLK Community Coalition of Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Lebanon Theatre Co. in Lebanon, Oh. Congressman Greg Landsman speaks during a town hall in collaboration with the MLK Community Coalition of Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Lebanon Theatre Co. in Lebanon, Oh. Mary Donahue poses a question to Congressman Greg Landsman during a town hall in collaboration with the MLK Community Coalition of Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Lebanon Theatre Co. in Lebanon, Oh. Congressman Greg Landsman speaks during a town hall in collaboration with the MLK Community Coalition of Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Lebanon Theatre Co. in Lebanon, Oh. Congressman Greg Landsman speaks during a town hall in collaboration with the MLK Community Coalition of Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Lebanon Theatre Co. in Lebanon, Oh. Congressman Greg Landsman speaks during a town hall in collaboration with the MLK Community Coalition of Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Lebanon Theatre Co. in Lebanon, Oh. Congressman Greg Landsman speaks with guests at the conclusion of a town hall, Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Lebanon Theatre Co. in Lebanon, Oh. Congressman Greg Landsman holds town hall in Lebanon. See photos 1 of 10 Congressman Greg Landsman speaks with guests prior to a town hall in collaboration with the MLK Community Coalition of Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Lebanon Theatre Co. in Lebanon, Oh.

Landsman: 'I tend to be more hawkish on these things'

One resident asked Landsman if he believes Dr. Martin Luther King would be on his side regarding the conflict in Iran.

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No, I don't think so. I think King would be on my side in terms of fixing the tax code, health care," Landsman said. I think this would be hard for King to get behind."

Landsman attributed his stance to learning about Hitler and the opportunities world powers had to intervene as a young Jewish child.

I tend to be more hawkish on these things. I think the sooner you can take care of evil, the better," he said. "I mean, we could have stopped (Hitler) in Austria, we could have stopped him in Poland, and in the end, because we didn't, too many people died in that war.

Landsman said he plans to vote for the next war powers resolution that comes before the U.S. House.

Ohio's 1st Congressional District

What is Rep. Greg Landsman's district?

Ohio lawmakers redrew the congressional districts in October 2025, resulting in a map Republicans hailed as in the best interests of the state and a Democratic leader in the state Senate called the best of all their bad options. The map that will be used in this year's election includes Clinton County, in addition to Warren County and parts of Hamilton County, in Ohio's 1st District.

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Landsman will face Damon Lynch IV, son and grandson of two civil rights activists and pastors in Cincinnati, in the Democratic primary on May 5.

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: Rep. Greg Landsman explains Iran vote at Greater Cincinnati town hall
Parents, students and community members gathered at a school board meeting Saturday to call for the reinstatement of a teacher at Synergy Quantum Academy in South Los Angeles who was recently terminated.

Chants of "bring back Mr. Lopez" filled the room as organizers argued that Ricardo Lopez was fired after opening a locked campus gate last month, allowing students to leave during a walkout protesting ICE raids.

"To protect his students, he did what any responsible adult would do when he's seeing kids that are about to get hurt," said Ron Gochez, an LAUSD teacher who attended Saturday's meeting. "He protected them by opening the gate. The principals chose not to do the correct thing, but he did. So instead of supporting a teacher who supports and protects his students, they terminated him."

The school disputes that account.

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In a statement to Eyewitness News, Synergy Quantum Academy said "To date, the school has received no reports of student injuries related to student protests."

Read the full statement below:

"In early February, groups of students at Synergy Quantum Academy participated in student-led protests on campus. School administrators were present throughout to supervise students and prioritize safety. To date, the school has received no reports of student injuries related to student protests.

We respect students' rights to express themselves and understand that moments like these often reflect deeply held concerns. Our responsibility as a school is to ensure that student expression happens in a way that protects students' safety and complies with established campus protocols.

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Families were notified, all students were accounted for, and counselors and support staff are available to students who wish to talk or need additional support.

Synergy Quantum Academy is a public charter school co-located on a Los Angeles Unified School District campus. Synergy works collaboratively with our District partners to follow the campus access and safety procedures set by LAUSD policy to ensure the safety of students from both schools. Decisions about whether students may leave campus during the school day are made solely by school administration, according to campus safety protocols.

We appreciate the partnership of our families and community as we continue to support our students, uphold their rights, and maintain a safe and orderly learning environment."
Iran launched further attacks on Gulf countries on Sunday, more than three weeks after the US and Israel began their war with Iran.

"The air defence systems are currently responding to a missile threat," said the civil defence authority in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The Emirati Defence Ministry said it has so far responded to Iranian attacks with 345 rockets, 15 cruise missiles and more than 1,700 drones.

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Two members of the UAE's armed forces and six civilians have been killed since the start of the war. A further 160 people have been injured in the country.

The Saudi Defence Ministry stated that several drones had been intercepted in the east of the country, where most of its oil fields are located. One missile was intercepted near Riyadh and two others fell in open areas.

According to its armed forces, Bahrain has so far intercepted more than 140 Iranian missiles and more than 240 Iranian drones.

The latest incidents came after Qatar on Sunday said seven people were killed in a military helicopter crash.

The Qatari Ministry of Defence said the helicopter went down in the countrys territorial waters following a technical malfunction during a routine mission.
Harbor Springs is poised to hire a new city manager who could start as early as May 1.

The city council unanimously approved a conditional offer of employment to Michigan native and current Billings, Montana City Manager Chris Kukulski at its meeting on Wednesday, March 18. The approval followed a long discussion among council members, who interviewed four final candidates on Saturday, March 14.

Harbor Springs City Hall is shown.

The official announcement is pending final contract negotiations and a background check, said Interim City Manager and Harbor Springs Police Chief Kyle Knight. If all goes well, Kukulski could be in place in a few weeks.

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I thought we had several good final candidates, but to me, (Kukulski) really stood out, Knight said. After our interviews on Saturday, everyone (on the city council) pretty much agreed to hire him.

More: Harbor Springs hires firm, moves forward in city manager search

More: Harbor Springs stays with Okemos search firm to find next city manager

The city of Harbor Springs hired Okemos-based Walsh Municipal Services just before Christmas to handle the recruiting and research for its new city manager.

Kukulski was one of three final candidates who traveled to Harbor Springs for an in-person interview. He has served as city manager in Billings since 2018, also having served in Bozeman, Montana, from 2004 to 2017. Before moving to Montana, Kukulski was the city manager of Jonesville, Michigan.

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He is a graduate of Western Michigan University. Kukulskis online bio at the City of Billings website touts his collaborative management style, and a career focused on guiding community growth, economic development and organizational coordination within city government.

Kukulski was looking to move back to Michigan to be closer to his parents, parents-in-law and two grown children. Walsh joined the Wednesday city council meeting remotely and told council members that Kukulski had also been a finalist for recent city manager positions in Ottawa County and Washtenaw County before in-house candidates were hired.

Ive called several people over the last few weeks about (Kukulski), Walsh said. Any time youre a city manager for a few years and find  that no one gets through unscathed. (Kukulski) has spent 30 years doing what his elected officials asked him to do.

The candidate pool isnt as strong as it was five years ago or certainly 10 years ago, Walsh added. In my opinion, you have attracted a person with a long track record of success.

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Knight agrees.

He is very well grounded but also has a lot of experience in public administration, Knight said.

While Kukulskis recent career experiences are in Montana, his background and familiarity with Michigan were a plus, Knight added.

If he had never been to Michigan before, it may have made me a little more skeptical, Knight said.

More: Police chief Knight to serve as interim city manager in Harbor Springs

More: Harbor Springs city manager announces resignation, last day set for Dec. 16

Former city manager Victor Sinadinoski resigned in October 2025, leaving his position in December. The city researched several public administration search firms before the council voted to approve Walsh Municipal Services and CEO Frank Walsh to lead the search starting in December. That contract called for a maximum cost of $15,900.

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Knight said he was ultimately pleased with the result.

I was probably in touch with (Walsh) just about every other day during this process, Knight said. I like how the process played out.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Harbor Springs extends conditional offer for city manager position
Turns out the FBIs been on a shopping spree. And its not just any spending binge: as director Kash Patel made clear at a senate hearing on Wednesday, the agency is buying up location data on everyday American citizens.

We do purchase commercially available information thats consistent with the constitution and the laws under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, Patel admitted under oath, and it has led to some valuable intelligence for us.

Since 2017, the supreme court has required warrants for any US law enforcement agency that wants to collect cell location data  but only if its obtained direct from a subjects mobile carrier. Commercial data brokers, however, represent a grey-market alternative. By purchasing location history from third-party data companies, the FBI can bypass the warrant requirement altogether.

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As Politico notes in its reporting on the senate hearing, numerous civil liberty groups have challenged the practice in court, but the loophole is still wide enough to drive a surveillance van through  a fact that drew plenty of criticism on Wednesdays hearing.

Doing that without a warrant is an outrageous end run around the Fourth Amendment, its particularly dangerous given the use of artificial intelligence to comb through massive amounts of private information, said Democratic senator Ron Wyden.

Wyden, along with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, recently introduced a bill called the Government Surveillance Reform Act, which would hold law enforcement agencies to the same warrant requirement when purchasing data from a commercial broker, per Politico.

The bipartisan Government Surveillance Reform Act counters these abuses by requiring a warrant to search Americans data and by closing the data broker loophole that allows the federal government to spy on citizens by purchasing private data that would otherwise require a warrant or subpoena, Republican-party representative Warren Davidson said in the bills press release.

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Advances in technology, from AI to the explosion of Americans data available for purchase, have far outpaced the laws protecting Americans privacy and civil liberties, Wyden concurred. Im proud to introduce this bipartisan bill as a leader of the Ben Franklin caucus, which stands for the proposition that liberty and security arent mutually exclusive.

More on surveillance: Cities Are Shredding Their AI Surveillance Contracts en Masse




Sugar Land isn't just building more homes-it's now trying to build the companies that fill them.

The city recently launched the "Sugar Land Starts Innovation Fund," a new incentive program aimed at attracting startups as part of a broader push to turn the fast-growing suburb into more than just a place where people live. The fund offers performance-based incentives to companies that commit to bringing jobs and long-term investment to Sugar Land, targeting industries like life sciences, technology and advanced manufacturing, according to the city's announcement.

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"By focusing on revenue-generating startups and performance-based incentives, we are creating a clear pathway for innovative companies to scale while reenergizing existing office space," Colby Millenbruch, Sugar Land's business recruitment manager, said in a statement.

To qualify, startups must already be generating revenue or have significant financial backing. Their average salaries also must be at least $61,000, and the company must agree to relocate employees to Sugar Land for at least three years.

The move reflects a broader shift taking shape across the Houston region. Suburbs like Sugar Land aren't just growing residentially-they're trying to become job centers in their own right.

For years, Sugar Land has been known as one of the Houston area's more affluent suburbs, built around master-planned communities and corporate campuses. Now, city leaders are trying to expand that model by attracting companies that allow residents to live and work in the same place.

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That push comes as the Greater Houston Area continues to expand. As Chron previously reported, suburban areas like Sugar Land, Katy and Cypress have seen steady development as buyers search for more space, even amid affordability pressures.

Sugar Land officials have been laying the groundwork for that shift. The innovation fund builds on the city's partnership with Plug and Play, a Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator that has already brought companies into the area and helped raise millions in investment capital.

"This investment is about more than technology," said David Steele, director of Texas at Plug and Play. "It's about creating an environment where innovation can take root, grow and deliver lasting value for the Sugar Land community."

City leaders have also pushed efforts to redevelop vacant office space, an issue that has become more visible as remote work reshapes suburban business districts. More than 20 startups have already gone through Sugar Land's accelerator programs, per the Houston Business Journal, raising about $6.5 million in funding.

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"Sugar Land is setting itself apart by taking a long-term view, investing in founders, partnerships, and technologies that will define the next chapter of growth," Steele added.

For residents, the shift isn't just about startups-it's about what kind of suburb Sugar Land is becoming. In other words: the city isn't just making room for more people, it's trying to make sure they don't have to leave.

More News

Real Estate | This Texas suburb is now the state's most expensive place to rent

Fights | Viral video shows tense exchange between Texas news anchors

Annoyance | Why nightmare Houston rodeo traffic is getting even worse

Politics | Is anyone happy in Harris County? New UH poll reveals deep discontent.



For the latest and best from Chron, sign up for our daily newsletter here.

This article originally published at Houston suburb makes bold play to become Texas' tech capital.
Donald Trump and his border czar, Tom Homan, have followed through on promises from the presidents administration to send in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to US airports beginning on Monday to assist with security amid extremely long lines  and to help airport security agents who have been working without pay since 14 February because of a partial government shutdown.

ICE agents were seen at airports such as Atlanta, Newark, New Orleans and New Yorks John F Kennedy. CNN reported nine other airports where ICE agents were seen.

Trump said on Sunday that Homan would lead the effort.

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In a post on Truth Social, Trump said ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful [Transportation Security Administration] Agents who have stayed on the job despite the shutdown resulting from a US Senate deadlock over stricter regulations on federal immigration enforcement.

Homan, meanwhile, appeared on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday and said: We will be at the airports tomorrow. It remained unclear what responsibilities ICE officers will have, and Homan said on Sunday that details were still being finalized.

Related: Three flight attendants taken to hospital after Delta flight hits severe turbulence on descent into Sydney

Theres TSA agents covering exits. People that enter through the exits. Certainly a highly trained ICE law enforcement officer can cover an exit, make sure people dont go through those exits, enter an airport through the exits, he said on CNN.

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Stuff like that relieves that TSA officer to go to screening and to reduce those lines. I dont see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine because theyre not trained in that. Theres certain parts of security that TSAs doing that we can move them off those jobs and put them in the specialized jobs and help them move those lines.

More than 400 TSA agents have left their jobs since the partial government shutdown began, according to NBC News, and others are calling out sick. There have been crippling, hours-long waits at security checkpoints run by the TSA across the US.

Images showed lines out to the parking lot at New Orleans airport on Sunday and at New Yorks LaGuardia airport earlier in the weekend. Lines at airports such as Atlanta, New Orleans and Houstons George Bush Intercontinental were long on Monday as ICE agents began being spotted at the facilities.

There was video of the line at Bush airport on Monday stretching out to a facility subway station.

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Its a work in progress, Homan said of the deployment. The priority, he said, was the large airports where theres a long wait, like three hours.

Homan pledged to have a plan by the end of today, where were sending  what airports were starting with and where were sending them.

Senate Democrats have blocked funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the TSA, seeking reforms after immigration agents killed US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in separate incidents in January.

Pressed by CNNs Dana Bash on how well thought out the plan could be if it was still being finalized on Sunday, Homan said: How much of a plan does it mean [sic] to guard an exit to make sure no one comes through an exit?

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Trump had said on Saturday that ICE agents at airports would do security like no one has ever seen before.

Bad idea, said Lisa Murkowski, a senator from Alaska, about the new airport security plan.

What we need to do is, we need to get the DHS issues resolved, we need to get the TSA agents paid, she told reporters at the US Capitol, where the Senate held a rare weekend session. Do you really want to have even additional tensions on top of what we are already facing?

The Trump administration has deployed ICE agents for immigration crackdowns across the country, a move that  in addition to the killings of US citizens  has led to civil rights violations.

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The US Houses Democratic minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, came out strongly against ICE agents at airports in his own appearance on CNN.

The last thing that the American people need are for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports all across the country, potentially to brutalize or in some instances kill them, Jeffries said. We have already seen how ICE conducts itself.

Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 50,000 TSA workers, condemned Trumps plan, saying in a statement that ICE agents were not trained or certified in aviation security.

Our members at TSA have been showing up every day, without a paycheck, because they believe in the mission of keeping the flying public safe, Kelley said on Sunday. They deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they can be.

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A joint statement from US flight attendant unions criticized what they portrayed as the failure to pay TSA workers and the choice to create havoc in our airports.

This latest threat of ICE invasion at the airports is another distraction from solutions that protect Americans, the statement continued.

Flight attendants will not allow the TSA  and the frontline [security officers] who keep us safe to be used as pawns in this dangerous game, nor will we fly in an aviation system that doesnt put our safety and security first.
It's never good news when an "old disease" begins to reemerge, and physicians are sounding the alarm over a common building material that has gravely sickened hundreds of young tradespeople, KFF Health News reported.

What's happening?

Cesar Manuel Gonzalez is a 37-year-old stone worker in California, and although he's never worked a day in the mines, he started having difficulty breathing.

Ultimately, Gonzalez was diagnosed with silicosis, a distinct form of pulmonary fibrosis, or severe lung scarring.

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Silicosis is a condition that once "was synonymous with mining disasters," the CBS News article noted, one addressed by dust safety protocols in the 1930s.

In the 2010s, engineered stone (quartz) countertops grew in popularity as a more affordable alternative to natural stone. However, the fabrication process releases significant amounts of crystalline silica, which can cause silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer, per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Gonzalez worked as a countertop fabricator, generating dust and particles as he cut and polished stone and manufactured materials into glossy kitchen surfaces. The work seemed benign, but his story was unfortunately not a one-off.

On Friday, Capital & Main profiled another silicosis case, identifying the man only as "Oscar" to conceal his identity. Oscar was diagnosed with silicosis in 2022 and cried when a doctor told him he could never work again.

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KFF Health News also spoke with Gustavo Reyes, 36.

All three men required a double lung transplant to survive.

Why is this concerning?

According to KFF, neither engineered stone nor silicosis cases associated with it were new phenomena.

In 1997, a cluster of similar cases emerged in Israel, affecting primarily young male countertop fabricators. When the link was observed in Australia a little over a decade later, authorities ultimately determined that "fabrication of high-silica engineered stone posed unacceptable risk."

KFF cited nearly 400 lawsuits concerning stone workers and silicosis, alleging that the material simply "cannot be fabricated safely."

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Experts in medicine and occupational safety appeared to agree, including former OSHA head Dr. David Michaels, who challenged manufacturers' claims that lax workplace safety protocols were to blame rather than the material.

"This is comparable to the tobacco industry saying cigarettes are safe," Michaels observed, per KFF.

The outlet reported 519 documented silicosis cases in California since 2019, with 29 fatalities. The median age of diagnosis was 46; the median age of silicosis-related mortality was just 49.

Dr. Robert Harrison was among the doctors who identified the first silicosis cluster in 2019.

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According to KFF, he called it "the largest outbreak of silicosis in decades" and a "recognizable occupational epidemic once work histories were examined."

What's being done about it?

Frustratingly, the outlet indicated that California Rep. Tom McClintock proposed legislation to shield countertop manufacturers from civil liability as cases mounted.

Australia prohibited "the manufacture, supply, and installation" of engineered stone in 2024, and California strengthened regulations in 2025.

Harrison said nothing short of a ban on the material was sufficient to protect workers.

"It'll be a very effective tool in starting to end this epidemic," he told Capital & Main.

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.
Mar. 21BEMIDJI  Indivisible Bemidji is planning to host its third "No Kings" peaceful rally, as part of a national day of protest, starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, at Paul Bunyan Park.

The first No Kings rally took place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in the wake of news that two Minnesota legislators were attacked, alongside their spouses, in the middle of the night. Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, died as a result of their injuries. Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, survived the attack.

The second No Kings rally took place on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, and was part of the largest day of protest in American history.

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Indivisible leaders nationwide hope the third No Kings rally surpasses the first two as the first planned day of protest in 2026.

"People across America will once again peacefully stand together to say 'No Thrones, No Crowns, No Kings,'" a release said. "Instead of wasting our tax dollars on wars overseas and ICE in our neighborhoods, let's demand our leaders work together to reduce food and gas prices, build affordable housing and fund daycare and education."

The demonstration will wind down at 2 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
Two of President Donald Trumps closest allies have endorsed dueling candidates for Ohio state treasurer. The winner could signal whose word carries more weight in the American heartland.

The race is pitting state Sen. Kristina Roegner  a state legislator with the backing of 2024 presidential candidate and current gubernatorial front-runner Vivek Ramaswamy  against former state Rep. Jay Edwards, whos been endorsed by Vice President JD Vance.

People close to Vance and Ramaswamy downplayed the split, stressing that there is no bad blood between the two Republicans. But the otherwise sleepy battle between two native sons of Ohio is one of many divides bubbling up in the Republican Party that is tentatively charting a post-Trump future, with both Ramaswamy and Vance jockeying to put their stamp on the GOP.

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Roegner, who spearheaded the states anti-abortion Heartbeat Bill during her time in the Senate, was a supporter of Ramaswamys 2024 presidential run and his gubernatorial campaign.

She backed his bid when he was still a relative political outsider, rankling veteran Republicans in Columbus who have plotted for years to run for office. Ramaswamy in turn backed her treasurer bid in January and soon after signed onto a letter urging the Ohio Republican Party to support Roegner in the primary.

Edwards, on the other hand, is leaning into his endorsement from Vance and GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno, a close ally of the White House. He wrote on his campaign website that he was inspired to run by President Trump when he first ran for the Ohio House of Representatives in 2016.

Jay and I are both sons of Appalachia. We know what its like to come from places the elites ignore  and we know the strength, pride, and values that built Ohio, Vance said in a February statement backing Edwards, a rare endorsement from the sitting vice president who has largely not personally intervened in primaries early in his term. Jay has never forgotten where he came from, and hes spent his career standing up for Southeast Ohio and putting hardworking people first.

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Edwards told The Columbus Dispatch last month that there were no hard feelings over Ramaswamys decision to back Roegner, saying, It kind of speaks to him and his morals and the fact that hes willing to stay true to his word.

Ramaswamy did not respond to a request for comment about the race, and a spokesperson for Vance did not offer comment beyond the vice presidents statement endorsing Edwards.

The dueling endorsements came to a head last month, when the Ohio GOP decided not to back a candidate in the race. The state party requires a two-thirds majority to decide whether to wade into a primary before taking a separate vote on who to endorse, and its leaders did not clear that first hurdle.

While Roegners campaign  which has the backing of more than a dozen county GOP chairs and the leadership in the statehouse  had pushed the party to endorse, Edwards hoped the Republican State Central Committee would decide to stay out of the primary fight.

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Khadine Ritter, who represents Washington County on the committee and has backed Roegner in the primary, said some state party members feared breaking with the vice presidents endorsement and thus voted not to endorse.

I think the concern was, how does this look for our vice president? Ritter said. And I think that's where some of the people that voted not to endorse made their decision  not necessarily on the qualifications or the merit of the two candidates, but on, gosh, we have been put in a difficult position because Jay Edwards has recruited the endorsement of the vice president, who we support.

Roegner said in an interview that while she had hoped the party would reach the supermajority needed to endorse, she respects the decision to stay out of the race and remains proud that we still had a very strong majority of votes to move forward with an endorsement.

Roegner met Ramaswamy at a 2023 conservative conference in Washington and the two have stayed in touch ever since, she said.

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The more I heard him, I'm like, he's gonna make a great governor. Its just very charismatic. It's a clear vision. It's very bold. He wants to make big changes, Roegner said. Over and and through that process, not only did I get to know him, but he also got to know me and many other leaders from across the state of Ohio that have worked with me.

While the treasurers perch is a relatively low-profile role in the state government, it can often serve as a springboard for Ohio Republicans with higher aspirations. Former state Treasurer Joe Deters now serves on the Ohio Supreme Court, and Josh Mandel, who held the role from 2011-2019, ran three times for U.S. Senate.

While its possible the dueling endorsements end up canceling each other out, Ohio GOP strategist Matt Dole said Edwards may enjoy a bump from the Vance endorsement which, while not equivalent to an endorsement from Trump, is Trump-adjacent.

Trump has not personally weighed in on the race.

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At the end of the day, in a statewide race where you have a state senator running against a former state rep, their number one job is building name ID, said Dole, chair of the Licking County GOP, which did not endorse in the primary. If they're doing their campaign correctly, these endorsements become a vehicle by which to say, Jay Edwards is endorsed by JD Vance. Did you hear the name, Jay Edwards?

Edwards support from Vance could also help him fend off a potential attack line tying him to a bitter intraparty scandal that tore the states Republican Party apart two years ago. Edwards was one of 22 state representatives who voted with Democrats to back a more moderate underdog GOP candidate for speaker. The Ohio GOP ultimately censured the lawmakers, labeled the Blue 22 by their critics.

Im proud to have the endorsement of Vice President J.D. Vance and Senator Bernie Moreno: two leaders who, like President Donald Trump, are fighting every day to put America and Ohio first, Edwards said in a statement.

The race is already shaping up to be an expensive one: Roegner, who has loaned more than $1 million of her own money to her campaign, had about $2.4 million on hand, according to public filings submitted at the end of January, while Edwards had about $1.4 million in his campaign coffers.

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While both campaigns have sizable war chests, Ohio GOP strategist Terry Casey said they still lack the money for multiple slates of TV ad buys.

The money maybe allows them to fire one bullet, he said, and each candidate will have to decide how best to leverage their endorsements to turn base voters out.

All that sounds good to the Republican base. Both of them sound good, Casey said. But do either one of them, Ramaswamy or Vance, are they going to cut commercials and spend a million or $2 million running that commercial?
There is an investigation into a police stop in New Jersey involving a 13-year-old boy in New Jersey.

Video shows the moments officers took the boy down and detained him during the course of a firearm investigation inside Jenny Deli and Grocery in East Orange on Friday around 4 p.m.

The boy's mother claims he was wrongfully targeted and physically hurt. There are also questions about the use of force and whether the stop went too far.

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Eyewitness News spoke with 13-year-old Alkyair Williams and his family. His mother, Amirah May is extremely upset. She says police told her they were looking for a man in his twenties, so she is wondering how the mix-up happened.

Alkyair was seen standing inside the deli on surveillance video as he was buying a shirt. As he was walking out, one officer was seen grabbing him. The officer then put the teen on top of boxes.

More officers came in, and at one point there were right inside the store.

Alkyair eventually got up, and he was handcuffed. The 13-year-old says officers did not say anything to him when they walked in and handcuffed him.

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His mother was outside and she tells Eyewitness News that officers would not let her in at first, and when they finally did, she was furious.

While the incident happened in East Orange, some of the officers in the surveillance video were wearing Newark police vests. Eyewitness News reached out to Newark Police and they say they were working on a joint firearm investigation with Federal law enforcement. They say Alkyair's family reached out to East Orange Police about what happened and it was then reported to them.

An internal investigation by the Newark Police Division's Officer of Professional Standards has been initiated.

Amirah explained what officers told her when she was trying to figure out why her son was arrested.

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"I'm trying to see why y'all got my son right here? He said, mistaken identity. I said mistaken identity for who? For who? He said, a 22-year-old with dreads and visible tattoos. I said look at my son, do he look like he 22? Do he have visible tattoos? He don't even have dreads," she says.

She says she wants officers to take accountability.

"I just want them to take accountability. I want apologies. They wouldn't even give me their name, not their badges. They got in their cars and drove off like nothing ever happened," she added.

Alkyair says he is traumatized.

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"I got PTSD from it. I don't want to go outside no more. Me, me, I'm a normal kid that just go outside, that want to hang with their friends. No. That ain't me no more. I don't want to go to school no more," he said.

"He hasn't been sleeping he's very jumpy he's just scared it's going to happen again it's just too much," added Alkyair's sister, Samiyah Graves.

East Orange Office of Public Information said that East Orange Police were not involved in this incident.

Amirah says she just wants justice for her son.

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DUBAI, March 22 (Reuters) - The Strait of Hormuz remains open to all shipping except vessels linked to "Iran's enemies", Iranian media reports published on Sunday quoted Iran's representative to the U.N. maritime agency as saying.

Ali Mousavi's comments came from an interview published on Friday by Chinese news agency Xinhua, before U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to target Iranian power plants if the strait was not "fully open" within 48 hours.

The threat of Iranian attacks during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has kept most ships from getting through the narrow strait, the conduit for around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, threatening a global energy shock.

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Mousavi, who is also Iran's ambassador to the UK, was also quoted as saying that Tehran would continue to cooperate with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to improve maritime safety and protect seafarers in the Gulf, adding that ships not belonging to "Iran's enemies" could pass the strait by coordinating security and safety arrangements with Tehran.

"Diplomacy remains Iran's priority. However, a complete cessation of aggression as well as mutual trust and confidence are more important," Mousavi said, adding that Israeli and U.S. attacks against Iran were at the "root of the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz".

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by William Mallard and Alexander Smith)
Reza Pahlavi, the son of Irans last shah, has urged US President Donald Trump to avoid targeting civilian infrastructure in any escalation with Tehran following a US ultimatum over the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X on Sunday, Pahlavi called on Trump to reconsider his approach, saying Irans leadership should be dismantled but the country itself must be protected.

"Iran must be protected. The regime must be dismantled," he wrote. "Iran is not the Islamic Republic."

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On Saturday, Trump threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened within 48 hours.

Iran responded that it would fully close the strait - vital for global oil shipments - and only reopen it once any damaged infrastructure had been rebuilt.

"I ask President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to continue targeting the regime and its apparatus of repression, while sparing the civilian infrastructure Iranians will need to rebuild our country," Pahlavi continued.

Both Pahlavi and other monarchist figures in exile have largely aligned themselves with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Pahlavi, named by the last shah as his crown prince, has lived in exile in the United States for decades and is a political activist seeking a leading role in future Iranian politics. His father was toppled by the first supreme leader in 1979.
As strikes hit headlines, the real battle unfolds beyond public view, targeting Irans systems, alliances, and long-term power.

Every Israeli war develops its own grammar.

Sometimes it is a grammar of funerals, reserve call-ups, and burning buildings. The image tells the public what kind of war this is and where the danger lies.

The campaign against Iran is harder to read that way. Much of its meaning sits off-camera.

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That is the core challenge. Israel is fighting a military campaign against Iran, and a political battle over how a democracy understands force when the decisive action takes place in command networks, production chains, sea lanes, intelligence systems, and financial pipelines that the public cannot easily see.

The visible part of the war is still real. A missile impact in central Israel is not a metaphor. A siren in Jerusalem is not an abstraction. But the visible part is only one layer. The deeper campaign is aimed at reducing Irans ability to function as a regional system: to produce missiles, threaten shipping, arm proxies, move money, and maintain pressure across several fronts at once.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu receiving an update on the missile strike in Arad, March 21, 2026. (credit: Avi Ohayon/GPO)

Israel is no longer only trying to shorten the next barrage or destroy the next launcher. It is trying to cut into regime capacity. That means military industry, command structure, proxy financing, naval infrastructure, and the channels that allow Tehran to turn ideology into organized force.

Tactical success is easy to photograph. Structural success is not.

The immediate emotional fact of a missile strike

A missile strike that kills civilians creates an immediate emotional fact. A damaged production line or a broken supply route creates a strategic fact that may look vague in the moment and obvious only later. That gap between what hits the eye and what shapes the war is now one of the campaigns central facts.

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It also explains why the old formula, that Israel strikes and America supports, no longer captures the real picture.

Support is too soft a word. The campaign rests on a broader structure that includes American force posture, intelligence, maritime pressure, diplomatic backing, and a shared interest in shrinking Irans ability to threaten the region through missiles, shipping disruption, and proxy warfare.

Coalitions often work that way. One country flies the visible missions. Another strengthens the architecture that makes the campaign sustainable.

The Gulf states belong in this story, too. They are often treated as anxious spectators, as if this were still a duel between Israel and Iran with everyone else watching from a safe distance.

That fiction is collapsing. Their airspace, energy systems, shipping interests, and domestic stability are already tied to the wars trajectory. Governments in the region may still prefer caution in public, but quiet alignment is already part of the strategic map.

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This is where the deeper question emerges: What kind of power does Iran still hold?

The regime can still inflict pain. It can still frighten civilians and create spectacle. But visible violence and durable power are not the same thing. A regime begins to weaken in a deeper sense when its attacks remain visible while its ability to command, produce, finance, and coordinate starts to erode.

That appears to be the wager behind the current campaign  not one dramatic knockout blow but sustained damage to the system that keeps Iranian power moving.

That leaves Israel with a political problem as well as a military one.

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Democracies can absorb hardship. What they struggle with is abstraction. The public can endure a hard campaign when it understands the purpose, the stakes, and the logic of progress.

Patience wears thin when the war feels technically impressive but emotionally hard to read. The state therefore has to explain, plainly and repeatedly, why pressure in Hormuz, a strike on an Iranian military contractor, or the disruption of Hezbollahs financial pipeline belongs to the same war as the siren in Ramat Gan.

Otherwise, the enemy keeps the advantage of spectacle while Israel carries the burden of complexity.

The lazy way to cover this war is as a daily scorecard. Launches, strikes, damage, retaliation. Those facts are necessary. They do not explain the campaign.

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The more serious question is what kind of war is taking shape. The answer is now fairly clear. This is a war over capacity, over alliance architecture, and over who gets to shape the operating environment of the Middle East after years in which Iran used proxies, missiles, and strategic ambiguity as a permanent method of rule.

There is also a Zionist dimension to this. Zionism at its most serious was never only a language of injury. It was a language of agency. It asked whether Jews could move from reacting to power to organizing it. That is why wars like this test more than firepower. They test political maturity.

Israelis will always respond first to the visible wound. They should. A living society reacts to what it sees.

But a sovereign people has to know how to read more than the smoke in the sky.

This war is happening outside the frame. Israel will have to learn to understand it there.
By Ahmed Fahmy, Amr Abdallah Dalsh and Alexander Cornwell

Near Tyre, LEBANON/TEL AVIV, March 22 (Reuters) - Israel struck a main bridge linking Lebanon's south to the rest of the country on Sunday after ordering its military to destroy all crossings over the Litani River and to step up the demolition of homes near the southern border.

The destruction of bridges and homes marks a significant escalation in Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, which was pulled into the regional war on March 2 when armed group Hezbollah fired into Israeli territory.

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International law generally prohibits militaries from attacking civilian infrastructure, and the United Nations human rights chief has criticised Israel's actions in Lebanon, particularly its use of widespread evacuation orders that have displaced more than a million people.

Sunday's strike damaged a crossing on Lebanon's coastal highway that runs through farmland and is one of the main routes linking southern and central Lebanon.

An Israeli military spokesperson had announced the army would strike the bridge earlier on Sunday.

Lama al-Fares, who lives on farmland adjacent to the crossing, said her family packed what they could into their car when they saw the warning. They drove north on the highway and waited on a hilltop overlooking it.

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"Our house is right next to the bridge. It was destroyed in the last war and we had rebuilt a basic structure to live in - I hope it's still standing," she told Reuters.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the strikes were a "prelude to a ground invasion" and amounted to a "policy of collective punishment against civilians."

He said it would impede the delivery of humanitarian aid and could be part of "suspicious schemes" to pursue an expansion of Israel's presence in Lebanese territory. Defence Minister Israel Katz has previously said Lebanon could face "damage to infrastructure and loss of territory" if its government did not disarm Hezbollah.

A second Israeli strike hit the bridge on Sunday evening, according to Lebanese state media.

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ISRAELI CIVILIAN KILLED

Earlier, an Israeli was killed in his car near the border after what the military described as a "launch" from Lebanese territory. Ten hours after Israel's ambulance service reported the man's death, the military said it was investigating whether he had been killed by Israeli fire. Two Israeli soldiers have been killed in fighting in Lebanon.

Israel's strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 1,000 people, including nearly 120 children, 80 women and 40 medical personnel, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Lebanese authorities do not otherwise distinguish between civilians and militants.

Katz said the military had been ordered to destroy all bridges over the Litani used for "terrorist activity," to prevent Hezbollah militants and weapons from moving south.

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The Israeli military had already destroyed three bridges in southern Lebanon in the last 10 days.

Katz also said the military was ordered to accelerate the demolition of Lebanese homes in "frontline villages" to neutralise threats to Israeli communities.

He described the approach as similar to the model used in Beit Hanoun and Rafah in Gaza, where the military created buffer zones by clearing and demolishing buildings near the border.

'HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE'

Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, said international law requires armed actors to take into account the civilian harm caused by strikes on infrastructure like bridges, even if the targets were being used for military purposes.

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"If all these bridges are struck, and the region that is south of the Litani becomes isolated from the rest of the country, then the civilian harm is going to be so immense that you have a humanitarian catastrophe as people still living in the south won't be able to access food, medicine and other basic needs," Kaiss said.

Destroying homes in southern Lebanon wholesale would amount to wanton destruction, which is a war crime, he added.

The Israeli military says its troops are carrying out what it describes as ground maneuvers and targeted raids on Hezbollah militants and weapons stores in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials say the air and ground campaigns are aimed at protecting residents in northern Israel near the Lebanese border from Hezbollah attacks.

The Lebanese government has outlawed Hezbollah military activity and said it wanted to engage in direct talks with Israel.

(Reporting by Ahmed Fahmy and Amr Abdallah Dalsh near Tyre and Maya Gebeily in Beirut, Alexander Cornwell in Tel Aviv; Editing by Christina Fincher and Hugh Lawson)
Michael Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., said Sunday that the Iranian people must mobilize to overthrow the Islamic Republic regime.

I think that we need boots on the ground, but they have got to be Iranian boots, and I think theyre coming, Leiter told host Dana Bash on CNNs State of the Union.

He noted that the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran will only end when there is not an entity in Tehran thats going to threaten the region.

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Now, if thats going to be brought about by this regime having a change of heart, hard to imagine, but going on the assumption that that happens, then itll take place that way, Leiter said.

However, he predicted such an outcome would likely only occur through the Iranian people rising up against the regime. Leiter also noted Iranian forces brutally put down protesters earlier this year.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that in the first 50 days of demonstrations against the regime this winter, government-backed forces killed at least 6,488 protesters, at least 236 children and at least 76 civilians who were not protesting.

The military conflict, which is approaching the one-month mark, escalated again Saturday as Israel attacked a nuclear enrichment site in Natanz, Iran. Tehran retaliated by launching missiles at the Israeli cities of Arad and Dimona, which are close to Israels main nuclear facility.

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The Israeli Ministry of Health said Sunday that 180 people from both cities were admitted to Soroka Medical Center, with eight in serious condition, 24 in moderate condition and 148 in mild condition.

Leiter vowed Israels response to that attack will be to continue with this campaign until we bring this regime to its knees.

We cannot live anymore with a country that is malign, that has intent on destroying us, that declares its going to destroy us all the time and is now firing ballistic missiles into all of its neighbors. This has to stop, he added.

Since the U.S. and Israel first launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, at least 1,406 Iranian civilians, including at least 210 children, have been killed as of Saturday, according to HRANA.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office has released more details about Fridays deadly shooting on Grant Street.

JSO arrested 26-year-old David Johnson after they say he shot and killed his father.

Action News Jax previously reported that officers were called around 4:50 p.m. Friday to the 1200 block of Grant Street, where they found one person had been shot.

The victim was rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately passed away.

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Now, JSO has released the victims name: 50-year-old Micheal Johnson.

According to the sheriffs office, detectives quickly identified Johnsons son, David Johnson, as the gunman after interviewing witnesses at the house.

David Johnson was later arrested for his fathers murder and is in custody at the Duval County Jail.

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(Corrects hyperlinks in paragraphs 6-8, no change to text)

TOKYO, March 22 (Reuters) - Japan could consider deploying its military for minesweeping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies, if a ceasefire is reached in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Sunday.

"If there were to be a complete ceasefire, hypothetically speaking, then things like minesweeping could come up," Motegi said during a Fuji TV programme. "This is purely hypothetical, but if a ceasefire were established and naval mines were creating an obstacle, then I think that would be something to consider."

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Japan's military actions are limited under its postwar pacifist constitution, but 2015 security legislation allows Japan to use its Self-Defense Forces overseas if an attack, including on a close security partner, threatens Japan's survival and no other means are available to address it.

Tokyo has no immediate plans to seek arrangements to allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz for stranded Japanese vessels, Motegi said, adding it was "extremely important" to create conditions that allow all ships to navigate through the narrow waterway, the conduit for a fifth of the world's oil shipments.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Japan's Kyodo news agency on Friday that he had spoken to Motegi about potentially letting Japanese-related vessels pass through the strait.

Japan gets around 90% of its oil shipments via the strait, which Tehran has largely closed during the war, now in its fourth week. A spike in global oil prices has prompted Japan and other countries to release oil from their reserves.

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U.S. President Donald Trump met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday, urging her to "step up" as he presses allies - so far unsuccessfully - to send warships to help open the strait.

Takaichi told reporters after the Washington summit that she had briefed Trump on what support Japan could and could not provide in the strait under its laws.

(Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by William Mallard)
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said President Donald Trump could get "somebody killed" after the president accused Democrats of being the country's "greatest enemy after Iran.

On Sunday, the president posted, Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democrat Party! Trump also said Saturday that Radical Left Democrats have hurt so many people with their vicious and uncaring ways and that Fascist Democrats will never protect America.

In an interview with CNNs State of the Union, Jeffries replied, Donald Trump should keep his reckless mouth shut before he gets somebody killed.

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In recent years, targeted political violence has escalated, and political leaders in both parties have tried to tackle the growing crisis.

A January report from the U.S. Capitol Police found that threats toward members of Congress, their families, staff and the Capitol complex surged in 2025, with over 5,000 more incidents reported than the previous year.

The report came after multiple political figures were killed or targeted last year. In September, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed while speaking on a college campus. Just weeks before, former Minnesota State Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband were assassinated in their home. And in April last year, a man threw multiple incendiary devices into the Pennsylvania governors mansion as Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were asleep inside.

But Trumps Sunday post wasnt the only message to raise eyebrows over the weekend.

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Following the death of Robert Mueller, the special counsel who investigated Trump, the president posted, Robert Mueller just died. Good, Im glad hes dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!

The post was a sharp difference from the usual sympathies political leaders have offered in times of sickness and death. Former President Barack Obama, for instance, characterized Mueller as one of the finest directors in the history of the FBI and praised his relentless commitment to the rule of law.

Though Democrats were quick to criticize Trump for his remarks on Muellers death, few Republicans have joined in.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday told NBCs Meet the Press that empathy should be extended to the president.

I think that given what has been done to President Trump and his family, it is impossible for either of us to understand what he has been through, Bessent said. We should all have a little empathy for what has been done to him and his family.
Jack Schlossberg  a Democratic congressional candidate and grandson of late President John F. Kennedy  listed off several ways Donald Trump could receive the Profile in Courage Award, an honor created by the Kennedy family.

Schlossberg, who looks to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) in a crowded race for his House seat, appeared on MS NOW on Sunday when host Jackie Alemany asked him about the honor, Trumps love ofreceivingawards and the presidents proclivity for things tied to the Kennedy name.

Politics: Economist Predicts When Prices May Fall After Trumps War. Its Worse Than You May Think.

Is there anything that would ever warrant your familys consideration of Donald Trump receiving this award? asked Alemany of the honor given to officials whose actions demonstrate the qualities of politically courageous leadership in the spirit of Kennedys book, Profiles in Courage, per the JFK Librarys website.

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Schlossberg, a fierce Trump critic who sits on the award committee, laid out his criteria.

If President Trump admitted to the many crimes and the grift that he has committed while president in office, stepped down and handed over the power of the presidency to somebody responsible and not somebody in his own cabinet, the 33-year-old Democrat began.

Schlossberg continued, If he came forward with all the true reasons behind his pick for RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services and who is paying for the words that are coming out of RFK Jr.s mouth, then maybe that would be some kind of courage that we would consider.

He concluded, But, to be honest, I dont think hes in the running anytime soon.

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Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

Schlossbergs comments add to his history of criticizing his cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and his HHS leadership.

Last year, he asked Kennedys wife, former Curb Your Enthusiasm star Cheryl Hines, if she could call up the family of a child who died of measles and apologize to them.

Politics: Trump Spells Basic Word So Laughably Wrong Critics Think Hes 'Mentally Incompetent'

The comments were a reference to a measles outbreak in Texas at the time. Under Kennedy, measles cases in the U.S. rose to a record high last year and three people died of the disease, which marked the first reported deaths of measles in the country in about a decade.

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The Profile In Courage award has gone to several anti-Trump Republicans in recent years including former Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), ex-Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and former Vice President Mike Pence, the latter of whom was recognized for putting his life and career on the line to ensure the constitutional transfer of presidential power on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the JFK Library Foundation.

This years recipients were Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell for his years of personal attacks and threats from the highest levels of government, a nod by the foundation to Powells refusal to cave to Trump, as well as the people of the Twin Cities, Minnesota who protested the presidents immigration policies.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department joined forces with the American Red Cross of North and Central Florida on Saturday to conduct a fire safety community walk in the Ionia Street area.

Teams installed free smoke alarms and provided safety education to residents in response to a recent fatal fire in the neighborhood.

During the outreach event, crews visited 300 homes and installed 33 battery-powered smoke alarms.

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>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

In addition to installing smoke alarms, personnel engaged residents in discussions regarding home escape planning and the proper placement and testing of alarms. Common fire hazards inside the homes were also identified to help residents reduce the risk of future incidents.

The smoke alarms and their installation were provided at no cost to the community.

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Residents who were not home during the walk may still be eligible for assistance. The Mayors Home Fire Safety Program offers free battery-powered smoke alarms to qualifying Jacksonville residents.

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More information is available on the JFRD website, HERE.

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(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The Pentagon is making heavy preparations for deploying American troops on the ground in Iran as President Donald Trump continues to weigh his options, according to a bombshell CBS News story.

Senior military commanders have submitted specific requests aimed at preparing for such an option as President Trump weighs moves in the U.S.-Israel-led conflict with Iran, Jennifer Jacobs, James LaPorta, and Eleanor Watson reported on Friday afternoon. Mr. Trump has been deliberating whether to position ground forces in the region, sources said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. It was unclear under what circumstances he would authorize the use of troops on the ground.

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt commented on the matter by saying, Its the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality, it does not mean the President has made a decision, and as the President said in the Oval Office yesterday, he is not planning to send ground troops anywhere at this time.

Axioss Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo had reported on Friday morning that the administration was considering plans to occupy or blockade Irans Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and noted that Such an operation, if approved, would also require more troops.

Three different Marine units are on their way to the region. The White House and the Pentagon are considering sending even more troops soon, noted Ravid and Caputo.

On Thursday, Trump told reporters that he wasnt putting troops anywhere, before adding the caveat that if he was going to do so, he certainly wouldnt tell the press.

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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, said Trump back on March 2, shortly after the start of Operation Epic Fury in Iran.

The post Trump Admin Reportedly Making Heavy Preparations for Putting Boots on the Ground in Iran first appeared on Mediaite.
Federal prosecutors asked a judge Friday to dismiss the charges against two Louisville officers accused of falsifying the warrant that led police to raid Breonna Taylors apartment the night she was killed six years ago.

Prosecutors said in a court filing their review of the case showed the charges against former Louisville detective Joshua Jaynes and former Sgt. Kyle Meany should be dismissed in the interest of justice.

Its unclear when the judge might rule on the request. A hearing is scheduled for April 3.

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Judges have twice reduced a felony charge against each officer to a misdemeanor, saying there wasnt a direct link between the false information in the warrant and Taylors death. Prosecutors said after the second ruling that they had decided to drop the cases.

We are elated with this development, said Travis Lock, an attorney for Jaynes.

Meanys lawyer, Michael Denbow, said he is incredibly grateful for todays filing.

His client is looking forward to putting this matter behind him and moving forward with his life, Denbow said.

Taylor, 26, was shot to death by police when they broke down the door of her apartment while serving a no-knock drug warrant looking for a former boyfriend who no longer lived there.

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Taylors boyfriend at the time fired at the officers, and Taylor was killed as police fired back.

The March 13, 2020, death of Taylor, who was Black, and local anger over Louisvilles handling of the case gained widespread attention during the wave of racial justice protests sparked by the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis that May. Six years on, activists continue to point to Taylors killing as an example of the systemic injustice Black women face.

Federal prosecutors under former President Joe Biden pressed charges against the officers. Under President Donald Trump, though, the Department of Justice asked that Brett Hankison, the only officer serving prison time related to Taylors killing, be let out of prison while he appeals his conviction.

Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, said in a Facebook post she is extremely disappointed in Trumps Justice Department.

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Their phone call today informing me that charges against the police are being dropped while implying they have helped me is utterly disrespectful, Palmer wrote. This is the first time Ive heard from them since they took over and its clear they have not served me or Breonna well.

Fridays decision was an insult to everyone who fought for Taylor and shows her life is not valued by the current administration, said Democratic US Rep. Morgan McGarvey, who represents much of Louisville.

My heart is heavy for Breonnas loved ones  this is not justice, McGarvey posted on social media.

A federal judge sentenced Hankison to 2 years and nine months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for blindly firing 10 shots into Taylors windows on the night she was killed. None of the shots hit anyone.

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Neither of the two officers who did shoot Taylor was charged, after prosecutors deemed they were justified in returning fire into the apartment.

Police found no drugs or cash inside Taylors apartment. The city paid a $12 million wrongful death settlement to Taylors family.

Lawyers for Taylors family said the warrant needs heavy legal scrutiny because without it police never go to her door and the shooting never happens. They remain angry and heartbroken almost no one faced punishment in the shootings, attorneys Ben Crump and Lonita Baker said in a statement.

Breonna Taylor always deserved more than the scraps of justice she got. Now, even those may be further stripped away, they said.

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Officers responded after a crash on Interstate 75 in Montgomery County on Sunday.

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Miami Township officers responded at around 4:43 p.m. to a crash on northbound I-75 near Austin Boulevard.

TRENDING STORIES:

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ODOT cameras show a black car ending up in a ditch.

Officers have closed the right shoulder on I-75.

The right lane is also closed due to Ohios move-over law.

News Center 7 is working to determine if anyone was injured and what caused the crash.

We will continue to update this story.

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First responders operate at a site of a direct missile strike on an Arad building, southern Israel, March 21, 2026 (photo credit: UNITED HATZALAH)

All of those wounded have been evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba for treatement, MDA said, adding that no one is currently trapped under rubble, though search efforts continue.

At least 84 people were wounded, including 10 in serious condition, after an Iranian ballistic missile struck a building in Israel's southern city of Arad on Saturday night, according to Magen David Adom.

A five-year-old was among the 10 seriously wounded in the attack, MDA noted, adding that 19 were reported in moderate condition, 55 lightly wounded. Four others were treated for anxiety.

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United Hatzalah added that it's medical teams had treated over 90 individuals at the scene in Arad.

All of those wounded have been evacuated via ambulance or helicopter toSoroka Medical Center in Beersheba for further treatment, MDA said, adding that no one is currently trapped under rubble, though search efforts continue.

This was a very serious scene," said MDA EMT Yakir Talker. "We arrived with large numbers of ambulances, mobile intensive care units, and MDA medicycles. We saw many patients with varying degrees of injury as a result of a missile impact."

"We immediately began establishing a casualty concentration point, triaged the patients according to the severity of their injuries, and provided life-saving medical treatment," he said.

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"There is extensive destruction and chaos. The teams are currently conducting comprehensive searches and will continue operating here as long as required.

First responders operate at a site of a direct missile strike on an Arad building, southern Israel, March 21, 2026 (credit: MAGEN DAVID ADOM)

Soroka declared a mass casualty event. Later in the evening, the Health Ministry announced it would facilitate the transfer of some of those wounded to other hospitals in order to ease the strain put on Soroka and ensure that the wounded are provided with proper care.

MDA's blood bank has provided Soroka with at least 90 units of blood.

The IDF said that Home Front Command's search and rescue teams continue to operate at the scene after rushing to the site to assist in the evacuation of wounded residents.

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Sources also said the military was investigating why it failed to intercept the missile that struck in the city, alongside another direct hit in Dimona earlier on Saturday.

Netanyahu: A very difficult evening in battle for our future

Arad Mayor Yair Maayan noted that all those who were inside their shelters were unharmed in the strike.

This has been a very difficult evening in the battle for our future," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday night, following the strike, adding that he had offered his condolences to the wounded and their families "on behalf of all the citizens of Israel."

He noted that he has instructed his office and all government ministries to provide the "full necessary assistance" to those affected by the strike.

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"We are determined to continue striking our enemies on all fronts," he concluded.

IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin echoed Netanyahu's words, offering his own well wishes to those wounded in Arad in a post to X/Twitter.

"The air defense systems were activated but did not intercept the missile," Defrin wrote in his post, confirming earlier reports. "We will investigate the incident and learn from it. This is not a special or different weapon than the one we are familiar with."

Following the strikes in both Arad and Dimona, Education Minister Yoav Kisch canceled the return to in-person classes scheduled for Sunday across the country.

Avi Ashkenazi and Walla contributed to this report.
NORFOLK  Soft piano music played as more than 600 people trickled into Chartway Arena on Sunday afternoon for the funeral of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, who was killed earlier this month as he taught an ROTC class at Old Dominion University.

He served others with such compassion and sacrificial love that only a superhuman could carry, Shahs younger sister, Tasnim Shah, said. She opened the ceremony with a prayer read from her brothers Bible.

Growing up, he called her Mimi, and shed call him superhero names.

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But you were the real deal, Tasnim said.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger and U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott and Jen Kiggans were among those who came to pay tribute to Shah  the head of ODUs Army ROTC program after a military career in which he served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I knew exactly why I chose him as my best friend and partner, Shahs widow, Katharine Shah, told the crowd.

She described her husbands philosophy as being in the business of creating diamonds. He told himself and others to start from something simple, and with hard work and some pressure, it would create something extraordinary.

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If son Lucas, typically an A student, brought home a B, his father never asked why, she said.

The test already happened. What can we do to make it an A next time, he would tell them, and make a plan to do so.

Im not going to sit here and ask why us in this moment, she said.

I believe he knew exactly what he was doing in his final moments. He was protecting his people, his kids, she said of his ROTC students.

He knew I would understand. And baby, we do, she said, turning to Lucas sitting in the front row, wearing a purple star on his lapel.

Katharine told him his father loved him more than anything.

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The best parts of him live in you, she said.

Shah was killed March 12 as he instructed ROTC students in Constant Hall. A gunman entered, asked twice to confirm the group was Army cadets before opening fire. He fatally shot Shah and injured two others before he was killed by two cadets with a pocket knife.

You saved my life, said Cecilia Fosso, the Cadet Commander of the Monarch Battalion.

His spirit found light in any moment, Fosso said, adding that as a professor, mentor and friend, Shah taught her and her peers dont bring a problem if you dont have a solution.

Rizwan Shah spent 14 years in the military, but said attending his cousins memorial was one of the most difficult things hes had to do.

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A son of immigrants who joined the Army in 2003, Brandon Shah was a man who consistently chose service over comfort and responsibility over ease, said Rizwan.

Katherine Shah holds a folded American Flag while clutching the hand of her son Lucas Shah as they process out of the funeral for her late husband, Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, at Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena in Norfolk on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot) Military pallbearers bring Lt. Col. Brandon Shahs casket into Chartway Arena for his funeral service at Old Dominion University in Norfolk on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot) People gather inside Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena for Lt. Col. Brandon Shahs funeral service in Norfolk on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot) A member of the audience holds a program for Lt. Col. Brandon Shahs funeral service at Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena in Norfolk on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot) Military honors are conducted during the funeral for Lt. Col. Brandon Shah at Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena in Norfolk on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot) Mementoes, photos and flower arrangements sit in front of the stage during Lt. Col. Brandon Shahs funeral service at Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena in Norfolk on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot) Taps is performed during the funeral service for Lt. Col. Brandon Shah at Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena in Norfolk on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot) Military honors are conducted during the funeral for Lt. Col. Brandon Shah at Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena in Norfolk on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot) Katherine Shah is presented with a folded American Flag during the funeral for Lt. Col. Brandon Shah at Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena in Norfolk on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot) Cadets and supporters file out of the arena following the funeral service for Lt. Col. Brandon Shah at Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena in Norfolk on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot) A Virginia State Police Trooper salutes the hearse carrying Lt. Col. Brandon Shah as it travels along Hampton Blvd. in front of Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena in Norfolk following his funeral service on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot) Show Caption1 of 12An audience member watches the funeral service for Lt. Col. Brandon Shah at Old Dominion Universitys Chartway Arena in Norfolk on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot)Expand

Brandon Shahs dream was to become an Air Force pilot. Rizwan helped give him the opportunity, he said, and he wore the mantle of leadership like no one else I knew. He was someone who showed up and carried the weight the way it was meant to be carried.

Col. Greg Beaudoin, who served alongside Brandon Shah, described him as one of our best, who stood out for his hard work and perseverance in the service of others.

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You saw something in me all those years ago that I could barely figure out myself at the time, said Benson Uche, who served under Shah as a private in the 82nd Airborne Division. Shah introduced him to the Armys Green to Gold program that enabled him to attain higher education and allowed him to become a commissioned officer.

You led us well and we will continue to make you proud, said Uche. All the way sir, Airborne.

At the end of the ceremony, the stadium went silent as Shahs wife and son were given an American flag. Shah will be buried in South Carolina near family, per his loved ones wishes, said Chaplain Bryce Mitchell.

This evil act will not be the final word, Mitchell told those attending the funeral. His legacy will not end today but be carried on in the people he loved.

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Madison Hale never knew Shah in life, but the 24-year-old ODU student said she felt moved to attend his funeral because she was in Constant Hall when he was killed.

It was the most scared I had ever been in my entire life, Hale said. She hopes that the Monarch community comes together and unites in the face of Shahs loss and the events that his students faced.

Anyone who came here today would have learned how outstanding of a person he was, she said, devoted to his family, friends, students, fellow service members and his country.

Nori Leybengrub, 757-349-3523, nori.leybengrub@virginiamedia.com
Showers and thunderstorms expected to develop in Louisville the evening of March 22 could feature severe hail and winds, officials with the National Weather Service in Louisville said.

NWS Louisville officials placed part of the metro area under a slight risk for severe storms, which could move through the Louisville area between 8 p.m. March 22 and 2 a.m. March 23. The storms are developing along a cold front and could be particularly strong north of the Interstate 64 corridor.

Jefferson, Oldham and all but the southeastern corner of Shelby County in Kentucky are in the weather service's slight risk area, while Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana are also included.

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Louisville is under a roughly 15-29% chance for severe winds and hail, according to National Weather Service maps issued March 22. Southerly winds of 10-20 mph could also contain gusts of up to 30 mph at times March 22. Temperatures in Louisville will drop from around a high of around 87 March 22 to the low 60s by March 23.

In other news: Joan Pottinger remembered as active community member, mother after tragic death

Here is the Louisville forecast for the week ahead.

Louisville weather forecast

March 23: It will be mostly cloudy, gradually becoming sunny at times, with a high near 57 and a low around 38.

March 24: It will be mostly sunny, with a high near 62 and a low near 45.

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March 25: It will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. There is a 20-30% chance of showers during the afternoon and overnight hours. The low will be around 57.

March 26: There is a 30% chance for showers and thunderstorms during the day. Otherwise, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 81. There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms overnight. It will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

March 27: There is a 50% chance of showers during the day and a 20% chance at night. It will be cloudy, with a high near 53 and a low near 33.

More news: Crowd honors Staff Sgt. Benjamin Pennington at hometown funeral

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Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@usatodayco.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville weather forecast includes slight risk for severe storms
MAGA has been swooning over photos of a blonde U.S. Army soldier, walking defiantly alongside President Donald Trump to carry out the America First agenda.

But theres just one problem  shes AI.

Images most likely generated by artificial intelligence depicted Jessica Foster wearing heels on a U.S. warship in the Strait of Hormuz, posing for selfies with Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and giving a speech at the presidents Board of Peace event earlier this year.

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The account, which has since been taken down, gained more than one million followers since its mysterious creator started posting on it four months ago, The Washington Post reports.

Those commenting on how beautiful Foster was and applauding her America First message were overwhelmingly accounts with men in their profile pictures, according to the newspaper.

MAGA has been swooning over an AI-generated U.S. Army soldier, Jessica Foster, whose account has since been removed from Instagram. The account was plastered with fake photos of Foster with President Donald Trump. (Instagram)

In one post, the AI-generated Army soldier claimed to be aboard a warship in the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict with Iran. (Instagram)

Some of Fosters pictures received over 30,000 likes, with users commenting how beautiful she was, while others reacted to the ai-generated soldier with eye-hearts emojis.

Trump and his administration have fully embraced the rise of AI. It was a prominent feature of his 2024 presidential campaigning and is used across numerous federal government agencies on social media, including the White House account. Its unclear if any Trump officials commented or shared posts from Fosters account.

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Fosters account is another example of how AI is being used to push political agendas in wartime, as experts warned that creators are attempting to lure social media users to other paid platforms.

Before it was removed, the account was reportedly linked to another OnlyFans account, where users have to pay for subscriptions to access often pornographic content. The platform told the Post that it removed the account linked to Fosters Instagram because the creator was not verified.

Sam Gregory of video-advocacy group Witness, which researches deepfakes, told the newspaper that Fosters account exemplifies how deceptive AI generators can be.

Gregory said the AI-generated Army woman is the apotheosis of what MAGA fantasizes about all packed into one channel.

Fosters account is another example of how AI is being used to push political agendas, particularly in wartime, as experts warned that creators are attempting to lure social media users to paid platforms (Instagram)

But its obviously AI: Theres no provenance to the images, no history around her, visible glitches, Gregory told the Post. Theres any number of real and unreal beautiful women online, but having one thats so proximate to power, around the big events of the day, has a different cachet.

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An Army spokesperson told the Post that officials found no record of Foster.

Since the original AI-generated account disappeared from Instagram, others have popped up in its place replicating the same AI-generated images.

The Independent has contacted Meta, Instagrams parent company, for comment.

Experts who study misinformation and artificial intelligence warned that accounts like Fosters allow propaganda to spread like wildfire on social media.

The danger of this is that were moving toward a society of the unreal, Joan Donovan, an assistant professor at Boston University, told the Post. Its one way to get political messaging across, and its effective.

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Former Illinois GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger said it was insane that the account had a million followers.

Jessica Foster is clearly not a soldier in the U.S. Army, he said in a post on social media. Jessica Foster is AI. Jessica Foster has a million followers. And if you look at the comments and what some of the people are saying...My goodness, the people that fall for AI, the MAGAs, the old mencome on. This is insane.
11:20 a.m.

At 10:47 a.m. today, evacuation advisories were issued for Kelawea Mauka III neighborhoods above the bypass in Lahaina due to possible vehicle accessibility from new and worsening roadway sinkholes, according to Maui Emergency Management Agency.

Warnings and advisories are not mandatory evacuation orders.

10 a.m.

A flash flood warning for Molokai remains in effect until 11:30 a.m. today.

At 9:48 a.m., the radar showed heavy rain showers and thunderstorms decreasing in intensity with the heaviest rain falling at a rate of up to 1 inch per hour over southeast Molokai, according to the forecast.

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While water levels have lowered in at Kawela Gulch and Halawa Stream, emergency management reports that Kamehameha V Highway remains hazardous for travel east of Kaunakakai at Kapaakea Loop, forecasters said.

The public is urged to stay away from streams, rivers, culverts and drainage ditches even if those areas are currently dry.

9:30 a.m.

The Molokai shelter has been moved to Mitchell Pauole Community Center, 90 Ainoa St. in Kaunakakai, according to a news release from Maui Emergency Management Agency.

A shelter opened 7 a.m. at the countys Kaunakakai Gym but water leaking forced its relocation.

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Residents are urged to bring essentials to a Temporary Evacuation Point which opened 9 a.m. at Kilohana Recreation Center, 334 E. Kamehameha V Highway, Ualapue Park, Kaunakakai.

Shelters provide cots, food and water. Bring bedding, essential supplies and any necessary medications. Pets are allowed only if they are in crates or cages. The length of shelter operations will depend on the severity of the weather. Additional shelter locations may open if needed, according to a news release.

Maui County remains under a flood watch. Intense rainfall has been observed over southeast Molokai, where rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour earlier this morning. Water levels remain elevated at Kawela Gulch and Halawa Stream.

9 a.m.

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Approximately 3,200 Hawaiian Electric Co. customers remain without power on the North Shore of Oahu and 100 customers in Maui County.

To ensure public safety, damage assessments and repairs must be completed before electricity can be turned on, according to a HECO news release. Yesterday, crews restored power to 3,100 customers in Kawailoa, Kuilima/Turtle Bay and Waimea.

Customers on the North Shore who had their power turned off should:

>> Make sure electrical outlets are clear of water then shut off the main breaker.

>> Wait for HECO to announce it is safe to turn on the main breaker.

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>> Call HECOs Trouble Line at 1-855-304-1212 to report any damage to power lines or poles near their home or area. Stay at least 30 feet or more away from downed power lines.

Customers on Oahu, Hawaii island and Maui County should also be prepared for possible power outages.

All major outages have been address on Hawaii island.

8:30 a.m.

The Maui Emergency Management Agency has issued evacuation warnings for Central Molokai areas of Kapaakea Hawaiian Homes along Kamehameha V Highway, and for Kalamaula area, west of Kaunakakai, due to flash flooding.

Warnings and advisories are not mandatory evacuation orders, officials said.

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A shelter opened at 7 a.m. today at the countys Kaunakakai Gym, 180 Ala Malama Ave., in Kaunakakai.

To view whether your neighborhood is under MEMA evacuation warning or advisory, visit Genasys Protect app at .

An evacution warning means there is a potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with livestock and pets, may consider leaving early, MEMA officials said.

Molokai is under a flash flood warning until 11:30 a.m.

At 8:15 a.m. radar indicated heavy showers and thunderstorms continuing to move over Molokai, the National Weather Service warning said. The most intense rainfall has been observed over southeast Molokai, where rain is falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Water levels remain elevated in Kawela Gulch and Halawa Stream. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

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All islands, except Kauai, are under a flood watch through this afternoon.

12:30 a.m.

A flood advisory for Molokai has been extended until 3:30 a.m.

The National Weather Service reported heavy showers and thunderstorms developing and tracking northeast over the eastern parts of the island.

Some locations that will experience flooding include Ualapue, Kamalo, Pukoo, Kalaupapa National Park, Kawela, Halawa Valley, Kaunakakai and Kualapuu.
Loved ones and fellow service members gathered in Florida to celebrate the life of Major Cody Khork, who was among the first Americans killed in the war with Iran. Khorks remains were returned to Polk County last week for a memorial service honoring his service.

Khork was 35 when he died on March 1. His death occurred during the early stages of the conflict, making him one of the first service members killed in the war.

The memorial service offered family and colleagues an opportunity to reflect on Khorks impact. Service members who served with the major spoke during the ceremony, sharing memories of his military career and personality.

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Flags throughout Florida are currently flying at half-staff. This statewide tribute was mandated to honor Khorks sacrifice after his remains were returned to his home state.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday condemned the deaths of three Mexican nationals after they were taken into custody by U.S. immigration authorities this year.

"This can't be happening," Sheinbaum told reporters, referring to the death of a 19-year-old at a detention center in Florida on Monday and two others who died earlier this year.

"The report says the young man killed himself," Sheinbaum said. "Nonetheless, we want a full investigation."

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Royer Perez Jimenez was arrested in January and charged with fraud for impersonation and misdemeanor resisting an officer, ICE said in a statement reported by CBS Miami.

He was found in his cell at the Glades County Detention Center at 2:34 a.m. local time on March 16, CBS Miami reported. Prison staff "immediately" began life-saving efforts, the agency said. The cause of death was "presumed suicide" but remains under investigation, ICE said.

Other Mexicans who died while caught in President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration include Heber Sanchez Dominguez, 34, in January. Dominguez was in ICE custody for six days after being arrested for driving without a license, and was awaiting a hearing when he was found "hanging by the neck and unresponsive in his sleeping quarters" at a Georgia facility at about 2:05 a.m. local time, DHS said at the time. A 48-year-old Mexican man died in ICE custody in March.

The Mexican government said Thursday that "these deaths are becoming unacceptable" and that officials "won't hold back in using available legal and diplomatic tools to defend the rights" of Mexicans abroad.

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"We're going to use all measures to make our protests and support the family in everything they need," Sheinbaum said.

At least 30 migrants died in US detention centers last year, the highest number since 2004, a year after the creation of ICE. There have been at least 12 deaths so far this year, including that of an Afghan man who served with the U.S. military, a Haitian man whose family said his untreated toothache became a deadly infection, and a Cuban immigrant whose death in a Texas facility has been ruled a homicide.

Mr. Trump has promised the most extensive deportation program for undocumented migrants in U.S. history and ICE has been at the forefront of often violent raids across U.S. cities.

Body found in Barcelona identified as missing American student James Gracey

Joseph Duggar arrested, facing child sex abuse charges

Couple sees rolled-up carpet removed from home as neighbor disappears
(Corrects surname of ecologist to Zepeda from Zepada in paragraph 5)

By Tamara Corro

COATZACOALCOS, Mexico, March 20 (Reuters) - Residents along Mexico's Gulf Coast fear more crude oil will wash onto beaches in Tabasco and Veracruz states nearly a month after the first signs of contamination were detected, as authorities investigate the source of the spill.

The contamination has affected 230 km (143 miles) of shoreline and 39 communities in the two states, according to the Gulf of Mexico Reef Corridor Network, a coalition of fishing, Indigenous and environmental groups.

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Many affected communities depend on fishing and tourism and worry the spill could damage their livelihoods ahead of the Easter holidays, when beaches typically attract visitors.

The group said the crude has reached Ostion lagoon in Veracruz, a breeding area for fish, shrimp and clams. It has raised concerns about the lack of information on damage to wildlife and warned that coastal ecosystems must be cleaned quickly before sea turtle nesting season begins in April.

"These slicks are going to keep spreading," ecologist Alex Zepeda said during a cleanup in Coatzacoalcos, holding the remains of a sea turtle coated in tar.

"Part of this oil residue is here on our beaches, but some of it is surely still miles offshore," he said, calling for absorbent barriers to help contain the pollution at sea.

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President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday the government was investigating the spill, which may have originated from an oil tanker off Tabasco. She said state oil company Pemex was not responsible.

Pemex has been working with environmental authorities on the cleanup, and about 95 metric tons of waste have been collected from beaches, officials said.

Environment Minister Alicia Barcena said this week that a discharge had occurred near an offshore anchorage by the Pajaritos petrochemical complex, where ships unload cargo.

She said authorities believed a private vessel was the most likely source, though the investigation was continuing.

(Reporting by Tamara Corro in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico; Writing by Adriana Barrera and Kylie Madry; Editing by Rod Nickel)
A coalition of progressive groups in Missouri is using the fight over a proposal to eliminate the state income tax to build a coordinated alliance that organizers hope lasts beyond any single legislative battle.

Led by 24 organizations, with more expected to join, the coalition held eight meetings across Missouri this month as labor, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy and faith groups tested a shared message against what they see as a growing list of threats from Republican lawmakers.

The meetings began March 12, the same day the Missouri House approved a constitutional amendment designed to eliminate the states income tax and replace it by expanding or increasing the sales tax on goods and services. If the amendment clears the Senate, it will go on the statewide ballot later this year.

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Organizing is how we win, Drew Amidei, a regional organizer with Missouri Jobs with Justice, told a small crowd gathered in a Jefferson City church Thursday. It is how we fight back.

The meetings organizers have been working together for years but have only recently joined publicly as a united front, Progress MO spokesperson Claire Cook-Callen told The Independent.

We come with various issue orientations, and we all have our own points of view, she said. Being united in a common message and a common framework for what we are fighting for is really exciting, and it just puts us all in that same path.

Drew Amidei, a regional organizer with Missouri Jobs with Justice, leads a meeting of labor unions, reproductive rights groups and other advocates March 19 at The Joshua House Church in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).

DaVonna Williams, a spokesperson for Missouri Jobs with Justice, told The Independent that the partnership has years of history. The groups have sporadically partnered for one-off campaigns but are now joining together for a long-term arc of work.

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The Jefferson City event was small, with just over 50 in attendance. In Kansas City, more than 200 people showed up, and the meeting in nearby suburb Blue Springs brought nearly as many.

The catalyst for this months meetings was the tax plan, Williams said, because it showed organizations just how interconnected their issues are.

We really need to organize across issues, she said. What we are really trying to get people to see is that your fight is my fight, and we really cannot win without one another.

That growing alignment was already on display in January, when hundreds gathered at the State Capitol for a Stand Up, Fight Back rally protesting a series of actions by Missouri lawmakers, including efforts to roll back voter-approved worker protections, put abortion back on the ballot and redraw congressional district boundaries.

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Folks are fired up, Cook-Callen said. We have been demanding these things, and (lawmakers) are trying to take away our power, and theyre pissed. They dont feel like theyre being heard.

This months meetings sought to channel that anger into something more durable. But in a state where Republicans hold a supermajority in the legislature and voters havent backed a Democrat for statewide office since 2018, building a lasting coalition will require more than protest energy and shared opposition.

To Amidei, lawmakers actions last year and ongoing proposals to switch up taxes are part of a bigger plan to take away power from working people and from people with fixed incomes.

We are coming together because part of their plan is they think that if they can bankrupt our state, they will divide us and well fight each other instead of coming together, he said.

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Michelle Trupiano, executive director of Beacon Reproductive Health Network, asked the Jefferson City crowd to imagine a Missouri where people have the freedom to make their own decisions about their bodies, their families and their future.

It requires us to show up, to speak out, to organize, to vote, to hold leaders accountable and to build power together, she said.

Each meeting left participants with various calls to action, such as writing letters to lawmakers, workers-rights demonstrations and signing up for canvassing opportunities.

The point of some of this is to reach new people. We cant keep organizing the same folks, Williams said. We are hitting the ground hard to try to grow our base so everybody knows about what is happening.

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Some of those who attended Thursdays meeting were seasoned advocates who have already worked on initiative petitions and other organizing efforts. Others were new to the process and asked basic questions about the political process, concerned about how soon taxes could change.

Organizers are planning rallies and meetings into the summer.

Frankly, everybody is under attack, Williams said. So the stakes are too high to remain siloed.

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Multiple people were injured after a floor collapsed at a wedding venue in eastern New Hampshire, sending nearly 70 people plunging into the building's basement, authorities said.

The incident occurred on Saturday, March 21, as almost 150 guests attended a wedding ceremony at the Preserve at Chocorua in Tamworth, according to a joint news release from the Tamworth Fire/Rescue Department and the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office. Local fire crews responded to the scene at around 4:33 p.m local time after receiving reports that a floor had collapsed during a wedding.

"Callers reported that more than 100 people were on the floor when it collapsed into the basement, and multiple people were trapped under beams as well as farming equipment," authorities said in the news release.

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Six adults were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, including four who have since been released, according to authorities. Multiple other guests were treated at the scene.

NYC housing building incident: Building left with gaping, 20-story hole after partial collapse

"The full extent of injuries as a result of the incident remains under investigation," authorities said in the news release.

The Tamworth Fire/Rescue Department and the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office are conducting a joint investigation into the incident. Authorities have asked anyone with information that may help with the investigation to contact the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office.

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A spokesperson from the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office told USA TODAY on Sunday, March 22, that the agency did not have additional updates to provide on the investigation.

A floor collapsed at a New Hampshire wedding venue on Saturday, March 21, sending nearly 70 guests into the basement of the building and injuring multiple people.

Investigators believe building was over capacity before floor collapse

Multiple mutual aid agencies from nearby communities also responded to the scene or provided station coverage, according to authorities.

When first responders arrived at the scene, authorities discovered that staff at the venue and wedding guests had already provided initial first aid to some guests and used ladders to help those who fell through the collapsed floor. Fire crews provided additional aid to guests and began on-scene evaluations for people who reported injuries.

A preliminary investigation determined that 144 guests were in the venue's Sap House building for the wedding ceremony when the floor collapsed, according to authorities. About half of the guests, nearly 70 people, fell through a roughly 20-by-20-foot opening into the building's basement.

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NYC apartment fire: 1 dead, hundreds displaced in NYC apartment fire sparked by explosion

Authorities noted that while the investigation is in its early stages, investigators believe the building was at over capacity before the floor collapsed.

Founded in 1778, the Preserve at Chocorua describes itself on its Facebook page as a "stunning 26-acre natural retreat encompassing a historic farmhouse, barn, carriage House, and cottages." According to the venue's website, its Sap House building is a "New England Maple Sugar shack" that can host intimate ceremonies or an indoor and outdoor cocktail hour.

Tamworth is a town with a population of over 2,900 people, according to the New Hampshire Employment Security. The town is located in Carroll County, between the Lakes Region and the White Mountain National Forest.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Hampshire venue: Floor collapse leaves multiple people injured
The Somerset County Prosecutors Office chief of detectives was charged with driving under the influence early Saturday, according to online court records.

Francisco Roman Jr. was arrested shortly after midnight in Somerville, court records show.

He was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as well as careless driving.

Roman declined to comment when reached by phone on Sunday.

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The Somerset County Prosecutors Office and the Somerville Police Department did not immediately return requests for additional information.

Roman has served in law enforcement for more than 25 years. He joined the prosecutors office as a detective in 2000 and was promoted to chief of detectives in 2023, according to the prosecutors offices website.

He also serves as commander of the Somerset County Emergency Response Team.

A court hearing is scheduled for April 6, according to court records.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
BRUSSELS, March 20 (Reuters) - NATO has withdrawn all of its troops from an advisory mission in Iraq, the military alliance said on Friday, as the repercussions of the Iran war spread across the Middle East.

"I would like to thank the Republic of Iraq and all the Allies who assisted in the safe relocation of NATO personnel from Iraq," U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said in a statement.

The statement said the mission had relocated "all its personnel" from the Middle East to Europe. A NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that amounted to "several hundred" troops.

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In recent days, several countries including Poland, Spain and Croatia have announced they have withdrawn troops from the Middle East, citing the conflict in Iran and the wider Gulf region.

NATO said its mission would continue from a military headquarters in Naples, Italy. The mission does not have a combat role. It focuses on advising Iraqi security forces and helping them build up their capacities, according to NATO.

I would also like to thank the dedicated men and women of NATO Mission Iraq, who continued their mission throughout this period. They are true professionals," Grynkewich said.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray and Lili Bayer; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta, William Maclean)
"We're responding with great force, but not after civilians," Netanyahu said when asked by press what Israel's response would be to the Iranian attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on world leaders to join the Operation Roaring Lion, aka Epic Fury against Iran, as he and numerous other Israeli officials visited the impact site of an Iranian missile attack in the southern city of Arad on Sunday.

They have the capacity to reach deep into Europe, Netanyahu warned. They are putting everyone in their sights.

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If you want proof that Iran endangers the entire world, the last 48 hours have proved it, he said. They fired on Jerusalem right next to the holy sites of the three monotheistic faiths.

Its time to see the leaders of the rest of the countries join up, Netanyahu pointed out. Im happy to see that some of them are moving in that direction, but more is needed.

The Iranian missile attack on Saturday wounded dozens of people and caused serious destruction to the area in Arad.

Were responding with great force, but [we are] not [going] after civilians, Netanyahu said when asked by the press what Israels actions would be in response to the attacks from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

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The prime minister said it was a miracle that no one was killed in the missile attack on Arad.

Netanyahu: 'Do not be complacent, do not be indifferent'

I ask the citizens of Israel to enter protected spaces. Do not be complacent, do not be indifferent, Netanyahu said, adding that Israel was crushing the enemy.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich vowed at the site that those impacted by the hit would receive assistance for the damage. He said that he had instructed the Property Tax Authority to reduce the bureaucracy needed to assist them and to act with maximum sensitivity and efficiency.

No family whose home was damaged will be left without a response. The state will stand behind you and restore every wall and every window that was damaged, so that you can return to routine as quickly as possible, he assured.

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Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, too, spoke at the site, saying that the hit was clearly a war crime. The Iranian regime is launching missiles at civilians as a strategy. This is a strategy of war crimes, he said.

We had here, actually, a miracle. Seeing the destruction all around, the number of casualties was relatively low, Saar noted. All of these attacks have no military meaning or significance whatsoever. The sole purpose, the only objective, is to harm as many civilians as possible, he said.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel would continue hitting Iran hard if the attacks persisted.

When asked by the press at the scene whether the war would continue until after the Pessah, he responded that, Unfortunately, war is not determined by the Jewish calendar.

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Every day that passes, Irans capabilities are being weakened, whether by eliminating another terrorist leader, striking their launch capabilities, or dismantling Irans military industry, Katz explained.

Other ministers also visited the site, including Education Minister Yoav Kisch and Transportation Minister Miri Regev.

President Isaac Herzog arrived at the scene. In his remarks, he said that the war is a process and it will soon be over. We will get through this.

Opposition politicians also visited the scene of the missile impact.

Standing there, former prime minister Naftali Bennett said there that the Islamic regime in Iran had lied about its nuclear program. He also warned that it was a threat to Europe.

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Just as they lied about the missiles, so too they lied about the nuclear issue. If we had not acted now, within a short time all of Europe would have been under an Iranian nuclear umbrella, Bennett said.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said that the site in Arad was a difficult scene that shows the work is not yet finished. Iran has ballistic missiles and the capability to strike Israeli civilians.

One of the objectives of this war has been defined as eliminating all of Irans ballistic capabilities, and we cannot stop until that happens, Lapid insisted.

In parallel, he criticized the government, saying that it should stop wasting billions on coalition-related spending [which] should instead be sent to Soroka [Medical Center] and to the rehabilitation of the South.

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The Democrats Party leader, Yair Golan, accused the prime minister of prolonging the war for his own political interests, to push off the elections.

Golan said at the scene, Netanyahu has turned national security into a tool for his political survival; this is why we have been in a war that does not end for two and a half years.

Instead of leading toward a resolution and a diplomatic move that stabilizes reality, he prolongs the war because ending it would require elections and replacing the government, Golan said.
AMSTERDAM, March 20 (Reuters) - The Netherlands is stepping up security for Iranian dissidents living in the country after a man of Iranian descent who is known to be critical of the authorities in Tehran was shot, Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said on Friday.

A spokesperson for Van Weel declined to provide more details.

The victim of the shooting is a 36-year-old police official who was seriously injured on Thursday morning. It is still unclear who was responsible for the attack. The investigation is ongoing, and Dutch authorities have not yet determined whether there is any link to Iran.

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"The Public Prosecution Service is currently taking all possible scenarios into account", Van Weel said late on Thursday on social media platform X.

"Given the Iranian background of the victim, the (National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism), the Public Prosecution Service, the police, and the local authorities are on alert and are taking the necessary security measures."

Iran has been under aerial attack from Israel and the United States for nearly three weeks in a conflict that has disrupted global energy markets and spilled over into other countries.

(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Editing by Gareth Jones)
As the search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie stretches into its eighth week, her family asked for Tucson-area residents to revisit camera footage, notes and conversations from the days surrounding her disappearance.

Guthrie, who lives in the Catalina Foothills and is the mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen Jan. 31 after spending the evening with family a few miles away, according to previous reporting by The Arizona Republic.

Its possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant, the family said in a statement shared with Tucson-based television station KVOA on March 21.

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Her family reported her missing the next morning after she did not show up to a friends house for a virtual church service.

The Pima County Sheriffs Department has described the case as an active investigation but has released few new details in recent weeks.

Investigators continue analyzing material from laboratories as well as images and videos captured by cameras but declined to comment on the status of that analysis, department spokesperson Angelica Carrillo said in a March 13 news release.

Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home on Feb. 1, 2026.



Search for Nancy Guthrie: What to know 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Authorities search for Nancy Guthrie after the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie vanished from her Arizona home under suspicious circumstances. Who is Nancy Guthrie? What to know about Savannah Guthrie's mother 1 of 12 Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home on Feb. 1, 2026.



Search for Nancy Guthrie: What to know

The familys renewed plea urged residents to think back to specific time frames.

We hope people search their memories, especially around the key timelines of Jan. 31 and the early morning hours of Feb. 1 as well as the late evening of Jan. 11, the statement said. No detail is too small. It may be the key.

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Here's the latest on the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearence.

What we know about the investigation

Authorities have said Guthries disappearance is being investigated as a suspected abduction.

On Feb. 10, the FBI released video and photos of a masked man approaching Guthries home the night she went missing after extracting footage from her Google Nest doorbell camera, despite her not being subscribed to a service that stores security video, according to prior reporting by The Republic.

The FBI estimated the man is between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall with an average build. He was seen wearing a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.

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Law enforcement has reviewed hundreds of hours of neighborhood footage and canvassed residents, asking whether they noticed internet service disruptions the night Guthrie disappeared, NBC News reported earlier this month.

Authorities have also analyzed physical evidence collected from the scene and surrounding areas.

Black gloves initially believed to be connected to the case were later determined through DNA testing to belong to a restaurant worker not connected to Guthries disappearance, the Sheriffs Department said in a March 4 statement. Other DNA evidence remains under analysis, Carrillo said in prior updates.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said investigators believe the abduction appeared targeted but said in a 12News interview that they are not 100% sure and have urged residents to remain vigilant.

Yellow flowers are left outside Nancy Guthries home near the mailbox in Catalina Foothills outside Tucson on Feb. 11, 2026. Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Feb. 1, 2026.



Updates: Latest on the search for Nancy Guthrie A woman places yellow flowers outside Nancy Guthries home in Catalina Foothills outside Tucson on Feb. 11, 2026. Nancy Guthrie was last seen on Feb. 1, 2026. Yellow flowers are left outside Nancy Guthries home near the mailbox in Catalina Foothills outside Tucson on Feb. 11, 2026. Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Feb. 1, 2026. A Pima County Sheriff's deputy retrieves the mail from the Guthrie mailbox outside Nancy Guthrie's home in Catalina Foothills, on Feb. 11, 2026. A Pima County Sheriff's deputy retrieves the mail from the Guthrie mailbox outside Nancy Guthrie's home in Catalina Foothills, on Feb. 11, 2026. Yellow flowers, ribbons signal hope for Nancy Guthrie's neighbors 1 of 5 Yellow flowers are left outside Nancy Guthries home near the mailbox in Catalina Foothills outside Tucson on Feb. 11, 2026. Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Feb. 1, 2026.



Updates: Latest on the search for Nancy Guthrie

Nanos has faced growing scrutiny, including reporting by The Arizona Republic that found he misrepresented aspects of his disciplinary history and work record in a sworn deposition and on his public resume.

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The Pima County Board of Supervisors was set to discuss his work history, and a recall effort has also been launched against him.

Ransom messages and reward

Tucson television stations and the celebrity gossip outlet TMZ received ransom notes following Guthries disappearance. Investigators have not said whether those notes were authenticated or provided proof that Guthrie was alive, according to previous reporting.

Federal authorities arrested a Southern California man suspected of sending fake ransom-related communications to the family. His case remained pending in federal court.

Savannah Guthrie announced a $1 million reward for information leading to her mothers return or recovery. The FBI has also offered a $100,000 reward.

Call for tips

Law enforcement continued to ask anyone with information about Nancy Guthries disappearance to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI, 520-351-4900, 88-CRIME or submit tips at tips.fbi.gov.

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In their March 22 statement, the Guthrie family emphasized that even small observations could matter.

We desperately ask this community for renewed attention to our moms case, the statement said. Please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance.

USA TODAY's Anthony Robledo and Dan Morrison contributed to this article.

Rey Covarrubias Jr. covers business and breaking news for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email him at: rcovarrubias@azcentral.com, and connect with him on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) at @ReyCJrAZ.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Nancy Guthrie search continues as family makes new plea
Across the country, collections are popping up to help Transportation Security Administration officers who have been without full pay for more than a month due to the partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security.

The charity World Central Kitchen, more accustomed to feeding those in war zones and disaster areas, started providing meals to Washington, D.C.-area airports after many TSA officers missed their first full paycheck. On Thursday, Feeding San Diego began distributing 400 boxes with pasta, beans and peanut butter as well as fresh produce like strawberries and potatoes to affected agents near the airport after a request from TSA and the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

Nonprofits are stepping in to help and coordinating closely with airports and local TSA offices because ethics rules around giving gifts to federal employees make it difficult for those affected by the shutdown to receive help directly.

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Carissa Casares from Feeding San Diego said communicating with the airport means they can better tailor their resources and response to TSA workers' needs.

We need to work directly with the people who have direct access to these employees and get this food to them at a time and location that is most convenient to them, Casares said.

Saturday marks the 36th day that the Department of Homeland Security has been shut down after Democrats refused to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection without changes to their operations after the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.

More than 120,000 DHS employees are working without pay, including roughly 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers as negotiations between lawmakers and the White House on limits to immigration enforcement drag on.

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The funding lapse comes just months after a 43-day government shutdown, the longest in the nations history, which drove long lines at food banks across the U.S. as over 700,000 federal workers worked without pay.

Rules limit what help TSA officers can accept

For those wanting to help, its not as simple as going to the airport and giving cash or gift cards directly to TSA officers, who are prohibited from accepting gifts at screening locations, according to a DHS spokesperson.

But Aaron Barker, president of the AFGE Local 554 in Georgia, said TSA officer unions dont have the same restrictions and can accept donations to distribute to their members. Barker recommends those who want to donate look up their local union district on the AFGE website, or give through their local labor council.

For some people it can be life or death, said Barker. Its just sad and terrible that this is happening.

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Union members have told Barker theyre unable to cover utility bills or pay for their childrens medical procedures. Theyve received eviction notices or had cars repossessed. Theyre having trouble affording routine items, too.

People dont think about the things they just naturally have in their home, like toothpaste, bathroom tissue, milk, detergent, dish liquid, he said. I'm sure those things are a necessity for every TSA officer.

Nonetheless, no donation can be as effective as an end to the shutdown. The first thing they want is their paycheck, said Barker. The money is the most immediate need.

Coordination between nonprofits and TSA

Operation Food Search is working closely with TSA to safely deliver food and set up a temporary pantry at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

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The Missouri hunger relief nonprofit's CEO said it is the first time they've distributed directly to TSA employees where they work.

It removes their need to make an extra trip and drive here, Kristen Wild said. So were really excited that the airport allowed us to directly serve right there.

They gave away just over half their 400 prepared food bags during a 2-hour period earlier this week, according to Wild. Each bag contained just under $20 worth of nonperishables such as apple sauce, pasta, rice and beans. Rules prohibit federal employees from soliciting or accepting gifts or items of monetary value greater than $20 if the gift is related to their government position.

Wild said she thought the $20 limit might be waived since they were distributing food through airport-approved channels.

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We didnt know for sure, Wild said. But to play it safe we just kept it right under the $20 per bag amount so there would be no challenge to it.

Airport communities band together

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport officials were fielding PETA donations and local food banks pallets on Friday afternoon as they stocked their private pantry for off-shift TSA staff.

But they've also seen dining vendors, usually tasked with feeding hungry travelers, step up. Airport tenants have offered discounts and donated through TSA to cover entire shifts' meals, according to airport spokesperson Perry Cooper.

You know a lot of these people, Cooper said. You see faces and that throughout the day as youre wandering through. And then to realize that some of these folks are here and theyre not getting paid, you know, really tugs at your heart to think whats a way that we can help.

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The airport communitys support adds to the roughly $6,000 they've received in cash and gift cards plus another $10,000 worth of food and household products, Cooper said. That includes donations from the labor union for air traffic controllers, whose jobs are unimpacted by this partial shutdown but who understand the strain of working without pay from full government closures.

More than 460 people picked up fresh produce when local nonprofit Food Lifeline brought a truckload last Friday, according to Cooper. Most of the attendees were TSA staff, Cooper said, though some people might have been homeless. Boxes including pineapples and broccoli lined folding tables along the airports main drive.

Regular travelers like Musie Hidad said he thinks about the TSA agents working unpaid every time he enters through security.

The work they are doing is serious and they arent getting paid for it," said Hidad, an Amarillo, Texas, resident, who was traveling to Columbus, Ohio, for work. My heart goes out to them.

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___

AP video journalist Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos contributed to this report from Columbus, Ohio.

___

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command scrambled fighter jets in response to a security incident involving planes heading for Montreal this week  apparently over what turned out to be the fraudulent use of a third-party credit card.

NORAD responded Wednesday to an air security incident involving two aircraft bound for Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport from overseas, a spokesperson told The Independent. The alert caused delays to domestic and international flights.

The NORAD aircraft involved were three CF-18s, two F-16s and two KC-135s from the appropriate NORAD locations: all airborne on respective flight plans, in support of events, the NORAD spokesperson said.

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Le Journal de Quebec reports the incident may have been triggered after officials discovered a passenger who attempted to board a flight Wednesday already appeared to be on Air Canada flight AC833 from Brussels to Montreal.

It was reported that the incident could have involved stolen Air Canada Aeroplan rewards points. However, an Air Canada spokesperson later confirmed the incident appeared to be linked to the fraudulent use of a third-party credit card and is not connected to Aeroplan or any other Air Canada systems or credentials.

NORAD responded to an 'air security incident' involving two planes heading for Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (AFP/Getty)

We can confirm heightened security measures at Montreal airport yesterday were related to two Air Canada flights, the Air Canada spokesperson told The Independent. The flights landed safely and our operations returned to normal.

A spokesperson for Surete du Quebec, the provincial police agency, told The Independent that officers arrested and interrogated two men once the flight had landed  one in his 20s and another in his 30s.

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Both individuals have since been released, but the man in his 20s could face fraud-related charges, the spokesperson confirmed. The fraud investigation is related to how the individuals ticket was purchased, according to the spokesperson.

The Surete du Quebec spokesperson could not confirm or deny additional details about the incident, and said the agency is still investigating. The spokesperson also said the suspect did not travel under a false identity.

A spokesperson for Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport also told The Independent that standard security protocols were activated Wednesday when a suitcase of interest was identified on a plane that had landed at the airport.

However, the investigation was found to be unfounded, and operations returned to normal afterward, the spokesperson added.

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One of the two runways had been closed to ensure the safety of the ongoing investigation, but the other runway remained operational, the spokesperson said. The situation caused some delays for both domestic and international flights.

The Independent has contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for comment.
UPDATE: Derrick Weathers has been safely located and reunited with his family, according to the North Las Vegas Police Department.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The North Las Vegas Police Department is searching for a missing 64-year-old man last seen Friday.

Derrick Weathers, 64, was last seen around 8 a.m. on Friday, March 20 near the 3800 block of Juanita May Avenue near Cheyenne Avenue and Decatur Boulevard.

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Weathers is approximately 59 tall and weighs around 230 pounds. It is unknown what he was last seen wearing.

Derrick Weathers, last seen on March 20, 2026 in North Las Vegas (NLVPD)

North Las Vegas police said Weathers suffers from dementia, which may impair his ability to care for himself or get home safely.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Derrick Weathers is urged to contact the North Las Vegas Police Department immediately at 702-633-9111.

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.
Police in northwestern Indiana arrested a teenager Friday morning following a monthslong investigation into alleged possession of child sexual abuse material.

According to a release from the La Porte County Sheriff's Office, the investigation began on Dec. 19, 2025 when a detective with the sheriff's office, who also served as a member of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, was asked to investigate the possible distribution of CSAM.

Over the course of the next several months, the detective applied for and was granted several search warrants for Google, Snapchat and X. The search warrants led the detective to discover the suspect was a 16-year-old in rural La Porte County.

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By mid-March, police say the detective had amassed enough probable cause to arrest the teen.

On March 20, the teenager was arrested and booked at the La Porte County Juvenile Services Center on the following preliminary charges:

Conspiracy to commit rape (felony)

Seven counts of child exploitation (felony)

Six counts of possession of child sexual abuse material (felony)

Four counts of exploitation (felony)

The La Porte County Prosecutor's Office will make the final charging decision.
A Norwood police officer has been placed on administrative leave after being arrested for an OUI on Thursday.

According to a statement shared with Boston 25, Officer Shawn Willman was placed on leave pending the outcome of the criminal case, as well as an internal affairs investigation by the department.

The Norwood Police Department holds its officers to the highest standards of conduct and accountability, Chief Christoper Padden said in a statement. This matter is being taken seriously, and appropriate administrative action will be determined based on the findings of the investigation.

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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
Senior living resident Anita LeBrun wants to "cheers" her friends with something stronger than grape juice.

LeBrun is going viral for her testimony at a Minnesota House of Representatives committee meeting, where legislators considered the so-called "Grandparents' Happy Hour" bill that would allow group homes to serve alcohol to their residents and guests.

"Just because we are older and live in assisted living doesnt mean that we should have fewer freedoms than anyone else," LeBrun said during her testimony March 17. "My friends and I love happy hour, just like many of you do."

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A TikTok of LeBrun's testimony posted by Fox 9, a local news network in Minneapolis, has nearly 1 million views, and more than 103,000 Instagram users liked a clip of LeBrun's testimony posted to The Washington Post's reels.

In case you missed: Older Americans want to age at home. Their kids are suffering to help them

"They're not in prison. It's a retirement community, let them have a drink," one user commented. More than 16,800 other Instagram users liked the comment.

"We ride at dawn for Anita and her box of wine!" another user wrote.

LeBrun is a resident at Amira Choice, an assisted living facility in Champlin, Minnesota. She told committee members that the bill would put into law "what many people assume is already allowed: Happy hour at the place (that) we call home."

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"Over a shared drink, we get to reminisce about parts of our life, military service, raising a family, the loss of a friend and celebrating the golden phase of our lives, too," she said.

According to the Minnesota House of Representatives, if the bill is approved, it would allow group homes including nursing homes, boarding care homes and assisted living facilities to serve alcoholic drinks to residents and their guests during activities or events, so long as the facilities gain state approval.

Madeline Mitchell's role covering women and the caregiving economy at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.

Reach Madeline at memitchell@usatoday.com and @maddiemitch_ on X.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Grandparents happy hour bill goes viral after testimony
Officials at Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been scrambling to carry out a weekend directive from President Trump to have immigration agents provide security at airports amid the partial government shutdown, multiple sources familiar with the internal deliberations told CBS News.

On Saturday, Mr. Trump posted a message on Truth Social suggesting he would deploy ICE agents to airports to conduct security and arrest people in the U.S. illegally, if congressional Democrats did not agree on a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security. DHS oversees immigration agencies like ICE and the Transportation Security Administration. In subsequent posts, Mr. Trump said he would dispatch ICE agents to airports on Monday.

Mr. Trump's directive caught officials at ICE off guard and they have been scrambling to come up with a plan to enforce it, the sources familiar with the matter told CBS News, requesting anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press.

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"I have no idea what we're doing," one DHS source said when asked about the president's order.

Lines at security checkpoints in airports across the country have increased in recent days, amid several hundred resignations and sick calls among TSA employees, who have been working without pay due to the partial shutdown.

Saturday marked the day with the highest number of nationwide call-outs when more than 3,250 employees called out. More than 400 officers have "separated" from the agency, DHS said.

White House border czar Tom Homan told CNN on Sunday that he was working on a plan to execute the president's directive, adding that he would be discussing the matter with the heads of TSA and ICE.

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Homan suggested that ICE agents could provide site security at certain airports, as opposed to screening passengers and bags. He said having ICE agents secure exit and entry points at airports could allow more TSA agents to focus on screenings. Appearing on Fox News, Homan said ICE could also help by checking IDs.

Homan did not directly say whether any ICE agents dispatched to airports would also conduct immigration arrests, but noted they routinely enforce immigration laws there.

TSA agents process people through security lines at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on March 22, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. / Credit: Megan Varner / Getty Images (Megan Varner / Getty Images)

As federal immigration officers, ICE agents have the power under the Immigration and Nationality Act to arrest anyone, anywhere in the U.S., who they believe is in the country illegally or deportable on other grounds.

A former senior ICE official told CBS News that agents at the agency would probably not be equipped or trained to help with the more technical tasks of airport security, such as operating the screening machines. The former official said ICE agents could augment the security force at airports but that most other law enforcement agencies could as well.

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Using Customs and Border Protection officers to bolster airport security, the former ICE official said, would make more sense, since many already operate at international airports, conducting immigration checks for incoming travelers.

In a statement to CBS News, DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said: "While the Democrats continue to put the safety, dependability, and ease of our air travel at risk, President Trump is taking action to deploy hundreds of ICE officers, that are currently funded by Congress, to airports being adversely impacted."

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told CBS News that "the men and women of ICE are always prepared to help keep our country safe."

"Americans are missing flights and hardworking TSA employees are missing paychecks  with over 400 TSA employees outright quitting," she told CBS News. "Democrats could stop this all today by funding the Department."

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Congressional Democrats have declined to fully fund DHS unless the Trump administration agrees to make certain immigration enforcement reforms, including prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks during operations.

The Flight Attendants Union urged lawmakers to pass the bill and pay TSA workers, calling the "latest threat of ICE invasion" at airports a "distraction from solutions that protect Americans."

"(Transportation Security Officers) can't simply be replaced," the flight attendants' union said in a statement, saying TSA workers go through rigorous training related to airport security that "ICE agents simply do not have and cannot learn quickly."

"The introduction of ICE agents into airports creates contradictory missions, as attempts to question passengers about immigration status may distract them from ensuring airport security," the statement said. "There's one solution that immediately solves the problem at our airports. Pay the people who are already trained to protect us from terror attacks today, especially as the war with Iran increases the desire to strike against Americans."

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Signs of the times: Removing stories of America's past from our national parks

Chef Ruthie Rogers on the comforts of food and conversation

Iran inflicts heavy damage on Israel in latest missile strikes
An 11-year-old boy is recovering in the hospital after being shot in northwest Atlanta.

Channel 2s Cory James was live outside Grady Memorial Hospital for WSB Tonight at 11 p.m.

A witness says the young boy was shot in the face.

Crime scene tape stretched in front of an apartment building in northwest Atlanta on Middleton Road on Saturday.

It is where Atlanta police say a boy was shot.

A woman who witnessed the dispute did not want to go on-camera,

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But she told James she witnessed the shooting while sitting outside.

She says it started with several people arguing.

The girl in the black in the grey pulled the gun out first. She just went boom boom boom, then the girl (in) all the black she shot, the witness said.

The witness says adults and children were frantically running, trying to take cover.

But after she made it to a safe spot and looked up, she realized an innocent kid was hit.

Im like, Oh lord, they just shot that baby. By the time we do like, he hit the ground, jump back up and ran to his mommas house, the witness said.

Atlanta police say they found shell casings.

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According to investigators, the altercation started with people who live at the apartment complex and have an ongoing history of conflict.

Officers say one of the shooters wearing black used a rifle  hitting the child.

The witness said those involved in the dispute are family members.

The witness also said this is one of multiple shootings that have happened here recently. She says her hope is that something will change so that everyone  including kids  are able to live in a safe place.

I dont think its right we have to live like this, she said.

The woman James spoke with said the fight started at 9 a.m. She said police came out then to help, but after they left, the women continued fighting.

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As for the little boy who was shot, APD hasnt updated his condition.

APD also hasnt said if arrests have been made.

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An evacuation order has been issued in a northwest Oklahoma community as wildfires continue to spark and spread across the state.

According to Dewey County Emergency Management, crews are responding to a major fire between Vici and Carmargo, Oklahoma, on Sunday, March 22.

People located between E680 Road and EW 69 in Camargo are asked to leave the area immediately. The Vici Community Building at 604 Main St. in Vici and the Leedey Community Building at 520 N Main St. in Leedey are open for evacuees

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Roads in the area may be impacted by fire and smoke.

Fire Warning in effect until 4:30 PM for areas between Vici and Camargo, in Dewey County, Oklahoma. Fire is spreading south at 3 to 5 mph. #okwx pic.twitter.com/nYCXAenS6E  NWS Norman (@NWSNorman) March 22, 2026

Across the state, red flag warnings and fire warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service due to wildfire conditions, a haze of blowing smoke and changing weather patterns.

Oklahoma residents are urged to stay aware of their surroundings and take precautions.

On Friday, much of the state is under a fire weather watch due to near-record-breaking high temperatures and low humidity. Increased fire risk is expected on Saturday and Sunday as wind speeds increase.

 Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location

Oklahoma fire map: See smoke, wildfires across state, red flag warnings

Track the latest wildfire and smoke information in Oklahoma with data that is updated frequently based on input from several incident and intelligence sources.

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If you can't see the map below, please click here.

How to prevent wildfires

While severely warm weather can worsen a wildfire spread, most are the result of human behavior. In fact, nearly 85% of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by humans, according to the National Park Service.

With its wide acres, rural areas and inconsistent weather patterns, Oklahoma is prone to grass fires. Forestry and safety experts offer several guidelines for residents on how to avoid starting a fire, which can often breakout from just one wrong spark.

Avoid using welding equipment.

Never drive on a flat tire.

Extinguish cigarettes completely before properly disposing of them, and never throw them outside of a window while driving.

Avoid parking on dry grass or dragging chains behind your car.

Weather alerts: See where tornado watch, tornado warnings have been issued

Lightning strikes late Monday night near Lake Hefner as storms moved through the area. Photo by Hugh Scott, The Oklahoman Storm clouds are pictured before the Women's College World Series game between the Alabama and Florida at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Sunday, June, 2, 2024. Clouds are pictured around the stadium during a weather delay of Game 2 of the NCAA softball tournament Stillwater Super Regional between the Oklahoma State Cowgirls and the Arizona Wildcats in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, May, 25, 2024. Supercells, hail, tornadoes: See incredible weather photos from across Oklahoma 1 of 3 Lightning strikes late Monday night near Lake Hefner as storms moved through the area. Photo by Hugh Scott, The Oklahoman

Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma wildfires near Camargo, Vici prompt evacuations and warnings
Chinese medical team offers free clinic services to orphanage children in Mozambique

Xinhua) 11:05, March 22, 2026

MAPUTO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The 26th Chinese medical team in Mozambique on Saturday provided free medical services and donated supplies to children at the Orfanato AACOSIDA orphanage in Matola, a city on the outskirts of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique.

Chen Jialei, head of the 26th Chinese medical team, said the team donated food and school supplies and conducted basic health check-ups for the children. Team members also played with the children, engaging in activities such as skipping rope and traditional Chinese games.

"We hope these activities will help the children improve their health awareness and enjoy a happy weekend," Chen said.

He said that 2026 marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, as well as the 50th anniversary of medical assistance from China's Sichuan Province to Mozambique. At this important juncture, the medical team has been carrying out a series of outreach programs, including free clinics and visits to communities, schools, and enterprises, to further deepen friendship between China and Mozambique.

Tomissane Macamo, a long-serving representative of the orphanage, said the institution currently hosts around 80 resident children, along with more than 20 additional children who attend during the day.

He praised the initiative of the Chinese medical team, noting that access to professional medical services is crucial for the well-being of the children. "For us, having specialists come here to assess our health conditions and provide advice is very important," he said.

China has been dispatching medical teams to Mozambique since 1976. The current team is the 26th batch, composed of doctors from multiple disciplines, including orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, anesthesiology, medical cosmetology, and traditional Chinese medicine, among others.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
Hezbollah fire directly hits vehicle in northern Israel, killing one  Missile fragment hits Ayalon Highway as Iran fires more cluster munitions toward Israel

At least 15 people were wounded on Sunday morning in at least seven different sites of impacts by Iranian ballistic missile fragments across Tel Aviv and central Israel, as Operation Roaring Lion entered its fourth week.

The Iranian barrage, which reportedly included cluster munitions, followed Hezbollah fire toward northern Israel earlier on Sunday, in which one person was killed in a direct hit on his vehicle in Misgav Am.

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Among those wounded in central Israel was a 53-year-old man who was moderately hurt by a shockwave blast. Another three of the wounded were treated for shock.

Footage which circulated on social media earlier on Sunday showed a missile fragment falling on the key Ayalon Highway in central Israel, causing some damage to the road and damaging a vehicle that stopped in the area following sirens.

One person taking cover near the vehicle was wounded, Fire and Rescue Authority said.

Footage shows a missile fragment hitting a road along Ayalon Highway in central Israel, March 22, 2026 (VIA SECTION 27A OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT)Misgav Am named Ofer Moskowitz as the individual killed on Sunday morning when a Hezbollah rocket slammed into a car in northern Israel.

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The Misgav Am community bows its head and grieves over the passing of Ofer Moskowitz, the community stated. A speaker, farmer, friend, symbol and legacy for all of us. Throughout the years, he was the prominent voice of all of us. We send our deepest condolences and a strong hug to his family and the entire Misgav Am community. The Galilee will never look the same without him. May his memory be blessed.

At least 88 wounded in overnight strike on Arad

Late on Saturday night, at least 88 people were wounded, including 10 in serious condition, after an Iranian ballistic missile struck a building in Israel's southern city of Arad, according to Magen David Adom

A five-year-old was among the 10 seriously wounded in the attack, MDA noted, adding that 19 were reported in moderate condition, 55 lightly wounded. Four others were treated for anxiety.

United Hatzalah added that its medical teams had treated over 90 individuals at the scene in Arad.

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All of those wounded have been evacuated via ambulance or helicopter to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba for further treatment, MDA said, adding that no one is currently trapped under rubble, though search efforts continue.

Goldie Katz and Miriam Sela-Eitam contributed to this report.
A man driving with no headlights on night, speeding and running red lights told police he intended to end his own life by crashing the car but instead took the lives of an Indiana University student and a recent graduate crossing the street in Miami Beach on the rainy Wednesday night, according to police.

Before Adan Negron-Morris fatally struck Sarisa Kongduang, 22, and Greatgomon Laowatdhanasapya, 23, at 73rd Street and Collins Avenue  hitting them so hard they were hurled airborne and landed several feet from where they were hit  he had been seen driving recklessly in the area, according to his arrest affidavit. They were here on spring break.

Kongduang, president of the Association of Thai students in the United States of America, per her Linkedin, was a student at Indiana University, the school confirmed Friday to the Herald. Laowatdhanasapya obtained both an undergraduate and masters degree from the university, per his LinkedIn profile. The university confirmed he graduated in 2024.

Negron-Morris, 42, of Lakeland, is charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a deadly crash.

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City cctv footage and witness interviews revealed that the defendant operated the vehicle in a manner demonstrating a willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property in the area, detectives wrote in his arrest affidavit.

Negron-Morris almost caused two other collisions before the final fatal one, which occurred shortly after 9 p.m., police say. The roadways were wet and slippery from the rain, adding to the hazardous conditions, police say.

Moments before the crash, another hit-and-run had occurred in the area of 71st Street and Bay Drive East, with an officer having seen a black sedan going toward Collins Avenue with no headlights, implying that Negron-Morris was the driver, but then lost sight of the car, according to the arrest affidavit.

READ MORE: Hit-and-run driver kills 2 pedestrians and hides in Walgreens: Miami Beach cops

Did not stop after hitting the two tourists: police

After Negron-Morris hit Kongduang and Laowatdhanasapya, who were rushed to Ryder Trauma Center where they died, police say he did not stop the black 2013 Nissan Sentra he was driving and instead continued until the intersection of 74th Street and Collins Avenue, where the car became disabled. Police say the Nissan had extensive damage to the front of the car with the hood bent upward toward the windshield.

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A witness watched Negron-Morris leave the car and go into a nearby Walgreens at 7340 Collins Ave. and followed him inside, police say. The witness pointed him out to police and he was taken into custody inside the Walgreens.

As of Friday, Negron-Morris remained locked up at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $1 million bond, jail records show.

I believe he poses a great danger to the community, Judge Mindy Glazer said during Fridays bond court hearing.

Court records show that Negron-Morris has pleaded not guilty.

Hoping to die

Police took Negron-Morris to Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach and officers requested his consent for a blood draw. Police say Negron-Morris initially said yes, but as hospital staff prepared to draw his blood he withdrew his consent.

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Police got a signed warrant from a judge and Negron-Morris blood was drawn twice a few hours after the crash. His arrest affidavit did not include the results of the blood test.

He told police that his drug of choice is crack cocaine and marijuana but that on the day of the crash he had only consumed marijuana and unknown medication that his girlfriend gave to him.

In an interview at the Miami Beach Police Department, Negron-Morris told police he has schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression.

He told police he had taken his girlfriends car without her permission and intended to kill himself by crashing the car.

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He recalled driving eastbound on 71st street, then northbound on Collins avenue, closing his eyes, pressing the accelerator, and hoping to die, detectives wrote in his arrest affidavit.

He said that when he heard the crash he stopped as soon as he could, contemplating whether to leave the scene but instead went into the Walgreens.

Accomplished students

Kongduang, a junior at IUs Kelley School of Business, adhered by the principle of Leaving the World a Better Place than How We Found It, per her Linkedin.

Known as Lisa, Kongduang wrote that she had a passion for business, finance, and event management.

The accomplished student had been invited as a TEDx Speaker in October 2022, where she shared her thoughts in a presentation, Stop Carrying the Expectations of Others: If Its Too Heavy, Put It Down.

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My long-term goal is to make a positive impact on both myself and my country, Thailand, she wrote on her page.

Laowatdhanasapya graduated from IU in 2024 with a masters of science in finance; he previously obtained a bachelors degree in finance from IU in 2023, according to his LinkedIn.

After graduating with his masters degree, he worked as an investment banking analyst for Bank of America in Chicago.
Oologah Police Department has become the first law enforcement agency in Rogers County to adopt the nascent Blue Envelope Program.

Lt. Detective Rhoden said people can pick up a blue envelope at the police station, 225 W. Alta Ave., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, or ask an officer for one. Rhoden said the purpose is to help people who have trouble communicating navigate the stress of a traffic stop.

On the back of the envelopes are eight boxes, each labeled with a different barrier to clear communication: limited English, mental health conditions, uncontrolled movements or vocalizations. Rhoden said people should mark each that applies to them.

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"It just helps us to identify that they have one of these issues at hand," Rhoden said. "If somebody has autism, they may be more prone to question the things that are taking place during a stop, and sometimes the way they communicate that could come off maybe as being difficult or combative. ... But if we know ahead of time they have autism, we're able to understand what they're dealing with."

Rhoden said drivers can stow their registration, insurance and other important documents in the envelope. That makes a traffic stop as easy as handing the envelope to the officer, he said.

While Oologah's is the only Rogers County police department to have formally adopted the program, Rhoden said the envelope is useful, regardless of which law enforcement agency conducts the stop.

"The program is gaining traction," Rhoden said. "While it's fairly new, the word is getting out about this program, so a lot of officers are familiar with it, and the envelope really speaks for itself. An officer can look at that envelope and understand pretty easily what's taking place."

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Oologah joined the program in March, but the Owasso Police Department has been giving out blue envelopes since last December.

Lt. Nick Boatman said many people have taken them, but he hadn't heard of any officers encountering one during a stop.

"We're waiting," Boatman said. "We have an email out to officers saying if this happens, we want to go back and watch body cam to see how the encounter went, what we can do better, what went well, what we can teach from that, from there on to the other officers. ... I think it means [people with communication troubles] are driving OK."

Boatman said Chief Jason Woodruff brought the blue envelope idea back to Owasso after attending a December press conference in Tulsa. He said the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office and the police departments in Bixby, Broken Arrow, Collinsville, Glenpool, Jenks, Sand Springs, Sapulpa and Tulsa are all participating.

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Boatman said he sees no reason why any agency, large or small, wouldn't want to join the Blue Envelope Program, because it costs nothing. He said agencies should contact the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police at chiefs@okchiefs.org to request the training presentation and materials.

Rhoden encouraged people to check whether they or a loved one have a communication need covered by the envelope.

"If they have one of those conditions, please, reach out and get one from us," Rhoden said. "Our ultimate goal is to support positive communications between law enforcement and citizens and take some of that guesswork out of it."
(Note: This story contains graphic details in paragraphs 1, 3 and 14)

By Ali Sawafta and Pesha Magid

HUMSAH, West Bank, March 20 (Reuters) - Israeli settlers sexually assaulted a Palestinian man - tying his genitalia with zip ties and parading him naked in front of his family - during a mid-March attack, according to the victim and eyewitnesses.

Attacks by masked Jewish settlers, including the burning of cars and homes, beatings, and livestock theft, have become near-daily in the West Bank, according to Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied territory and rights groups tracking the violence.

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Suhaib Abu Kbash, 29, told Reuters that around 80 masked settlers armed with knives and sticks raided the Bedouin community of Humsah on March 13. He said about 20 of them beat him, stripped him, bound his genitals, and dragged him naked in front of his young children.

"I thought they were going to kill me," he said.

Reuters spoke to three eyewitnesses who corroborated Abu Kbash's account.

The Israeli military and police said the incident is under investigation. Israeli police told Reuters that seven suspects had been arrested on suspicion of involvement, and that police officers and military personnel were dispatched to Humsah.

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"The forces, together with forensic investigators from the district, began conducting searches for suspects and collecting testimonies, evidence, and findings," the statement said.

"As part of the investigation, which is currently under a court-issued gag order, seven suspects were arrested several days ago on suspicion of involvement in the incident."

It was not clear whether any suspects have been charged.

The Yesha Council, which represents Jewish settlements, declined to provide a comment on the incident.

Humsah sits between two hills in the Jordan Valley, an area that Israeli rights group B'Tselem has said faces daily settler attacks. The alleged assault on Abu Kbash, including "horrific sexual violence" was part of a pattern of escalating violence, the group's executive director Yuli Novak told Reuters.

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The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the group's statement.

Palestinians have long accused the Israeli military of protecting settlers over residents  a charge the military denies.

Abu Kbash said the settlers threatened to rape the women and children in the community if they did not leave. "We will stay here. If we leave, they will take over all this land," he said.

RISING SETTLER VIOLENCE

Reuters has reported how settler violence has spiked since Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran at the end of February, with Israeli settlers killing at least five Palestinians in that period.

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Israeli indictments for settler violence remain rare. At the end of 2025, Yesh Din, an Israeli rights group, said that of the hundreds of cases it had documented since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023, only 2% had resulted in indictments.

Abu Kbash said the settlers also stole 400 sheep during the alleged attack, essential to the community's livelihood. He said he has attempted to file a complaint over the theft with Israeli police without success. Israeli police said they were investigating the alleged assault on Abu Kbash, without mentioning the theft.

Palestinians seek an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

Israeli settlers have rapidly expanded their presence in the West Bank with the backing of Israel's right-wing government.

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Most countries say Israel's settlement activity in the West Bank violates international law on military occupations. Israel disputes that interpretation.

(Reporting by Pesha Magid, Ali Sawafta, and Torokman Mohammed; Writing by Pesha Magid;Editing by Ros Russell)
UPDATE: Police said she was found safe.

_______________

Initial coverage:

Pennsylvania State Police are searching for a teen girl missing from Fayette County.

Emily Grace Salonick, 17, was last seen at the McDonalds at 1 Work Parkway, South Union Township.

Salonick is described as about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds and having hazel eyes and black hair.

Shes believed to be wearing a black jacket, black McDonalds hoodie and jeans.

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Anyone with information about her location is asked to call PSP Uniontown Barracks at (724) 439-7111.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
A Clairton man is in custody after a shots fired incident near the Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus on Saturday night.

According to crime alerts issued by IUP, one instance of shots fired was reported around 10 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of 8th and School Street.

A news release from Indiana Bureau Police Chief Justin Schawl states that initially, it was reported that shots were fired into the air from a moving vehicle in the area of West Avenue and School Street. No one was hurt, and Schawl said the shots did not target anyone in the area.

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In a later update, Schawl said the shots were actually fired from outside the vehicle, not while it was moving, and the shooter got into the rear seat of the vehicle immediately after, leaving the scene. In all, investigators located five shell casings.

Minutes after shots were fired, Schawl said state troopers stopped a dark sedan on Route 119 as it was leaving Indiana Borough. Their investigation led to the recovery of a handgun and the arrest of the suspected shooter.

Schawl identifies the suspect as Tymere Johnson, 22, of Clairton. Hes being held at the Indiana County Jail awaiting arraignment on charges of carrying a firearm without a license, person not to possess a firearm and receiving stolen property.

Schawl says the .40 caliber handgun state troopers recovered was reported stolen.

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A separate IUP crime alert states an additional report of shots fired happened around 11:15 p.m. Saturday near Seventh and Locust Street. In an update around 12:30 a.m., police said they do not believe there is any danger to the community related to this incident. The update did not include a report of any injuries or make any announcements about arrests.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

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A Plymouth police officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a criminal investigation, according to the department.

On March 17, Officer Samantha Pelrine was placed on leave after the Plymouth Police Department was notified by the Massachusetts State Police of an active criminal investigation.

The Plymouth Police Department is committed to accountability and transparency with our community, the department said in a statement.

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A departmental internal investigation is underway to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding Officer Pelrines alleged conduct. Violations of department policy or state law will not be tolerated.

The Plymouth County DA said it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time in regard to the nature of the investigation.

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
Delaware State Police and New Castle County police responded to two incidents occurring at nearly the same time March 21 at Christiana Mall.

The unrelated incidents resulted in the arrests of two 17-year-olds from Wilmington.

New Castle County Police said officers located a vehicle before 6 p.m. on Saturday night that had been reported as stolen from Bear on March 6. The vehicle was empty and parked near the mall's Target. Police monitored it until a juvenile, a 17-year-old from Wilmington, entered it, county police said. Officers detained him and three other juveniles.

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The 17-year-old was charged with one felony count of receiving stolen property over $1,500. The other three were released without charges.

Less than an hour later, Delaware State Police said officers responded to the mall's parking lot near JCPenney for an armed robbery. Officers located a 17-year-old from Wilmington, a different one from the carjacking incident.

Preliminary investigation revealed that two victims were approached by the 17-year-old and another suspect as they were getting into their car. The unknown suspect demanded the first victim, a 47-year-old man from Bridgeville, to turn over personal property. The 17-year-old produced a handgun, police said, and the other suspect removed his belongings.

The unknown suspect ran away with the belongings and the 17-year old-struck one of the men with the handgun. The juvenile then chased the second victim while aiming the gun, but they escaped without injury, police said. The Bridgeville man declined medical treatment at the scene.

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State police said the juvenile ran away, and officers chased him across multiple lanes of Route 1. He was taken into custody and his loaded firearm was recovered by police.

Black Friday shoppers wait in line at the JCPenny at the Christiana Mall on November 28, 2025.

The other suspect is described by state police as a Black male, approximately 20 to 24 years old, between 58 and 59 and weighing 160 to 170 pounds, police said. He fled in an unknown direction wearing a black jacket, dark-colored jeans, and a black face mask. He was unarmed.

The 17-year-old arrested in the armed robbery incident was charged with first degree robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a person under 21, possession of ammo for a firearm by a person under 21, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, aggravated menacing, wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, second degree conspiracy and resisting arrest.

The incident is under investigation. Any witnesses or anyone with information about the case is encouraged to reach out to Detective J. Lucyk at (302) 365-8446. People with information can also send a private Facebook message to Delaware State Police or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers.

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Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback about reassessment and property taxes at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Police arrest two juveniles at Christiana Mall, one ran onto Route 1




Juice House Co., a Bay Area chain known for its organic cold-pressed juices, will close all its locations on April 4, the company's founder announced Saturday.

"After years of pouring my heart into this space, this team, and this community, Juice House Co. will be closing," Tiana Duvauchelle wrote in a social media post. She did not provide a reason for the closure.

The company operates shops in Benicia, Petaluma, Napa, Emeryville and a San Francisco outpost in the Ferry Building.

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Juice House Co. grew out of Duvauchelle's Benicia-based yoga collective, Yoga House, and built a following around organic, unpasteurized juices, plant-based drinks and its push for sustainability.

Juice House Co., a Bay Area organic juice chain known for its organic cold-pressed juices, will close all stores in April. (Juice House Co.)





In her announcement, Duvauchelle reflected on the business's broader role.

"JHC held so much - early mornings, growth, friendship, first jobs, last jobs, diversity, wellness, community, connection, challenge, family and so much heart," she wrote.

In a follow-up post, the company said all locations will remain open through April 4 and continue operating during regular hours while supplies last.

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Customers can still use gift cards in-store through the final day, though refunds will not be offered. Bottle returns will be accepted for store credit only.

"We are continuing to operate fully and serve our full menu while supplies last," the company said.

The closure comes amid continued turnover at the Ferry Building Marketplace, which has seen a high rate of openings and departures in recent years.

Duvauchelle encouraged customers to stop by before the final day.

"We would love to see you before we close our doors," she wrote.

This article originally published at Popular Bay Area organic juice chain to shut down all locations.




Jay's Cheesesteak, a 30-year-old stop for beefy sandwiches in San Francisco's Mission District, will close for good at the end of the month.

Owner Jay Nazzal told online news outlet Mission Local he will close his restaurant, in business since 1995, because the landlord is not renewing his lease. He also cited a general decline in business over the past few years along rising operating costs, which include labor and ingredients, as factors making it increasingly difficult to operate.

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Nazzal was not immediately available for comment Saturday, but a worker at the restaurant confirmed the upcoming closing by phone.

The shop at 3285 21st St. was best known for its namesake Philly cheesesteaks, a sandwich made with thin slices of beef, melted cheese and grilled onions placed on a long roll. Popular variants include cheesesteaks with mushrooms and vegetables, or replacing the steak slices with turkey breast or Beyond plant-based meat substitute. The menu also included chili cheese hot dogs, sandwiches with cold cuts and hamburgers made with plump, 6-ounce beef patties.

The closure of Jay's Cheesesteak follows the departure of We Be Sushi, another decades-old neighborhood spot, which closed in February after 39 years so chef-owner Andy Tonozuka can retire.

Jay's Cheesesteak owner Jay Nazzal, left, greets a customer at his San Francisco restaurant in 2005. The business will close at the end of March. (Craig Lee/S.F. Chronicle)





Ryen Motzek, president of neighborhood business promotion group Mission Merchants Association, has been a Jay's customer since the mid-aughts, when he had an office at a nearby building. His go-to: a cheesesteak with seitan, a meat substitute made from wheat protein.

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"It is a blow to the community for sure. I'm sad that he did not see enough numbers to justify him staying," Motzek said.

Restaurants on the Valencia Street corridor, a few steps away from Jay's, have been vocal about their struggles with low post-pandemic foot traffic. Last year the city organized a monthly market on Valencia between 16th and 19th streets in a bid to drum up business.

Motzek recognizes safety concerns at the 16th Street and 24th Street BART stations, where police are increasing their presence, but he said pedestrian activity on the Mission District's corridors seems to be improving from recent years.

"When businesses are bustling and people are out, it provides an overall feeling of, like, this is a good neighborhood to be in," he said.

This article originally published at Popular sandwich shop closing in S.F.'s Mission District after three decades.
Did anyone win Saturday night's Powerball drawing for the jackpot of $123 million?

The cash option for the March 21 jackpot was $55.8 million.

Here's what we know about the drawing on Saturday, March 21:

Powerball winning numbers for March 21 lottery drawing jackpot

The winning numbers for the March 21 drawing were 12, 28, 36, 41 and 59. The red Powerball was 2, and the Power Play was 2X.

Did anyone win Powerball?

No one won the jackpot in the March 21 drawing. There was no $1 million Match 5 winner. There was no Match 5 plus Power Play $2 million prize winner.

When is next Powerball drawing?

The next drawing is on Monday, March 23.

What is the Powerball jackpot up to?

The jackpot for the next drawing is an estimated $133 million with a cash value of $60.3 million.

What time is the Powerball drawing?

Powerball drawings take place at 11 p.m. ET every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

What are the odds of winning Powerball?

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

Where to buy Powerball tickets

Powerball is played in 45 states, including Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, as well as in Washington, DC, and the Virgin Islands. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident to play Powerball.

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You can purchase tickets at gas stations, convenience stores and supermarkets in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Sales cut-off times vary by one to two hours before the drawing, depending on the selling jurisdiction.

Can you buy Powerball tickets online?

In Kentucky, you can purchase tickets online through the Kentucky Lottery website, kylottery.com.

In Ohio and Indiana, people can order Powerball tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Lottery tickets are sold to residents online through their lottery's official site in the following jurisdictions:

Kentucky

Connecticut

Georgia

Illinois

Kansas

Michigan

New Hampshire

North Carolina

North Dakota

Pennsylvania

Virginia

West Virginia

Washington, DC

How much is a Powerball lottery ticket today?

A single Powerball ticket costs $2. Pay an additional $1 to add the Power Play for a chance to multiply all Powerball winnings except for the jackpot. In Kentucky, Indiana and some other states, players can also add the Double Play for an additional $1 to have a second chance at winning $10 million.

Powerball Double Play winning numbers for March 21

The Double Play winning numbers for the March 21 drawing were 9, 29, 34, 48 and 58. The red Powerball was 4.

How to play Powerball

To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball.

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You can choose your lucky numbers on a play slip or let the lottery terminal randomly pick your numbers.

How to win Powerball

Match all 5 white balls + Powerball: Jackpot (odds 1 in 292.2 million) Match all 5 white balls: $1 million (odds 1 in 11.7 million) Match 4 white balls + Powerball: $50,000 (odds 1 in ~913,000) Match 4 white balls: $100 (odds 1 in ~36,000) Match 3 white balls + Powerball: $100 (odds 1 in ~14,500) Match 3 white balls: $7 (odds 1 in ~580) Match 2 white balls + Powerball: $7 (odds 1 in ~700) Match 1 white ball + Powerball: $4 (odds 1 in ~92) Match Powerball only: $4 (odds 1 in ~38)

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Did anyone win Powerball last night? March 21 drawing numbers, results
Owning property doesn't necessarily mean you can do whatever you want on it. One homeowner learned first-hand the consequences of unauthorized building on his property near Camas, Washington, that ultimately compromised the surrounding wetlands.

In a press release by the Washington State Department of Ecology, the Department issued a hefty fine of $71,800 to property owner Chad Williams for damaging protected land and failing to restore and mitigate the damages.

According to the press release, the city approved Williams' construction plans, but Williams also needed a permit from the Department of Ecology to begin construction  a critical step he neglected. Without the Department's authorization, he cleared the plants on his wetlands property and covered the wetland with dirt to build a house, a driveway, and an outdoor shop.

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Wetlands are crucial natural buffers between large bodies of water and land. They prevent flood surges and subsequent damage. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, wetlands are capable of absorbing and storing typically three-acre feet of floodwater (three acres of land, one foot deep) per acre.

Wetlands also filter the water of sediments and pollutants, as the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control explained, and provide a habitat and breeding ground for critical wildlife, including birds, fish, shellfish, and other organisms, per the EPA.

Altering wetlands with covered dirt or physical structures impairs the land's ability to prevent and reduce flood damage. This also affects water quality, allows shoreline erosion, and destroys critical wildlife habitat, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Wetlands are critical ecosystems that need protection from degradation and destruction. Fernanda Samuel of Angola has been protecting the mangroves of her childhood since 2016. You can join her in the fight to conserve and restore these crucial ecosystems nationwide and globally by using your voice to urge government wetland protective policies and initiatives.

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"Williams intentionally did work that damaged known wetlands on his property without a permit," said Joenne McGerr, the agency's program manager for the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program, per the press release.

Upon discovering the wetlands damage, the Department worked with Williams to devise solutions to restore the land. This resulted in a signed agreement between the two parties.

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

"Unfortunately, despite multiple attempts to assist him, he has avoided and neglected his responsibility," McGerr said, per the press release.

"Williams has 30 days to pay the penalty or appeal it to Washington's Pollution Control Hearing Board," the press release read.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.




When I first moved to town, a long-timer invited me on a walk around Radnor Lake, saying it was Nashville's best hidden treasure. Since then, Radnor Lake State Park is no longer hidden to most folks 'round here; you might be waiting 15 minutes on weekends just to have a chance at parking spot.

It's just so dang beautiful and, once you get away from the traffic pulling in, peaceful.

Radnor Lake was one of many parks devastated by the winter storm around the Nashville area earlier this year and had to close for a time. It was able to reopen on March 2, two months ahead of schedule thanks to the fleet of volunteers who fanned out across nearly 1,400 acres to clear rocks, tree roots and debris from the trails.

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"The response has been overwhelming," Park Manager Steve Ward told the volunteers who gathered to celebrate the reopening. "Y'all have been awesome."

Park Manager Steve Ward takes a photo of the last group of volunteers to work on the grounds before the reopening at Radnor Lake State Park in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, March 2, 2026.

Speaking of awesome, the park has worked hard to make it accessible for all. Lately that has included more and more modifications for wheelchair traffic, including some guardrails on paths near the water.

In fact, you can even reserve, for free, one of two all-terrain wheelchairs at the park. To do so, park officials ask people to request those wheelchairs online here at least 48 hours in advance.

Turns out, you can find these all-terrain wheelchairs at a dozen state parks in Middle Tennessee, including Long Hunter State Park near Hermitage and Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill. To see that list, go to tnstateparks.com.

Reporter Rachel Wegner contributed to this item.

A great blue heron glides past an eagle keeping watch on its nest at Radnor Lake State Park in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, March 2, 2026.

An eagle peers out of a nest at Radnor Lake State Park in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, March 2, 2026. A group of volunteers were nearby making a final push to clean up the park after the winter storms devastation.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Radnor Lake has worked to make the property accessible to all visitors
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

This photo depicts the satellite-filled sky that is now a reality and getting more crowded every week. The image consists of exposures taken over a 30-minute stretch in June 2024 from a latitude of 51 degrees north, when satellites even in low Earth orbit are lit all night by sunlight. Many of the parallel streaks heading generally horizontal west to east (right to left) may be from groups of SpaceX Starlinks. Others traveling vertically north-south are more likely from Earth-observation satellites. There is at least one natural streak in the image  a meteor at center, caught by chance in one frame. | Credit: Alan Dyer/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Astronomers are up in arms, protesting against a proposed constellation of tens of thousands of orbiting mirrors intended to reflect light onto ground-based solar power plants and SpaceX's envisioned one million orbiting data centers.

The projects, which have been put forward to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for approval, would destroy the night sky as we know it and obscure the views of astronomical telescopes all over the world, hampering scientific progress, according to experts.

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"This is really intolerable," Robert Massey, the deputy executive director at the British Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), told Space.com. "It's absolutely the destruction of a central part of human heritage."

RAS, the oldest astronomical society in the world, has joined the growing army of research institutions filing objections to the FCC against the proposals by SpaceX and California-based startup Reflect Orbital.

SpaceX announced its plans to launch one million data centers to space in January. The company's founder and CEO, Elon Musk, said on X at that time that moving power-hungry computing infrastructure into space is necessary to fully unleash the powers of AI. Reflect Orbital , founded by former SpaceX intern Ben Nowack, has ambitions to launch 50,000 orbiting mirrors into space, each one about 180 feet (55 meters) wide.

If those plans were to pass, the sky as humankind has known it for millions of years would change beyond recognition.

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"If you have a direct view of this, it would be several times as bright as the full moon ," said Massey. "That's extraordinarily bright."

Even if seen at an angle, the orbiting mirror would be as bright as Venus , the brightest object in the night sky after the moon.

"Imagine a stream of satellites with that kind of magnitude crossing the sky," said Massey. "It would absolutely transform our view of the sky."

Add to that the million proposed SpaceX data centers, which, although dimmer, would also be visible to the naked eye. Due to the vast size of these planned constellations, there would be thousands of shining dots as bright as stars criss-crossing the firmament at any given moment.

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Massey estimates the sky would become up to three times brighter as a result of the vast quantity of Reflect Orbital's sun-reflecting mirrors. That brightening would affect the entire planet, including remote locations that are now considered dark sky sanctuaries , where astronomers build their sky-observing machines.

The European Southern Observatory (ESO), an international astronomy research organization that operates some of the world's largest telescopes, has also filed objections against the two proposals.

ESO astronomer Olivier Hainaut told Space.com that the Very Large Telescope in Chile would lose up to 10% of pixels in every image if SpaceX's one million orbiting data centers were to materialize. That number could rise to up to 30% for some kinds of observations.

"That's a huge loss," Hainaut said. "We keep our technical losses below 3%, and the total weather losses are about 10%."

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The overall increase in sky brightness caused by the Reflect Orbital mirror constellation would mean astronomers would have to triple exposure times when taking images.

"We wouldn't be able to observe our faint targets anymore," Hainaut said. "It would be disastrous."

Satellites leave long streaks in the night sky in this composite image by astrophotographer Josh Dury. | Credit: Josh Dury

Fabio Felchi, a light pollution researcher at Istituto Superiore "Enrico Fermi" Mantova in Italy, told Space.com that "the only option we have to save the starry night as it was for billions of years is to put a limit on the total number of satellites in orbit."

He added that a safe limit has already been passed and called for "a red-line policy on this, as there is for most other pollutants."

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Noelia Noel, an astrophysicist at the University of Surrey in the U.K., said that the two proposals "mark a critical moment in how we manage humanity's presence in space."

"While innovation in satellite technology brings clear societal benefits, scaling to hundreds of thousands or even millions of bright objects  or deliberately illuminating the Earth from orbit  risks fundamentally altering the night sky," she said. "This would have profound consequences not only for astronomy but also for ecosystems, our cultural heritage, and our collective relationship with the cosmos."

Some worry that the FCC is in favor of those proposals, as it's fast-tracking their evaluation without expecting the companies to carry out environmental impact assessments, astronomer and dark sky consultant John Barentine previously told Space.com .

"The presumption now is that the application should be approved and that it should be up to the people who might object to prove that there's a problem of some kind," said Barentine. "The fact that they have fast-tracked this application, which has potentially tremendous effects not only for astronomy but for the environment too, and to do so without engaging in a full environmental review, is worrisome."
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., said on Thursday that she will not back the Pentagons $200 billion request to fund the war in Iran.

On Wednesday, The Washington Post reported these funds would surpass the costs of the Trump administrations major airstrike campaign to date and would seek to increase production of critical weaponry.

Boebert told CNN outside the Capitol that she will not support the bid.

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Ive already told leadership, I am a no on any war supplementals, Boebert told the media outlet. I am so tired of spending money elsewhere. I am tired of the industrial war complex getting all of our hard-earned tax dollars. I have folks in Colorado who cant afford to live.

According to The Hill, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the request on Thursday, arguing during a press conference that it takes money to kill the bad guys, adding that the goal of the funding was to ensure that were properly funded for whats been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition  everythings refilled, and not just refilled, but above and beyond.

Some GOP lawmakers defended the request, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who said it was needed in order for the U.S. to adequately fund defense, The Hill reported.

Democratic lawmakers have largely been against the $200 billion proposal, while others have asked for more details.

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I need to know the goals and the plan... I dont rule anything out, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich. told Politico. I mean, were in it.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., told the media outlet that the funding might be to fill in critical issues and other theaters of war theyve taken things from.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said hes open to the request but told Politico that he wants to see President Donald Trump publicly address the failures in planning the conflict with Iran so far.

Trump gave the request a thumbs up, saying on Thursday that the funding is a small price to pay to make sure we stay tippy top.

More on Politics

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Senate Republicans on Saturday voted against an unusual procedural gambit by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) to suspend the Senate rules and advance a bill through the Rules Committee to fund the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The motion failed by a party-line vote of 41 to 49. It needed 60 votes to succeed.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) dismissed the proposal as a convoluted attempt to circumvent the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is engaged in talks with White House border czar Tom Homan to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, whose funding lapsed on Feb. 14.

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This is a Schumer motion to suspend the rules and refer the House message, the bill that were on, to the Rules Committee, which doesnt have jurisdiction over appropriations or spending, and hes trying to call it a vote to fund TSA? Thune said on the floor.

I dont know how you come up with this. I will give you credit for coming up with something thats convoluted, but it doesnt do anything that the [Democratic] leader says it does, he added.

Schumer framed the vote as a simple yes or no on whether TSA agents should get funded during the shutdown.

If senators want to pay TSA workers and end the airport chaos, they should support my motion, he said.

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Thune, however, countered that Democrats on Friday voted for a fifth time to block a House-passed bill to fund the entire Department of Homeland Security, including TSA.

Weve had countless motions by our side to pass a continuing resolution that would fund all of [Homeland Security], including TSA, and consistently blocked by this side, he said, referring to Democrats.

Democratic senators sought to score political points by arguing that almost all Senate Republicans had voted against funding TSA, which is under increasing pressure because of a 36-day shutdown.

Today, Senate Republicans voted against paying TSA agents because they insist on tying TSA funding to their push to give even more money to ICEwithout basic reforms. That is not how this should workand it is just plain wrong that Republicans are preventing TSA agents from getting paid while airport lines grow longer across the country, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said after the vote.

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Democrats pointed out that Republicans objected to a bill offered by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) on March 19 to pay TSA workers while negotiations over immigration enforcement reform continue, and they blocked a similar proposal offered by Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) on March 18.

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.
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  Road closures and parking restrictions have been put in place due to the expected influx of residents and visitors for the annual Holyoke St. Patricks Parade.

The Holyoke police have implemented parking restrictions beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday. No parking signs, cones, or barricades will be located along some streets and intersections.

Watch Live: Holyoke St. Patricks Parade

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These streets along the parade route will be closed to drivers:

High Street from Appleton Street to Hampden Street

Beginning at Northampton Street and Whiting Farms Road (Kmart plaza)

Northampton Street from Whiting Farms Road to Beech Street

Beech Street from Northampton Street to Appleton Street

Appleton Street from Northampton Street to High Street

MAP: Live Traffic in Holyoke

Todays Forecast

The 73rd Holyoke St. Patricks Parade will kick off at 11:10 a.m., the broadcast begins live at noon on 22News, and is streamed on WWLP.com or the 22News Plus app.

The broadcast team will feature veteran 22News InFocus Patrick Berry and Holyoke Parade Committee member Hayley Dunn as primary hosts. At the same time, 22News Anchor Julia OKeefe will provide on-the-ground coverage, featuring real-time interviews with participants and spectators.

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.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
In one Russian city, officials blocked a rally due to a tree inspection. Elsewhere, they blamed snow removal problems or still-existing COVID-19 restrictions. And in one location, administrators argued that the reason for the protest didnt exist.

Authorities in nearly a dozen Russian regions in recent weeks cited various excuses to prevent demonstrations against internet censorship and the blocking of the popular messaging app Telegram.

In most cases, they succeeded. Mindful of a crackdown on dissent since the 4-year-old invasion of Ukraine, activists decided not to risk holding unauthorized rallies, even if they weren't about the war. Some went to court to challenge government refusals to authorize pickets, while others scaled them back to smaller indoor gatherings.

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But the disapproval persists across the political spectrum over moves against Russia's second-most popular messaging app, adding to frustrations over a growing list of various issues that plague the country.

Clearly the situation has changed, the laws have become stricter, but the protest hasnt gone anywhere, said Alexander Sustov, a legislator in Russias far eastern Primorye region where a pro-Telegram rally was blocked last month.

Discontent remains. And any ban only fuels that discontent, he said.

Online control

Restricting Telegram is Russia's latest move to put the internet under government control. Thousands of websites and platforms are blocked, as are multiple virtual private networks that allow users to circumvent censorship. Widespread cellphone internet shutdowns leave only a handful of government-approved websites available.

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Telegram trails only WhatsApp  also severely restricted  in popularity among Russians, and is widely used by government agencies for their official social media presence, as well as by pro-Kremlin commentators and military bloggers with hundreds of thousands of followers.

Authorities encourage users to switch to MAX, a government-backed messaging app that critics say is a state surveillance tool.

Military bloggers criticize the moves against Telegram, arguing it is an indispensable communications tool for Russian troops in Ukraine and for activists running crowdfunding campaigns to help Moscow's forces.

The government initially promised not to restrict Telegram on the battlefield, but a different signal later came from the Kremlin.

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At a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin for International Womens Day, a servicewoman called Telegram an adversarial communications tool and agreed with him when he said that the use of communications systems that are not ours, not under our control, poses a danger to personnel in battle.

Unconfirmed media reports predict the coming weeks will see a complete blocking of the app, which in December 2025 had 93.6 million monthly users in Russia, or 76% of the population, according to monitoring group Mediascope.

Protests stifled from Moscow to Siberia

Blocking Telegram prompted various political forces  including those who support the war or the Kremlin in general  to act.

Widespread dismay and the lack of a black-and-white narrative to justify the restrictions made people feel like they can afford to protest here, said political analyst Abbas Gallyamov.

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Last month, members of Other Russia, an ultranationalist, pro-war group, blocked the entrance to the Moscow office of state media and internet regulator Roskomnadzor with a bicycle cable and displayed a banner saying: Give us an internet without supervision, (and) Russia without Roskom-disgrace.

In December, the group hung a banner at the agency's St. Petersburg office, saying, "Roskomnadzor, ban this banner.

All were arrested, with the Moscow activists facing criminal charges.

Regional branches of the Communist Party, which generally supports the Kremlin, tried to organize rallies in several places. In Siberia's Altai region, they were turned down after local officials said claims of an internet clampdown were at odds with reality. In southern Krasnodar, a rally for later in March has been authorized on the outskirts of the city.

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In the northern cities of Naryan-Mar and Syktyvkar, Communist Party activists managed to hold pickets, with placards saying, It is not up to officials to decide what we read, and The internet is not a prison.

But those were exceptions, with authorities elsewhere refusing to allow rallies or blocking them at the last minute.

Organizers in the Ural Mountains city of Perm secured a permit for a March 15 demonstration, but two hours before its start, activists were told of a potential emergency situation at the rally site that made it unsuitable for a gathering.

Some still showed up. Viktor Gilin, 80, unfurled a banner that read, "Vladimir Putin! I demand that you bring back freedom of thought and speech  the internet! He was swiftly detained and fined.

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In the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, 16 people were detained this month at the site of a planned pro-Telegram rally. Although authorization for the protest at that square wasn't needed, participants arrived to find the site marked off with tape for a purported tree inspection, said activist Roman Malozyomov.

Malozyomov and other activists, journalists and some passersby were detained but let go after a few hours. He went straight to the Lenin Square for a one-man picket with a sign proclaiming he wanted to stay connected, with the Roskomnadzor logo crossed out.

This week, activists in several regions filed for authorization of more rallies on March 29. Some were swiftly rejected.

Protesting other issues  cautiously

Rallies have been rare since anti-war protests were brutally suppressed in 2022, with political prosecutions skyrocketing and laws restricting dissent multiplying.

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Smaller demonstrations persisted in spots, including unauthorized ones. Wives of soldiers picketed at the Kremlin and the Defense Ministry in 2024, and over 1,000 people gathered that same year in the Bashkortostan region to protest the jailing of a local activist, resulting in mass arrests.

Farmers in Siberia protested this month over cattle culling they deem unwarranted. In northern Komi, workers at a woodworking plant rallied to demand back pay.

Hundreds joined an authorized rally in October in Vladivostok to protest increased car registration fees, one of the largest gatherings in the Pacific coast city in years.

In Siberia's Tomsk, activist Anton Isakov recently managed to organize an authorized demonstration against the blocking of popular online game platform Roblox and another against animal cruelty.

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If authorities allow protests, there are ready participants because of the many issues "that people want to speak out about, he said. His attempts to get a permit for a pro-Telegram rally have been refused so far.

Malozyomov, the Novosibirsk activist, said small, authorized rallies on issues such as high utility costs are often allowed there because "the authorities are trying to give people an opportunity to vent, so that the tension doesnt build up.

Some are trying measures other than rallies.

Konstantin Larionov in Kaluga, southwest of Moscow, and 41 others filed a lawsuit against Roskomnadzor and other government officials last year, arguing that restrictions on Telegram and WhatsApp violate their free speech and privacy rights.

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Larionov urged others to join by petitioning the court via email, and the number of plaintiffs swelled to 105. He said it was encouraging to see people from different parts of the country willing to take part.

The court sided with the authorities. Larionov appealed and lost but plans to go all the way up to the Supreme Court.

He admits the ability to protest in Russia has shrunk but believes it's important to keep trying.

We are, maybe, retreating a little bit, but were not giving up, he said.

Analyst Gallyamov says the Telegram protests are more about signaling popular discontent than fighting the regime.

But it is another crack in the foundation of Putins rule, he said.
Salem City Council will discuss launching a "Prevent, Treat, and Enforce" framework to reduce drug use in the city during its March 23 meeting.

Salem residents identified drug-related issues as the second-highest priority in a recent community survey.

In a report to council, city officials said substance use remains a major challenge that affects health, safety and livability in Salem. In response, city leadership initiated a comprehensive Prevent, Treat, and Enforce strategy to better understand and strengthen the system of services addressing substance use.

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The goal of the strategy is to identify gaps in services and address those to achieve measurable outcomes.

Salem officials have stressed that the city does not have the capacity to address substance use on its own; it requires the work of county and state agencies, along with service providers.

A needle is visible at Wallace Marine Park on Feb. 11 in West Salem.

Assistant City Manager/Director for Strategy and Engagement Courtney Knox Busch said in a report to council that the city is already working with and benefiting from established relationships with Marion County Health and Human Services and the Marion County Sheriffs Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program.

"Through an initial soft launch with these key partners, early mapping and engagement efforts indicate that treatment services, beyond initial emergency response, are not traditionally within the Citys core responsibilities," she said.

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Current identified gaps include a lack of drug enforcement officers and a prevention education strategy. The enforcement portion of the strategy is to increase the seizure of illegal drugs, reduce drug-related crime, address complaints about drug activity, lower the number of repeat offenders and increase capacity for public safety.

City staff said additional engagement opportunities are underway, and staff will return to council on May 26 with results from that and recommended next steps.

"As part of this engagement, staff will document the work being performed by service providers and begin identifying gaps within the system," Knox Busch said in the report. "The information gathered will be brought back to Council to support discussion on where the City is best positioned to act and where partnerships can be leveraged to expand resources and better serve the community."

Other Salem City Council agenda items

A presentation on Salem's 2025 Annual Tree Report. In 2019, after attaining a 23% tree canopy goal, the city set a new goal of having 28% tree canopy cover by 2030. The report documents that progress.

A vote on authorizing City Manager Krishna Namburi to apply for federal grants to support capital improvement projects at the Salem-Willamette Valley Airport.

A vote on exempting the Franzen Reservoir liner and cover replacement project from the competitive bidding process to allow contractors to be involved in the design phase.

A first reading of an ordinance annexing 1.94-acres on the 5500 block of Skyline Road S into the city. A multi-family residential development is planned at the site.

The second reading of an ordinance changing city code to include short-term rentals and accessory short-term rentals in the Tourism Promotion Area. The TPA establishes a 2% fee on overnight stays in Salem. The majority of the funds go to Travel Salem to promote tourism.

A presentation on Oregon's Tree City of the Year award.

A proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Mayor Julie Hoy's proclamation on the city's continued participation in the Mayor Monarch Pledge, which commits to restoring habitat for the monarch butterfly.

A proclamation recognizing April as Arbor Month.

How to participate in the Salem City Council meeting

The meeting is at 6 p.m. March 23. While city hall is undergoing seismic retrofitting, council meetings will be held in Loucks Auditorium at the Salem Public Library at 585 Liberty St. SE.

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Meetings can be watched on Comcast Cable CCTV Channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American Sign Language and Spanish.

Those wishing to comment in person can sign up on the rosters at the chamber entrance before the start of the meeting.

Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed to cityrecorder@cityofsalem.net by 5 p.m. the day of the meeting. Or citizens can preregister between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. the day of the meeting at cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-Council-Meeting.aspx to speak during the meeting via Zoom.

Whitney Woodworth is the Statesman Journal's watchdog reporter for city hall and covers economic development. Send comments, questions and tips to her at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com or follow at @whitneywoodworth.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem embarks on 'Prevent, Treat, and Enforce' to reduce drug use
The decision, announced by the Saudi foreign ministry, follows a similar move by Qatar, which also declared the security and military attache in Irans embassy as persona non grata on Wednesday.

Riyadhs decision to expel Iranian officials from the country, after hundreds of attacks were launched by the Islamic regime on Saudi soil, brings into question the future of the Beijing-brokered 2023 normalization agreement, a regional expert told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia expelled Irans military attache, his assistant, and three embassy staff members on Sunday, 24 hours after they were declared persona non grata over the Islamic regimes continued attacks on the country. The decision, announced by the Saudi foreign ministry, follows a similar move by Qatar, which also declared the security and military attache in Irans embassy as persona non grata on Wednesday.

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Saudi Arabia and Iran re-established diplomatic ties in 2023 as part of an effort to calm regional tensions after the two countries cut ties in 2016, when the execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric led to Riyadhs embassy in Tehran being stormed. Relations worsened between the two countries after several drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities in 2019, though Tehran denied any responsibility.

Dr. Najah Al-Otaibi, a Saudi researcher and analyst specializing in international relations and the Gulf region, told the Post that the recent escalation has effectively ended the 2023 Beijing-mediated normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The Saudi foreign ministry stated that continued Iranian attacks would lead to further escalation and have "significant consequences" for current and future relations, which followed a Wednesday statement by the Saudi foreign minister warning the kingdom reserved the right to act militarily against Iran and any trust with Tehran had been shattered following recent attacks.

Smoke rises above Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 5, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/STRINGER/FILE PHOTO)

'A frustrating setback'

Saudi Arabia and Iran announced their renewed commitment to the agreement in December, only weeks before US and Israeli strikes on Iran marked the beginning of another war between the Jewish state and the Islamic regime. A statement released by Chinas foreign ministry, which at the time condemned Israels infringement on Iran's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the three nations had been looking forward to expanding cooperation in economic, political and other fields, and emphasized the importance of dialogue among regional countries aimed at consolidating security, stability, peace, and economic prosperity.

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This is a frustrating setback for those who believed diplomacy could finally resolve these long-standing differences, Al-Otaibi shared. In response, Saudi Arabia and its GCC (Gulf Cooperative Council) partners appear to be unifying their military strategiesa positive step toward strengthening their collective self-defense and stability, given the current tensions.

Dr. Arash Azizi, an academic and author of the book What Iranians Want, added, Measures taken by Qatar and Saudi Arabia against Iran are far from symbolic - they show serious resolve and a protest at Irans escalations.

Azizi warned, Iran risks ruining years of its attempt to curry favor with Riyadh and Doha. As GCC countries plan for their long-term security, they will now view Iran much more alarmingly. They are, in fact, invested in affecting its future.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Saudi Arabia has given Irans military attache and embassy staff 24 hours to leave the kingdom due to repeated Iranian attacks on its territory.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday that it had declared personae non gratae the military attache of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Kingdom, the assistant military attache and three members of the mission staff.

The move comes amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has seen Tehran target Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours hosting US military assets with increasingly damaging attacks on civilian hubs and energy facilities, unleashing chaos across the region and roiling global energy markets.

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Saudi Arabia, which holds the worlds second-largest proven crude oil reserves, has come under attack by hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones since the start of the war, the vast majority of which have been intercepted, authorities have said.

Among the attacks, energy facilities in the east of Saudi Arabia have been repeatedly targeted, as well as the capital, Riyadh, where the US embassy was hit by two drones earlier this month.

On Thursday, oil loadings at the Red Sea port of Yanbu were disrupted after a drone fell on the nearby Aramco-Exxon refinery, SAMREF.

The port is the only export outlet for Saudi Arabia after Iran effectively blocked tanker traffic leaving the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz.

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Saturdays statement came after Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said earlier in the week that trust in Iran had been shattered, asserting his countrys right to defend itself.





The foreign minister said that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states had very significant capacities and capabilities that they could bring to bear should they choose to do so.

Saudi Arabias relations with Iran have historically been rocky, but the two countries embarked on a Beijing-brokered rapprochement three years ago.

On Saturday, the Foreign Ministry said that continued Iranian attacks would lead to further escalation and have significant consequences for current and future relations.

The statement followed Qatars decision on Wednesday to declare the Iranian Embassys military and security attaches in Doha as personae non gratae, along with their staff.




Nancy Guthrie's family asked neighbors to search their minds and memories for possible clues to the abduction of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie's mother in a bid to shake loose information that could help find the missing 84-year-old.

"Its possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant," the family said in a statement to local Arizona, station KVOA  News 4 Tucson. "We hope people search their memories, especially around the key timelines of Jan. 31 and the early morning hours of Feb.1, as well as the late evening of Jan. 11."

"We desperately ask this community for renewed attention to our moms case  please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance," the family pleaded. "No detail is too small. It may be the key."

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More: Nancy Guthrie suspect could absolutely strike again, sheriff says

Nancy Guthrie was last seen the evening of January 31, after being dropped off at her Tucson home. She was reported missing on Feb. 1 after missing church, sparking an intense investigation into her disappearance.

"We miss our mom with every breath and we cannot be in peace until she is home," the statement continued. "We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder. Our focus is solely on finding her and bringing her home. We want to celebrate her beautiful and courageous life. But we cannot do that until she is brought to a final place of rest."

"Thank you for continuing to pray without ceasing."

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The Pima County Sheriff's Department said in a March 13 update that investigators continue to analyze evidence, including "material from laboratories as well as images and videos captured by camera."

"At this time, we will not comment on the details or status of this analysis," sheriff spokesperson Angelica Carrillo said in the update.

The sheriff's department, along with the FBI, has been looking into DNA samples collected from Guthrie's home and neighborhood in the Tucson area, a backpack worn by a suspect who "tampered" with her doorbell camera the night of her disappearance and a potential Wi-Fi jammer being used to interrupt Guthrie's internet service.

More: Nancy Guthrie neighbor saw suspicious man near her home

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Savannah Guthrie and family release new statement, keep up hope for mom Nancy
By Alexander Cornwell and Dedi Hayun

TEL AVIV/ARAD March 22 (Reuters) - Southern Israeli towns woke to widespread damage on Sunday after air defences failed to intercept two Iranian missiles overnight that injured scores of civilians in one of the worst attacks of the war so far on Israeli soil.

As daylight broke, the scale of the damage in the desert town of Arad, where one of the strikes hit a multi-story apartment bloc, came into clearer view, with entire floors blown open by the blast.

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Southern Israel's Soroka hospital described the attacks as a mass-casualty event. In Arad, 31 people, including 18 children, required hospitalization, at least nine of them in serious condition, the hospital said. Dozens more were lightly injured.

Footage verified by Reuters showed flames engulfing the top floor of an apartment building shortly after the strike. Search and rescue teams moved from floor to floor inside the damaged buildings.

Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said both strikes had been carried out with conventional ballistic missiles. He declined to comment when asked about the initial findings of a military investigation into the failure to intercept the missiles.

NETANYAHU SAYS MIRACLE NO-ONE KILLED

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Most Israelis receive alerts on their mobile phone when launches from Iran are identified. An air raid siren sounds and they then have a few minutes to go to safe rooms or public bomb shelters.

"It is a miracle that no-one was killed," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, standing in the crater at the impact site in Arad.

Pointing at the blown-out walls of the apartment bloc and then at the reinforced undamaged wall leading to a shelter below ground, Netanyahu urged Israelis not to be complacent. No-one would have been hurt, he said, had all sought shelter in time.

Uri Shacham, the chief of staff of Israel's ambulance service, said at least eight buildings were damaged in the strike on Arad.

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Israel said Iran was targeting civilian population areas. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they targeted military and security-related sites in retaliation for Israeli strikes.

Arad and Dimona, the other city that was hit, are located close to Israel's secretive nuclear reactor and several military bases, including Nevatim Air Base, one of the country's largest.

In Dimona, five people were hospitalized, including a 12-year-old boy who was in a serious condition, the hospital said.

Since joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, Israel has come under daily missile fire from Iran.

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AT LEAST 15 HOSPITALIZED

At least 19 civilians have been killed in Israel and the occupied West Bank in Iranian attacks since the war started.

The Israeli military said Sunday evening it was investigating whether a man killed near the Lebanon border earlier that day, following a launch from Lebanese territory, had been struck by Israeli fire.

At least 15 people were hospitalized on Sunday in fresh Iranian attacks, according to emergency services, including a cluster munition that struck in Tel Aviv.

Israeli and U.S. strikes have killed at least 1,300 people in Iran so far, according to the Iranian government. The U.S.-based rights group HRANA, which tracks human rights violations in Iran, has recorded 3,320 people killed, including 1,406 civilians and 1,167 military personnel, with the remainder not yet determined. Reuters could not independently verify the data.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by David Holmes and Christina Fincher)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended President Donald Trumps post celebrating Robert Muellers death, saying the president deserved empathy because he and his family had been through a lot after various investigations.

When asked whether the presidents Truth Social post saying Good, Im glad hes dead was appropriate, Bessent argued nobody could understand what Trump had been through.

I think that given what has been done to President Trump and his family, it is impossible for either of us to understand what he has been through, Bessent told Kristen Welker on Meet the Press Sunday.

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I think that we should have a little empathy for what has been done to him and his family, Bessent added, referring to the 2022 raid on the Trumps residence at Mar-a-Lago, which Mueller was not part of.

Bessent refused to say whether the president of the United States should celebrate the death of any American.

Bessent made the comments during an appearance on Meet the Press (AFP via Getty Images)

Mueller, the former FBI director who was the special counsel who led the investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign ties to Russia, died Friday at 81 years old. When Muellers death was announced Saturday, Trump celebrated it, saying, He can no longer hurt innocent people!

Trump had held animosity toward Mueller for investigating allegations that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Muellers two-year-long probe ended with six indictments against former Trump officials and associates, as well as a lengthy report.

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While Muellers final report did not accuse the president of a crime, it also did not completely exonerate him. Rather, it provided anecdotes of repeated obstructive-like behavior from Trump.

The Mueller investigation proceeded various other criminal and civil investigations against Trump after he left office, including the classified documents inquiry  which is what spurred the Mar-a-Lago raid. Ultimately, that case was dismissed by a federal judge.

Yet, Bessent appeared to be referring to the raid, which the president has denounced repeatedly.

Mueller led an investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia after allegations that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election arose (Getty Images)

I was with the president in the green room at Davos, and there was a video playing of what may have been an illegal raid on his home at Mar-a-Lago, he told Meet the Press. They are going through his wife's wardrobe. And I watched the look in his eye, and I think that neither one of us can understand what has been done to the president and to his family.

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Welker pointed out to Bessent that Mueller did not order that raid.

But Bessent remained firm that the presidents decision to celebrate Muellers death is likely tied to his personal feelings toward the various investigations.
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Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) may sequester more carbon in their engineered dams than previously thought, a new analysis claims. . | Credit: Andyworks via Getty Images

Beavers' dams and ponds can turn a stream corridor into a net annual carbon sink, drawing in more carbon than it released over the course of a year, a new study finds.

The finding has big implications for the reintroduction of Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) across Europe after centuries of being hunted to near extinction . If similar patterns hold elsewhere, the animals could help to mitigate climate change by sequestering the greenhouse gas without any costly infrastructure.

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"Beavers are not going to solve climate change, but our research shows these natural engineers can quietly help river landscapes store more carbon for decades to come," study lead author Lukas Hallberg , a researcher at the University of Birmingham in the U.K., told Live Science in an email.

Calculating a carbon budget

In the study, published March 18 in the journal Communications Earth and Environment , the researchers examined a 0.5-mile (0.8 kilometers) beaver-influenced stream in northern Switzerland.

Before the beaver wetland was established in 2010, the stream acted as more of a floodplain, with lots of trees. When the beavers were introduced, they removed many of the trees for their dams, opening up the canopy for smaller plants.

The scientists measured carbon in the water, escaping into the atmosphere and being stored in sediments, biomass and deadwood. They did this by collecting core samples from the sediment and surrounding forest, along with plant samples from the algae growing along the stream. The researchers also calculated water flow of the stream, which helped them determine water levels, salt content, and how much sediment moved through the area.

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The results showed that the wetland was a net sink that sequestered 108 to 146 tons (98 to 133 metric tons) of carbon per year. This amount of carbon saved is equivalent to 832 to 1,129 barrels of oil consumed.

The team estimated that across the floodplains suitable for beaver recolonization in Switzerland, the resulting wetlands could offset between 1.2% and 1.8% of Switzerland's annual carbon emissions.

The researchers were careful not to oversell what the animals can do, especially as only one site was studied and carbon storage can vary with climate, geology, vegetation and the amount of room beavers have to spread. But Hallberg argued that beavers can offer a low-cost assist in making infrastructure more sustainable.

"Working with natural processes from the outset is not just ecologically sound, it is also economically sensible," he said.

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Emily Fairfax , an assistant professor in the Department of Geography, Environment and Society at the University of Minnesota who was not involved in the study, welcomed the findings. She said the study helps to counter a common misconception that because wetlands can emit carbon , restoring them might not seem worth it.

"The way that they described the beaver ponds as these durable carbon sinks, I think is really important," she told Live Science. "This is a really powerful tool for supporting the wetland restoration that needs to happen, and also for taking some of the skepticism off of beavers ... People are pretty quick to paint beavers as a problem and look for a reason to heavily control them. And I think this study does a really good job of showing we don't have to do anything other than let the beavers be beavers."

Given their behavior for taking down trees, beavers have been seen as chaotic and a problem to deal with. | Credit: Troy Harrison via Getty Images

Beavers bouncing back

Beavers were hunted to near-extinction across huge parts of their range in both Europe and North America, taking their wet, carbon-rich wetlands with them. Now, as populations recover, researchers are starting to understand their role in carbon sequestration.

Hallberg said it is difficult to produce a solid estimate of how much carbon could be removed through large-scale beaver restoration in either North America or Europe because suitable habitat and carbon inputs vary from place to place. But he pointed to earlier work from Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park estimating that active beaver wetlands can account for as much as 23% of total carbon storage in the landscape.

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RELATED STORIES

Why do beavers build dams?

Unusual' beaver die-off in Utah caused by 'rabbit fever,' which can also infect humans

Planting trees in the sea could act as a huge carbon sink and save millions of dollars in storm damage every year. What is stopping us from doing it?

Fairfax noted that "if we were to restore beavers seriously," the resulting carbon gains would be large enough that "we couldn't ignore it,"

She added that the new study findings may even underestimate the carbon sequestered by the beavers, because healthier beaver wetlands can make riverscapes more resistant to catastrophic wildfires, preventing some carbon from being released in the first place.

"The joke in the beaver science world is, if you've got a problem, there's a beaver for that," she said.
A semi-driver who was involved in a deadly head-on crash in Indiana last month is facing charges.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Bekzhan Beishekeev, 30, was served an arrest warrant related to charges from a crash that happened on Feb. 3 in Jay County.

He is facing several felony charges, according to the Jay County Prosecutors Office.

Four people died in a crash near State Road 67 and Country Road 550 East in Jay County, according to a previous News Center 7 report.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Beishekeev faces four counts of reckless homicide and three counts of criminal recklessness, the Jay County Prosecutors Office said.

He is currently being held in the Jay County Security Center.

The four people killed in the crash have been identified as Henry Eicher, 50; Menno Eicher, 25; Paul Eicher, 19; and Simon Girod, 23, all of Bryant, Indiana.

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The May primary election will likely feature contested races in a number of local state House and Senate districts, but not the regions two congressional districts.

Thats because just one candidate from each major party filed to run for Congress in both the 8th and 9th congressional districts, where a pair of Republican incumbents hope to hold onto their seats as Democrats try to wrest majority control of the House of Representatives from the GOP for the final two years of President Donald Trumps second term.

In the 8th Congressional District that includes all of Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike and parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties, incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan of Dallas Twp. is uncontested for his partys nomination in the May primary as he seeks reelection to the seat he narrowly won in 2024. Democratic Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti hopes to unseat Bresnahan and is uncontested for the Democratic nomination, setting up whats likely to be one of the nations more competitive races in November.

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The race for U.S. House in the 9th Congressional District that includes all or parts of 12 counties, including all of Susquehanna, Wyoming and Schuylkill counties and part of Luzerne, is expected to be less competitive. Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser of Jackson Twp., uncontested in the GOP primary, will likely face Schuylkill County Democrat Rachel Wallace of East Brunswick Twp., whos uncontested for her partys nomination, in the heavily Republican district.

While third-party or otherwise unaffiliated candidates might still emerge and change the dynamics of those races, voters should brace for a Bresnahan/Cognetti general election battle in the 8th and a Meuser/Wallace matchup in the 9th.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Reports House Race Ratings, which assess the competitiveness of House races nationwide, continues to list Bresnahans race as leaning Republican and Meusers as solid Republican.

Races that lean one way or another are considered competitive, but with one party having the advantage. Races listed as solid for one party or the other are not considered competitive and are unlikely to become closely contested.

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State Senate races

In the race for Pennsylvanias 22nd Senate District, incumbent Democratic state Sen. Marty Flynn of Dunmore faces a primary challenge from fellow Democrat Jeffrey Lake of Clarks Summit.

Flynn, a former state representative for the 113th House District, has represented the 22nd Senate District that includes parts of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties since winning a special election for the seat in 2021. He did not face a primary challenger in 2022 and won a full four-year term that November by defeating Republican Tom Bassett of Pittston with more than 60% of the vote.

Lake, a special education professional and self-described progressive Democrat, announced his candidacy late last year.

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Both candidates, Flynn and Lake, face nomination petition challenges seeking to knock them off the primary election ballot, with court hearings on those challenges scheduled this week in Harrisburg.

Assuming both candidates survive the challenges and remain on the ballot, the winner of the Democratic primary will likely face presumptive Republican nominee Sharon Soltis Sparano of La Plume Twp. in November. Sparano, a retired pharmacist who ran for Lackawanna County recorder of deeds last year but lost, is uncontested for the GOP nomination for the state Senate seat in the Republican primary.

The 22nd is one of two state Senate districts in the region that at this point will feature a contested primary  the other being the 20th District, represented by five-term GOP incumbent state Sen. Lisa Baker of Lehman Twp.

She faces a Republican primary challenge from Tyler Meyers, a behavioral specialist and Army veteran who lives in Sugar Notch, in the district that includes parts of Luzerne and Wayne and all of Pike, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties.

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The winner will likely face Susquehanna County Democrat Jackie Baker of Liberty Twp., a family caregiver uncontested for the Democratic nomination, in November. Lisa Baker defeated Jackie Baker in the 2022 general election with nearly 68% of the vote.

In the 40th state Senate District that includes parts of Lackawanna and Wayne and all of Monroe County, incumbent Republican state Sen. Rosemary Brown of Middle Smithfield Twp. is uncontested in the GOP primary and will advance to a likely November matchup with Democrat Brian Wrightson of Archbald. Wrightson, a rural broadband manager, is uncontested for the Democratic nomination in that district.

Only even-numbered state Senate districts are on the ballot this election cycle. The odd-numbered districts will be up again in 2028.

State House contests

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Of the state House districts that include Lackawanna County constituents, only one, the 114th, is likely to feature a contested primary.

In that district, sole proprietor David Burgerhoff of Scranton and technician Logan Lombardo of Clarks Summit will face each other for the GOP nomination and a chance to challenge incumbent Democratic state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski of Waverly Twp. Kosierowski, a longtime registered nurse and state representative since 2019, is unopposed in her partys primary as she pursues another two-year term.

A Burgerhoff victory in the Republican primary would likely create a November rematch of the 2022 election for the 114th House District seat. Kosierowski defeated Burgerhoff in that matchup four years ago, earning almost 63% of the vote.

Elsewhere in the region, incumbent Republican state Rep. Jamie Walsh of Ross Twp. faces a primary challenge from Bill Jones, a Dorrance Twp. Republican, in the 117th state House District spanning nearly 30 Luzerne County municipalities. Jones, who previously served as president and CEO of the United Way of Wyoming Valley, recently survived a nomination petition challenge seeking to knock him off the GOP primary ballot.

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Democrat Jeremy Benscoter of Hunlock Twp., an information technology director, is uncontested for his partys nomination in the 117th District.

In the 120th state House District spanning 14 Luzerne County municipalities, attorney and Democratic Luzerne County Councilwoman Joanna Bryn Smith of Wyoming and fellow Democrat Fern Leard of Dallas Twp. will face off in the Democratic primary. The winner is likely to face incumbent GOP state Rep. Brenda Pugh of Dallas Twp., who is uncontested in the Republican primary as she seeks reelection.

Pugh first won the seat in 2024 by defeating Leard with almost 58% of the vote.

Also in Luzerne County, a pair of Wilkes-Barre Democrats  city council Chairwoman Jessica McClay, a claims adjuster, and retired paramedic Michael Stadulis  are running in the Democratic primary for the 121st state House District seat that represents the city and six other municipalities. The Democratic primary winner will likely face business executive and presumptive Republican nominee Mike Harostock of Bear Creek Village, who does not face a GOP primary challenger.

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The winner in November will replace longtime Democratic state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski of Wilkes-Barre, who is retiring.

And in the 115th state House District, which includes parts of Monroe County, incumbent Democratic state Rep. Maureen Madden of Coolbaugh Twp. faces a primary challenge from fellow Democrat and Coolbaugh Twp. resident Anna Lopez, a business analyst.

Lopez is challenging Maddens nomination petitions and a pair of residents are challenging Lopezs petitions, with hearings on the challenges scheduled this week in Harrisburg. Assuming both survive the challenges and remain on the ballot, the Democratic primary winner is likely to face Republican business owner Rich Szabo of Coolbaugh Twp., who is unopposed for the GOP nomination, in November.

Local state House districts not listed here do not feature contested partisan primaries. The last day for candidates who filed nomination petitions seeking spots on primary election ballots to withdraw is Wednesday.

The primary election is May 19.
Deputies are investigating a shooting between two people who knew each other.

Skagit County deputies were called to the Day Creek Area around 9 p.m. on March 16 for reports of a weapons offense.

Initial reports indicate that a 29-year-old man was shot in the butt by an acquaintance. The nature of their relationship is unknown.

The injured man was driven to the South Skagit Park and Ride where deputies spoke with him.

He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Deputies and detectives responded to the scene and are continuing to investigate.

Its unclear if anyone has been arrested.
PIERRE  After weeks spent split on property tax relief, economic development and other policy decisions, some state legislators seized an opportunity to blow off steam at a lawmakers day taking place just north of the capital city.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol and Department of Public Safety hosted about a dozen lawmakers at the Emergency Vehicle Operation Course.

https://southdakotasearchlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/031926-EVOC-Feature_mixdown.mp3

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Listen to an audio version of this story by reporter Meghan OBrien. For broadcasters: See below for a downloadable version.

Highway Patrol troopers, police officers and sheriffs deputies, among other first responders, must be successful in the course that requires high- and low-speed vehicle maneuvering, driving in reverse and disabling other vehicles. Thats according to South Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Dave Campbell.

For most of the participants, its a weeklong experience.

They have a classroom section, and then a testing session where they have to perform every exercise, Campbell said.

Law enforcement training classes are the largest, Campbell said, often with more than 20 students. Instructors get certified in Washington state, where Campbell said he gets ideas for new ways to challenge students.

Searchlight Report podcast

Listen to voices from South Dakota politics and policy.

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Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

The cars on the course are old Highway Patrol vehicles. Some of them are outfitted with metal bumpers as protection so the cars dont get damaged beyond repair.

Madison Republican Rep. Tim Walburg is one of the lawmakers who came to test his skills on the course during the final week of the legislative session. Hes a former Lake County sheriff and currently works as a paramedic. Walburg hasnt done a course like this one since the early 2000s  a hot minute, he said.

This has changed a little bit, Walburg added.

The course has speed sensors with lights to point drivers in one direction or the other at the last second to test reactions. Those light-up arrows only appear if a driver is going fast enough to trigger them. Walburg said when he was getting certified, he relied on an instructor to call out a direction to turn the vehicle.

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The course was recently resurfaced thanks to a $2.4 million appropriation from lawmakers in 2021, Campbell said. Legislator days like this one help build relationships between law enforcement trainers and lawmakers.

A lot of them hadnt seen what their blessing went towards, Campbell said. And then they come out and they see it, they have fun, and theyre like, What else do you guys need? Whats a future need that you guys might have?

For broadcasters




Myra Fennell spent nearly three months suffering from severe pain in her abdomen, side and back before a pediatric neurosurgeon offered a possible explanation: It was all in her head.

The Spring resident, 17, had already seen seven doctors and specialists in search of a reason why she suddenly woke up screaming in the middle of the night on Sept. 7. Her pain was routinely a "9 out of 10" by the time she saw the neurosurgeon.

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Myra was furious that a doctor would dismiss a problem so severe that she struggled to fall asleep at night until she passed out from a combination of pain and exhaustion. The suggestion there was nothing wrong also added to the hopelessness that was intensifying with each medical test result that came back without an answer.

"I just wanted to cry after that. It was horrible," she said. "I just lost a lot of hope."

READ MORE: A Houston woman thought she had dementia. Then a doctor saw something new in a scan of her brain.

Then a pain management doctor referred her to Dr. Keith Kerr, a neurosurgeon with Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Associates. Kerr has a reputation for conducting thorough neurological examinations, and he took a closer look at Myra's medical imaging. He noticed subtle abnormalities in her spinal column that helped him identify a rare and often under-diagnosed condition that can cause chronic pain, weakness in the legs and neurological problems.

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Kerr determined that Myra needed surgery to relieve the pain. The procedure is low risk for experienced surgeons like Kerr, but surgeries near the spinal cord can result in complications. Myra quickly agreed to the procedure because she was sick of living in constant pain.

"When he told me he knew what was wrong with me and that he had to do surgery, I'm pretty sure I smiled," she said. "What (teenager) smiles and is happy about having spinal surgery?"

Myra Fennell is shown at Spring Physical Therapy in Spring Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle)





A sudden, searing pain

Myra's story is indicative of the struggles that many patients face while they're suffering from medical conditions that can be tricky to diagnose. Delays in finding an answer can also be detrimental to patients like Myra, whose condition worsened over the four months she spent suffering from chronic pain.

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The pain started below Myra's ribcage and circled around her side to her back. It came on so suddenly that her mother initially suspected her appendix had burst.

"It was miserable," her mother, Jenna Fennell, said. "It was the worst pain I've ever seen her go through."

READ MORE: A rare condition left a Houston student with seizures and psychosis. Why was her 'brain on fire?'

The pain intensified to the point that Fennell took her daughter to an emergency room. Doctors performed a battery of tests but couldn't find an explanation. They gave her pain medication, which had almost no effect.

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Over the next three months, Myra saw a pediatrician, a gastroenterologist, a pulmonologist, an orthopedist, a pain management specialist and a neurologist. She had five MRIs, multiple CT scans, X-rays, a sonogram and countless blood tests. Every medical condition she was tested for came back negative.

"It got to the point where I was praying it was Lyme disease, just so I would have an answer," Myra said.

Emma Lean, physical therapist, works with Myra Fennell, 17, at Spring Physical Therapy in Spring Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle)





A rabbit hole of darkness'

Myra's worsening pain affected every part of her life. On the worst days, she struggled to get out of bed and needed someone to help her walk to the bathroom. Her legs felt heavy, like they were being held down with weights.

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She missed 42 days of classes at Klein High School and when she could attend, her lack of sleep made it difficult to focus. She also needed permission to use an elevator because it hurt to walk up the stairs.

Myra also pitches and plays first base in softball, but she needed to cut back on training because it hurt to run or lift weights.

Myra leaned on her faith in God but grew depressed as she lost the ability to do the things she loved. The experience was also difficult for her parents, who felt powerless to help.

READ MORE: A Houston woman thought her rapid weight gain was her fault. Then doctors made a startling discovery.

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"For her to go down that rabbit hole of darkness was really scary for her, and for us," her mother said.

Fennell had seen her daughter suffering from chronic pain for more than two months by the time they met with the pediatric neurosurgeon. She was furious when he suggested it was all in Myra's head.

"I've never been so upset with a doctor in my life," Fennell said. "I'd seen the amount of pain she was in."

Myra Fennell, 17, and her mother, Jenna Fennell, are shown at Spring Physical Therapy in Spring Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle)





Finding an answer

Myra already had an appointment with Kerr before she saw the pediatric neurosurgeon who dismissed her pain. She'd been referred to him by a pain management doctor who knew Kerr's reputation for taking his time to fully assess his patients.

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Kerr looked over Myra's medical images and reviewed them with the family. He performed a thorough neurological exam, asking Myra for a detailed explanation of her symptoms.

He told the family he wanted to schedule a myelogram, a procedure that involves injecting contrast dye into the spinal column to offer a better view of the spinal cord and nearby structures.

"When we went in, I have a feeling that he already knew what was wrong with her," Fennell said.

READ MORE: 'We're doing this together': Houston couple diagnosed with cancer on same day fight it side by side

Fennell's hunch proved to be correct. Other doctors had noticed that Myra had a dilated central canal, an abnormal widening of the small, fluid-filled space that runs through the spinal cord. They had dismissed the finding because the condition is generally asymptomatic.

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But Kerr noticed that part of Myra's spinal cord was pushed toward the front of her spinal canal.

"That let me know there was some type of obstruction that was not allowing (cerebrospinal) fluid to flow through her spinal cord," Kerr said.

Kerr determined that a portion of the membrane that surrounds Myra's spinal cord had thickened, forming tissues that vaguely resemble spider webs on an MRI. And they were responsible for all of Myra's symptoms.

Myra Fennell works with Emma Lean, physical therapist, at Spring Physical Therapy in Spring Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Doctors at Memorial Hermann eventually discovered Myra had spinal arachnoid webs, a rare condition. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle)





A rare spinal condition

Spinal arachnoid webs are rare, though experts believe they are underreported because they can be mistaken for other conditions. Kerr only treats one or two patients with the condition each year, and none have been as young as Myra.

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"I think that's part of what made this such a journey for them," he said. "This isn't a common thing in pediatrics at all."

The webs can result from inflammation or trauma, but in many cases the cause is unknown, Kerr said.

Diagnosing them quickly is crucial, though, because the webs can cause long-term neurological deficits if left untreated. Patients also tend to decline the longer they're undiagnosed, with some developing bladder problems or weakness in their legs.

Myra's condition was diagnosed soon enough that she avoided any long-term complications, Kerr said.

A delicate surgery

Kerr and a team of doctors at Mischer Neuroscience Associates determined surgery was the best option for Myra. The surgery is typically low-risk, but any slip of the hand while operating near the spinal cord could lead to paralysis or other complications.

Myra and her parents quickly agreed to the procedure because they wanted to relieve her pain.

"I was just so done, and I just knew that this was going to fix me," Myra said.

The surgery took place Jan. 20. Kerr cut open the membrane that protects the spinal cord, known as the dura, and used a microscope to find each of the spinal arachnoid webs. He then used small tools to cut out the abnormal tissue.

Myra noticed the difference as soon as she awoke from surgery. Her legs no longer felt heavy, and she was able to fall asleep without passing out. Her back was sore at first, but the searing pain she'd been experiencing for months was gone.

Myra Fennell is shown at Spring Physical Therapy in Spring Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Doctors at Memorial Hermann eventually discovered Myra had spinal arachnoid webs, a rare condition. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle)





Free from chronic pain

Myra's recovery has been arduous, even though her pain is a fraction of what it was before. She spent 10 days using a walker, and the physical therapy appointments she attends three times per week have been more difficult than she imagined.

She's finally set to return to school on Monday after taking online courses for the past three months. She'll need to miss softball season this spring, but she hopes she'll be running again by late April.

Her mother emailed the pediatric neurosurgeon who'd dismissed Myra's pain to reveal that she'd been diagnosed with spinal arachnoid webs. She also implored him to take more time to listen to patients with similar symptoms in the future.

"I was not mean. I was nice," Fennell said. Someone responded to her email and promised to pass her message to the doctor.

Kerr said it's understandable that so many doctors struggled to diagnose the condition, because it's rare enough that they probably hadn't seen it before. He said Myra's story illustrates why it's important for doctors to perform thorough exams, and listen to their patients when they describe symptoms.

"I think that's the key to making some of these rare diagnoses  diving in deep," he said. "Listening to those (patients), I think, is most important."

This article originally published at A Spring teen was told months of severe pain was all in her head. Then a doctor took a closer look..
NBC News

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent flipped between outraged, celebratory, and at a loss for words as he fought to justify the presidents lifted sanctions on Iranian oil stored on tankers.

Why is the U.S. helping to fund a country that its currently at war with, Mr. Secretary? host Kristen Welker asked on Meet the Press Sunday, pointing out that Iran could bank $14 billion from the move.

Again, Kristen. Why dont we have good facts here? That Iranian oil was always going to be sold to the Chinese. It was going to be sold at a discount, Bessent, 63, responded.

Scott Bessent argued that we are using Iran's 'oil against them' by lifting sanctions on 140 million barrels. / NBC News

He then struggled with his words as he continued: So which is better, Kristen? Theseventhewhich is better? If oil prices spike to $150 and they were getting 70% of that, or oil prices below a hundred? Its better to have them where they are now.

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Bessent moved to paint the concessions as a win, proclaiming: And to be clear, we had always planned for this contingency. About 140 million barrels are out on the water. In essence, we are jiu-jitsuing the Iranians. We are using their own oil against them.

The former hedge fund founder reasoned that the U.S. would have a much better line of sight on the oil if it goes beyond Chinese buyers, and argued that the $14 billion revenue was grossly overstated.

The treasury secretary accused Kristen Welker of 'terrible framing' and not having 'good facts' by questioning the logic of the concession. / NBC News

As Welker pointed out that he wasnt disputing Iran will get the money, Bessent then chose to pass the buck. Iran will get a huge amount of the money because its a state sponsor of terrorism and China is helping them, he riddled.

Later, Welker asked: Isnt the point that the sanctions were in place to prevent Iran from getting any of the money, and they will have access to the money now?

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Bessent appeared overwhelmed by the questioning and lashed out: Again, Kristen, youre missing the point. Please listen to me. They were getting it from China anyway.

Bessent argued that Iran would have always gained revenue from the oil, and that the U.S. had always considered lifting sanctions. / NBC News

The treasury secretary went on offense again when asked about how much prices would change at home due to the lifted sanctions on 140 million barrels, which amounts to just over a days worth of global oil needs.

Again, Kristen, terrible framing. Terrible framing, he accused.

How much can it change prices here at home. Talk to consumers. How much will it change prices here at home? Welker asked a second time.

Let me explain, Bessent said after repeatedly trying to interrupt. 140 million barrels thatabout 20 million barrels a day comes out of the gulf. About five million has been repurposed by the Saudis, by the UAE. So were at 15-deficit, about 1.5 is Iranian oil that comes out.

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Pausing to clear his throat in the middle of his sentence, Bessent concluded that Irans oil could be stretched much further than Welker thought.

So we are at between a ten and 14 million deficit on a daily basis. So if you think about 140 million barrels, thats between ten days and two weeks of supply, he mapped out.

Sanctions on Iranian oil had been in place for decades before Friday's announcement. / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

It was announced on Friday that sanctions on Iranian oilwhich had been in place for decadeswould be lifted, despite Trumps former complaints that Iran was holding countries hostage with an oil monopoly.

Trump has already lifted sanctions on Russian oil this month, after his decision to go to war with Iran saw the Strait of Hormuz become largely impassable. Last week, it was predicted that already-high oil prices could rise to $180 per barrel.
Pennsylvania State Police are offering a $5,000 reward for information that solves the case of a shooting at a Butler County auto repair shop.

On Jan. 11, 2013, troopers responded to Bobs Truck & Auto Repair Inc. on Evans City Road. A man was reported to be dead from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Troopers found 45-year-old Robert Charles Gaurrich of Brownsdale lying face down on a gravel pile behind the business.

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PSP believes Gaurrich was shot inside the business, and he then tried to get away from the shooter through the east main door.

Gaurrichs Winchester Canadian Centennial 30-30 lever-action rifle was missing from the scene, PSP says. Heres a description of the weapon:

The barrel was octagonal-shaped and was 26-28 inches long.

It was stamped 1867-1967.

The weapon has a 12-round capacity.

It has a wooden stock with wood putty on the forearm portion.

One of the rings for a sling was broken, and the gun was missing a metal ring on the butt stock.

It did not have a scope, but did have iron sights.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PSP Butler at 724-284-8100 or PSP Tips Toll Free at 1-800-472-8477. You can also submit a tip online by clicking here.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
A fire in Sevier County was caused by remnants of an unextinguished controlled burn Saturday afternoon.

Fire crews from Sevier and Sanpete counties responded to a fire along the Sevier River, north of Redmond, at 3:07 p.m. Saturday.

The North Redmond Fire, estimated at 100 acres, was deemed to have been caused by remnants of an earlier controlled burn that were picked up and fanned by gusty winds, according to a release from the Sevier County Sheriffs Office.

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No structures were threatened during the blaze, as it was mostly near the river, the release said, even though a post by Utah Fire Info reported earlier that structures were threatened. State Route 256 was briefly closed as a precaution to battle the flames, the release said.

The fire was later reported to be 50% contained, according to a post on X by Utah Fire Info, and firefighters would continue to monitor the fire and carry out mop-up efforts until it is fully contained, a follow-up post later said.
WASHINGTON  A Republican push to limit mail-in ballots in elections is hitting the Supreme Court on March 23, and the case could have big implications for the upcoming midterms races.

The case addresses whether absentee ballots must be received  and not just postmarked  by Election Day.

Voting by mail has decreased since its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet nearly 30% of voters still cast ballots by mail in the 2024 elections, and many states have grace periods for mailed ballots.

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President Donald Trump has long railed against mail-in voting, saying it is a practice vulnerable to fraud. He also baselessly insists it cost him the 2020 election.

ELECTIONS CAN NEVER BE HONEST WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS/VOTING, and everybody, IN PARTICULAR THE DEMOCRATS, KNOWS THIS, he wrote on Truth Social in August.

More: Get rid of mail-in voting? Trump goal sparks debate, threatened lawsuits

Trump signed an executive order last year to overhaul elections, including eliminating grace periods for mailed ballots received after Election Day. Some GOP-controlled states have changed their rules in response, and Democratic states have so far successfully challenged Trump's order in litigation working its way through the courts.

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In a different legal challenge involving Mississippis law, the Trump administration will join the Republican National Committee on March 23 in trying to convince the Supreme Court that states are prohibited from counting mailed ballots received after Election Day.

More: What's in the SAVE Act and how would voters be impacted?

Rejection rate for late-arriving ballots is low

Daniel Thompson, a political scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an expert on how election rules affect outcomes, doubts the case will have much influence on election results.

States without grace periods for mailed ballots have similar rejection rates for late-arriving ballots as states with looser deadlines, he said. And the overall rejection rate for late-arriving ballots in the 2020 elections was less than 1%, he said.

Pennsylvania mail-in ballot envelopes.

Still, the case  Watson v. Republican National Committee  could play a role in public perceptions about election security, said Rick Hasen, an elections expert and law professor at UCLA.

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Watson fits into this broader pattern of lawsuits over vote-by-mail, Hasen said in a webinar about the case. I think theyre meant to please Trump, and theyre meant to make the elections seem fraudulent.

The case, however, has an unusual twist in that the law being challenged was passed by a GOP-controlled legislature and is being defended by Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, a Republican.

Reasonable people can disagree with Mississippis policy choice to require only that absentee ballots be mailed by election day, Fitch told the Supreme Court in a filing. But federal law authorizes Mississippi to make that choice.

More: In latest major elections case, Supeme Court to hear GOP challenge to mail-in ballots

A U.S. Postal Service truck is seen driving past a a blue mail collection box on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., August 13, 2020.

Most states have grace periods for at least some mailed ballots

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mississippi amended its election laws to accept absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day, specifying that they could be counted if received within five business days.

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Twenty-nine states allow at least some late-arriving ballots cast by U.S. service members and Americans living overseas to be counted, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Fourteen states have extended deadlines  as long as two weeks in Illinois  for counting all mailed ballots that are postmarked by Election Day.

Groups representing veterans and retirees joined with Mississippi in defending the grace period.

People are being stripped of their voting rights through no fault of their own, because of delays in the Postal Service and states that dont count ballots that are received by Election Day, said Marc Elias, a Democratic elections attorney representing Vet Voices and the Alliance for Retired Americans.

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And because Democrats are more likely than Republicans to vote by mail, Elias said, the GOP is trying to kick out of the electorate voters who they would rather not have participate.

More: Postmark change could impact getting ballots, bills in on time

A voter drops off his mail-in ballot on Primary Day at the Bucks County Courthouse in Doylestown on May 20, 2025.

GOP warns about risk of fraud

Conservative groups are backing the Republican National Committees argument that strict deadlines are needed to prevent foul play.

The longer the period over which the election is conducted, the greater the opportunity for and risk of fraud, a number of groups, including Gun Owners of America, wrote in a filing.

Documented instances of fraud related to voting by mail are rare, according to the MIT Election Data & Science Lab. A 2025 report from the Brookings Institution estimated there are about four cases of fraud for every 10 million mail-in votes.

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But when ballots counted after Election Day affect the outcome of a race, that can raise doubts about their legitimacy even when there is no fraud, opponents argue.

Its hard to blame Americans for those suspicions when some States produce quick results, while others take days to even know how many ballots need to be counted, the Republican National Committee told the Supreme Court.

Case turns on definition of 'election'

The legal argument the RNC and the Justice Department are making turns on the definition of when an election has occurred, because federal law sets a specific date for U.S. elections.

Mississippi says the election happens when voters choose a candidate.

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The voters make that choice by casting  marking and submitting  their ballots, the states lawyers said in their written argument. So the federal election-day statutes require only that the voters cast their ballots by election day.

The Republican Party and the Trump administration counter that an election is the day by which valid ballots must be received.

Elections have consequences. They also have a definition, the Justice Department said in a filing. And from the dawn of America, election day has meant the day the ballot box closes  and when election officials must be in receipt of all ballots.

A federal judge in Mississippi sided with the state, but the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals  considered the most conservative appeals court in the country  sided with the GOP.

'Suspicions of impropriety'

The Supreme Court touched on the question in 2020 when it overturned a judges order requiring that Wisconsin count late-arriving mail-in ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In a concurring opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that one reason the judge erred was that he didnt sufficiently appreciate the significance of election deadlines.

States that require ballots to be both postmarked and received by Election Day, Kavanaugh said, want to avoid the chaos and suspicions of impropriety that can ensue if thousands of absentee ballots flow in after Election Day and potentially flip the results of an election.

Those 2020 comments from a conservative justice whose vote could be key to deciding the case suggest sympathy for the GOPs stated policy concerns. But Kavanaugh was defending a states right to require ballots to be received by Election Day, not asserting that all states must do so.

Carve-out for military voters?

Another consideration for the justices, however, are the votes from members of the U.S. military. The justices might be reluctant to block a practice that has benefited service members trying to vote when theyre deployed far from home.

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Still, the high court could do what the appeals court did and say that military ballots are different because Congress has addressed them in separate legislation.

Lisa Dixon, executive director of the Center for Election Confidence and a consultant for the Republican National Lawyers Association, called that outcome quite plausible.

The court, she said, could certainly treat it as two different categories of ballots.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court takes up Trump-backed challenge to late mail ballots
TAIPEI, March 22 (Reuters) - Deliveries of delayed F-16V fighter jets for Taiwan will begin this year with production at "full capacity", the island's defence ministry said after senior defence officials visited the United States.

Taiwan, which faces a rising military threat from China, has complained of repeated delays to weapons ordered from the U.S., the most important international backer and arms supplier for the island, which Beijing claims as its territory.

The United States in 2019 approved an $8 billion sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that would take the island's F-16 fleet to more than 200 jets, but the project has been hit by issues including software problems.

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Deputy Minister Hsu Szu-chien, accompanied by Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff Tien Chung-yi, visited Lockheed Martin's F-16V assembly line in South Carolina on Monday to view the first aircraft, Taiwan's defence ministry said in a statement late on Saturday.

Deliveries will begin this year, the ministry said, without elaborating.

Lockheed Martin has assigned several hundred personnel to assemble the remaining aircraft, and "there are no bottlenecks in either parts supply or manpower; production is proceeding at full capacity on a two-shift schedule", it said.

Lockheed Martin said in a statement that it was committed to "delivering advanced deterrence capabilities to support Taiwan's security goals".

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"We continue to work closely with the U.S. government to accelerate delivery where possible," it said.

Because the F-16V is a new model specially designed for Taiwan, continued test flights are still needed to fine-tune its systems, and tests must be carefully carried out, the ministry said.

Taiwan has converted 141 older F-16A/B jets into the F-16V type and has ordered 66 new F-16Vs, which have advanced avionics, weapons and radar systems to better face down the Chinese air force, including its stealthy J-20 fighters.

Hsu also attended a delivery ceremony in the U.S. for two of the four MQ-9B "SkyGuardian" drones it has on order, the ministry said on Sunday, while the other two are to come next year.

Made by General Atomics, the MQ-9 series of drones has been widely used in combat situations, including by Israel over Gaza.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by William Mallard)
TRIGG COUNTY, Ky. (WKRN)  A teenage girl is facing multiple charges, including reckless driving, following a high-speed chase in Trigg County Saturday.

According to the Trigg County Sheriffs Office, on Saturday, March 21, Trigg County Dispatch passed along a complaint from Kentucky State Police about a brown Mini Cooper with a female driver traveling at an estimated 100 mph and passing people in the emergency lane.

Convicted felon on parole faces homicide charges after wrong-way crash kills woman on Murfreesboro Pike

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A deputy quickly headed to Interstate 24 to look for the vehicle in question. After entering the eastbound on-ramp at mile marker 65, the deputy saw a Mini Cooper matching the description crossing over U.S. Route 68 on I-24 East and passing vehicles at a high rate of speed, authorities said.

Officials said the deputy turned on the lights and sirens before driving up behind the Mini Cooper, which accelerated and started pulling away from the deputy. The deputy pursued the car for a few miles, reportedly reaching speeds of 125 mph before coming to a stop.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

According to law enforcement, the 16-year-old driver was taken into custody and charged with the following offenses:

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Improper lane usage

Reckless driving

Improper passing

Following another vehicle too closely

Fleeing and evading law enforcement

No additional details have been released about this incident.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Egg Harbor Township Police announced that a missing teen with autism has been found safe.

Police shared the update around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, saying 17-year-old Joel Medina was located and reunited with his family.

Authorities thanked everyone who assisted in the search.

The search began Friday afternoon after Medina walked away from his home near West Jersey Avenue around 3 p.m.

By Saturday night, police said the area surrounding the home had been thoroughly checked. Multiple agencies searched the wooded area using search and rescue teams, bloodhounds, drones, and a water/dive team. Neighbors also worked alongside police during the search.

Egg Harbor Township Police say a final update detailing the full search effort will be released.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Berlin on Sunday to protest against online sexual violence and express solidarity with victims, amid heightened attention after a German celebrity came forward with allegations against a former partner.

A newly formed group named Feminist Fight Club! called for protesters to assemble at the Brandenburg Gate amid a controversy over pornographic deepfakes in Germany.

People held banners that read: "Human rights online too" and "Turn the shame around."

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Organizers said some 500 people had registered to take part part in the demonstration, titled "Against sexualized digital violence  solidarity with all victims."

In the afternoon, police put the number of participants at about 6,700, while organizers estimated 13,000 people.

Speakers highlighted the lasting impact of online abuse.

Among the largely young demonstrators were several prominent politicians and public figures, including German climate activist Luisa Neubauer.

She told the crowd: "I would love to just focus on the climate. But I can't. Not in this society, at this time, and with these men."

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Neubauer said she has required police protection at public events for the past five years due to threats, and that authorities have repeatedly warned her about stalkers both offline and online.

She said an aid organization told her that the internet is full of sexualized fake images of her - apparently created by men with violent fantasies, who are addicted to controlling and demeaning women.

"As long as this violence persists, we will fight for laws that no longer protect the perpetrators, but the victims," she said.

The rally also drew attention due to a high-profile case involving German TV presenter and actress Collien Fernandes.

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Organizers said the demonstration expressed solidarity with Fernandes following serious allegations she made against her ex-partner, actor Christian Ulmen, which were first reported by the news magazine Der Spiegel.

According to the reports, Ulmen allegedly created online profiles in her name and used them to make contact with men. He is also alleged to have shared photos and videos of Fernandes.

Ulmen's lawyer subsequently announced legal action against the reporting, which he described as "largely consisting of inadmissible reporting based on suspicion."

Furthermore, he claimed that "untrue facts were being disseminated due to a one-sided account."

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Ahead of the demonstration, Fernandes promoted the rally and wrote on Instagram: "Sexual violence, physical and psychological violence are more widespread than one might suspect. They take place right at the heart of our society."

The issue has also garnered political attention. Germany's governing coalition has agreed to reform cybercrime laws to close gaps in criminal liability, including in cases of image-based sexualized violence such as deepfakes.

Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig has said that she is working on draft legislation.

Participants hold signs reading Those who protect perpetrators are accomplices, But every woman, and Violence against women threatens democracy during a demonstration against digital sexual violence in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Carsten Koall/dpa
Neighbors in a Sacramento neighborhood are grappling with the aftermath of a murder-suicide that left three young children without their parents, as authorities say the childrens quick actions helped keep them safe.

The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office said the children fled their home and called for help after witnessing their father assault their mother around 9:30 p.m. Friday near the intersection of Edison Avenue and Ball Way.

A neighbor, Clay Warix, said the normally quiet area was suddenly filled with law enforcement activity.

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"There's a helicopter, there was an undercover cop that came driving down the street, just lots of sirens and looked like havoc for about 5 minutes," Warix said.

Warix, who lives nearby and can see the home from his residence, said the situation is difficult to comprehend, especially as a parent.

According to the sheriffs office, a juvenile caller reported the assault while deputies were on the way. Sgt. Edward Igoe, a spokesperson for the agency, said the three children left the home before deputies arrived.

"Our communications center received a call of service from a juvenile that called and stated that their dad was assaulting their mom. Fortunately, the 3 juveniles that were in the residence actually fled from the location, while our deputies were en route," Igoe said.

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When deputies arrived, they saw an unresponsive woman through a window. After entering the home, they found an unresponsive man inside. Both parents were pronounced dead at the scene.

The sheriffs office is investigating the case as a murder-suicide and said there are no outstanding suspects. Officials also said no gun was found.

Warix said the childrens actions were courageous under unimaginable circumstances.

"it's sad. I couldn't imagine what the kids went through and how they dealt with that. I'm happy to see that they're brave enough to step out and make the call that was necessary," Warix said.

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Other neighbors told ABC10 the father had been arrested several years ago and had recently returned home after serving time in jail, but the sheriffs office said it could not confirm that information.

Igoe said the focus now is on the children, who have been placed with family.

"Obviously, anything that's involving any type of kids is always gonna be one of the most difficult calls that any of our employees are gonna deal with. It's very fortunate that that they're safe and that they're OK," Igoe said.

Detectives are continuing their investigation as the coroners office works to identify the two individuals.

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Meanwhile, neighbors say they are keeping the children in their thoughts.

"It's unimaginable. I just couldn't, couldn't fathom what could be going through the kids' heads, how confused they could be, um, so it's, it, it's terrible," Warix said.

Watch more from ABC10: Suspect identified in string of East Sacramento burglaries
The following is the transcript of the interview with Rep. Jason Crow, Democrat of Colorado, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on March 22, 2026.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're joined now by Colorado Democratic Congressman Jason Crow. Welcome back.

REP. JASON CROW: Thanks, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So you sit on the House Intelligence Committee. This past week, you heard the Director of National Intelligence testify about Iran's capabilities, saying we wouldn't see an ICBM that would, in theory, be the thing that would carry a nuclear warhead right to American shores. She said they wouldn't have one until 2035 if they even tried at all. Is- what- are you afraid she was wrong? Because Israel is saying that what was fired was an ICBM that was aimed at this U.S., U.K. base.

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REP. CROW: Yeah, she could be wrong, and we have- obviously have to dive into the intelligence. The question has never been whether or not Iran poses a threat or a series of threats to the United States, but that's where the analysis begins, not when the analysis ends. Right? We have lots of threats. Kim Jong Un poses a threat. Putin poses a threat. We have threats around the world. The question is, what do we do about it? And right now, we've spent $20 billion in the first two weeks of this war alone, one and a half billion dollars a day. Americans are paying $300 million a day extra energy prices. The terror threat around the world against the United States and Americans is spreading. And there's no off-ramp. We have no strategy and no end-game. This is a mess by any definition, and now we have to figure out what we do from here.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So no timeline beyond the four to six weeks has been briefed or shared with Congress at this point.

REP. CROW: No, no, we are not getting the information from this, this administration. They started this war without congressional authorization. There's no imminent threat. They actually have even stopped trying to pretend there was an imminent threat, which is what is necessary for the president to take action without congressional approval. So now here we are spending tens of billions of dollars of taxpayer money, losing American lives. Congress isn't involved. We've been stonewalled. The American people are not in the driver's seat here, right? Because Congress has been sidelined in this they are the ones that need to have the voice and whether or not they're going to send their sons and daughters to go fight this war, whether or not they're going to finance it. It's time for this to end.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Let's take a break. I have more to talk to you about on the other side of it, so all of you, please stay with us. We'll be right back.

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[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to Face The Nation. We return now to our conversation with Colorado Congressman Jason Crow. Before we leave the topic of Iran, I do want to ask you, last Sunday on this program, the White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said the war was ahead of schedule. And while it was up to the budget office, he didn't think the administration would need any kind of supplemental funding. But then days later, Secretary Hegseth seemed to confirm the Pentagon needed as much as $200 billion.

[SOUND ON TAPE STARTS]

PETE HEGSETH 0:31

far as $200 billion I think that number could move. Obviously, it takes, it takes money to kill bad guys. So we're going back to Congress and folks there to ensure that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in the future.

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[SOUND ON TAPE ENDS]

MARGARET BRENNAN: I know you're opposed to the war, but is there a way to structure this deal where you would be comfortable with additional funds?

REP. CROW: No, if they think I'm going to vote for hundreds of billions of dollars for an unauthorized war, a war they didn't come to Congress for, a war they haven't given an explanation to the American people for what we're doing and not doing, how it's going to end, how we're protecting our service members. And on top of that, the- House Republicans gave DOD, $150 billion slush fund last summer as part of Donald Trump's big, ugly bill, and on top of that, they say they're going to come and ask for a one and a half trillion dollar defense budget. And the Department of Defense, to this day, can't pass an audit. They can't tell us where all their stuff is, where they're spending all their money. So I'm not about to throw money at a DOD that can't pass an audit, is sitting on money that they already haven't accounted for and haven't spent and to perpetuate an unauthorized war that is not in America's interest.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I know you're a veteran, but you know that the accusation will be made that Democrats just don't support the troops.

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REP. CROW: There is, of course, that's what they're going to say. But there is plenty of money within DOD for military families, for troops, for barracks. I have guaranteed that I sit on the Armed Services Committee, and I will continue to push forward and vote to make sure our troops, our military is taken care of, that we have the military that we need to protect America. What I'm not going to do is just throw money at the Iran war, which they're now admitting is a war. This cannot continue. We spent 20 years in Iraq and Afghanistan, trillions of dollars. It ends here. It must end here.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Tell me, though, as a Democrat, because Congress is scheduled to go on vacation soon, a lot of TSA agents aren't receiving paychecks because of this democratic-led funding shutdown, because of a demand to change immigration policy, something the White House has not made any concessions* on that I know of to date. This is in the Senate, but as a Democrat, I mean, look at Denver airport near your district. They're asking people to donate gift cards for TSA agents to make ends meet. The airport says, you know, this is a huge generator in terms of what the airport does for the region. This is hurting your community. How do you continue to defend the shutdown?

REP. CROW: I'm going to be really clear that this is a Republican shutdown--

MARGARET BRENNAN: --The Republicans said--

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REP. CROW: --Just yesterday

MARGARET BRENNAN: --fund it all.

REP. CROW: Just yesterday, the U.S. Senate held a vote, and Senate Democrats put up an authorization to fund everything except for ice and CBP, that's Coast Guard, that's TSA, that's cybersecurity. Every single Senate Republican voted against it. In the House, we actually have a bill, Rosa DeLauro and Hakeem Jeffries. We have a clean bill that would force a vote to open up everything, to fund everything except for ICE and CBP. Republicans are stopping it. They're not even allowing a vote on that bill. So we are ready to go. They are in control of every--

MARGARET BRENNAN: But in the meantime those people are--

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REP. CROW: --facet of government--

MARGARET BRENNAN: --are left stuck. We're about to be in spring break, heavy traffic season.

REP. CROW: They are in control of every element of government. They're in control of what we vote for and don't vote for. We are saying, let's open it back up. Let's fund Coast Guard. Let's fund FEMA. Let's fund TSA. Let's fund cybersecurity, which, by the way, we need because we just started a war with Iran, which has a huge cyber capability. We want to fund it. We're ready to fund it. We will take the votes tomorrow. They're stopping that vote. They own this shutdown.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Crow, thank you very much for your time today. We'll be right back.

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*Editor's Note: The White House submitted a letter to Congress on March 17 outlining some concessions the administration is willing to make.

From the archives: Day 1 of the Iraq War

Signs of the times: Removing stories of America's past from our national parks

Chef Ruthie Rogers on the comforts of food and conversation
A new survey from am Economist / YouGov poll shows President Donald Trumps approval rating decreasing at a fast pace. According to the poll, 56% of Americans strongly disapprove of Trumps performance in the White House. On the other hand, 37% said they strongly approve or somewhat approve of the job hes doing.

Trump is still getting significant approval for his immigration policies and military decisions

The poll surveyed Americans on seven specific issues. When it comes to the issue of crime, 43% said they approve of how Trump is handling the challenge and 47% said they disapprove. The participants also gave their opinion on how Trump is tackling immigration and the military. In each one of those two cases, Trump is still getting a significant amount of approval.

The rest of the topics covered in the poll included the environment, race relations, the Iran war, and the Epstein files. In each one of these cases, Trumps approval rating is lower than his overall approval numbers. Trumps approval rating on the Iran War dropped by 20 points in the past week, according to the latest poll. While nearly all Democrats who took the survey disapprove of Trumps approach to Iran, almost all Republicans approve.

How Trumps approval rating differs among party lines

Independent voters showed the biggest shift in public opinion when it comes to assessing Trumps performance. A week ago, 30% of independent voters said they approved of Trumps overall job performance, while 53% disapproved last week. This week, however, 24% said they approve and 63% disapprove.

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Additionally, 50% of independents said they expect the Iran War to worsen. That number is even lower than a week ago, when 40% of independents said the war will only make things worse. Democrats are also feeling increasingly worried about the war, with 72% expecting the situation to get worse. Meanwhile, 55% of Republicans who took the survey this week said they feel optimistic about the outlook of the Iran War compared to 64% last week.

The numbers also show Trumps approval declining in some traditionally conservative states. In Mississippi, for instance, Trump is seeing his lowest approval rating in the state. The Clarion Ledger reported that the latest Civiqs poll shows that Trumps approval rating stands at 48%.







The post Trumps Approval Rating May Surprise You As Far As Mississippi Support, Independent Voters Views On Iran appeared first on Blavity.
What began as a social media post from President Trump on Saturday has grown quickly into a full-scale plan to deploy ICE agents to U.S. airports.

Amid a partial government shutdown, Transportation Security Administration lines have grown to be hours long at some U.S. airports, creating problems for travelers across the country. Call-out rates have started to increase at some airports, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said at least 376 TSA agents have quit since the partial shutdown began Feb. 14.

By Sunday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that ICE would indeed deploy to airports beginning Monday.

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White House border advisor Tom Homan provided additional details earlier in the day during a televised interview, saying that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to dispatch agents to airports and that he was working with other officials to determine where to send agents.

Its a work in progress, Homan said during a Sunday appearance on CNN. But we will be at airports tomorrow helping TSA move those lines along.

Read more: ICE officers soon will help with airport security unless Democrats end shutdown, Trump says

Homan stressed that ICE agents would provide support where possible, so that TSA staffers could better fulfill specialized positions.

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I dont see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine, because they are not trained in that, Homan said.

But communication about how exactly this plan would work has been spotty. The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA officers, has not received any communication from Homeland Security on this issue and first learned about it in Trump's Truth Social post, as well as through the press, said Jacqueline Simon, the union's policy director.

Dispatching ICE agents to airports does nothing to solve the problem at hand, which is that TSA officers have not been paid for more than a month, she said.

"It's ridiculous, and it's potentially dangerous," Simon said. "It creates a security risk, it doesn't solve one.

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In a statement Sunday, a spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom said Trump's push to send ICE into airports "is proving the problem in real time."

ICE has become the presidents lawless, under-trained, personal police force, deployed to serve his agenda  not the law," according to the statement. "Thats exactly why it needs to be reined in.

Read more: Airlines demand that Congress restore funding to Homeland Security

The American Civil Liberties Union also criticized the plan, noting in a lengthy statement Sunday that this was the first time a president has sent armed ICE agents to airports to replace security officers.

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This is the exact opposite of what the American people are clamoring for, which are real, enforceable changes to rein in ICE and Border Patrols cruel deportation and detention obsession," Naureen Shah, ACLU director of policy and government affairs for immigration, said in the statement.

The plans were seemingly first set in motion following Trumps social media post on Saturday that read, If the Radical Left Democrats dont immediately sign an agreement to let our Country, in particular, our Airports, be FREE and SAFE again, I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before.

Expanding the argument for the deployment beyond simply alleviating long lines at TSA, Trump said ICE would also oversee the immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants who have come into our Country, with heavy emphasis on those from Somalia.

Speaking from the floor of the Senate on Sunday, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, ICE agents, who are untrained and have caused problems everywhere theyve gone, lurking at our airports  thats asking for trouble. And it will certainly make the chaos at our airports worse.

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At the core of the partial shutdown is a disagreement between congressional Republicans and Democrats over continued funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Read more: Lawmakers vent frustration over Homeland Security shutdown as lines grow at nation's airports

Republicans want to fund all parts of Homeland Security, while Democrats want that funding tied to ICE reforms. Democrats have put forward bills to fund key components of Homeland Security, including the TSA, which Republicans have opposed.

Though negotiations are said to be ongoing, the shutdown could drag on even longer as Congress is scheduled for a two-week recess beginning at the end of this week, and each side blames the other for the continued shutdown.

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In a social media post, Vice President JD Vance wrote, Weve all seen the chaos unleashed by Democrats at airports across the country. Its preposterous that Chuck Schumer continues to hold TSA funding hostage.

Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement, Right now, Republicans are holding TSA agents paychecks hostage because they want to provide more money to ICE, without basic reforms to protect Americans rights and safety.

Read more: As another shutdown impacts travelers, some see privatizing TSA screening as a solution

Appearing on MS NOW on Saturday, before Homans confirmation that ICE would be sent to airports, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) said, Americans dont want ICE in our communities, they dont want them in our airports. They by and large, as I support, want ICE to be abolished.

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Swalwell did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday, but posted on X, saying, "Pay TSA. Do not pay ICE."

In a Sunday interview with ABC, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, Democrats want to see long lines at airports as leverage. President Trumps trying to take that leverage away and not make the American people suffer.

The pushback to the White House's plans to put ICE in airports was immediate.

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released a statement that read, Masked, armed police at travel checkpoints is a hallmark of dystopian movies. Now, Donald Trump is threatening to bring this tool of fascism to America. He is manufacturing chaos at airports for political leverage and trying to force Democrats to accept unaccountable secret police at security checkpoints around the country.

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Read more: Standoff over masked agents fuels the latest partial government shutdown

Bad idea, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) about the new airport security plan.

"What we need to do is, we need to get the DHS issues resolved, we need to get the TSA agents paid, she told reporters at the Capitol, where the Senate held a rare weekend session. Do you really want to have even additional tensions on top of what we are already facing?

Also speaking to CNN on Sunday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said, The last thing that the American people need are for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports all across the country, potentially to brutalize or, in some instances, kill them. Weve already seen how ICE conducts itself.

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In a statement Sunday, Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said, More than 50,000 TSA employees have worked without pay for over five weeks. Hundreds have quit. And Washingtons answer isnt to pay them. Its to send ICE agents to do their jobs.

ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security, Kelley added. You cannot improvise that. Putting untrained personnel at security checkpoints does not fill a gap. It creates one.  Congress has the power to fund TSA today. Its time for them to stop playing politics and do their jobs.

Representatives from Los Angeles International Airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokeswoman for Orange County's John Wayne Airport said she was not aware of any communication or Homeland Security guidance on the proposed plan.

A spokesperson for San Francisco International Airport said airport officials have not yet received anything specific from Homeland Security about a deployment of ICE agents. He said SFO security personnel are not part of TSA, and as a result, the airport has not had any checkpoint backups.

U.S. senators on Sunday advanced the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to be Trumps next Homeland Security secretary by a largely party-line vote, 54-37, with two Democrats joining most Republicans. A vote on the confirmation could come as early as Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
"Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the radical left, highly incompetent, Democrat Party," Trump published in a Truth Social post.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday called the Democratic Party "the greatest enemy America has," after claiming that "Iran was dead."

"Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the radical left, highly incompetent, Democrat Party," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

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In a later post, Trump attacked Texas Democrats James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett, who were facing off to be the state's democratic nominee for the Senate race. Trump called Talarico the "worst candidate I have ever seen," and claimed Crockett had a "low IQ."

He also said that California's governor Gavin Newsom (whom he frequently calls Gavin Newscum) gave "the worst ever given by a professional politician."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries addressed Trump's statements, saying the President should "keep his reckless mouth shut before he gets somebody killed.

Speaking with CNN, Jeffries warned that Trump's accusation could bring further violence into the US political arena.

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According to a January report by the US Capitol Police, cited by Politico, there were over 5,000 more threats against members of Congress, their families, staff, and the Capitol complex in 2025 than in 2024.

Trump warns Iran to open Strait of Hormuz

Before saying the Iranian regime "was dead," Trump warned on Monday that if Iran didn't fully open the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours, then the US would destroy Iran's power plants.

"If Iran doesnt FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS," Trump wrote.

In a response to Trump's statements, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which is the central headquarters of the Iranian armed forces, said that it will fully close the Strait of Hormuz if "America's threats regarding Iran's power plants are implemented."

Iran also warned that it would start targeting "all power plants, energy infrastructure, and information technology," while any company in the region with American shareholders would also become a target.
CAIRO (AP)  Iranian missiles struck two communities in southern Israel late Saturday, leaving buildings shattered and dozens injured in dual attacks not far from Israels main nuclear research center, while President Donald Trump warned the U.S. will obliterate Iranian power plants if it doesnt fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

The developments signaled the war was moving in a dangerous new direction at the start of its fourth week.

Trump  who is facing increasing pressure at home to secure the strait as oil prices soar  issued the ultimatum in a social media post while he spent the weekend at his Florida home.

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Trump said hes giving Iran 48 hours to open the vital waterway or face a new round of attacks. He said the U.S. would destroy various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!

Iran warned early Sunday that any strike on its energy facilities would prompt attacks on U.S. and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets in the region, according to a statement carried by Irans state media and semiofficial outlets, citing an Iranian military spokesperson.

The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the rest of the globes oceans, is a critical pathway for the worlds flow of oil. Attacks on commercial ships and threats of further strikes have stopped nearly all tankers from carrying oil, gas and other goods through the passage. Thats also led to cuts in output from some of the worlds largest producers, because their crude has nowhere to go.

The Iranian strikes in Israel came after Tehrans main nuclear enrichment site at Natanz was hit earlier in the day.

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Israels military said it was not able to intercept missiles that hit the southern cities of Dimona and Arad, the largest near the center in Israels sparsely populated Negev desert. It was the first time Iranian missiles penetrated Israels air defense systems in the area around the nuclear site.

If the Israeli regime is unable to intercept missiles in the heavily protected Dimona area, it is, operationally, a sign of entering a new phase of the battle, Irans Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on X before word of the Arad strike spread.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said more emergency crews were being sent to the scene.

This is a very difficult evening, he said.

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Rescue workers said the direct hit in Arad caused widespread damage across at least 10 apartment buildings, three of them badly damaged and in danger of collapsing. At least 64 people were taken to hospitals.

Dimona is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of the nuclear research center and Arad around 35 kilometers (22 miles) north.

Israel is believed to be the only Middle East nation with nuclear weapons, though its leaders refuse to confirm or deny their existence. The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on X it had not received reports of damage to the Israeli center or abnormal radiation levels.

A dangerous new direction in the war

The war is not close to ending, Israels army chief, Gen. Eyal Zamir, said earlier in the day.

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Iran also targeted the joint U.K.-U.S. Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean about 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) away, suggesting that Tehran has missiles that can go farther than previously acknowledged  or that it had used its space program for an improvised launch.

The U.S. and Israel have offered shifting rationales for the war, from hoping to foment an uprising that topples Irans leadership to eliminating its nuclear and missile programs and its support for armed proxies. There have been no signs of an uprising, while internet restrictions limit information from Iran.

The wars effects are felt far beyond the Middle East, raising food and fuel prices.

It is not clear how much damage Iran has sustained in the U.S. and Israeli strikes that began Feb. 28  or even who is truly in charge. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since being named to the role.

Israel had denied responsibility for attack on Natanz

Israel earlier Saturday denied responsibility for the strike on the Natanz nuclear facility, nearly 220 kilometers (135 miles) southeast of Tehran. The Iranian judiciarys official news agency, Mizan, said there was no leakage.

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The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the bulk of Irans estimated 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium is elsewhere, beneath the rubble at its Isfahan facility. It said on X it was looking into the strike.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the strike on Natanz, which was also hit in the first week of the war and in the 12-day war last June. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said such strikes posed a real risk of catastrophic disaster throughout the Middle East.

Iran retaliated hours later.

US can use Diego Garcia base to protect Strait of Hormuz

U.K. officials did not give details of the strike that targeted the Diego Garcia base Friday, which was unsuccessful. Britains Ministry of Defense described Iran as lashing out across the region.

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Its unclear how close the missiles came to the island. Iran previously asserted that it has limited its missile range to below 2,000 kilometers (over 1,200 miles).

But military experts said Iran may have used its space launch vehicle for an improvised firing. If youve got a space program, youve got a ballistic missile program, said Steve Prest, a retired Royal Navy commodore.

Israels army chief, however, said Iran had fired a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile. There was no statement from Iran.

Britain has not participated in U.S.-Israeli attacks but has allowed U.S. bombers to use its bases to attack Irans missile sites. On Friday, the U.K. government said bombers could use Diego Garcia to attack sites used to target ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Global pressure increases to get shipping back on track

As Iran threatens shipping on the Strait of Hormuz, the United Arab Emirates joined 21 other countries including the U.K., Germany, France and Japan in expressing "readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage.

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The Trump administration announced it was temporarily lifting sanctions on Iranian oil that was already loaded on ships as of Friday, but that does not increase oil production, a central factor in surging prices. The oil ministry of Iran, which has evaded sanctions for years, replied that it essentially has no crude oil left in floating storage.

The head of U.S. Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, asserted that Irans ability to attack vessels on the strait had been degraded." He said 5,000-pound (2,270-kilogram) bombs were dropped earlier in the week on an underground facility along Irans coast used to store anti-ship cruise missiles and mobile missile launchers.

The U.S. is deploying three more amphibious assault ships and roughly 2,500 additional Marines to the Middle East, an official told The Associated Press. Two other U.S. officials confirmed that ships were deploying, without saying where they were headed. All three spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the operations.

Gulf countries reported more attacks. A missile alert sounded Saturday night in Dubai. Saudi Arabia said it downed 20 drones in its east, home to major oil installations.

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Irans death toll in the war has surpassed 1,500, the state broadcaster reported, citing the health ministry. In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian missiles and four others have died in the occupied West Bank. At least 13 U.S. military members have been killed, along with well over a dozen civilians in Gulf nations.

Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants clash in Lebanon

Israel's military said it was conducting a targeted ground operation in southern Lebanon and at least four militants were killed. Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with troops in the southern village of Khiam.

Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 1 million, according to the Lebanese government. Hezbollah's civilian assets also have been targeted.

___

Lawless reported from London and Lidman from Jerusalem. Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.
Donald Trump is facing a revolt from his once-counted-upon allies over his war in Iran.

Protesters in NATO ally countries raged against Trump, 79, on Saturday, taking to the streets in demonstrations against the United States and Israel over the surprise war in Iran, which began on Feb. 28.

In Montreal, hundreds of demonstrators wielded megaphones and held signs disparaging Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Canadians took to the streets in their latest consecutive protest against Trump and Israel's war in Iran. / ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP via Getty Images

Israel and Pedophile Trump Bombs Iran Over Lies Now Your Family Struggles As Food & Gas Goes Up! one large banner read, according to footage of the demonstrations. Another demonstrator held figurines depicting Trump and Netanyahu wearing bloodied aprons.

Social media videos showed scathing rebukes of Trump's conflict. / Screenshot/pymmontreal / Instagram

Trump and his Israeli counterpart were depicted as bloody butchers in the protest. / Screenshot/pymmontreal / Instagram

A similar sentiment emerged in Madrid, where 4,000 demonstrators gathered for a rally, according to reports. Earlier in March, Trump labeled the country a loser after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez did not allow the use of their shared military bases for the war.

Protesters in Spain's capital demonstrated under the slogan

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Trump has called the country a

Other protests in Edinburgh and Amsterdam were held in conjunction with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which was designated by the United Nations after South African authorities opened fire on a peaceful anti-apartheid demonstration in 1960, killing 69 people in what is now known as the Sharpeville Massacre.

A protester in Edinburgh, Scotland, holds a sign referencing Trump's previous comments made to a female reporter. / Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images

A cartoonish depiction of Trump was a common theme throughout the day on Saturday. / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

The international outcry over the conflictwhich has killed thousands in Iran and neighboring countries, including 13 U.S. servicememberscomes as the president has repeatedly raged against NATO allies for their lack of support for the war he started without consulting them.

Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! Trump ranted on Truth Social on Friday. They didnt want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran.

The president went on to declare victory against Iranas he has done repeatedly, only to reverse course and threaten new military strikes hours laterand berate allied leaders for not assisting the United States in keeping the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which a fifth of the worlds oil travels, open amid the conflict.

Trump declares the U.S. militarily won in its war against Iran. / Truth Social

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Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but dont want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices, he wrote.

So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER! the president continued.

Trump escalated his verbal attacks on his NATO counterparts this week as oil prices surgedBrent crude, the global benchmark, briefly approached $120 a barrel at its peak.

On Thursday, Trump complained in the Oval Office that NATO did not want to help defend the Strait, but claimed, Now theyre getting much nicer because theyre seeing my attitude.

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As far as Im concerned, its too late, Trump declared.

For their part, some European leaders have stood firmly behind NATOs stated mission to defend allied countries from attacks, not provoke them.

Frances posture is unchanged: Defensive. Protective, French Response, the official X account of Frances foreign ministry, wrote in a March 16 post responding to another threat from Trump.

Little support for Trump and Israels war on Iran exists among allied countries. An IPSOS poll from March 18 found that 80 percent of British respondents expressed concern over the economic impact of the conflict, while 79 percent of French citizens said they fear it will spread beyond the Middle East. Additionally, a majority of Canadians (60 percent) disapprove of the U.S. strikes, which were launched without congressional approval.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.
President Donald Trump laughed as he bragged about a poll that was featured on CNN that showed him at 100 percent  with members of the MAGA Movement  and called it an honor.

CNN data guru Harry Enten went viral this week for a segment in which he promoted a crosstab from an NBC News poll that showed Trump has a 100% approval rating with MAGA.

On Friday afternoon, Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio took questions from reporters on the North Lawn of the White House as they prepared to depart for Mar-a-lago.

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The lions share of the questions were about the war in Iran, which Trump insisted weve won.

Trump also said the Strait of Hormuz will open itself and that I dont want to do a ceasefire. You know, you dont do a ceasefire when youre literally obliterating the other side.

But in another exchange, Trump defended his troop deployments by citing the poll that CNN featured, emitting a chuckle as he described it:

REPORTER: Are you deploying the additional troops for deterrance or to optimize your operational capability? PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, I would say this, that if I told you the answer to that question, my military people would be very happy. So we have a lot of troops, we have unlimited ammunition, we have the greatest equipment in the world, and we are decimating Iran. Its about time. And frankly, it should have been done long before me. It should have done before other people. REPORTER: There have been reports that the United States might be sending 2,500 Marines to the Middle East. Are you concerned that a move like that could potentially change? PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, I dont know. I seem to have great support, because CNN came out with a poll today that Im at 100 percent! (Laughs). And they said theyve never seen a poll like that. The CNN poll said Im 100 percent, and theyve never seen that before, which is an honor. I was impressed that CNN would do that. But as far as troops are concerned, I cant tell you what were doing.

Watch above via White House press pool.

The post Trump Laughs As He Brags About 100 Percent Poll on CNN: I Was Impressed That CNN Would Do That! first appeared on Mediaite.
President Donald Trump is reshaping a Colorado Republican primary by offering one of the candidates a role in his administration and returning his endorsement to the incumbent, whom he called a RINO just last month.

On Friday, Trump said that he met with Hope Scheppelman, who is running for Colorados 3rd District, and her husband, Steven, to discuss various opportunities to serve our Country in a different capacity than her current run for the United States Congress.

Hope and Steven are wonderful and patriotic Veterans of our U.S. Navy, and loyal supporters of our Historic MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN Movement. Therefore, I am proud to announce that they will be leaving the Campaign trail in order to join my Administration, in a capacity to be determined, Trump wrote on social media, adding that they decided nothing should impede GOP Rep. Jeff Hurds race.

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Trump has used his endorsement as a tool to exert power or threaten members of Congress who go against him, but despite Trump making good on that threat, House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared to demonstrate how the president can also be convinced to change his mind.

Two sources familiar with the matter said that Johnson made a strong case to the White House to support Hurd, who represents a competitive district that Trump won by about 10 points in 2024.

The Speaker advocated vigorously for Jeff who has been a great colleague and great member of the House Republican Conference, one of the sources said.

Its not clear yet what roles Scheppelman and her husband will serve in the administration. The White House did not respond to CNNs request for comment on what capacity the Scheppelmans will be serving, why her husband was also offered a role and whether the president directly offered them jobs in exchange for stepping out of the race.

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In a statement, Scheppelman announced she suspended her campaign and cited Trumps request to withdraw, due to the slim GOP majority in the House. Calling on Hurd to correct his naive voting record and support President Trump, she vowed to run again in 2028 if indeed Hurd wins this fall and fails to do so.

It was a significant flip for Trump, who in February publicly withdrew his endorsement of Hurd based on lack of support for his tariffs, calling him one of a small number of Legislators who have let me and our Country down. He then gave Scheppelmam his Complete and Total Endorsement.

Another source familiar told CNN Johnson shared with the president he had to stand by Hurd, and the president told him he understood and wouldnt object to that.

Trump made clear that his decision was fueled by preventing a Democratic alternative from winning, writing, It is time to stand together against the people that want to destroy our Great Nation, and vote for Jeff Hurd.

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Im grateful for President Trumps support and appreciate his efforts to unify Republicans in Colorados Third District. The President and I share the same goals: securing the border, American energy dominance, and helping working families, Hurd wrote in part on X.

Hurd was one of the six Republicans who voted to effectively repeal Trumps tariffs on Canada, and the president attempted to punish Hurd in the midterms by pulling his support. Trump warned of the consequences of going against his tariffs, writing on Truth Social, Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!

The change shows just how important each race is being treated by Republicans ahead of the midterms, and the Speaker specifically, who is working to maintain a thin majority in the House.

After losing Trumps endorsement, Hurd told CNNs Manu Raju manufacturers and agricultural producers in his district were absolutely hurting from tariffs, and their concerns weighed on his vote.

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No one here in Washington, DC, votes for me. Its the people back in Colorados 3rd Congressional District, Hurd said at the time.

Asked by Raju if he was concerned about Trumps wrath, Hurd said, I do the right thing, and what the consequences are, well have to see.

Hurd ultimately regained Trumps endorsement without any mention of tariffs. As much as tariffs were a huge blow to Trump  and still remain a key issue  much of the conversation from the White House has revolved around the Iran war and next steps in the Middle East.

When Trump stripped Hurds endorsement, he emphasized how rare it was and how Taking back an Endorsement is a difficult decision for me.

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Trump has taken his endorsement back from Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks and he also withdrew support for Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who ultimately resigned.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
President Donald Trump made a stunning reversal Friday by again backing a Colorado House Republican for reelection a month after he publicly scorned him and endorsed his opponent.

In a lengthy social media post, Trump said he would no longer back Hope Scheppelman's bid in the Republican primary for Rep. Jeff Hurd's seat in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, after she accepted an offer to join his administration.

"Together with them, we decided that Congressman Jeff Hurd, of Colorados 3rd Congressional District, should in no way, shape, or form, be impeded from winning the District in that the Democrat alternative is a DISASTER for our Country," he said in his social media post.

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images - PHOTO: Rep. Jeff Hurd arrives for the House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the Capitol, May 6, 2025.

In February, Trump withdrew his endorsement of Hurd, lashing out against him in a social media post after he voted to rebuke the president's tariffs on Canada.

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Video Trump warns Republicans they have to win midterms or he'll 'get impeached'

"Hurd is one of a small number of Legislators who have let me and our Country down," Trump said in the February social media post.

In Friday's announcement, the president changed his mind.

"Every true MAGA supporter and Republican, if they truly care about saving our Country, will do everything in their power to unify together, and defeat the Crazed Radical Left Democrats this November," he said.

The district has been red since 2011, and has traditionally been seen as a strong Republican area.

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Trump said he spoke with Scheppelman, a Navy veteran and nurse, and her husband, about his decision and offered both of them positions in his administration in a "capacity to be determined."

Hope Scheppelman/Twitter - PHOTO: Republican candidate for Colorado's 3rd congressional district Hope Scheppelman with President Donald Trump posted to her X account.

"Hope and Steven are wonderful and patriotic Veterans of our U.S. Navy, and loyal supporters of our Historic MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN Movement," Trump said in the post.

Democratic Sen. Schiff says Trump intends to 'subvert' 2026 midterm elections

Hurd thanked Trump for the endorsement in an X post Friday.

"The President and I share the same goals: securing the border, American energy dominance, and helping working families," he said.

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Scheppelman, whose social media pages feature a picture of her and Trump posing with thumbs-up signs, said in a statement on X that she would suspend her campaign given Trump's request.



She said Hurd "now has the opportunity to correct his naive voting record and support President Trump, and our slim Republican majority in the U.S. House, in our shared battle to save the country we love."

"If he does not, I will run again in 2028 and defeat [Hurd] in order to give the citizens of Colorados 3rd district, and all of America, the representation we deserve," Scheppelman added.

Trump's involvement a welcome development for House Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson protecting a historically small majority this fall.

Annabelle Gordon/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order on fraud in the Oval Office at the White House, March 16, 2026.

By backing Hurd, the GOP avoids another contentious primary in a long red district, as the incumbent is running unopposed.

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Alex Kelloff, a Democratic candidate running for the House seat, responded to the president's announcement Friday on X.

"Trump is worried were going to win this seat, a testament to all the work our campaign has been doing the last 11 months," he said.

The Colorado primary is set for June 30.

-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel contributed to this report.
US immigration agents will be deployed to airports on Monday, President Donald Trump said, escalating a standoff in Washington over a government funding deal.

Long lines at airports caused frustration among travelers over the weekend as a partial government shutdown forces Transportation Security Administration agents to work without pay.

More than 400 TSA workers have quit, and if a funding deal is not reached soon, experts expect a surge in resignations.

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As Democrats push for tighter limits on how immigration agents operate nationwide, the US border czar said they will conduct only non-significant tasks at airports, such as guarding exits.

There are few signs that lawmakers are close to a breakthrough to end the shutdown.
ARAD, Israel (AP)  The United States and Iran threatened to target critical infrastructure Sunday as the war in the Middle East, now in its fourth week, puts lives and livelihoods at risk throughout the region.

Iran said the Strait of Hormuz, crucial to oil and other exports, would be "completely closed immediately if the U.S. follows up on President Donald Trump's threat to attack its power plants. Trump late Saturday set a 48-hour deadline to open the strait.

Israeli leaders visited one of two southern communities near a secretive nuclear research site struck by Iranian missiles late Saturday, with scores of people wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a miracle no one was killed.

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Netanyahu claimed Israel and the U.S. were well on their way to achieving their war goals. The aims have ranged from weakening Iran's nuclear program, missile program and support for armed proxies to enabling the Iranian people to overthrow the theocracy.

There has been no sign of an uprising, nor of an end to the fighting that has shaken the global economy, sent oil prices surging and endangered some of the world's busiest air corridors. The war, which the U.S. and Israel launched Feb. 28, has killed over 2,000 people.

The Iranian-backed Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an airstrike that killed a man in northern Israel, while Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called Israel's new targeting of bridges in the south a prelude to a ground invasion.

More weeks of fighting against Iran and Hezbollah are expected for us, said Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin.

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Meanwhile, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates said early Monday their air defenses were dealing with missile and drone attacks as air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain.

Energy and desalination plants are threatened

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz that connects the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world, while claiming safe passage for vessels from countries other than its enemies. Roughly one-fifth of global oil supply passes through it, but attacks on ships have stopped nearly all tanker traffic.

Trump said if Iran didn't open the strait, the U.S. would destroy its various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!

The U.S. has argued that Irans Revolutionary Guard controls much of the countrys infrastructure and uses it to power the war effort. Under international law, power plants that benefit civilians can be targeted only if the military advantage outweighs the suffering it causes them, legal scholars say.

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Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf responded on X that if Iran's power plants and infrastructure are targeted, then vital infrastructure across the region  including energy and desalination facilities critical for drinking water in Gulf nations  would be considered legitimate targets and irreversibly destroyed.

Qalibaf later added that entities that finance the US military budget are legitimate targets."

Attacks on power plants would be inherently indiscriminate and clearly disproportionate" and a war crime, Irans U.N. ambassador wrote to the Security Council, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

Strikes in Israel and Iran bring new nuclear concerns

Iran said its strikes in the Negev Desert late Saturday were in retaliation for the latest attack on Irans main nuclear enrichment site in Natanz, according to state-run media.

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Tehran praised its attack as a show of strength, even as Israel's military asserts that Iranian missile launches have decreased since the war began.

Southern Israels main hospital received at least 175 wounded from Arad and Dimona, deputy director Roy Kessous told The Associated Press.

Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, though it doesnt confirm or deny their existence.

Israel denied responsibility for hitting Natanz on Saturday. The Pentagon declined to comment on the strike.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the bulk of Irans estimated 972 pounds (441 kilograms) of enriched uranium  the issue at the heart of tensions  is elsewhere, beneath the rubble at its Isfahan facility.

Fighting intensifies in southern Lebanon

An Israeli civilian was killed in his car in the northern town of Misgav Am in what Israel's military originally said appeared to be a rocket attack. It later was looking into the possibility that the death was caused by Israeli soldiers' fire.

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Israeli authorities identified him as 61-year-old farmer Ofer Poshko Moskovitz. Two days ago, he told a radio station that living near the Lebanese border was like Russian roulette."

Hezbollah launched strikes on Israel soon after the war began, calling it retaliation for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel then targeted Hezbollah with airstrikes and expanded its ground presence in southern Lebanon.

Israel on Sunday expanded its target list to include bridges over the Litani River that Defense Minister Israel Katz said Hezbollah is using to move fighters and weapons to the south. Israel later struck the Qasmiyeh bridge near Tyre, giving an hour's warning. Destroying bridges further isolates residents from the rest of Lebanon.

Katz also ordered the military to accelerate destruction of Lebanese homes near the border.

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Lebanese authorities say Israel's strikes have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 1 million. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel.

Irans death toll in the war has surpassed 1,500, its health ministry has said. In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian strikes. More than a dozen civilians in the occupied West Bank and Gulf Arab states have been killed in strikes. A Qatari military helicopter crash on Saturday, blamed on a technical malfunction, killed all seven aboard, Qatari authorities said.

___

Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Koral Saeed in Abu Snan, Israel; Isabel Debre and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut; and Cara Anna in Lowville, New York, contributed to this report.
College campuses are already getting a taste of President Donald Trumps effort to impose broad, new voting restrictions across the country.

While Trumps push for a partisan elections bill faces several bottlenecks on Capitol Hill, his administration has spent months quietly chipping away at programs designed to boost turnout among a voting bloc Republicans say lean Democratic.

Colleges play a critical role in helping students vote in what is often their first chance to cast a ballot. But the Trump administration is barring colleges from using a federal program that employs low-income students to register voters and threatening to investigate schools if they use data from a nonpartisan student voting study to help boost turnout.

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The Education Department has also warned colleges not to violate election laws  and told schools to limit who they share voter registration information with  even though there is no evidence of widespread fraud on campuses.

The actions by Trump, who continues to make false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, could dampen student participation in a midterm election where control of Congress may be decided by small margins.

They want to suppress youth voting, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said of the administrations efforts. And they're looking for every way they can to throw a little sand in the gears, to put a few rocks in the way, to roll back any programs that might help get people registered and to the polls.

Almost 50 million people between the ages 18 to 29 were eligible to vote in the 2024 election, according to a study by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University. About 47 percent of those people voted, with the majority skewing toward former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

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But 18- and 19-year-olds had lower turnout rates to the polls at 41 percent.

On college campuses, preliminary data from the Tufts study shows the student voting rate at 53 percent is significantly higher than the broader 18-29 age group and 76 percent of students are registered to vote.

But Scott Walker, former Wisconsin governor and president of Young Americas Foundation, a prominent conservative youth organization, rejected the idea that Trump and other Republicans dont want students to vote.

"We are not afraid of younger voters, he said. We are afraid of younger voters who only hear one side of the story. This is why we work so hard to get conservative voices on campus to try to counterbalance the significant liberal bias at most colleges and universities.

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Many colleges host polling sites on their campuses during election years. Congress also requires these schools to distribute paper copies of in-state voter registration forms to students before their states deadline.

But Republicans have grown increasingly wary about election security, with one GOP strategist giving a presentation at a Republican National Committee donor retreat in 2023 calling for limits on voting on college campuses.

The GOP-backed SAVE America Act would institute strict new citizenship and photo ID requirements for voting. Trump has told Republican lawmakers that SAVE must be their priority and threatened to refuse any other bill until it is passed.

Voter ID is fundamental, said Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), who is supportive of the voting measure in Congress and a law passed in his state last year that barred the use of campus IDs for voting. It's pretty common sense.

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More than a dozen states  largely red states  restrict the use of some student IDs to vote. Florida and New Hampshire state lawmakers have passed similar measures tightening voter ID laws this legislative session and others are starting to weigh legislation.

When asked if the rollback of the use of campus IDs could hurt student voting, Banks responded: That's ridiculous.

Youth turnout has climbed since Trumps first election in 2016, when just 39 percent of young voters cast ballots, according to the Tufts study. In 2020, when Trump lost to former President Joe Biden, youth participation rose to roughly 50 percent.

College-aged voters historically have lower turnout than older voters and often face hurdles casting ballots. This includes lack of transportation and navigating residency requirements and often knotty absentee ballot requirements for out-of-state students.

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And even without the SAVE measure passing, Democrats and voting advocates warn actions already taken by the Education Department will erode recent gains in youth turnout.

Whether it's a SAVE Act or other things, it's just intentionally trying to make it harder to vote in America  and in particular, going after demographics that the Republicans think are not on their side, said Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who is part of a group of Democratic lawmakers pushing back on the Education Departments moves.

One of those moves is barring colleges from using the agencys Federal Work Study program to pay students for any work involving voting activity. The need-based federal aid program requires low-income students to work part-time jobs, typically on campus, to help fund their education. Colleges were deploying some of these students to help meet their voter registration mandates.

But the Trump Education Department in August rescinded Biden-era guidance that allowed the program to be used to employ students for voter registration activities that take place on or off-campus. The Biden administration expanded the programs employment eligibility to include nonpartisan civic engagement work done for public entities, sparking an outcry from House GOP lawmakers and Republican attorneys general.

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The Trump Administration has been clear: our educational institutions should focus on providing students with real-world, workforce-oriented experiences, not engaging in political activism aimed at influencing elections, said Ellen Keast, the departments press secretary for higher education. Protecting the integrity of American elections is critical to the security of our nation. If so-called voting advocates take issue with that, it raises serious questions about whether they are in the right line of work.

But voting advocates and former Biden Education Department officials argue the Trump administration's guidance goes further than undoing the prior policy.

They dont have the authority to prohibit colleges from hiring to do that kind of work using work-study funds because its contrary to statute, said Amanda Fuchs Miller, who served as deputy assistant secretary for higher education programs under the Biden administration.

The guidance also tells colleges that they dont have to send all students voter registration forms, which contradicts their legal requirements, she said.

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The department is directing colleges to be more selective of which students get voter registration papers, interpreting the law more narrowly to say schools may limit who they give the forms to, and warning them against aiding and abetting voter fraud by noncitizens.

Campuses aren't there to determine who is eligible or who is not eligible to register to vote, said Rebekah Caruthers, president of the Fair Elections Center, a national voting rights organization.

This administration is putting pressure on campuses and is trying to create a chilling effect to make campuses scared to do civic engagement and civic learning, she added.

In February, the department launched a probe into The National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement at Tufts University  the largest study of U.S. college student political participation. More than 1,200 colleges and universities from all 50 states and the District of Columbia voluntarily participate in the study, which has produced data on voter registration and turnout for every midterm and presidential election since 2016.

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The study gives colleges private, individual-tailored reports with data on their students' voter participation, which they use as a tool to improve their voting rates. But the department accused Tufts and the National Student Clearinghouse, an education research group, of violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which protects student education records. The agency also sent letters to more than 1,000 university presidents advising them to refrain from using the report data or risk their own FERPA investigations.

Tufts in March acquiesced to the departments request to delay the release of its report analyzing the 2024 election  which was expected earlier this year  until after the agencys investigation has concluded. And Clearinghouse, which played a key role in processing student data, has ended its participation.

When we see an administration that's using the bully pulpit and all of the resources of the federal government to restrict voting rights, we have to ring the alarm, Caruthers said.
Two similar, but very different, coins that may feature the likeness of President Donald Trump are getting closer to reality amid swirling controversy.

One would be a huge, gold collector's item. The other would be a controversial and temporary addition to circulating currency, meant to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday.

A U.S. Treasury Department advisory board on March 19 announced the design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin for the nation's 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial). It features a portrait of Trump, a move that opponents say bucks tradition.

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A separate $1 coin with Trump's face on it could go into circulation, also as part of the semiquincentennial.

The coins, if they are produced, would be the latest push by Trump and his allies to feature his name and likeness on items and buildings of significance, from national park passes and banners to the renamed Trump-Kennedy Center for the Arts.

Here is what we know about the two coins and the controversy they have stoked:

Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach holds the last penny stamped at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. The last penny stamped at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach stamps the last penny at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach holds the last penny stamped at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. Equipment used in the pressing of pennies at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. Equipment used in the pressing of pennies at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. A planchet sits in the press to be the final penny stamped at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. Equipment used in the pressing of pennies at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. Equipment used in the pressing of pennies at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. Equipment used in the pressing of pennies at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. Equipment used in the pressing of pennies at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. The dies used to press the last pennies sit on display at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. Equipment used in the pressing of pennies at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. Equipment used in the pressing of pennies at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. The dies used to press the last pennies sit on display at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. The dies used to press the last pennies sit on display at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. A stray penny sits next to machinery at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off. A U.S. Mint employee places the last penny to be struck into a coining press, ending 232 years of penny production in the United States, at the United States Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 12, 2025. Blank pennies await pressing at the United States Mint ahead of U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach's visit to strike the final five circulating one-cent coins or pennies, ending 232 years of penny production in the United States, at The United States Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 12, 2025. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and Norman Patterson, Division Chief of the Coining Division at The United States Mint, pose for a photo with the last struck penny, marking the end of 232 years of penny production in the United States, at the United States Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 12, 2025. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and Kristie McNally, Acting Director of The U.S. Mint, pose for a photo with the last struck penny, marking the end of 232 years of penny production in the United States, at the United States Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 12, 2025. One last press for the penny: U.S. Mint turns currency into collectors treasure 1 of 21 Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach holds the last penny stamped at the US Mint on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Beach pressed the final pennies at an event held at the facility. The pennies pressed bear a special 'Omega' and will not be put in circulation, but will be auctioned off.

Will there be a Trump coin in circulation?

The 24-karat gold commemorative coin would be a collector's item and wouldn't enter circulation. The $1 coin could go into circulation as legal tender.

The $1 coin's design was voted on by the Commission of Fine Arts in January.

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The coins haven't been produced or released yet, and they are facing opposition, especially the $1 coin. Opponents argue there are legal issues at play for any coin used as currency that features a living person.

More coin controversy: A symbol of peace was cut from US dimes. Is it a message from Trump?

What do the Trump coins look like?

The planned design for the gold commemorative coin features a portrait of Trump with his fists pressed into the Resolute Desk, a photo taken by the chief White House photographer and on display at the National Portrait Gallery. The president approved the design, according to Megan Sullivan, acting chief of the mint's Office of Design Management.

"It's a very strong, very tough image of him," said Chamberlain Harris, a member of the Commission of Fine Arts.

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The gold coin would have the word "LIBERTY" and 1776-2026 on its face. The Commission of Fine Arts recommended it be 3 inches in diameter, the largest size the U.S. Mint can create.

The Commission of Fine Arts approved the design for a 24 karat gold commemorative coin featuring the image of President Donald Trump for the nation's 250th anniversary.

The $1 coin's design would feature a side profile image of Trump, also with the word "LIBERTY" and the dates 1776-2026.

The Commission of Fine Arts Voted to approve this side-profile of President Donald Trump for a $1 coin in honor of the country's 250th anniversary.

How much will the gold Trump coin cost?

The Treasury Department hasn't said how much the gold commemorative coin would cost, but other collectible coins for sale from the department go for as much as thousands of dollars.

Why are the coins controversial?

The $1 Trump coin that could potentially be produced is causing more controversy than the commemorative coin. But both coins face pushback for breaking with longstanding coin-producing norms about who should appear on a coin.

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Several Democratic members of Congress argued in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that the Trump $1 coin violates an 1886 law requiring only the portrait of a deceased individual appear on currency and securities.

The administration has said a 2020 law authorizing the creation of special 2026 coins gives the U.S. Mint the ability to make the $1 coin featuring Trump.

George Washington argued it was monarchical to have his image on currency during his lifetime.

Only one president has been featured on a coin when he was alive: Calvin Coolidge, on a 1926 half-dollar, pictured alongside Washington for the nation's 150th anniversary. That coin was not popular, and most pieces were eventually melted.

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The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, which was established in 2003 to advise the treasury secretary on coin themes and designs, notably did not approve designs for either Trump coin. The committee is separate from the Commission of Fine Arts, which was hand-selected by Trump.

The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee has refused to review the coins, arguing they go against the nation's founding principles. Donald Scarinci, chair of the advisory committee, described the two proposals "as abhorrent to the Declaration of Independence" and said it was a "huge irony" to celebrate the countrys break from the British monarchy with coins of the president. Scarinci said such a coin would send the message that the sitting president is a king.

The advisory committee also did not approve the designs for the commemorative quarters that were introduced as part of the semiquincentennial. That committee approved a set of different designs, which included images related to the abolition of slavery, the Civil Rights Movement and women's suffrage. Those were nixed by Bessent.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Trump's face appear on a coin? The controversial plan explained.
The Trump administration is preparing to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to airports nationwide, as Transportation Security Administration officers continue to work without pay during the ongoing partial government shutdown.

Sources told ABC News that hundreds of ICE agents are expected to be sent to 14 airports on Monday, though it remains unclear whether Philadelphia International Airport will be included. The move comes as more than 400 TSA officers have quit and thousands continue to call out.

As long lines persist at security checkpoints, the administration says the additional personnel are intended to ease pressure on TSA staff.

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"This is about helping TSA do their mission and get the American public through that airport as quick as they can while adhering to all the security guidelines and the protocols," White House Border Czar Tom Homan said. "We're simply there to help TSA do their job in areas that don't need their specialized expertise."

Homan said ICE agents could take over duties such as guarding exits, but some TSA union leaders question how much relief that would provide.

"We only have 3 manned exits in Philly," said Joe Shuker, regional vice president of AFGE Council 100, which represents about 800 officers at Philadelphia International Airport. "I don't know how big of a help they would be there."

Shuker said the plan could create more problems for officers already under strain.

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"To bring ICE in, that's going to be a distraction. We don't need any more distractions," he said. "We're working, looking for IEDs, we're looking for weapons, and now our guys are stressed out because they can't pay their bills."

He added that some officers are calling out to find other income or are quitting altogether. TSA data shows they had their highest callout rate on Saturday since the shutdown began, with 21.5% at PHL.

"Pay TSA. Don't pay ICE to come in and do our jobs. Pay our TSA officers," Shuker said.

Travelers offered mixed reactions to the potential deployment.

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"You're missing TSA employees that help push the lines through, get people where they need to be safe, and instead you're going to deploy ICE agents who right now are causing a lot of turmoil and fear in this country. That doesn't make sense,' said Kerry Misner of Detroit, Michigan.

But Jim Elliott of Williamstown, N.J., welcomed the idea. "I think it's awesome. Can't wait. Help out. Hopefully, move things along. I think it would be a different change too," he said. "Any type of security is welcome."

The Department of Homeland Security said ICE agents will be sent to airports "being adversely impacted," but did not specify which locations.

Shuker said that if the government does not reopen by Friday, TSA officers will miss their third full paycheck.
It's been over a month since the start of the partial government shutdown, which has left Transportation Security Administration employees agents without pay since receiving partial paychecks Feb. 28.

On March 13, TSA officers missed their first full paycheck. And the absence rate of agents has jumped to just over 10%, according to the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be sent to airports to assist understaffed TSA starting Monday, March 23, amid the ongoing shutdown.

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Most airports in Florida have reported checkpoint wait times around 15 minutes or less, however major hubs such as Orlando International Airport (MCO), may experience slightly longer delays during peak travel periods.

Here are the current security wait times at Orlando International Airport (MCO) as of March 22:

What is the current TSA wait time at Orlando International Airport (MCO)?

Here are regular security screening wait times at MCO, as of noon Sunday, March 22:

Gates 1-59: 37-41 minutes

Gates 70-129: 13-16 minutes

Gates C230-249: 28-31 minutes

How to check TSA wait times at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Daytona Beach Airport (DAB)

At Orlando International Airport (MCO), travelers can check wait times on the MyTSA app, at flymco.com/security, or through third-party websites such as ifly.com, flightqueue.com or tsawaittimes.com, which provide estimated wait times based on airport reports and traveler submissions.

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Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) has an estimated TSA security time of 0-15 minutes as of noon, March 22, according to the MyTSA app.

However, the application issued a user notice that the website might not be actively managed due to the lapse in federal funding.

Florida flight delays at Orlando Airport (MCO), Daytona Beach Airport (DAB), on March 22

As of noon, here's the amount of delays and cancellations today, March 22, at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), in Florida, according to FlightAware.com:

Orlando International Airport (MCO) Total delays today: 153 Total delays within, into, or out of the United States today: 153 Total cancellations today: 11 Total cancellations within, into, or out of the United States today: 11

Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) Total delays today: 1 Total delays within, into, or out of the United States today: 1 Total cancellations today: 0 Total cancellations within, into, or out of the United States today: 0



Have TSA agents been paid?

Congress failed to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in midFebruary. On March 13, TSA officers missed their first full paycheck after receiving partial paychecks on Feb. 28.

MCO travel tips

Orlando International Airport (MCO) advises travelers to arrive at the airport three hours before a flight and to be at the security checkpoint two hours before departure. Here are some more tips the airport provided amid busy travel days:

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Practice Three Ps: Pack as lightly as possible. Park in any available garage/lot or use reserved parking for a guaranteed spot. Plane: Dont miss it! Give yourself plenty of time to get through security and to your plane.

Use MCO App: Your personal MCO Assistant is close at hand for the best in-terminal navigation experience and more.

Use MCO Reserve: Passengers can book a time slot to go through a TSA security checkpoint.

Take advantage of cell phone lots: Instead of circling the airport, use the free North or South Cell Phone Lots to wait for your passenger. These convenient lots offer Wi-Fi and restrooms.

Pack right: Not sure what bag to take or what to pack? Our video offers some high-flying tips to help you decide.

Contributing: Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal and Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: MCO security wait times for Sunday, March 22
Two individuals have died as a result of a vehicle colliding with a BNSF locomotive around 7:30 p.m., as confirmed by the railroad company.

The train was traveling from Fresno, CA, to Pasco, Washington when the vehicle collided with the front locomotive, causing the train to derail. No BNSF workers were injured, however the two victims in the vehicle sustained fatal injuries.

BNSF Railway said the incident occurred on Union Pacific owned tracks, and that they are working closely with Union Pacific and local police to investigate the incident.

This is a developing story.

Watch more from ABC10: Stockton police investigate death of 83-year-old woman
Dracut Police are investigating an armed robbery that saw two suspects threaten and injure a man.

The incident on Friday, around 6:10 p.m., when the victim had just closed a nearby business and was leaving for the day when he was approached by two men.

The suspects were described as wearing all-black clothing and face coverings. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun. During the robbery, the victim was struck in the back of the head with a blunt object and robbed of personal items.

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Following the encounter, the suspects fled in a silver Ford Explorer SUV toward Lowell. The Dracut Police Department alerted surrounding agencies to search for the vehicle. Investigators determined the SUV was at an intersection in Lowell at approximately 6:47 p.m. before it was observed entering a garage on Maple Street.

Lawrence police later confirmed that the Ford Explorer had been reported stolen from their jurisdiction. On Saturday, March 21, Dracut officers executed a search warrant at the Maple Street location. The Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team assisted in the operation.

Authorities located the stolen SUV inside the garage and had the vehicle towed. The department stated that they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public at this time.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Dracut Police Department at 978-957-2123.

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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
LONDON, March 22 (Reuters) - British cabinet minister Steve Reed said on Sunday that there was no assessment that backed claims Iran is planning to strike Europe with ballistic missiles, or that it even has the capacity to do so.

On Saturday, the Israel Defence Forces posted on social media that Iran has missiles "that can reach London, Paris or Berlin".

"There is no assessment to substantiate what's being said," British Housing Secretary Reed told the BBC.

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"I'm not aware of any assessment at all that they are even trying to target Europe, let alone that they could if they tried."

In a separate interview with Sky News, Reed said that U.S. President Trump spoke for himself when he threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

Asked to define Britain's position on Trump's deadline, Reed said: "The U.S. president is perfectly capable of speaking for himself and defending what it is that he's saying."

"We're not going to be dragged into the war, but we will protect our own interests in the region. We will work with our allies to de-escalate the situation."

(Reporting by Andy Bruce; Editing by Michael Perry, Kirsten Donovan)
The United States issued about a quarter million fewer visas in the first eight months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, as the Trump administration introduced policies that have reshaped who comes to the United States legally.

From January to August 2025, the State Department approved 11 percent fewer permanent resident and temporary visas compared with the same period a year before, according to State Department data released in early March. These visas are generally issued for students, workers, and family members of citizens and legal residents. The 11 percent drop doesnt include tourist visas, which also fell during the same period.

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

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India and China bore the brunt of the visa declines. The U.S. issued many fewer temporary visas to international students, cultural exchange visitors, and fiances and spouses of U.S. citizens from those countries and beyond.

Visa approvals for permanent residency - known as green cards - also declined, with the largest drops in visas for workers, certain relatives, and Iraqi and Afghan nationals who worked with the U.S. military.

Most nations sent fewer immigrants to the United States. In a group of 61 countries with at least 5,000 visa approvals from January to August 2024, just seven received more visas in 2025 than the year before.

The Trump administrations travel ban, a pause on student visa interviews and heightened vetting requirements have all played a role in dampening visa figures. Plus, fewer State Department workers were available to process visas because of federal government cuts.

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The preliminary visa data helps paint a fuller picture of immigration declines in the United States. For the first time in at least half a century, more immigrants left the country than entered last year, according to estimates released by Brookings Institution. That contributed to weaker job creation in recent months, as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell noted last week.

Theres no policy more important to the present and future of the U.S. economy than immigration, said Harvard University professor Jason Furman, who served as a top economist in the Obama administration. When we restrict immigration, we dont just shortchange labor force growth today, we also reduce innovation and productivity growth in the future.

In a statement to The Washington Post, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said: A visa is a privilege, not a right. Unlike the Biden administration, President Trump is not willing to compromise the safety of American citizens to allow mass migration of unvetted foreign nationals into our country.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement that President Trump was elected with a resounding mandate to put American citizens first and every policy decision hes made has reflected that priority.

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Visas for Chinese and Indian nationals fell by about 84,000 compared with the same period in 2024, largely reflecting a drop-off in international students and workers from those countries. Visas for Afghan and Cuban nationals also dropped sharply, reflecting the Trump administrations travel ban, which began in June. Visas also fell by more than 10,000 for citizens of the Philippines and Vietnam.

In June, the administration enacted a travel ban on 19 countries - mostly majority-Muslim countries and those with a contentious relationship with the United States, such as Cuba. Around that time, the State Department also paused student and exchange visitor visa interviews for three weeks, before ordering the vetting of social media accounts for all those seeking visas.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration began eliminating thousands of positions from the State Department, describing the reductions as an effort to root out bloat and inefficiency. Combined with expanded vetting requirements, staffing reductions resulted in fewer consular appointments and longer wait times at certain high-demand consulates.

Its not clear exactly how much the Trump administrations policies and heightened immigration enforcement have directly reduced visa applications. But some foreigners could have been deterred by Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric and canceled plans to come to the United States.

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We dont have a separation of how much of this decline is caused by demand and how much is caused by policy, and theyre obviously both putting downward pressure on the number of visas that are issued, said Cecilia Esterline, an immigration analyst at the Niskanen Center, a moderate think tank in Washington.

Business and tourism visas, which include those issued for leisure trip and business travel, fell by about 3.4 percent in the first eight months of 2025 compared with that period a year earlier, a drop of nearly 200,000 visas.

Critics of the heightened restrictions say they limit the United States competitive edge in the global economy and create enormous uncertainty among families and workers that have been waiting, in some cases for decades, to come to the United States.

The Trump administration is using the power of the federal bureaucracy to grind the system to a halt, at least with respect to the people that are from countries that the administration finds to be dis-favorable, said Jorge Loweree, managing director of programs and strategy at the American Immigration Council, a nonprofit that advocates for immigrant rights.

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Limiting visas helps prioritize Americans in the labor market and education system, said Ira Mehlman, a spokesperson for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which advocates for stricter immigration controls.

Its good for employers if immigrants flood in, which is why they lobby for it. But its not so great for U.S. workers, Mehlman said. There seems to be this assumption that if foreign workers are not here, their economic output will simply disappear. In most cases, those jobs would be filled by other workers, very often earning higher wages.

Visas issued for family members were generally down, especially for spouses and fiances seeking temporary visas.

However, permanent green cards for high-priority relatives of citizens, including young children, parents and spouses, increased by 6 percent for the first eight months of the year over the same period in 2024. Those green cards have no limits.

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A separate, capped family visa category, which includes adult children and siblings of U.S. citizens, fell by more than 27 percent, or by about 44,000.

International students have been the hardest hit by the Trump administrations clampdown on legal immigration. Visas issued to international students fell by more than 30 percent in the first eight months of 2025.

The drop in student visas coincides with a statement by Marco Rubio in May that the State Department would aggressively revoke visas of students from China. Later in the summer, the State Department announced that it had canceled 6,000 student visas for alleged crimes and overstays. Meanwhile, exchange visitor visas, which are used by foreign medical residents to come to the United States, also fell by nearly 30,000.

Omar Mousa, a 31-year-old Palestinian who fled to Ireland during the Gaza War, received a job offer last year from an internal medicine residency at Marshall University in West Virginia. But the State Department denied Mousa an exchange visitor visa this past summer based on doubts that he would return home to war-ravaged Gaza after he completed his program, a requirement of the visa.

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The residency program kept his offer open. But in August, the Trump administration suspended visas for Palestinian passport holders, dashing Mousas dreams.

I cant stop thinking about this, Mousa said. I wasnt just someone who just found himself a job. Ive spent $20,000 and five years of my life, preparing, just focusing on this.

Methodology

The Post analyzed preliminary State Department visa issuance data for the first eight months of 2025, which was most recent available. The Posts analysis of the overall data and the breakdown by country omitted tourist and business visas, to avoid distorting underlying immigration trends for specific countries. Tourist and business visas include those issued for vacations and leisure trips as well as shorter business trips, including conferences and trade fairs.

Related Content
President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iranian power plants if the pivotal Strait of Hormuz isn't opened, prompting Iran to respond with their own threats of retaliation as the war's energy crisis escalates.

The president took to social media to pressure the Middle Eastern nation over the global shipping route, which Iran has effectively closed since the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. It's one of the world's most important oil chokepoints and ferries roughly 20% of the world's oil products annually.

"If Iran doesnt FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" Trump wrote on Truth Social shortly before 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 21.

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In response, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, speaker of Irans parliament, said if the United States does strike Iran's power plants, Iran will destroy critical infrastructure and oil facilities in the region in an "irreversible manner." In his March 22 post on X, Qalibaf also threatened that oil costs will "remain high for a long time."

More: Another 'Big, Beautiful Bill' may be coming to pay for the Iran war

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.

Iran threatens tit-for-tat strikes amid energy crisis

As the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran enters its fourth week, the economic and oil-related repercussions continue to rattle global and domestic markets. The average U.S. gas price on Sunday, March 22 hit $3.94 per gallon, compared to $2.98 a gallon two days before the war began.

While consumers wrestle with a nearly dollar-high jump over the last three weeks, the United States, Israel and Iran entered a new phase in the ongoing war, in which oil and gas have become key targets for both sides.

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Israel's March 19 attack on Iran's largest gas field, South Pars, led to retaliatory strikes by Iran on U.S.-allied Gulf nations. Hours after the South Pars attack, Iran struck oil refineries in Kuwait and damaged Qatar's massive liquefied natural gas production site, Ras Laffan.

Gas prices are seen at a gas station on Capitol Hill, amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 19, 2026.

More than 2,000 killed in ongoing war

While the warring nations lob threats over new rounds of energy and oil targets, Lebanon continues to suffer the second-highest death toll from the war, after Iran. In all, more than 2,000 people across multiple countries have died in the conflict.

Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed, and the Pentagon said last week the number of American troops injured in the Iran war has climbed to 200.

Israel's strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 1,000 people, including nearly 120 children, 80 women and 40 medical personnel, according to Lebanon's health ministry. The United Nations reported on March 21 that 2,584 people have been injured in Lebanon since March 2, when Iran-linked militant group Hezbollah launched strikes on Israel in response to the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a bridge, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, near Qasmiyeh, Lebanon, March 22, 2026.

In Iran, casualty numbers vary.

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The U.S.-based rights group HRANA said on March 21 that 3,230 people have been killed, including 1,406 civilians, and at least 210 children.

Reuters reported the latest figures from Iranian state media put the toll at 1,270 people, while Iran's ambassador to the UN said on March 6 that at least 1,332 people had been killed since the war began.

Elsewhere in the region, Reuters reported authorities have confirmed 60 people were killed in Iraq, 15 civilians and two soldiers were killed in Israel, 8 people are dead in United Arab Emirates and 6 in Kuwait. Two have been killed in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain, Reuters reported, and four people have been killed in Syria.

Democrats hammer administration over costs

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on NBC News' "Meet the Press" on March 22 that the United States has "plenty of money to fund this war," as Congress braces for an expected $200 billion request from the Pentagon.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a briefing with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 19, 2026.

Bessent called the ask "supplemental" and ruled out pushing for any tax increases to fund the war. When asked about whether it's coming to an end soon, Bessent answered by telling host Kristen Welker that "sometimes you have to escalate to deescalate."

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Sen. Chris Murphy responded to Bessent's comments on the same program, suggesting Democrats may attempt to use the Pentagon's expected request for billions more in war funding to pressure the administration to end the conflict.

"We need to end this war," Murphy said. "The only way you're going to get prices down here in the United States, the only way you're going to bring peace to the region, is by ending this war."

The funding ask faces stiff opposition in Congress, with Democrats and some Republicans questioning the need after large defense appropriations last year. Many Democrats have also expressed strong opposition to the joint U.S.-Israeli war since it began, throwing more hurdles in the path of the Pentagon's request.

Contributing: Reuters.

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Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US, Iran threaten energy strikes as gas prices surge. What to know
President Donald Trump spoke to reporters Friday about Arkansas Gov. and former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) being asked to leave a restaurant  and he couldnt believe where it happened.

Wow! In Arkansas, thats very surprising, he said, after a reporter told him the incident took place in Sanders home state.

Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.

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Sanders said Friday that she and her team were booted from a Little Rock eatery the owner said employees felt threatened by her presence. The restaurant, The Croissanterie, disputed that anyone told Sanders employees felt threatened, but did say employees and customers raised questions about her being there.

Ultimately, we made the decision to support our employees and guests who expressed they were uncomfortable, the restaurant said in a statement.

Politics: Trump Says U.S. Is Talking With An Iranian Leader As He Extends Deadline For Striking Power Plants

According to the statement, a member of the governors security detail was asked to encourage the governor to conclude her visit after she had finished eating. A half hour later, As the 90-minute table seating limit approached, the security detail was approached a second time and informed that approximately 10 minutes remained and Sanders left the business.

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I love Arkansas, Trump told reporters. I won that state by so much. I think that Sarah is going to be just fine. But its too bad. Shes a good woman.

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Read the original on HuffPost
Officials have identified a 15-year-old girl who was killed in a hit-and-run crash while riding a scooter on Saturday night,

The crash happened on Saturday at about 8:34 p.m. in the 2800-block of E. 77th Street in the South Shore neighborhood, police said.

Police said the 15-year-old was on a scooter when she was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.

She was later found lying on the street; she was taken to the University of Chicago Hospital where she died. She was identified as Violet D. Harris by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

Violet D. Harris was identified as the 15-year-old girl who was killed in a hit-and-run crash while riding a scooter in Chicago. Rachel Sturgis

Chicago police said a 13-year-old girl was also hurt in the crash and was taken to a hospital in good condition.

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Police have not yet released a description of the vehicle involved.

The motorized scooter remained in the middle of the street Saturday night as crash reconstruction investigators tried to gather what evidence they could from the hit-and-run crash that killed 15-year-old Violet Harris and injured her 13-year-old companion.

"Getting ready to cross the street and next thing you know a speeding black sedan just kept going and hit her, and kept riding," violence interrupter Justin Peters said.

A violence interrupter at Chitown Crime Chasers, Peters is speaking on behalf of the family. The tragedy is hitting particularly close to home.

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"Violet is the niece of one of my team members, and it's very devastating," Peters said. "It's hitting the whole family, all of us is hurting right now."

A freshman and honor student at Hyde Park Academy, Harris is described as someone who filled any room she walked into with smiles, bringing joy to those she came into contact with.

"This was a child who had her whole life left," said Cassandra Chatman with Chitown Crime Chasers. "So I'm hoping the person that the person that did it will come forward or someone saw it will come forward."

No other information was immediately released. Chicago police are investigating.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday said he fears the consequences of the war in Iran on the situation in his country.

"I have a very bad feeling about the impact of this war on the situation in Ukraine, and the focus on America is more on the Middle East than on Ukraine," said Zelensky in an interview with the BBC.

"Our diplomatic meetings, trilateral meetings, are constantly postponed," he added. "There is one reason, war in Iran."

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For Russian President Vladimir Putin, a long war in Iran is "a plus", Zelensky said. In addition to high energy prices, it would also mean a depletion of resources.

"It is beneficial for Putin that the resources do not go to Ukraine," Zelensky told the BBC. "He needs to weaken us and this is a long process. The Middle East is one of the ways to do that."

There will definitely be a shortage of Patriot missiles that could be accessible to Ukraine if needed, he added.
A Pima County judge has set a trial date for Derrick Callella, the man charged with sending Savannah Guthrie a fake ransom text in the weeks after her mother's disappearance, court records show. Callella is not accused of Nancy Guthrie's abduction itself.

The trial date lands as the search enters Day 84 with no suspect named. Investigators are still working through DNA and hair evidence pulled from Nancy Guthrie's Catalina Foothills home in Arizona, and a Northern California forensics lab connected to the Gilgo Beach case is now reportedly assisting the FBI.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos publicly shut down a viral rumor on April 17 that a new person of interest had been detained in the Nancy Guthrie case.

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Asked directly by Fox News reporter Michael Ruiz whether there had been a new person detained, Nanos gave a one-word answer: "Nope." The denial came after claims began circulating on X and aggregator sites throughout the day, drawing tens of thousands of views.

Savannah Guthrie has been back at the Today anchor desk for three weeks after a two-month hiatus following the disappearance of her mother.

On the April 15 show, Today viewers questioned whether Savannah was OK after she seemed to suddenly dip out of the episode despite teasing an upcoming interview with Anne Hathaway. When the show returned from a commercial break, former coanchor Hoda Kotb, who was filling in for Craig Melvin while he was on vacation, spoke with the Oscar winner instead.

Some people wondered whether Savannah had stepped away because she received an update about her mother. The show didn't address the sudden switch, but Savannah did return to the episode later on.

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The area around Nancy Guthrie's Catalina Foothills neighborhood, north of Tucson, Ariz., has seen increased activity amid complaints about vloggers and amateur journalists. Patrols also increased around the home of Savannah's sister, Annie, and brother-in-law, Tommaso Cioni.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at around 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 31, when family members dropped her off at her home following dinner out. She was reported missing around noon the next day after she did not show up at a friend's house to watch an online church service.

The FBI released footage of a masked and armed individual taken from her doorbell camera the morning she went missing. But authorities have still not named a suspect or identified a motive in Nancy Guthrie's apparent abduction.

In late February, Savannah Guthrie announced that the Guthrie family was offering $1 million for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's "recovery."

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Pima County Sheriff's Department tip line at 520-351-4900 or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Monkeys have become the target of suspected hunters in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) buffer zone in Thane, with two bonnet macaques spotted with arrows lodged in their bodies on Sunday. One of the monkeys  that had an arrow piercing its jaw and passing out of its head  was rescued late in the evening.



The shocking cases come within 48 hours of a juvenile monkey being rescued with an arrow lodged in its hip in the same location and reveals a pattern of deliberate attacks on the simians.



The monkey that was rescued on Sunday evening had fled during a rescue attempt earlier in the day, but the arrow had come out of its head at that time. The second monkey was spotted near a residential building in Thane with an arrow piercing its abdomen but has evaded capture so far.



Pawan Sharma, founder of wildlife rescue group



Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), said, In the last 48 hours, we have come across three such cases in Thane, all reported within roughly a 2-kilometre radius of the initial incident near the SGNP buffer zone. The proximity of these cases indicates a pattern rather than isolated incidents. Based on primary observations, this does not appear accidental, but is clearly intentional. The use of a bow and arrow and the precision of the injuries suggest that the person involved is likely trained or experienced in using such equipment.



Sharma branded this a deliberate act of hunting, which he said was a violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. So far, two arrows have been recovered, one each from the monkeys rescued on Friday and Sunday.



On Friday, the juvenile bonnet macaque was found with a 2.7-foot arrow driven clean through its body. The attack was so precise that officials and activists say it could only have been carried out with deliberate aim. The macaque, which sustained severe trauma to its pelvic region, leading to infection and a fractured femur, underwent surgery on Friday and is recovering.



Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, Chief Conservator of Forests Jitendra Ramgaonkar said, This is a serious offence and we are actively tracking down those responsible. The Wildlife Protection Act and Prevention of Cruelty to animals ha ve strong provisions, and once the accused are identified, they could face imprisonment and strict legal action. At this stage, our teams, along with rescuers, are investigating on the ground to establish how this was carried out and who is behind it. There are a few archery centres in the vicinity, but we cannot jump to conclusions. Similar arrows can be accessed by anyone, so our priority is to first zero in on the source and the perpetrators before deciding the next course of action.



Range Forest Officer (Mumbai) Santosh Dagale, who is leading the investigation, said it is deeply concerning to find multiple such cases emerging from the same periphery. We are trying to identify the source of these arrows. The second arrow recovered is slightly different from the first one and bears specific markings, which may correspond to a particular manufacturer or type of archery equipment. However, like the first, even this arrow appears to be of a kind used in professional archery. Based on these findings, we will be visiting nearby archery centres to trace its origin. Injuring a wild animal using such a weapon is a grave offence, he said.



According to Dagale, a Preliminary Offence Report (POR) has been registered and foresters are seeking the help of local police in the case. Local residents have also been urged to immediately alert the Forest Department and RAWW if they spot any injured animals or arrows lodged in them.



Bonnet macaques (monkey) are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, the highest level of legal protection, making the offence punishable with stringent penalties, including imprisonment.



Sunil Limaye, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) of Maharashtra, and a member of the Supreme Courts Central Empowered Committee (CEC), termed the incident atrocious and indicative of deliberate human intervention.



This is extremely disturbing and clearly points to human handiwork , either an attempt to drive monkeys away or to deliberately harm them. In either case, it warrants a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible. There are established, humane methods to manage situations where monkeys are perceived as a nuisance or are found to be creating menace, but injuring them in any manner to shoo them away is completely unacceptable and a clear violation of the law, he said.




She was 18, standing alone in the sterile fluorescent hallway of BYL Nair Charitable Hospital. To the triage nurse, she described a vague discomfort in her lower abdomen  a common complaint.



An X-ray revealed the truth. Lodged deep inside her urinary bladder was a full-length pencil, inserted through the urethra during a moment of solitary sexual exploration. For days, she had sat in her bedroom, paralysed by the realisation that the object had migrated into a part of her body she didnt understand. Shame kept her silent.



She didnt understand her own anatomy, says Dr Priyank Kothari, a uro-andrologist at BYL Nair Hospital. What began as natural curiosity turned into a medical emergency.



Her case required an emergency cystoscopy to extract the wood and graphite. She survived without permanent injury, but her story opens a disturbing chapter. In under a year, Nairs Department of Urology has seen a surge in what doctors call sexual misadventures  involving a ballpoint pen, a heavy metal ring, charging cables and nails.



These recent cases involve the young. But the crisis of foreign body insertion is a long-standing fact of the emergency room. Dr Jitendra Sankpal, a surgeon at Gokuldas Tejpal Hospital with 30 years of experience, has seen its extremes.



I have removed broom plastic covers, liquor bottles, metallic spoons, drug packets, and syringes with needles, he says. These were inserted out of curiosity, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or for pleasure.



The interventions are almost always surgical  and not always successful. Dr Sankpal recalls a patient who had air forced into his rectum through the hose of an industrial air compressor. The man died on the table, most likely from cardiorespiratory arrest triggered by catastrophic internal pressure. What begins as curiosity can end in a morgue.



Doctors are clear: This is not a morality problem. It is a public health failure. Explicit content reaches young people at the swipe of a thumb. Formal education on pelvic anatomy and bodily autonomy remains a cultural taboo.



Young people encounter sexual content without any corresponding education on safety, says Dr Tarun Jain of the urology department. Curiosity is natural. The danger is curiosity without guidance.



This guidance gap creates a vacuum that misinformation fills. When curiosity leads to an accident, shame fills the rest. In nearly every case at Nair, the patient waited days before seeking help. That delay is where the real damage occurs. Objects left in the bladder cause infection. Rings left on the penis cause tissue necrosis  the death of the organ. Foreign bodies in the rectum can perforate the intestinal wall, triggering sepsis.



At Nair, the urology team  led by Dr Mukund Andankar, under Dean Dr Shailesh Mohite  operates on a principle of radical empathy. This is not deviant behaviour, says Dr Dip Joshi. This is a lack of awareness.



The hospitals message is a public plea: The emergency room carries no judgment. The goal is the preservation of function and life. A finger-exercise grip lodged on a penis, a spoon lost in the rectum  prompt help prevents a mistake from becoming a lifelong consequence.



The problem extends beyond Mumbais hospitals. A 2019 case in Navi Mumbai illustrates how these emergencies cross into criminal territory. A man needed emergency surgery to remove a coconut shell. He initially told investigators he had been assaulted. They later confirmed the act was self-inflicted. The case exposed not only the extreme physical risks  internal blockage, perforation, sepsis  but the depth of stigma that drives patients to fabricate stories rather than seek transparent care.



The pencil in the bladder is a symptom of a systemic failure. When anatomy remains a whispered secret and sex education becomes a moral debate rather than a physiological necessity, the list of objects  wires, bottles, rings  will grow longer.




Civilizational exchanges offer solutions to addressing global challenges

15:22, March 22, 2026 By He Yin ( People's Daily

A foreigner learns Wuju opera in Jimingshan neighborhood, Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang province. (Photo/Hu Panxue)

Since the start of this year, diverse cultural exchange activities have been bringing people worldwide closer, fostering mutual understanding and shared values. They are bringing trust and friendship to the world, showcasing the vitality of the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI).

From film festivals to singing competitions, cultural exchanges between China and Africa have flourished this year, designated as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Around the world, more and more people are embracing Chinese New Year traditions and making the Chinese festival a truly global celebration. Wellness tea and traditional Baduanjin exercise are going viral overseas, while the cultural phenomenon of "becoming Chinese" is capturing hearts and minds.

On March 15, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the GCI at the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting. The initiative advocates the respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations and robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

Rooted in the rich heritage of Chinese civilization, the initiative advocates seeking common ground while respecting differences and promoting harmonious coexistence, principles that resonate with the multicultural diversity and concepts of coexistence found in many countries.

Over the past three years, the GCI has fostered global consensus in cultural and civilizational spheres. It has been translated into vibrant exchanges and cooperation, gathering momentum to bridge misunderstandings, enhance mutual understanding among peoples, and inject positive energy into the joint effort to address global challenges.

How civilizations are viewed has a profound bearing on human progress as well as world peace and security. Today's world is facing multiple challenges and crises, and one of the important reasons for current conflicts and disputes is a few countries' advocacy of notions such as the "clash of civilizations" and "civilizational superiority," which equate cultural differences with confrontation and further widens the development gap and governance imbalances.

At this new crossroads in human history, it is increasingly urgent to transcend estrangement through civilizational exchange and overcome conflicts through mutual learning among civilizations.

The GCI emphasizes that civilizations are diverse, advocating harmony in diversity and mutual appreciation for common progress; that civilizations are interconnected, promoting shared commitment and advancing along the path of common development; that civilizations are evolving, encouraging people to understand where they come from and chart a course for the future; and that civilizations are inclusive, advocating dialogue, cooperation, mutual understanding, and affinity.

The values and approaches embedded in the initiative point the way forward for strengthening civilizational exchanges and for advancing human civilization.

Focusing on the reality of diverse world civilizations and addressing the urgent need to move beyond civilizational confrontation, the GCI has received broad recognition from the international community. It has been incorporated into multiple United Nations resolutions as well as various bilateral and multilateral documents.

The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly designated June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, incorporating civilizational dialogue into global institutional arrangements.

In June 2025, a world-wide event marking the first International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations was held. The following month, the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting convened in Beijing and issued the Beijing Declaration along with a list of action plans, providing a clear roadmap for turning the idea of civilizational dialogue into institutionalized practice.

China has helped build a range of international platforms at different levels, including the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, the Liangzhu Forum, the World Conference of Classics and the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting.

Foreign tourists visit the Miaodigou Museum in Sanmenxia, central China's Henan province. (Photo/Sun Meng)

It has signed cooperation agreements in fields such as culture, cultural heritage and tourism with more than 100 countries, while deepening cooperation in areas such as joint archaeological research, world heritage protection and the mutual translation of classic works.

Through these efforts, China and its partners are working together to safeguard the cultural treasures of humanity and promote global dialogue among civilizations through concrete actions.

Humanity's exploration of modernization involves civilizational inheritance, innovation and mutual learning. As a new form of human advancement, Chinese modernization draws inspiration from other civilizations while contributing its own experiences to the global community, enriching the diversity of world civilizations and offering insights for addressing global challenges.

China has hosted forums like the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting and the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, and taken the lead in establishing the Global South Think Tanks Alliance. It is also working with its African partners to jointly advance 10 partnership action plans and build platforms for sharing governance experience between China and Africa.

Exchanges on governance and development practices have become an important part of implementing the GCI, offering valuable lessons for countries pursuing their own paths to modernization.

Resolving humanity's conflicts and challenges requires sincerity and the power of shared values. China is ready to work with all parties to put the GCI into action. Through this effort, the light of civilization can guide development and renewal; its strength can enrich humanity's pursuit of modernization; and its wisdom can advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. China hopes to contribute even more to building a better world.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
As the war in Iran enters its fourth week, with US operations increasingly focused on global energy flows, Tehran is rebuffing efforts to identify a diplomatic off-ramp from the war launched by the United States and Israel, according to officials in the region.



Instead, Tehran is escalating attacks on its neighbours, betting it can ratchet up global economic pain faster than the Trump administration can relieve it with military force, according to an Iranian diplomat, two European diplomats stationed in the region and a senior Arab official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to brief the media on sensitive details.



Irans unwillingness to capitulate is tied to the power it exerts over a critical maritime chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the worlds fuel shipments transit, which Tehran has largely closed, roiling energy markets. President Donald Trump gave Iran a 48-hour deadline on Saturday to reopen the waterway, threatening to obliterate the countrys power plants if Tehran does not comply. By partially closing the route, Iran is seeking to make this aggression super expensive for the aggressors, according to the Iranian diplomat. We are alone against the biggest military superpower in history, he said. Irans leaders see their ability to control the passage and withstand the US and Israeli onslaught as a short-term victory, the Arab official and European diplomats said. But as the war expands, with Irans critical infrastructure increasingly threatened, the countrys leadership is also deeply concerned about its ability to recover in the long term.



As long as the regime is there, they can create terror in the region; they terrorise international markets with oil and gas prices. Yes, thats what winning is for them, said one European diplomat based in the Persian Gulf. They dont feel any pressure to negotiate.



So far, the conflicts economic fallout for the United States and its European allies has been moderate, by the diplomats assessment, not reaching a level that would increase pressure for talks on the US side. However, rising energy prices are causing concern in Washington.



Before Trump issued the 48-hour deadline, the Pentagon had been intensifying operations around the chokepoint, ramping up airstrikes and deploying additional attack helicopters. Opening the route by force would require clearing Iranian positions so that US warships can escort tankers through.



The Treasury Department on Friday attempted to ease energy markets by lifting sanctions on Iranian crude already loaded on to vessels.



Qatari and Omani officials began contacting Iran about a possible ceasefire last week after assessing that overwhelming US and Israeli military force would be unable to topple the Iranian government in the near term, according to the Arab official and European diplomats. Iran responded that it would only engage if the US and Israel stopped attacking first. Iran is not willing for a premature ceasefire like the 12-day war, said the Iranian diplomat, referring to last years conflict between Israel and Iran, during which the US struck Iranian nuclear sites. Iran would not be willing this time to halt attacks against US interests unless Washington agreed to a number of non-aggression guarantees, including monetary compensation for war-related damage.



The diplomat appealed to Trump to end the war before it escalates further. This is the very beginning of the US getting stuck in a swamp, he said. There is no other ramp off.



The US and Israel have hit more than 15,000 targets across Iran, according to the Pentagon. The strikes have destroyed military infrastructure, municipal buildings and eliminated senior leadership ranks. Irans Health Ministry says more than 1,200 civilians have been killed, including in an attack on a school that left over 160 people dead, most of them children.



Within the past week, Israeli strikes killed four senior Iranian officials, including Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.



The conflict has expanded to include strikes on regional energy infrastructure. Iran retaliated after an attack on the South Pars gas field by launching strikes on Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, causing billions of dollars in damage to a Qatari natural gas facility, according to local authorities. Were still on an escalatory path, said Alan Eyre, a fellow at the Middle East Institute and a former US State Department official focused on Iran. Irans leaders believe that by inflicting sufficient economic pain, they can force Trump to back down. Iran still hasnt made its point; they are still trying to raise the costs. The back-to-back assassinations of senior Iranian officials appear to have disincentivised Tehran from talks, according to a European official formerly based in Iran. The killing of Larijani, in particular, damaged prospects for dialogue as he was uniquely positioned to engage with the West.



For years, Larijani maintained a backchannel with the U.S. through Europe and was exploring ways via Moscow to communicate with the Trump administration, the official said. The killings are a stress test of a system built to outlast individuals. In the short term, they are unsettling for Irans ruling class. Long term, I think it increases defiance.



Messages of defiance marked communications from Iranian leaders during the Persian new year, Nowruz. They expressed support for those who lost loved ones but also promised that Irans enemies would be defeated. On the eve of the holiday, Iranian state media announced three executions. Rights groups condemned the judicial process. Those executed included Saleh Mohammadi, 19, a national wrestler accused of attacking police during protests earlier this year.



The new year will be a year of delivering a strong blow to Irans enemies, said Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, adding the country will emerge from these storms with pride and stronger than before. Irans newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a written statement but has not been seen in public since the start of the war and is believed to have been wounded in the strike that killed his father, according to U.S. intelligence assessments.



Beneath the public bravado, Irans leadership is grappling with concerns about the wars long-term costs, said Reuel Marc Gerecht, a former U.S. intelligence officer. While a prolonged conflict may serve short-term interests, it could ultimately backfire.



Eventually, in a long war, almost nothing is going to work in Iran, he said. The scale of destruction could leave the government less capable of addressing grievances and trigger fresh unrest. The most critical moment for them is not during the battle, he added, it is when the pummelling stops.




The Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to withdraw the temporary fare caps on domestic airfares starting Monday (March 23). The decision marks the end of a price-control regime that the government initiated several months ago to manage volatility in the aviation market. The Ministry confirmed the development through an official order, noting that the restrictions on ticket pricing are no longer required under the current operating environment. "Whereas, vide letter dated 6th December 2025, Ministry had introduced a temporary fare cap on domestic airfares with a view to contain abnormal surge in ticket prices arising out of large-scale flight disruptions of IndiGo, and with an objective to safeguard passenger interests and ensuring affordability during a period of constrained capacity," the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated. In the official communication, the Ministry observed that the "prevailing situation has since stabilised, with restoration of capacity and normalisation of operations across the sector." Based on this assessment, the government determined that the fare cap imposed in December "shall stand withdrawn with effect from 23rd March, 2026." This move allows airlines to once again determine ticket prices based on market demand and supply dynamics. Despite the deregulation, the Ministry issued a clear directive to carriers regarding their pricing strategies. "While withdrawing the fare cap, it is reiterated that airlines are required to exercise pricing discipline and act responsibly. Airlines shall ensure that fares remain reasonable, transparent and commensurate with market conditions, and that passenger interests are not adversely impacted," it said. The Ministry warned that any instance of "excessive or unjustified surge in fares" will be "viewed seriously," particularly during periods of peak "demand, further disruptions, or other exigencies." "The Ministry will continue to closely monitor airfare trends on a real-time basis," it stated. The Ministry "reserves the right to take appropriate regulatory or administrative measures," which could include the "re-introduction of fare controls or other interventions" if such steps are deemed necessary in the "public interest." (ANI)
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a virtual meeting with the Mexican Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, on Saturday. The discussion focused on deepening the economic ties between the two nations and unlocking new avenues of business opportunities. "A productive interaction with Mr. Marcelo Ebrard (@M_Ebrard), Secretary of Economy, Mexico. Discussed avenues to deepen India-Mexico economic engagement, boost trade and investment, and promote industry collaboration to unlock new business opportunities in both countries," Goyal said on X. Earlier on Saturday, Goyal also held a meeting with Patrik Jonsson, Executive Vice President and President of Lilly International, discussing India's growth trajectory and the company's expanding presence in the country. Sharing details of the meeting on X, Goyal said on Friday that the discussions focused on Eli Lilly and Company's increasing operations and investments in India and ways to further strengthen the 'Make in India for the world' initiative. "Held a meeting with Patrik Jonsson, Executive VP and President, Lilly International, USA. We discussed the India growth story, Eli Lilly & Company's expanding operations and investments in India, and the steps to further strengthen Make in India for the world," the post read. During the same day, Piyush Goyal held another virtual meeting with Harry Theoharis, Greece's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. He highlighted that the discussions revolved around deepening cooperation between India and Greece. "Held a virtual meeting with Mr. Harry Theoharis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Greece. Discussed ways to further deepen India-Greece cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, maritime connectivity and other areas of mutual interest. India values its growing partnership with Greece and looks forward to advancing this engagement further," Piyush Goyal said on X. Goyal also held a "productive interaction" with Aadit Palicha, Co-founder and CEO of Zepto, focusing on skilling, innovation, and strengthening supply chains. Taking to the social media platform X, Goyal shared details of the meeting, highlighting discussions around youth and entrepreneurship. "A productive interaction with Aadit Palicha, Co-founder & CEO of ZeptoNow," he said. "Our conversation focused on strengthening skilling initiatives for our youth and leveraging innovation-led entrepreneurship to build globally competitive enterprises," the minister added. He further noted that the meeting also explored ways to integrate farmers into modern supply chains. "Deliberated on the deeper integration of farmers into modern supply chains to enhance market access and value realisation," he said. The interaction comes amid the rapid rise of India's startup ecosystem, which has become a key driver of economic growth and innovation. (ANI)
The Central Government modified the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme (MCGS-MSME) to bolster manufacturing and export capabilities within the micro, small, and medium enterprise sector, following the roadmap established in Budget 2025-26. According to the Ministry of Finance on Saturday, these adjustments aim to increase credit availability for purchasing plants and machinery. The ministry stated that the modifications address feedback received from MSMEs and lending institutions to make the credit facility more accessible and responsive to industry needs. Under the revised guidelines, the government expanded the scope of the scheme to include MSMEs operating in the service sector. One significant change involves the minimum project cost allocated toward machinery and equipment, which the ministry reduced to 60 per cent of the total project cost from the earlier requirement of 75 per cent. This adjustment allows businesses more flexibility in how they fund capital for their expansion projects. The government also fixed the guarantee tenure to expire after a period of ten years, ensuring long-term support for equipment financing. The financial terms regarding upfront contributions underwent changes to improve liquidity for borrowers. The ministry noted that the 5 per cent upfront contribution is now refundable, with 1 per cent returned annually starting from the fourth year of the loan, "subject to satisfactory performance of loan account." This measure is designed to incentivize fiscal discipline while easing the long-term financial burden on small business owners. Special provisions were introduced specifically for the export sector to encourage global competitiveness. Eligible units must be profitable and have "exported at least 25 per cent of their sales turnover in each of previous 3 financial years." For these entities, the guaranteed loan amount is set at Rs 20 crore, with the guarantee coverage extending to "75 per cent of the amount in default." The ministry confirmed that while the first-year guarantee fee for exporters is waived, a fee of 0.50 per cent on the outstanding loan amount applies in subsequent years. The upfront contribution for exporters is fixed at 2 per cent of the loan amount, with a maximum cap of Rs 40 lakh. In line with the general MSME terms, this contribution is refundable at a rate of 1 per cent each in the fourth and fifth years of the guarantee period. "MSMEs contribute around 30% to the GDP and over 45% to the exports of India and give employment to more than 35 crore workers. Achieving the vision of "Viksit Bharat 2047" requires strong, globally competitive, and sustainable MSMEs. The modifications in MCGS-MSME scheme are expected to facilitate increased availability of credit for purchase of Plant and Machinery / Equipment by MSMEs, including exporter MSMEs, and give a major boost to manufacturing and export sector in India," the Ministry said in a statement. (ANI)
The Government of India has asked city gas distribution (CGD) companies to prioritise piped natural gas (PNG) connections for commercial establishments, and has also taken several steps to ensure stable fuel supplies as conflict in West Asia continues to impact energy flows. In an update released on Saturday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said, "City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities have been advised by Govt. of India to prioritise PNG connections for commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels and canteens across all their Gas, to address concerns regarding the availability of commercial LPG." The ministry added that the government has also asked ministries and state governments to speed up approvals related to gas infrastructure. It said, "Govt. of India vide letter dated 19.03.2026 have requested all concerned Central Government Ministries to issue necessary directions... for immediate fast tracking and disposal of all pending and new permissions related to CGD infrastructure." The government has also encouraged government offices and establishments to move towards PNG usage where possible. "All Central Government establishments/Colonies/Officers/Canteens may also be advised to switch over to PNG wherever the same is available," the ministry said. To support commercial users, the government has increased the allocation of commercial LPG cylinders. According to the ministry, "Govt. of India vide letter dated 21.03.2026 has allowed another 20% allocation of commercial LPG to States, which would take overall allocation to 50%." "This additional 20% allocation shall be given on priority to sectors like restaurants, dhabas, hotels, industrial canteens, food processing/dairy, subsidised canteens/outlets run by State Govt. or local bodies for food, community kitchens, 5 Kg FTL for migrant labourers," the ministry added. It also noted that the government has stepped up monitoring to prevent black marketing and hoarding of LPG cylinders. "Raids continue to be carried out in many of the States/UTs to check the hoardings and black marketing of LPG. More than 3,500 raids have been conducted, and around 1400 cylinders have been seized in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra etc.," the ministry said. The ministry also stated that "All refineries are operating at high capacity, with adequate crude inventories in place," adding that "the country is also maintaining sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel." It also reassured the public that there are no fuel shortages at retail outlets (ROs). "No cases of fuel dry outs have been reported at any of the ROs by the Oil Marketing Companies," the ministry said, while advising people "not to resort to panic buying". The development comes amid the escalating tensions and conflict that began on February 28 with the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel, after which Iran, in its retaliation, targeted US assets in several Gulf countries and Israel, causing disruption in the waterways and affecting international energy markets and global economic stability. Due to the conflict in the region, Iran has virtually closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit route for global energy supply. (ANI)
Actress Amanda Peet has publicly shared her breast cancer journey in a heartfelt note, revealing how the diagnosis coincided with her parents' final days. The piece, titled 'My Season of Ativan', provides an intimate account of the actor's medical experiences, family challenges, and treatment process. As per Deadline, Peet, known for her roles in 'Something's Gotta Give' and 'Your Friends & Neighbors', wrote in an essay for The New Yorker that she had been undergoing biannual breast checkups when a routine scan prior to Labour Day last year raised concerns. "Dr. K. usually chatted me up while she examined me, but this time she went silent," Peet recounted. Following a biopsy, she immediately sensed something was wrong as her doctor personally delivered the sample to Cedars-Sinai Pathology. The initial report revealed a small tumor, prompting further tests to determine its receptor status, which Peet described as crucial in assessing the cancer's severity. She shared the anxious moments spent waiting for results alongside her husband, Game of Thrones co-creator David Benioff. The news brought relief: Peet's cancer was hormone-receptor-positive and HER2-negative, considered more favourable for treatment. Despite the encouraging results, a subsequent MRI revealed a second mass in the same breast, delaying a planned lumpectomy and requiring an MRI-guided biopsy. Peet described the procedure as "excruciating", likening the process to a "perverse game of Battleship" due to the precision required, as per Deadline. Fortunately, the second mass was benign, and her treatment was limited to a lumpectomy and radiation, avoiding chemotherapy or a double mastectomy. Peet confirmed her cancer was Stage I. Reflecting on the radiation treatment, Peet admitted it was largely manageable but noted discomfort toward the end. "Radiation wasn't bad compared with Tom's waffle iron, until the last stretch, when my nipple became charred and blistered, like an over-roasted marshmallow," she wrote, as quoted by Deadline. The essay also details the emotional toll of being present for her parents' final days. After her father's passing, Peet helped make funeral arrangements for her mother while witnessing her last moments. She recalled communicating wordlessly with her mother, emphasising the profound nature of those final interactions. "Time was running out, and, besides, I had already told her everything," Peet wrote, as per Deadline. (ANI)
Amul India paid tribute to the late Hollywood action star Chuck Norris by sharing a topical doodle of the actor's iconic characters. Actor Chuck Norris, who is known for his roles in 'Walker, Texas Ranger' and gained fame due to his martial arts, passed away at the age of 86 on Thursday. Taking to their Instagram handle, Amul India shared a topical doodle featuring Chuck Norris in a taekwondo pose derived from his iconic role in Bruce Lee's 'The Way of the Dragon'. Another picture shares his character sketch from the film 'Walker, Texas Ranger.' "Amul Topical: Tribute to iconic martial arts actor and artist!" wrote Amul India on their Instagram handle on Sunday. https://www.instagram.com/p/DWLdiSij3GF/ The family of Chuck Norris announced the news of the actor's demise through his Instagram handle on Friday. "It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning. While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace," wrote the family on their Instagram handle. "To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family," his family added. Earlier, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger remembered Norris as an enduring symbol of strength and authenticity. "Chuck was an icon," Schwarzenegger wrote on X, adding that he valued their collaborations over the years, including their appearance together in 'The Expendables 2' (2012). "He was a badass, in real life and in Hollywood. His legend will be with us forever," he added. Fellow action star Sylvester Stallone, who directed and co-starred with Norris in The Expendables 2, described him as "All-American in every way." In an Instagram tribute, Stallone expressed condolences to Norris' family and recalled their time working together fondly. According to Deadline, the late actor had black belts in karate, taekwondo, tang soo bo, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo over the years. That background set him up for roles in the likes of 'Return of the Dragon' (aka The Way of the Dragon), in which he appeared opposite Bruce Lee. After appearing in a string of action pics, he was cast to lead the CBS crime drama 'Walker, Texas Ranger', in which he played a member of the Texas Ranger Division for nine seasons. His film credits include Missing in Action, Code of Silence and Firewalker, having broken through in 1983 in Lone Wolf McQuade. Many of his characters were tough guys who would only resort to violence if provoked. Later in his career, his role as Cordell Walker, a former US Marine, in Walker, Texas Ranger, saw him appear on TV screens for nearly 200 episodes. A reboot of the series starring Jared Padalecki launched on The CW in 2020 and ran until 2024. (ANI)
Aditi Rao Hydari looked stunning as she walked the ramp for designer Satya Paul at the Lakme Fashion Week 2026 on Sunday. Satya Paul presented the Satya Paul x Aditi Rao Hydari capsule collection at Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India. Marking actor Aditi Rao Hydari''s first foray into fashion design as Co-Creative Director, the runway showcase brought together her creative sensibility with Satya Paul''s distinctive design language. The collection reflected a shared vision of garments designed for the rhythm of contemporary life. Moving across a variety of silhouettes, the showcase presented a wardrobe that balanced fluid drapes with modern forms, offering pieces that transition seamlessly across occasions and settings, as per the press note by LFW. Drawing from Satya Paul''s signature use of colour and print, the collection introduced visual motifs such as dragonflies, florals and abstract compositions that appeared across the garments. These elements were interpreted through prints, surface details and subtle embellishments, creating moments of visual interest Designed with versatility in mind, the presentation explored multiple expressions of the brand''s design codes. Classic drapes were styled alongside contemporary silhouettes, while layering elements such as sheer bomber jackets and flowing trench coats added dimension to the looks and introduced a modern edge to the collection. Commenting on her role as Co-Creative Director, Aditi Rao Hydari shares, "Working on this collection felt like a chance to really explore what I love; art, colour, and storytelling, and see that translate into something effortless and playful.. I wanted it to feel easy and authentic to my aesthetic. Creating, with freedom, using fabrics that I love, and forever dreaming and coming up with new design ideas has always been instinctive for me; it feels natural to me and it. empowers me. The fact that femininity, softness and vulnerability can and must co-exist with ferocity, strength and individuality. This is who I am and who I strive to be with every choice and with every creation," as quoted by the press note. She continued, "Getting to do this alongside David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore, and with a brand as iconic as Satya Paul, has been incredibly special. The whole process with the team allowed me to look at the saree in a way that felt both expressive and relatable. And seeing it all come together on the ramp, it''s been truly surreal," as quoted in the press note. The actress was last seen in the film ''Gandhi Talks'', which also starred Vijay Sethupathi in the lead role. (ANI)
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran on Friday said the final seat-sharing and allocation with the National Democratic Alliance for the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections would be announced in two-three days. Speaking to reporters at the Chennai Meenambakkam Airport, Dhinakaran shared that he held meetings with the alliance's leaders. "I met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Tamil Nadu BJP in-charge Piyush Goyal to discuss our collective strategy...Seat-sharing discussions will take place in Chennai. Within two or three days, seat allocation will be announced smoothly," he said. The AMMK leader highlighted that the discussions focused heavily on how party workers should function across all 234 assembly constituencies. Drawing parallels to successful campaigns in other states, Dhinakaran noted that the NDA plans to replicate its booth-level plan in Tamil Nadu. "Just like the NDA worked unitedly at the booth level and achieved massive victories in states like Maharashtra, Haryana, and Bihar, similar strategies were discussed to achieve victory here," he said. Dhinakaran also took a swipe at the ruling DMK, dismissing their criticisms regarding his recent visit to the capital. He said, "Why is the DMK afraid if we go to Delhi? Piyush Goyal cannot sit here and discuss seat-sharing. We will complete the seat-sharing smoothly and, with the support of the people, remove the anti-people DMK from power." Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. The current tenure of the 234-member state assembly ends on May 10. The polls will be a contest between the ruling DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK and BJP-led NDA in the state. Actor-turned-politician Vijay has also thrown a hat in the ring by launching Tamilaga Vetteri Kazhagam. (ANI)
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Gaurav Gogoi on Friday characterized the upcoming state elections as a showdown between "between the Congress led by Tarun Gogoi and the Congress led by Himanta Biswa Sarma", alleging that the current BJP government is merely a faction of the former grand old party led by Chief Minister Sarma. While interacting with the media during his campaign in Majuli in support of Indian National Congress candidate Indranil Pegu, he said, "What stands before us is a Congress led by Himanta Biswa Sarma, merely carrying the BJP tag. The leaders who did wrong during Tarun Gogoi's tenure are now in the BJP. This election will be a fight between the Congress led by Tarun Gogoi and the Congress led by Himanta Biswa Sarma." The APCC President further claimed, "There is no BJP in Assam now. What exists is a Congress under Himanta Biswa Sarma with a BJP label. Under his leadership, some former Congress leaders have gathered at Vajpayee Bhawan, striving hard to contest elections for their own and their families' interests. On the other hand, we represent a Congress inspired by the ideals of Tarun Gogoi." He added that the people of Assam will decide whether they want the Congress led by Himanta Biswa Sarma or the Congress based on Tarun Gogoi's ideals. "During the Congress government in Assam, certain leaders and ministers whose actions tarnished the image of Tarun Gogoi's government are now assembled at Vajpayee Bhawan seeking positions as ministers and MLAs. We stand with a Congress that moves forward with Tarun Gogoi's ideals, where people are witnessing freshness and new faces," Gogoi said. Gogoi reiterated that this election is not a fight involving the BJP as a party, but rather a contest between the "old Congress" led by Himanta Biswa Sarma and a "new Congress" inspired by Tarun Gogoi. He further stated, "This time we are focusing on new faces. There is considerable unity among opposition parties in Upper Assam, which makes me optimistic that a Congress-led government will be formed in Assam. The first signs of this change will be seen in Upper and North Assam, where we expect better results." He also urged all party leaders and workers to respect and uphold the decisions taken regarding alliances in the larger interest of Assam. Gogoi expressed gratitude to leaders and workers of all allied parties for their sacrifices and efforts, adding that the alliance has become strong and will pave the way for a new Congress-led government in the state. Gogoi also asserted that the Congress is certain to win in the Majuli constituency in this election. Notably, he participated in a bike rally in Majuli yesterday with the participation of more than a thousand motorcycles, seeking public support for Congress candidate Indranil Pegu. Assam will witness a fight between the incumbent BJP-led NDA government and Congress for the 126-seat assembly on April 9, with counting of votes scheduled on May 4. The BJP government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, will look to secure a third consecutive term, while the Congress aims to defeat the ruling party to return to power. (ANI)
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Shatrughan Sinha has expressed confidence in the leadership and influence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, asserting that there is "no competition" in the state ahead of the Assembly Elections. Speaking to the media, the MP said, "The entire world thinks that there is no competition when it comes to Bengal, Mamata Banerjee's leadership and TMC's hold. When the question of Bengal's prestige is raised, the public of Bengal stands united and knows that Mamata Banerjee is the mother, sister and daughter of Bengal." The West Bengal Assembly election will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Counting of votes for both phases will be conducted on May 4. As per the ECI, the first phase covering 152 Assembly constituencies will begin with the issuance of the gazette notification on March 30. The last date for filing nominations for this phase is April 6, while scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 7. Candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations until April 9. Polling for the first phase will be held on April 23. For the second phase, which covers 142 Assembly constituencies, the gazette notification will be issued on April 2. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until April 13. In West Bengal, the Legislative Assembly consists of 294 seats, with the primary contest expected to be between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, has been in power in the state since 2011. Like the 2021 Assembly election, this time too Mamata Banerjee is set to contest from the Bhabanipur seat, from where she will face a repeat clash with BJP leader and West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari had also challenged Mamata from Nandigram in the 2021 West Bengal polls, from where he won by 1956 votes. Following her defeat, the TMC supremo contested the bypoll from Bhabanipur, after MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay resigned from the seat. The election in 2021 was held in eight phases. TMC won 215 seats, returning to power for a third consecutive term, and BJP won 77. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Tamang) won one seat, and Indian Secular Front won one seat. Congress and Left Front had drawn a blank in the polls. The TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, has been in power in West Bengal since 2011. (ANI)
After Trinamool Congress unveiled the manifesto for the 2026 Assembly elections, Bihar BJP MLA Maithili Thakur criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for what she claimed were efforts aimed purely at the elections. Speaking to ANI, Thakur argued that the CM should have implemented these schemes earlier, not after the election schedule was declared, drawing parallels with the Bihar elections. "If she had to do something for women, she should have done it earlier. We also saw in Bihar that the opposition brought forward their schemes after the election announcement was made. The same effort is being made in West Bengal as well," the MLA told ANI. These remarks come after West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Friday unveiled the TMC manifesto for the 2026 Assembly elections, titled "10 Protigya" (10 pledges). The announcement was marked by sharp political exchanges, with CM Banerjee targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the opposition dismissed the manifesto as "unrealistic." Banerjee announced the launch of the 'Duare Chikitsa' scheme, which will provide doorstep medical care with camps in every booth. One of the highlights of the manifesto was Lakshmi Bhandar scheme, in which she stated that women in the general category will receive Rs 1,500 per month, SC/ST women Rs 1,700, and unemployed youth Rs 1,500 as pocket money. Additional promises include building 30 lakh rural homes under Banglar Bari, improving rural roads, increasing paddy procurement prices to Rs 2,500, and ensuring free irrigation for small and marginal farmers. Banerjee also emphasised industrial growth, stating that West Bengal is a leading destination for MSMEs and highlighting the Deocha Pachami power project as a long-term solution to energy needs. Meanwhile, BJP leaders strongly criticised the manifesto. BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh accused Banerjee of damaging the state's legacy and expressed confidence that voters would reject the Trinamool Congress in 2026. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary slammed TMC's manifesto, adding that the party is "skilled in misleading people." "Elections have arrived, and the Trinamool Party is skilled at misleading people. Now that the elections are here, there will be a flood of big promises to manipulate and mislead the public. Every possible effort is being made to influence and deceive people, and that is exactly what is happening," said Chowdhary. Assembly polls in West Bengal are scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes slated for May 4. Like the 2021 Assembly election, this time too Mamata Banerjee is set to contest from the Bhabanipur seat, from where she will face a repeat clash with BJP leader and West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari had also challenged Mamata from Nandigram in the 2021 West Bengal polls, from where he won by 1956 votes. Following her defeat, the TMC supremo contested the bypoll from Bhabanipur, after MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay resigned from the seat. In West Bengal, the Legislative Assembly consists of 294 seats. The election in 2021 was held in eight phases. TMC won 215 seats, returning to power for a third consecutive term, and BJP won 77. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Tamang) won one seat, and Indian Secular Front won one seat. Congress and Left Front had drawn a blank in the polls. The TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, has been in power in West Bengal since 2011. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday conveyed wishes to the people of Bihar on the occasion of Bihar Day, highlighting the state's cultural legacy and expressing confidence in its contribution toward building a developed India. On X, he wrote, "On the occasion of Bihar Day, heartfelt greetings to all my family members in the state. Our province, which imparts grandeur and divinity to India's heritage, is today engaged in crafting ever-new chapters of progress. I am confident that the dedication and capability of the hardworking and energetic people here will greatly contribute to realizing the resolve of a developed Bihar alongside a developed India." Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Vijay Kumar Sinha, sent his wishes to the people, citing that this day of pride reminds us of Bihar's rich cultural heritage. On X, he said, "On this sacred occasion of Bihar Diwas, heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all citizens of the state. This day of pride reminds us of Bihar's rich cultural heritage, historical traditions, and the invaluable contributions of its great luminaries. Bihar has, for centuries, given new dimensions not only to the knowledge, civilization, and democratic values of the country but also of the world. Jai Hind! Jai Bihar!" Along with that, the Chief Minister of Bihar also shared his greetings on the occasion of Bihar Diwas, stating that together, we will take Bihar's pride to new heights. "Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of Bihar Day. Bihar's history has been glorious, and at present, we are shaping a glorious future for Bihar through our determination. I call upon all of you to fulfil the resolve for a prosperous Bihar. Together, we will take Bihar's pride to new heights," he wrote on X. Notably, Bihar Day (Bihar Diwas) is observed every year on March 22, marking the formation of the state of Bihar. It was on this day that the British carved out the state from Bengal in 1912 and is observed as a public holiday in Bihar. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of allegedly using SIR to remove legitimate voters, labelling them as 'infiltrators.' She went on to call him "the biggest infiltrator." Addressing a gathering at the Eid al-Fitr celebrations here, the CM raised questions over the Prime Minister's visits to foreign nations, claiming that communal disturbances and deletion of genuine voters in the SIR of electoral rolls over speculations of being an infiltrator commence afterwards. "We will not give up our rights to Modiji. He goes to Saudi Arabia and shakes hands there, that is his choice. I respect all countries, but I am proud of my own. Let this message go out to the world for peace and fraternity. However, when you shake hands abroad, you seem to forget everything, but when you return to India, the Hindu-Muslim narrative begins again. You then call for deleting names, labelling people as infiltrators. I would say you are the bigger infiltrator," she said. Further in her address, the Chief Minister declared that the Trinamool Congress's primary objective is to oust the BJP from the state and to protect the country from the party's influence. "Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil mein hai, dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai..May Allah bless you...May India and Bengal prosper...Raise your self so high that before every fate, God Himself asks the servant, tell me, what is your will...We have just one intent - to remove BJP and protect the nation," said Banerjee. Ahead of the state Assembly elections, the West Bengal Chief Minister further launched a scathing attack on the central ruling party BJP, over the SIR issue, declaring that she will continue the fight against SIR and vowed that she won't let PM Modi snatch away the rights of the people. She went on to describe the BJP as a "party of goons and thieves." "...People's names were deleted in SIR. I went from Kolkata to Delhi, from Calcutta High Court to the Supreme Court for this. I hope that people's rights are safeguarded. I stand with everyone in Bengal, with all castes, communities and creeds. I will continue this fight...We will not let Modi ji snatch away our rights...You are trying to forcibly control our Govt, you want to impose President's Rule. Still, we won't be scared. Jo darte hain, wo marte hain. Jo ladte hain, wo zindagi mein kamyab hote hain...BJP is a party of thieves and goons, a party of traitors...There are also traitors who take money from the BJP to divide votes. To them, I would say - "Muddai lakh bura chahe to kya hota hai, wahi hota hai jo manzoore khuda hota hai," said Banerjee. Earlier, the state Chief Minister, while launching a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led Centre, alleged administrative interference and raised concerns over governance during the election period. Speaking in Kolkata, during the launch of Trinamool Congress party's manifesto for West Bengal Assembly elections, Banerjee alleged that forces from border areas were attempting to bring in money and arms to create unrest and riots in the state, claiming this could lead to the imposition of indirect President's Rule. She called on the people of Bengal to protect the state's unity and resist efforts that threaten peace and democracy. This comes as West Bengal gears up for its Assembly polls, scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes slated for May 4. In West Bengal, the Legislative Assembly consists of 294 seats. The election in 2021 was held in eight phases. Like then, this time too Mamata Banerjee is set to contest from the Bhabanipur seat, from where she will face a repeat clash with BJP leader and West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday extended warm greetings on the occasion of Bihar Day, hoping for a golden future for the state. In a post on X, the President recognised the culture and heritage of the state and asserted confidence in the talent and hard work of its residents in contributing to the growth of the state and the country. "Heartfelt greetings of Bihar Day to all the people of Bihar residing in the country and abroad. As the land of the world's first republic, and along with it, the birthplace of glorious empires and great cultural-spiritual traditions, this soil has always enriched the land of India by making contributions in various fields. I am confident that the residents of the state, with their boundless talent and hard work, will play an important role in the development of Bihar and the entire country. I extend my best wishes for a golden future to the state and all its residents," the post read. https://x.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/2035545279039214022?s=20 Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed wishes to the people of Bihar on the occasion of Bihar Day, highlighting the state's cultural legacy and expressing confidence in its contribution toward building a developed India. On X, he wrote, "On the occasion of Bihar Day, heartfelt greetings to all my family members in the state. Our province, which imparts grandeur and divinity to India's heritage, is today engaged in crafting ever-new chapters of progress. I am confident that the dedication and capability of the hardworking and energetic people here will greatly contribute to realizing the resolve of a developed Bihar alongside a developed India." Bihar Day (Bihar Diwas) is observed every year on March 22, marking the formation of the state of Bihar. It was on this day that the British carved out the state from Bengal in 1912, and it is observed as a public holiday in Bihar. (ANI)
Sharjeel Imam, an accused in the "larger conspiracy" case related to the Delhi riots of 2020, reached his ancestral village Kako after six years to attend his younger brother Muzzammil Imam's wedding and spend time with his ailing mother. The Imam arrived here following a 10-day interim bail by a Delhi Court. Muzzammil Imam is scheduled to get married on March 25. Expressing happiness over the reunion with Sharjeel, he said, "After six years, we've had this opportunity that Sharjeel Bhai has come out from Tihar Jail... We thank the court for understanding our concerns and allowing him to come from Delhi to Bihar to spend time with his family. He was released under the very basic restrictions that are imposed on any under-trial prisoner upon bail. He is on parole for eleven days, from the 20th to the 30th." Further, on being asked about their demands from the government, he said, "What can we demand from the government? Our demands will be from the judiciary. The government is not an authorised body to fulfil our demands. Our fight is against the policies, and the right to make a decision on that is of our courts. We trust our courts. Sooner or later, we will definitely get justice." Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma Court on March 9 allowed Imam to be released on interim bail from March 20 to March 30, 2026, upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 along with two sureties of the like amount, subject to certain conditions. The court directed that during the interim bail period, Imam shall not contact any witness or person connected with the case, shall provide his mobile number to the investigating officer and keep it active, and shall not interact with the media or use social media. He has also been directed to meet only family members and remain at his residence or the venues of the marriage ceremonies. The court further directed that after the expiry of the interim bail period, Imam must surrender before the jail superintendent on the evening of March 30, and a compliance report shall be submitted to the court. Sharjeel, who describes himself as a "political prisoner and student activist", has remained in continuous judicial custody for nearly six years and has never been released on bail, even temporarily, before today. He was pursuing a PhD at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) at the time of his arrest. Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, and 16 others were arrested in January 2020 under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the Delhi riots case. The riots that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020 left over 50 people dead and more than 700 injured. According to the Delhi Police, the riots were the result of a "pre-planned and well-designed" conspiracy in the background of protests against the then-proposed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Earlier in January, the Supreme Court granted bail to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, and Mohd. Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmad. However, the court denied bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, noting that the two stand on a "qualitatively different footing" both in terms of prosecution and evidence. (ANI)
AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan called for a full inquiry into the alleged rape case involving Nashik-based astrologer Ashok Kharat, raising questions over the role of authorities and the accused's links with influential individuals. The case pertains to the arrest of Kharat, who has been accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 35-year-old woman over several years under the pretext of spiritual guidance. A Nashik court has remanded him to police custody till March 24. Police said the accused allegedly exploited the complainant between 2022 and December 2025 and used intimidation and manipulation to continue the abuse. "Several videos and photos are going viral. It is a matter of investigation that a 'baba' who called himself an astrologer and who was visited by politicians, exploited women...Someone said that this could be even 'Epstein Nashik Files'," Waris Pathan told ANI. He further questioned the authorities, stating, "What was the ruling dispensation doing? Did they not come to know about it? Ruling side's ministers were among his devotees; there are viral photos of the same...I would want the Maharashtra Govt to conduct a full inquiry into this...It is important for the truth to come out before people so that such 'dhongi baba' are exposed." According to authorities, the woman first approached Kharat for advice related to marriage. Over time, he gained her trust by claiming to possess divine powers and allegedly forced her into performing rituals. Police said he administered substances that caused numbness and later sexually assaulted her, while threatening consequences if she resisted. Officials added that the accused continued to exploit her even after her marriage by issuing threats related to her husband's safety. During searches at his premises, police recovered multiple items, including documents, a pistol, cartridges, and a pen drive containing 58 videos, some of which are under examination. Kharat, who is the chairman of the Shri Ishanyeshwar Temple Trust in Sinnar, was known among several public figures. (ANI)
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested a wanted criminal involved in multiple fraud cases. The accused, identified as Rahul Paswan, is a proclaimed offender under the Laxmi Nagar Police Station in the national capital. He was declared a proclaimed offender on February 3, 2023, in connection with a cheating case registered under FIR No. 309/2022 dated April 16, 2022, under Sections 420/34/174-A IPC. He is also wanted in several other criminal cases. The accused was arrested by the Central Range team of the Crime Branch from the parking area of Kashmiri Gate in the national capital while he was trying to leave the city. The operation was carried out based on specific secret information, and the police team kept a close watch on his movements before nabbing him. During the investigation, it was found that Rahul Paswan had been hiding in Faridabad, Haryana, for the past year to avoid arrest. With the help of technical surveillance and manual intelligence, the police were able to trace and apprehend him. Police said that the accused was involved in multiple property investment fraud cases. He used to pose as a property dealer, gain the trust of buyers and sellers, show them flats or properties, take initial payments, and then disappear. He is wanted in three cheating cases registered at Laxmi Nagar police station. Apart from this, several complaints have also been filed against him in Gurugram and Faridabad. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)
The incident took place at Jagun area in Tinsukia district at around 2 am on Sunday.

According to the reports, suspected militants lobbed at least four to five Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) at a police commando camp in the area, followed by an exchange of heavy rounds of bullets by both sides.

A senior official of Assam police told ANI over the phone that, in the initial report, four police personnel were injured in the attack by suspected ULFA (I) militants.

Injured police personnel were rushed to the nearby hospital.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched an operation to find the attackers.

More details are awaited. (ANI)
A massive rush of devotees is being witnessed at Katra, the base camp of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, as over 30,000 pilgrims have departed for their onwards journey to the holy cave on Sunday. The surge in footfall comes in the wake of the ongoing Chaitra Navratri festival, hence drawing thousands of devotees from across the country to seek the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. Sanjeev Kumar, a devotee from Haryana, praised the elaborate decorations at the shrine and expressed that praying to the deity, a manifestation of Goddess Mahakali, provides him with immense peace. "I have come to watch the decoration of Mata Vaishno Devi. We come every year, by praying to Mata Vaishnodevi, we get peace," Kumar told ANI. Despite the heavy inflow, the yatra is progressing in an orderly manner. The authorities are maintaining strict control over the crowd and are ensuring that all essential facilities are available for the pilgrims. A devotee from Delhi praised the overall arrangements of the area, noting that the signboards and informative displays across the area have relatively improved. "The arrangements are good, the signage here is outstanding," a devotee told ANI. Earlier, registration for the yatra resumed at 4 AM today following a temporary suspension yesterday evening. The registration process was halted nearly four hours ahead of its scheduled 10 PM closure due to the overwhelming influx of devotees at Katra. Despite this brief suspension, the pilgrimage itself continued smoothly throughout the night. Officials reported that nearly one lakh devotees have paid obeisance at the sacred cave shrine since the commencement of Navratri, reflecting a period of intense spiritual fervour. To manage the high volume, authorities have implemented robust crowd control measures and necessary arrangements to ensure a safe and orderly experience for all pilgrims. (ANI)
The death toll in the suspected milk adulteration case in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district has risen to 16, District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) K Venkateswara Rao confirmed on Sunday. The official further noted that three others are currently undergoing treatment at hospitals in Rajamahendravaram, where their condition is being closely monitored. Earlier, on February 22, KIMS Hospital in Rajamahendravaram reported multiple admissions of elderly individuals who suffered from severe symptoms like anuria (absence of urine output), vomiting, abdominal pain, and acute renal dysfunction requiring dialysis. The affected residents belonged to the Chowdeswaranagar and Swaroopanagar areas of Lalacheruvu, Rajamahendravaram. Clinical findings indicated acute renal failure with significantly elevated levels of blood urea and serum creatinine, findings highly suggestive of toxic exposure. A preliminary epidemiological investigation indicated a strong connection to milk consumption as the probable source of the exposure. The milk in question was supplied from the Varalakshmi Milk Dairy to 106 families. Following these findings, the milk supply from this dairy was immediately suspended. Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (UPFSDA), in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), launched an intensive crackdown on food adulteration in Kanpur, which resulted in the seizure of more than 13 thousand litres of adulterated oil and over 1,000 KG of coloured waste. Additionally, officials raided a fake ghee manufacturing unit in Kalyanpur, and goods valued at 5.45 lakh were seized. All seized samples have been sent to a laboratory for further analysis, according to an official statement. This campaign was launched at food outlets across the city as the festival season approaches. FSDA also conducts rapid raids in Lucknow during Ramadan and Holi. The campaign includes surprise inspections of cold storage facilities and dairies. During the raid, 1,320 kg of dates were seized. Along with that, 1,418 kg of coloured Kachri was also seized. "Action was taken at Swaroop Cold Storage in Aishbagh. An inspection of Himalayan Cold Storage on Ayodhya Road was also conducted, and a raid was also carried out on dairies in the Havetmau area of Rae Bareli Road, with samples also taken from sweet shops. Food items were seized from the warehouse of a businessman in Aminabad. Strict action continues against adulteration ahead of the festivals," the statement read. (ANI)
A statue of BR Ambedkar was vandalised and defaced at Ambedkar Park in Srinagar in Uttarakhand's Garhwal, according to police officials. Following the incident on Saturday, there is widespread anger among the public. Consequently, people associated with various organisations lodged a complaint at Srinagar Kotwali, demanding strict action. Speaking exclusively to ANI, Deputy Superintendent of Police Anuj Kumar said that a complaint was submitted by the Bhim Army, after which the police immediately reached the spot and cleaned the statue. He added that multiple teams have been formed to investigate the matter, and the probe is currently underway. He further stated that an intensive checking drive is also being carried out across the area by the police. "The incident took place yesterday, in which a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar was defaced. It seems that disrespect was the intent of the incident. We have registered an FIR in the case, and multiple teams have been made accordingly. Nearby CCTV camera, CDR, data dump and other proceedings are ongoing in which technical and surveillance teams are engaged. Several organisations have expressed anger on social media, but we advise the public not to engage in any activity that breaches the law and order. We are investigating the matter and will soon resolve the case," the DSP said. Separately, Hyderabad Police in February apprehended three children in Conflict with the Law (CCL) for allegedly breaking into a Hanuman Temple, stealing a copper vessel and vandalising the idol at Barkas, police said in a statement. The police launched the investigation on a complaint that some unknown offenders desecrated the Hanuman Temple located at Barkas, under the police station Chandrayangutta and stole the copper vessel in the early hours of February 24. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Chandrayangutta A Sudhakar and Station House Officer (SHO) Chandrayangutta R Gopi formed special teams and verified the CCTV footage in the nearby localities. It is noticed that some Children in Conflict with the law (CCL) were moving in suspicious circumstances and were carrying some items in a polythene bag. Special team apprehended the three CCL from Royal colony, Balapur and on verifying, they confessed that they broke the temple lock with a stone and entered into and stole a copper vessel and damaged the idol, the police said. On February 26, the police apprehended the above individuals from their residences, which are located at Royal Colony, Balapur, Hyderabad (Native of Myanmar) and produced them before V ACJM, Nampally Court, police said. (ANI)
The News in Brief Monday, March 23, 2026

The 66th round of the Geneva International Discussions was held in Switzerland on March 18 and 19, bringing together higher-level diplomats than in recent sessions. The format, established after the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, remains the main channel for addressing security and humanitarian issues linked to the conflict.The talks were co-chaired by the European Union, the United Nations, and the OSCE. The United States sent Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter, while the UN delegation was led by Assistant Secretary General Mohamed Khaled Khiari. Georgian Dream Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia led Tbilisi's delegation, while Russia was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.In the security discussions, Georgia called on Russia to implement the 2008 ceasefire agreement and raised concerns about conditions in occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia and representatives from the two regions focused on securing a non-use-of-force agreement and pushed for the delimitation of what they consider state borders, which Georgia rejects.Humanitarian talks covered missing persons, education, and healthcare, but again stalled over the return of displaced persons and refugees. Representatives from the Russian-backed authorities walked out when the issue was raised, accusing Georgia of politicizing it through UN resolutions.Despite the walkout, participants confirmed their commitment to continuing the Geneva format. The Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism in Ergneti will remain in use to manage tensions on the ground. The next round of discussions is scheduled for June 2026.Preliminary data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia show that Georgia's gross domestic product reached 104.6 billion GEL in 2025, marking a 12.4% increase in nominal terms compared to the previous year. Real economic growth stood at 7.5%, while the GDP deflator rose by 4.6%.The largest shares of the economy were held by trade and vehicle repair at 14.8% and real estate at 9.3%. Manufacturing accounted for 9.1%, followed by information and communication and construction at 8.0% each. Public administration and defense made up 6.7%, education 6.4%, transport and storage 6.1%, and agriculture 5.9%.Growth was driven primarily by strong expansion in information and communication at 28.7% and education at 24.5%. Other contributing sectors included financial and insurance activities, public administration, transport, trade, and real estate.Agriculture and energy supply recorded declines, with output falling by 5.7% and 4.5%, respectively.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday backed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remarks calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi "an infiltrator," and criticised the Centre for interfering in the state's administration ahead of the polls. Speaking with ANI, Raut said the Election Commission and the Centre are jointly interfering in the administration of West Bengal. "I have not personally heard exactly what Mamata Banerjee said. However, given the manner in which PM Modi and the Election Commission are jointly interfering in the administration of West Bengal, what else can one call it? Bringing officers from outside and appointing them as DGP or Chief Secretary, what is this? This is nothing but an intrusion. There is an elected government there, and in a way, you are imposing an emergency-like situation, almost like President's Rule, directly or indirectly. Consequently, Mamata Banerjee is angry. On being asked about the BJP's claims of winning in West Bengal, Raut said, "BJP can even form a government in America, in Israel, and even on the planet Mars." His remarks come as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of allegedly using SIR to remove legitimate voters, labelling them as 'infiltrators.' She went on to call him "the biggest infiltrator." Addressing a gathering at the Eid al-Fitr celebrations here, the CM raised questions over the Prime Minister's visits to foreign nations, claiming that communal disturbances and deletion of genuine voters in the SIR of electoral rolls over speculations of being an infiltrator commence afterwards. "We will not give up our rights to Modiji. He goes to Saudi Arabia and shakes hands there, that is his choice. I respect all countries, but I am proud of my own. Let this message go out to the world for peace and fraternity. However, when you shake hands abroad, you seem to forget everything, but when you return to India, the Hindu-Muslim narrative begins again. You then call for deleting names, labelling people as infiltrators. I would say you are the bigger infiltrator," she said. This comes as West Bengal gears up for its Assembly polls, scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes slated for May 4. In West Bengal, the Legislative Assembly consists of 294 seats. The election in 2021 was held in eight phases. Like then, this time too Mamata Banerjee is set to contest from the Bhabanipur seat, from where she will face a repeat clash with BJP leader and West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari. (ANI)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his message on the occasion of Bihar Diwas, appreciating the state's heritage and progress. In a post on social media, the Chief Minister shared a letter by the Prime Minister and thanked him for his warm wishes. "On behalf of all the people of Bihar, I extend our heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for his affectionate message on the occasion of Bihar Diwas regarding the state," he said. Highlighting the Prime Minister's remarks, Kumar said that it was a matter of pride that Bihar's rich heritage, culture, and developmental efforts were appreciated. "It is a matter of pride for us that you have appreciated Bihar's rich heritage, culture, and efforts toward progress," he added. The Chief Minister further reiterated the state government's commitment, "We remain steadfastly committed to the all-round development of the state, social justice, good governance, and the strengthening of infrastructure. We are receiving the full cooperation of the Central Government," he said. He also acknowledged the role of the Prime Minister's guidance and the people of Bihar in achieving future milestones. "Now, Bihar will become even more developed, join the ranks of the country's leading states, and make a significant contribution to the nation's progress. With your guidance and support, Bihar's diligent and talented people will undoubtedly take the state and the country to new heights," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday conveyed wishes to the people of Bihar on the occasion of Bihar Day, highlighting the state's cultural legacy and expressing confidence in its contribution toward building a developed India. On X, he wrote, "On the occasion of Bihar Day, heartfelt greetings to all my family members in the state. Our province, which imparts grandeur and divinity to India's heritage, is today engaged in crafting ever-new chapters of progress. I am confident that the dedication and capability of the hardworking and energetic people here will greatly contribute to realising the resolve of a developed Bihar alongside a developed India." Notably, Bihar Day (Bihar Diwas) is observed every year on March 22, marking the formation of the state of Bihar. It was on this day that the British carved out the state from Bengal in 1912 and is observed as a public holiday in Bihar. (ANI)
The Delhi Police has cracked an armed robbery case following a 12-day manhunt, arresting three accused persons, according to an official release issued on Sunday. According to the Delhi Police, the case began following a complaint by Kuldeep Sharma, who reported being robbed of a bag containing 23 lakh at gunpoint near the Shastri Nagar Metro Station on February 23. Based on his statement, a case under Sections 309(4), 311, and 3(5) of the BNS was registered at Police Station Sarai Rohilla, and an investigation was launched. During the probe, the team analysed CCTV footage from the crime scene and surrounding areas. The footage showed two suspects on a motorcycle following the victim from the point where he collected the cash. Further scrutiny revealed that three suspects were initially together at Keshav Puram before one separated from the group. The team tracked this third suspect via CCTV from Rampura to Kanhaiya Nagar Metro Station, and eventually to Tis Hazari. Images of the suspect were developed and circulated among local informers, leading to his identification as Kalaram, a resident of District Sirohi, Rajasthan. Although raids at Kalaram's Rajasthan hideout found him absconding, police obtained his mobile number from local residents. CDR and IPDR analysis subsequently led investigators to an associate named Monu. On March 9, acting on a tip-off, police apprehended Monu from Bhalswa Dairy, Delhi, recovering a pistol, a live cartridge, and 3.95 lakh in cash. During interrogation, Monu disclosed that the robbery was executed by his associates, Sandeep and Sagar, while he and Kalaram handled the planning. Following an analysis of Sandeep's CDR/IPDR, which showed he was frequently changing numbers and hideouts, police finally apprehended him on March 19 in the Mangolpuri area. A sum of 5 lakh was recovered from him. Based on Sandeep's information, his co-accused Sagar was also arrested, with 7 lakh recovered from his possession. The interrogation revealed that Kalaram, who remains at large provided the "tip-off" regarding the cash movement. Monu and Kalaram hatched the plan, with Monu arranging the motorcycle and the pistol. Sandeep was assigned to execute the robbery and brought in his friend, Sagar. The duo followed the complainant from the collection point and looted the cash at gunpoint near the Metro station. Currently, police have recovered 15.95 lakh of the robbed amount. Further investigation is in progress as efforts continue to nab the key accused, Kalaram, and recover the remaining cash. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India's longest-serving leader, praising his 24 years of uninterrupted public service. Shah hailed Modi's "sheer commitment" to the nation, noting that his tenure has reshaped India through development initiatives, welfare measures, and bolstering the country's global stature. In a post on X, Amit Shah wrote, "Modi Ji's decades of Seva have shaped an era of his own. Whether it is giving the poor their rights, setting new landmarks in development or enhancing the nation's pride on global platforms, the Modi era has transformed India unrecognisably." https://x.com/AmitShah/status/2035617799452946565 He added, "Fostering this new India required a lifetime's effort and PM Narendramodi gave it. Serving the nation and its people without taking a holiday for more than 24 years is the manifestation of his sheer commitment. This explains the unprecedented affection he received from people, three times as Gujarat CM and three times as India's PM. People's trust, affection and support for him have only grown with every passing day. PradhanSevakModi" PM Modi's milestone comes after he surpassed former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, reaching 8,931 days in office across his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and Prime Minister, breaking Chamling's record of 8,930 days. The achievement underscores Modi's decades-long leadership and continuous public service. He remains the first Prime Minister born after Independence and has led his party to three consecutive Lok Sabha victories in 2014, 2019, and 2024. In March, PM Modi crossed the significant milestone of 30 million subscribers on YouTube, further cementing his position as the most-followed world leader on the platform. Among world leaders, PM Modi has the highest number of subscribers on YouTube. As per the rankings, he is comfortably ahead of others in the category. The second-highest, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, has a subscriber base that is only about one-fourth of PM Modi's. PM Modi has more than seven times the number of subscribers compared to US President Donald Trump, underlining the scale of his digital outreach and engagement worldwide. This achievement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier crossed the historic milestone of 100 million followers on Instagram, becoming the first world leader and politician to achieve this feat on the platform. (ANI)
Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) President Captain Charanvir Singh Randhawa on Sunday expressed concerns over the Ministry of Civil Aviation's decision to lift the airfare cap on domestic flights, stating that it could lead to a significant rise in ticket prices and impact common passengers. He said that removing the fare cap would particularly affect passengers during peak travel seasons, as airlines may increase prices sharply. "The removal of the capping of the fares will directly affect the passengers... Once the capping is removed, during the peak seasons, the fares increase exponentially, and that affects the common man... It is against the policy of 'Aam Aadmi Udaan Bhare'... so the government policy has to ensure that common people can afford air travel and encourage them to travel by air," he said. Randhawa further stated that instead of removing the cap, the government should focus on making air travel more accessible and affordable for ordinary citizens. "The government should encourage air travel by ordinary citizens... On the contrary, lifting the cap gives an open opportunity to the airlines... At present, there are only two airlines in the country, Air India and Indigo... Once it is lifted, they will charge any fare... the government should refrain from removing this capping," he said. He also pointed out a contradiction in recent government measures, referring to the announcement regarding fare relief on a section of seats. "Just two days back, they announced 60 per cent price of seat will not be charged... at that time I had also said that, on the contrary, the government has not given any decision on the fares, and within two days they have lifted the cap, so the 60 per cent non-payment of seat fare is absolutely inconclusive," he said. Highlighting the inconsistency in policy decisions, he added that while one move aims to reduce costs, removing the cap could negate its benefits. "It is not understood that on one side you are reducing the fares by seat charges, on the other hand, you have given an open hand with no capping, so it is contradictory. There is a need to cap the fare during peak season and avoid financial burden on passengers," he added. Randhawa urged the government to reconsider the decision and ensure that airfare remains affordable, especially during high-demand periods. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to withdraw the temporary fare caps on domestic airfares starting Monday (March 23). The decision marks the end of a price-control regime that the government initiated several months ago to manage volatility in the aviation market. The Ministry confirmed the development through an official order, noting that the restrictions on ticket pricing are no longer required under the current operating environment. "Whereas, vide letter dated 6th December 2025, the Ministry had introduced a temporary fare cap on domestic airfares with a view to contain abnormal surge in ticket prices arising out of large-scale flight disruptions of IndiGo, and with an objective to safeguard passenger interests and ensuring affordability during a period of constrained capacity," the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated. In the official communication, the Ministry observed that the "prevailing situation has since stabilised, with restoration of capacity and normalisation of operations across the sector." Based on this assessment, the government determined that the fare cap imposed in December "shall stand withdrawn with effect from 23rd March, 2026." This move allows airlines to once again determine ticket prices based on market demand and supply dynamics. Despite the deregulation, the Ministry issued a clear directive to carriers regarding their pricing strategies. "While withdrawing the fare cap, it is reiterated that airlines are required to exercise pricing discipline and act responsibly. Airlines shall ensure that fares remain reasonable, transparent and commensurate with market conditions, and that passenger interests are not adversely impacted," it said. (ANI)
Former Kerala DGP TP Senkumar, one of the 275 signatories who wrote to the US government urging action over the recent report by USCIRF, has questioned the background of members of the US-based commission, which claimed that religious freedom continued to deteriorate in India. Senkumar is among the officials, including former judges, diplomats and bureaucrats, who have written to the US government recommending that Washington DC sanction India's Research and Analysis Wing and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over alleged discrimination against minority communities. The signatories consist of 25 retired judges, 119 retired bureaucrats, including 10 ambassadors, and 131 armed forces officers. Speaking with ANI, the former DGP accused the commission of having a Pakistani-American vice-chairman, Asif Muhammad, attributing it to the biased nature of the report. Defending the country, he said that India has received every religion and minorities are constitutionally protected, dismissing the claim of the report. He further referred to the atrocities against Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh to reiterate India's superiority in religious freedom. "...Look at the members of the commission. The vice-chairman is a former Pakistani, Asif Muhammad. He has a personal interest in blaming India... In the history of the world, we are the only nation that has received every religion... Much has jumped in the Muslim population (since independence). In the Christian population, the jump is not seen because most of them are remaining crypto. I have batchmates in IAS and all who got selected in the Scheduled Caste category, but they are practising Christians... But what happened to Pakistan?.. About 22% of the population in Pakistan was Hindu in 1947. Now they are less than 1%, and we can see atrocities done to them every day... In Bangladesh, every atrocity is being committed. How many Hindus have been killed?...," he said. "The Hindus in India should cry because they do not get equal rights. Even according to our Constitution, the minorities get special treatment... The temples are run by the government; they are not given to the Hindus... Hindus are not getting equal rights in India, and they (minorities) are getting more rights than Hindus in India... At the same time, a Pakistani Vice Chairman sitting on that commission now says that India is having a problem with religious freedom," he added. Senkumar further cited the Karthigai Deepam row in Tamil Nadu and the Waqf Act to back his argument that Hindus, even as a majority, allegedly face religious discrimination. "Look at Thirupparankundram, which even now the Supreme Court told it belongs to the Hindus. Even with the High Court order, we couldn't light the lamp. That is what the government of Tamil Nadu did. Hindus couldn't light the lamp on Karthigai Deepam. Now, the Supreme Court even held that it doesn't belong to the Waqf... The Waqf Act, the Places of Worship Act, all these are against the Hindus. And even now, even after killing us, almost making us nobody in our own country, we have no country to go to. We have only India to strive in and live in, then say that in India there is no religious freedom? Yes, that is right. In India, there is no religious freedom for Hindus..." Senkumar said. The US-based Commission had alleged that India's "political system facilitates a climate of discrimination toward religious minority communities" despite offering some constitutional protections for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). It called for sanctions against the RSS and the RAW. The joint statement by former judges, civil servants and armed forces veterans dated March 21 disregarded the USCIRF report as "disturbing and completely off the mark," questioning its credibility and balance. It condemned the USCIRF for "portraying Indian state institutions and socio-cultural organisations like RSS in a negative light." The statement said that the USCIRF's recommendation to freeze assets, restricted movement of Bharatiya citizens and placing restrictions on those associated with RSS as "highly motivated, and displays intellectual bankruptcy and deranged conclusions." The signatories asked the US government to conduct a background check of the contributors to this report, accusing USCIRF of promoting the agenda of "anti-Bharat vested interests." (ANI)
Two electricians, a father and son, were killed, and the house owner sustained serious injuries after a renovated slab collapsed in the Kundanbagh area within the Panjagutta police station limits in Hyderabad, police said. The deceased have been identified as Devdas and Vivek, who were father and son electricians who had come for electrical work at the residence. According to police, the incident occurred when the duo was discussing the electrical work with the owner at the time of the slab collapse. Panjagutta Police said the deceased were father and son who had come for electric work. "The deceased, Devdas and Vivek, were father and son who had come for electric work. We have registered a case and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. The injured owner has been shifted to the hospital, and we are currently investigating the matter," Panjagutta Police said. The bodies have been shifted for post-mortem examination, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the slab collapse. The owner of the house, who sustained serious injuries in the incident, has been admitted to a hospital for treatment. Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) intensified its election campaign in North Chennai with the inauguration of its RK Nagar constituency office and a subsequent policy meeting, where party leaders underscored both developmental promises and ideological positioning. The election office in Tondiarpet was inaugurated by the party's election campaign management general secretary Aadhav Arjuna, followed by a policy explanation meeting attended by key leaders, including Nanjil Sampath. Addressing the gathering, Arjuna defended TVK's decision to contest independently under the leadership of Vijay, emphasising that it was a conscious ideological choice rather than a political compulsion. "He had the opportunity to join alliances, and offers were made. Some claim he could not form an alliance - but if he had wished, he could have easily done so," Arjuna said, referring to Vijay. He further claimed that significant political opportunities, including high-level support, were within reach if ideological compromises were made. "If and only if he had given up secular principles, even Delhi was ready to project him as Chief Minister. But he rejected all of that," he stated. Highlighting TVK's ideological foundation, Arjuna said Vijay remains firmly committed to the principles of Periyar EV Ramasamy and BR Ambedkar, stressing that these are not symbolic gestures but guiding values for the party. "Only in TVK offices can you see statues of Periyar and Ambedkar together - not even at Anna Arivalayam," he remarked, drawing a contrast with the DMK. Earlier, RK Nagar constituency in-charge Maria Wilson highlighted long-standing developmental issues in the area, stating that residents have faced decades of neglect. He outlined plans to improve education and opportunities, including producing more IAS, IPS officers, and professionals from the constituency over the next 15 years. He also announced welfare-focused initiatives such as prioritising marriage assistance for women, including single mothers and persons with disabilities, and facilitating Hajj pilgrimage opportunities for selected residents. Aadhav Arjuna, in his speech, reiterated that North Chennai continues to lag behind more developed areas like Anna Nagar and criticised successive governments for failing to address economic disparities. He also took aim at rival parties, alleging misinformation in their campaigns, and positioned TVK as a strong alternative force in Tamil Nadu politics. According to him, regardless of alliances formed by other parties, TVK is confident of emerging victorious on its own strength. The event witnessed significant participation from party cadres and functionaries, signalling growing grassroots mobilisation as TVK prepares for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. (ANI)
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India's longest-serving leader, praising his 8,931 days of uninterrupted public service, breaking the 8,930-day record of former Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling. Taking it to X, Rijiju wrote, "A truly remarkable milestone. PM @narendramodi ji today becomes the longest-serving head of a government in India, surpassing the 8,930-day record of former Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling. His 8,931 days of service, from Gujarat CM to Prime Minister, stand as a testament to tireless dedication, integrity & nation-first governance. An inspiring journey of trust and Seva." https://x.com/KirenRijiju/status/2035629203346141314 Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also hailed PM Modi's "sheer commitment" to the nation, noting that his tenure has reshaped India through development initiatives, welfare measures, and bolstering the country's global stature. In a post on X, Amit Shah wrote, "Modi Ji's decades of Seva have shaped an era of his own. Whether it is giving the poor their rights, setting new landmarks in development or enhancing the nation's pride on global platforms, the Modi era has transformed India unrecognisably." https://x.com/AmitShah/status/2035617799452946565?s=20 PM Modi's milestone comes after he surpassed former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, reaching 8,931 days in office across his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and Prime Minister, breaking Chamling's record of 8,930 days. The achievement underscores Modi's decades-long leadership and continuous public service. He remains the first Prime Minister born after Independence and has led his party to three consecutive Lok Sabha victories in 2014, 2019, and 2024. In March, PM Modi crossed the significant milestone of 30 million subscribers on YouTube, further cementing his position as the most-followed world leader on the platform. Among world leaders, PM Modi has the highest number of subscribers on YouTube. As per the rankings, he is comfortably ahead of others in the category. The second-highest, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, has a subscriber base that is only about one-fourth of PM Modi's. PM Modi has more than seven times the number of subscribers compared to US President Donald Trump, underlining the scale of his digital outreach and engagement worldwide. This achievement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier crossed the historic milestone of 100 million followers on Instagram, becoming the first world leader and politician to achieve this feat on the platform. (ANI)
Governor of Uttarakhand, Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd), on Sunday praised the cheerful participation of over 10,000 people from 33 countries at the International Yoga Festival organised in Rishikesh. Speaking to ANI, Singh said that the International Yoga Festival was held on the banks of the holy Ganga in the lap of the Himalayas, benefiting more than 10,000 youths. The Governor expressed happiness that around 250 yoga instructors took part in the event to teach Yoga to the participants. "I am extremely happy that we celebrated the International Yoga Festival for seven days here in Rishikesh, where more than 10,000 people came to learn yoga. It was a great pleasure to see our friends from 33 countries who wanted to learn yoga, and 250 of our yoga teachers participated. Today, we have all taken a pledge to share India's culture and heritage. I am very happy that today we saw our daughters show us how to combine yoga with dance and various exercises," he told ANI. Earlier on March 16, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the International Yoga Festival 2026 held on Monday at Ganga Resort, Muni Ki Reti in Tehri district. According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that yoga is not merely a form of exercise but a holistic way of life. Yoga connects the soul with the divine and helps maintain balance between body, mind, and spirit. He appealed to the youth of the country and the state to make yoga an integral part of their daily lives. He noted that young people working in various fields often experience fatigue, and yoga can serve as their best companion in maintaining physical and mental well-being. "The state government has formulated the Yoga Policy 2025, and 50-bed and 10-bed AYUSH hospitals are being established in every district of the state. Additionally, a provision of Rs 10 crore has been made to promote yoga and spirituality," Dhami said. He further said that yoga is a priceless heritage of India's ancient spiritual tradition. Thousands of years ago, sages and seers showed the path of harmony between body, mind, and soul through yoga, which today has become a strong foundation for healthy living, mental peace, and spiritual growth across the world. Highlighting the global recognition of yoga, CM Dhami said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed at the United Nations in 2014 that June 21 be celebrated as the International Day of Yoga for the welfare of the entire world. As a result, millions of people in more than 180 countries are now practising yoga. (ANI)
Led by Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, an Azerbaijani delegation traveled to Tbilisi to attend the funeral of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II.

As reported by AzerNEWS, the delegation also included Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, and Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov.

During the visit, the Azerbaijani representatives will convey the deep condolences and respect of the Azerbaijani people to the Georgian nation.

Ilia II, who passed away on March 17 at the age of 93, was a revered spiritual leader. Following his death, Georgia declared a period of national mourning.

The farewell ceremony began with a procession from the Holy Trinity Cathedral to the Sioni Cathedral, where the Patriarch will be laid to rest today at 3:00 PM.
The Punjab State Warehousing Corporation Union on Sunday staged a sit-in protest, demanding justice in the Punjab Warehousing Corporation (PWC) Officer Gagandeep Singh Randhawa's suicide case. Speaking to ANI, the Warehouse Manager, Jagdev Singh, extended support to the family of the deceased on behalf of the Union. "We stand with the family. We will support the family in whatever they say and do. We will leave from here once the family gets justice," he said. The protest follows the tragic death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a district manager in the Punjab Warehousing Corporation (PWC), who died by suicide and sparked a political controversy in the State. Accusing Lalji Singh Bhullar of torturing her husband, Upinder Kaur said on Sunday, "Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar tortured my husband a lot. My husband was made so helpless that he took his own life...He was told that his family, his children, would be finished off, and gangsters would be put after him. He was tortured a lot on 13th March at his office. On Saturday morning, yesterday, he took his own life. I have 3 young children. I have a mother-in-law. All of us demand justice. Make arrests. Postmortem and last rites will be conducted only after that...I want justice and nothing else. After he came back on 13th March, he had told me everything...He had even made a complaint to his department. They only kept giving him assurances, but nothing happened...FIR was not registered initially under the government's pressure...This was all done because a tender was not passed. It was being implied that my husband was not passing it deliberately...I fear for my life; security should be provided to my children and me...If anything happens to us, this Government would be responsible for it..." Following the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann accepted Bhullar's resignation as Transport Minister. Meanwhile, the Punjab Police registered an FIR naming former Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar in connection with the suicide case, the officials said. Bhullar's father, Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and his PA, Dilbagh Singh, have also been booked in the case, they further said. The FIR alleges that the deceased officer was being subjected to constant pressure. The police have registered the case under Sections 108, 351(3), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and have initiated an investigation. (ANI)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Sunday, following the resignation of Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, asserted that his government has zero tolerance for corruption. The AAP leader said, "We have zero tolerance for corruption, and it's not our first case. Our party has taken such action before, even in Delhi. So, if someone does something wrong and forces someone to take their own life, it's a matter of investigation. But whether it's our minister or anyone else, the law is the same for everyone. The law is taking its course." On Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Mann accepted Bhullar's resignation, following the political uproar triggered by a controversy involving Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a District Manager in the Punjab Warehouse Corporation, Amritsar, who was allegedly tortured by Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, due to which he committed suicide. Earlier today, Gagandeep Singh Randhawa's wife, Upinder Kaur, demanded justice for her deceased husband, saying his "postmortem and last rites" will be conducted only after justice is served. Accusing Bhullar of torturing her husband, Kaur alleged on Sunday that the former Transport Minister had tortured my husband a lot. "My husband was made so helpless that he took his own life...He was told that his family, his children, would be finished off, and gangsters would be put after him. He was tortured a lot on 13th March at his office. On Saturday morning, yesterday, he took his own life. I have 3 young children. I have a mother-in-law. All of us demand justice. Make arrests." "Postmortem and last rites will be conducted only after that...I want justice and nothing else. After he came back on 13th March, he had told me everything...He had even made a complaint to his department. They only kept giving him assurances, but nothing happened... FIR was not registered initially under the government's pressure... This was all done because a tender was not passed. It was being implied that my husband was not passing it deliberately...I fear for my life; security should be provided to my children and me...If anything happens to us, this Government would be responsible for it..." Kaur said The Punjab Police, meanwhile, registered an FIR naming former Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar in connection with the suicide case, officials said. Bhullar's father, Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and his PA, Dilbagh Singh, have also been booked in the case, they further said. According to the Chief Minister's Office, the CM has directed the Chief Secretary to conduct an impartial inquiry into the matter and has asserted that "no negligence of any kind will be tolerated". (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday said that the Bagalkote Assembly ticket has been given to Umesh Meti, the second son of late HY Meti, and the Davanagere South ticket has been given to Samarth Mallikarjuna, grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa. Speaking to the media at his residence in Sadashivanagar, he said, "I, Chief Minister, Zameer Ahmed, Naseer Hussain, Saleem Ahmed, Hussain, Harris, Jabbar and all minority leaders discussed the matter with the AICC Secretary and arrived at a unanimous decision to give the opportunity to the Shamanur family. We have decided to contest unitedly and win both constituencies." "The B-Form has been handed over to the candidate's father, SS Mallikarjuna. On Monday, the Chief Minister and I will go to Davanagere and Bagalkote to participate in the nomination filing event. The speculations in the media about ticket allocation have now been put to rest. The high command communicated the decision late at night," he said. "A legislative party meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday. AICC Secretary will also participate in the meeting," he added. When asked whether the minority community was satisfied, he said, "There is nothing wrong with them in asking for a ticket. They are asking based on population; they are not wrong. Mallikarjuna said he filed his nomination on an auspicious date. Just as we have faith, so do they. He has said that if the party asks, he will withdraw. Samarth's mother, Prabha Mallikarjuna, also did not initially want to contest for the parliamentary seat; she was persuaded to. Mallikarjuna also did not want to, initially. Now he is growing into an asset of the party," he said. When asked whether the minority community had placed any demands, he said: "They do ask. Mallikarjuna is committed to whatever the party says. So am I. If I am told not to contest from Kanakapura, I won't." When asked whether the confusion in the minority community has been resolved, he said, "Aspiring is not wrong. Personally, I wanted to give the ticket to Mallikarjuna in the Meti family. Another daughter, who is a Zilla Panchayat member, had also asked for a ticket. A total of four people from within the same family had asked for the ticket. When there is desire within a family itself, others will also have it. Several names had come up for Bagalkote as well." When asked about the BJP and JD(S) fielding minority candidates, he said, "I know, all these efforts are going on. In politics, they create divisions, and so do we. Do they have a consensus among themselves? Because two people quarrelled, they gave the ticket to a third person. Why should I discuss that? That is their party's decision; this is ours." When asked whether the Opposition's candidates are strong, he said, "Ours is ours, theirs is theirs. I am not going to discuss other parties' decisions. Let them field whoever they want." "The service and development work done by Shivashankarappa for Davanagere is excellent. Davanagere is better than Bengaluru, I have seen it personally. He has provided drinking water, houses for the poor, and built educational institutions. He has served for the past 40 years. The Shamanur family has stood by the Congress party from the very beginning," he said. When asked about the grievance that Shivashankarappa had promised to give the ticket to the Muslim community after him, and that promise is not being honoured, he said: "They may have expressed that grievance to you, not to us. That is precisely why we have made Jabbar an MLC three times. The same Shivashankarappa made Jabbar an MLC during SM Krishna's time and during Siddaramaiah's tenure. Alternative arrangements are made from time to time. We gave the Council seat to Saleem from Dharwad instead of Mane; wasn't that an alternative arrangement? (ANI)
Former Kerala DGP TP Senkumar on Sunday predicted a hung assembly in the state elections, claiming that the CPI(M) and Congress may join hands to form an INDIA bloc government. Speaking to ANI, Senkumar highlighted that the BJP's ally Twenty20 Party does not have a strong hold outside Ernakulam district, which may cost them in the elections. He claimed that if the CPI(M) and Congress join hands, the BJP might have a Leader of Opposition in the state. Former DGP Senkumar said, "My first prediction is a hung assembly. Pinarayi is getting about 55 seats or so, and other people are getting about 65 or fewer. It will have the INDI alliance in Kerala. BJP will have the Opposition Leader." He predicted that the BJP would win 16 seats in the Assembly elections. He said, "I am not in the BJP because I want to correct them wherever they go wrong. Their policy of taking Twenty20 is a bad policy because they have no votes outside 2-3 panchayats in Ernakulam district. If they didn't take them along, we would have got Tripunithura, Kodungallur, and actually Varkala; if the BJP stood, they would have won it." "Otherwise, I think that the BJP is going to get about 16 seats with this. It is despite Rajeev Chandrasekhar's wrong policies or others along with him, who are taking some very foolish candidates. They have to correct some things." Polling for Kerala Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front will look to defend its power against the Congress-led United Democratic Front. With a historic win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation polls, the BJP has also become a party in the fray. Meanwhile, Senkumar, one of the 275 signatories who wrote to the US government urging action over the recent report by USCIRF, questioned the background of members of the US-based commission, which claimed that religious freedom continued to deteriorate in India. He claimed a rising population of religious minorities, to counter USCIRF, which demanded sanctions against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). "In India, the population in 1947 was about 90 per cent Hindus, the remaining were the minorities, especially Muslims. In 1951, they were about nine percent and in 2011, they were almost fifteen percent such a growth. Figuratively, the three crore population in 1947 jumped to 22 crore population in maybe 2025," he said. He also defended Indian agencies and social organisations, saying, "First thing regarding RAW is India's agency. First, we should ban the CIA. Secondly, RSS is the largest NGO in the world." Earlier, a total of 275 signatories, including 25 retired judges, 119 retired bureaucrats and 131 armed forces officers, on Saturday slammed the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report asking Washington DC to sanction India's RAW and the RSS over alleged discrimination against minority communities. The US-based Commission had alleged that India's "political system facilitates a climate of discrimination toward religious minority communities" despite offering some constitutional protections for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). It called for sanctions against the RSS and the RAW. In a statement, the signatories called the USCIRF report "disturbing" and "off-the-mark," and said that the US-based organisation's recommendations against the RSS were "highly motivated, and displayed intellectual bankruptcy." (ANI)
Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Atishi, on Sunday asked the Speaker Vijender Gupta to revoke the suspension of four AAP MLAs ahead of the Budget Session. In the Winter Session of the Delhi Assembly, the Speaker had suspended AAP MLAs Sanjeev Jha, Som Dutt, Kuldeep Kumar, and Jarnail Singh for allegedly disrupting the House. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Atishi warned the ruling BJP that no AAP MLAs would attend the Budget Session if the suspension is not revoked. "The BJP is trying to suppress the opposition's voice. When their MLAs stalled the House for days, no action was taken. But our 4 MLAs were suspended in the last session and now in the Budget session too. Just because they raised questions against the BJP?... AAP demands that you immediately revoke the suspensions; otherwise, none of our MLAs will participate in the House," she said. Atishi also wrote a letter to Speaker Gupta, accusing him of being "inconsistent with democratic values." The Delhi LoP alleged that the suspended MLAs were not allowed to enter the Assembly premises to attend meetings in between the two sessions. She wrote, "Honourable Speaker, after the formation of the eighth Legislative Assembly, the ruling party and the opposition unanimously elected you as their Speaker, hoping that your experience would ensure the House's functioning in a democratic and lawful manner. It is with deep regret that I have to say that your attitude towards the opposition, from the first meeting of the first session to the first meeting of the fourth session, is not only worrying but also inconsistent with democratic values." She said that not allowing a public representative in the Assembly premises has set a new precedent in the country. Atishi said, "Expelling the entire opposition, including the Leader of the Opposition, from the House for criticising the government and raising issues of public interest--not just from the House but also from the House premises--is against the dignity of the House. In the history of independent India, no Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, or the country's highest legislature, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, has witnessed such an instance where the entire opposition was simultaneously expelled not only from the House but also from the House premises. Your action has set a new precedent--one that is not only undemocratic but also serves to completely undermine the dignity and decorum of the Legislative Assembly." "A democratically elected public representative was treated with contempt and was barred from entering the Assembly premises for the entire duration of the session--an act that is highly reprehensible and utterly unjustifiable. This also constitutes a violation of the privileges accorded to an elected public representative," she added. "During the recently concluded Assembly session, it was observed that members of the ruling party prevented the House from functioning for three consecutive days, thereby precluding any discussion on several critical issues concerning Delhi. Yet, you did not order the expulsion of a single member. Conversely, when members of the Opposition attempted to raise certain points in the House, you not only had them removed from the House but also subsequently barred them from the Assembly premises entirely, deciding to deny them entry for the entire duration of the session. During this period, even when members arrived to attend committee meetings and other scheduled meetings--for which prior notice had been given--they were stopped at the Assembly gates. This demonstrates a deliberate attempt to infringe upon the privileges of elected representatives and to obstruct their statutory participation in Assembly committees," the letter read. The Delhi Legislative Assembly is set to commence its Budget Session from March 23 to 25, with Speaker Vijender Gupta reviewing House arrangements and announcing several first-of-its-kind initiatives, including a live rendition of 'Vande Mataram' and an AI-enabled chatbot for legislative research. (ANI)
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday emphasised the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme and asked the party workers to promote CM Mamata Banerjee's '10 Pledges' mentioned in the manifesto among the public, party sources said. Under the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme, women in the general category will receive Rs 1,500 per month, SC/ST women Rs 1,700, and unemployed youth will get Rs 1,500 per month. Addressing an internal meeting of party workers in Mamata Banerjee's Bhabanipur constituency, Abhishek Banerjee asked them to inform the public about "fundamental differences" between the TMC government in the state and the BJP in the Centre. As per party sources, he called for the Bhabanipur seat to be the "frontrunner" in West Bengal Assembly elections, among constituencies in Kolkata. Banerjee said, "Our battle is to ensure that the Trinamool Congress, and Mamata Banerjee, win Bhabanipur with an even larger margin and lead than before. We must make people understand that the BJP is a corrupt party. This is something that needs to be conveyed to the people. This Bengal will not bow down; Bhabanipur must emerge as the frontrunner within Kolkata." He said, "We have not forgotten the deprivation inflicted by the Central Government. We will take our report card directly to the common people. Those who were nowhere to be found until now are engaging in politics in the name of religion. We must make the common people understand these realities. Alongside highlighting our own schemes, we must also demonstrate to the public the fundamental differences between our government and that of Narendra Modi." He noted that the BJP is promoting and backing the Ayushman Bharat scheme and asked the workers to counter it with the state government's Swasthya Sathi scheme. "Our government has given to the people, whereas the Central Government has made the people stand in queues only to take from them. Can the BJP point to a single state where they have implemented a scheme like 'Lakshmir Bhandar'? The BJP is campaigning extensively regarding 'Ayushman Bharat'; however, bear in mind that if you own a smartphone, you will not be eligible for Ayushman Bharat benefits. In contrast, there is no such restrictive rule in the case of 'Swasthya Sathi'. We must reach out to the common people, not just once, but time and again. As long as our government remains in power, the 'Lakshmir Bhandar' scheme will continue," Abhishek Banerjee said. He claimed that CM Mamata has a simpler lifestyle compared to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Take Didi's 10 Pledges to the people... Just look at the Prime Minister's lifestyle today, how it has changed since he assumed office, and then look at our Chief Minister. She still resides in a tiled-roof house and lives her life just like a common person," he said, as per sources. Mamata Banerjee chaired the party workers meeting as West Bengal goes for polls in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes slated for May 4. Mamata Banerjee is set to contest from the Bhabanipur seat, from where she will face a repeat clash with BJP leader and West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari had also challenged Mamata from Nandigram in the 2021 West Bengal polls, from where he won by 1956 votes. Following her defeat, the TMC supremo contested the bypoll from Bhabanipur, as MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay resigned from the seat. (ANI)
Assam Congress President and party's candidate from Jorhat seat, Gaurav Gogoi, on Sunday termed the State Assembly elections as a contest between Congress turncoats and the followers of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was once part of Congress before switching to the BJP in 2015, will contest the elections from his traditional Jalukbari seat. Recently, senior Congress leaders Pradyut Bordoloi and Bhupen Borah also joined the BJP. Reacting to this, Gogoi said the BJP in Assam has lost its existence, and is merely a party run by Congress turncoats under the leadership of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. "The election will be contested between the old Congressmen led by Himanta Biswa Sarma and us, who are following the ideals of the late Tarun Gogoi. The BJP no longer exists. The BJP in Assam is now run solely by those who left the Congress and are under the leadership of Himanta Biswa Sarma. The old, staunch BJP members are no longer there," Gogoi told reporters, invoking his father, Tarun Gogoi, the Congress stalwart and Assam's longest serving Chief Minister from 2001 to 2016. BJP has fielded Pradyut Bordoloi from Dispur after he ended his life-long association with Congress and joined the party in the presence of Himanta Biswa Sarma. Former Congress state president, Bhupen Kumar Borah, who jumped ship weeks before, will contest from Bihpuria, a seat which he lost to BJP candidates in the last two elections. Earlier today, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera said that the party remains united and continues to fight the elections with full strength even though several leaders have switched to the BJP. "Everyone is fighting together. Those who had to leave have left. Those who are here are working strongly with Gaurav Gogoi to carry out this election. Gaurav Gogoi is our captain of the ship, so it's obvious that he is the biggest face," he said. He also alleged widespread dissatisfaction with the BJP government in Assam, pointing to issues like corruption and governance. "As I told you, there's a lot of resentment among the people on the ground. Corruption is rampant, and there's a rule of hooliganism, a corrupt government, a rule of smugglers. So, all these things are completely unacceptable to the people," Khera added. Congress, as Gaurav Gogoi said, is set to contest on 100 of the 126 Assembly seats and has allied with Assam Jatiya Parishad, Raijor Dal, CPI(M), CPI(ML) and the All Party Hill Leaders Conference. Raijor Dal is set to contest on 11 seats. The polling for all 126 Assembly constituencies will be held in a single phase on April 9, while the counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, the Election Commission of India announced. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during the internal meeting with the Trinamool Congress party workers on Sunday, said that after securing a victory in Bengal, the next step will be to head to Delhi, TMC sources said. Banerjee took a major charge at the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that they didn't allow President Droupadi Murmu to visit the Ayodhya Ram Temple simply because she belongs to a tribal community, sources added. Speaking on the issue of reported LPG shortage, the West Bengal Chief Minister took a jibe, stating that they can't provide gas during the elections, but they can provide cash, sources said. "Keep a cool head; they have brought in a large number of outsiders. We, however, want a peaceful election. Two of our boys have been arrested simply for chanting 'Joy Bangla'," she said. As per the sources, Banerjee assured legal support to those whose names will be removed from the voter list or those who will face difficulties after the publishing of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) supplementary list She further condemned the BJP for transferring over fifty officers in the last three days ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026, saying that they have left the citizens completely powerless, sources said. "Today, I wish to warn you: you are completely powerless. In just three days, they have removed fifty of our officers. If any untoward incident occurs, who will take responsibility? You have to take responsibility, Modi and Vanish Kumar (Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar)," she questioned. This comes as West Bengal gears up for its Assembly polls, scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes slated for May 4. In West Bengal, the Legislative Assembly consists of 294 seats. The election in 2021 was held in eight phases. Like then, this time too Mamata Banerjee is set to contest from the Bhabanipur seat, from where she will face a repeat clash with BJP leader and West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari. (ANI)
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday announced that Rs 9000 crores of Rythu Bharosa scheme benefit will be deposited in the farmers' bank accounts in three instalments in 45 days. The Chief Minister released the first instalment of Rythu Bharosa benefit on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Oil Palm factory at Narmetta in Siddipet Assembly Constituency today, according to a release from the Chief Minister's office. Speaking at a public meeting organised on the occasion of 'Farmers Festival', the CM noted that Rs 2533 crore was spent on farmers' welfare every month in the previous BRS government. Whereas, the People's Government was incurring an expenditure of Rs 5500 crore every month. "I firmly believe that neither agriculture where the ox weeps, nor a kingdom where the farmer weeps can ever truly prosper. We are releasing Rythu Bharosa funds today to see a delightful moment in the lives of the farming community in the state," he said. CM Reddy highlighted that the government was providing compensation to farmers who lost their crops and had already spent over Rs 1 lakh crore on farmers' welfare within just two years. In view of Telangana emerging as number one in Paddy production in the country, the Chief Minister stressed that the Agriculture sector needs to undergo a transformation and the farmers should adopt crop diversification for more profits, the release stated. "We need to encourage farmers to cultivate not just paddy but a diverse range of crops", the CM said while explaining the difficulties in the paddy procurement. "We have procured 71 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. However, the Central Government is not procuring more than 50 lakh metric tonnes. In this backdrop, we must formulate and implement necessary plans for crop diversification to ensure that the crops cultivated by our farmers become profitable ventures," he added. Stating that the Government is making efforts to facilitate the export of agricultural produce to international markets, the CM stressed that every crop grown in Telangana should be profitable to achieve "Golden (Bangaru) Telangana." As per the release, following the recent Iran-American war and Middle East crisis, CM Revanth Reddy cautioned the farmers of a fertiliser shortage in the coming days. The Chief Minister ordered the authorities to convince the Union government to provide more fertilisers. "We must meet with Prime Minister Modi and strive to secure the maximum possible allocation of urea for our state. " This is not the time for politics, but for moving forward with coordination and unity. We do politics only during the elections. Once the elections are over, the development of the state becomes the sole priority," he said. Explaining the importance of the Oil Palm project, which is meant to benefit farmers and not the local MLA, the CM announced that the leader who wins against the BRS leader in Siddipet in the next elections will be inducted into the state cabinet. "I am entrusting our Ministers G Vivek and Damodar Raja Narasimha with the responsibility of winning the Congress candidate in the assembly segment. The legislature representing the area hailed from the same single family," CM Revanth Reddy said, appealing to people to give an opportunity to others and bring a change. The CM made it clear that the People's Government was not discriminating against anyone, and it was not his nature to give priority over others. Further, the Chief Minister said that he is ready for a debate on fund allocations to Kodangal during the BRS rule. CM Revanth Reddy reiterated that Congress will retain power by winning the majority of seats in the 2029 assembly elections, the release said. The Chief Minister outlined the government's plan to promote the oil palm industry. "The government is ready to purchase the produce in 10 lakh acres also, and Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageshwar Rao was requested to establish an oil palm processing plant in the Kodangal constituency as well. Ankapur should serve as an inspiration for all 12,728 Gram Panchayats across the state in the field of agriculture. It is the responsibility of our government to transform every village into a model like Ankapur and to make agriculture a profitable business," he said. Listing the welfare and women empowerment schemes introduced by the government, the CM said that a free travel facility was provided for women in RTC buses. Also, empowered women by making them the owners of the RTC bus fleet, aiming to transform one crore women into millionaires. CM Revanth Reddy ordered the officials to increase the membership of women's self-help groups in urban areas as well. "The government has already provided Rs 57,000 crores of loans to women groups through bank linkages. It is also a proud moment that women's groups are competing with Adani and Ambani in solar power generation. The nation's economy will truly flourish only when women attain equal economic partnership," he said. The Chief Minister also said that the government is launching Telangana Public Schools in the upcoming academic year, aiming to compete with the government Educational institutions with private and corporate institutions. The proposal to overhaul all Government schools is under active consideration, and is also establishing Advanced Training Centres (ATCs) to provide skills training to the youth. (ANI)
Syed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, on Sunday condemned the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report over the international religious freedom report, saying that comparing India to unstable countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh is misleading. Speaking to ANI, he said, "I reject any commission's report. As the spiritual successor of Ajmer Dargah and Chairman of All India Sufis, I affirm that India grants full religious freedom, protected by the Constitution. We have all witnessed the nationwide celebrations on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr yesterday. So, we refute such claims stating India does not give religious freedom." "In case of any religious dispute, the administration intervenes on the spot to carry out an investigation and punish the accused individual. There is no discrimination here," he added. He further emphasised that countries Pakistan and Bangladesh are unstable, underlining that Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir has recently threatened Shia Muslims for protesting in favour of Iran. "We have seen the situation in Bangladesh recently, and the world has seen how Pakistan favours terrorism. Recently, Asim Munir threatened the Shia Muslim community and said, 'if you want to support Iran, go there'. Whereas people in India have openly supported Iran through protests, did the Indian government stop anyone? America should see this. Indians are free to express themselves however they deem fit. Comparing India to unstable countries like Pakistan or Bangladesh is misleading. In India, citizens freely express their views," he said. The US-based Commission alleged that India's "political system facilitates a climate of discrimination toward religious minority communities" despite offering some constitutional protections for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). It called for sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Earlier on Saturday, a total of 275 signatories, including 25 retired judges, 119 retired bureaucrats and 131 armed forces officers, also slammed the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report. The joint statement by former judges, civil servants and armed forces veterans disregarded the USCIRF report as "disturbing and completely off the mark," questioning its credibility and balance. It condemned the USCIRF for "portraying Indian state institutions and socio-cultural organisations like RSS in a negative light. The statement said that the USCIRF's recommendation to freeze assets, restricted movement of Bharatiya citizens and place restrictions on those associated with RSS is "highly motivated, and displays intellectual bankruptcy and deranged conclusions." The signatories asked the US government to conduct a background check of the contributors to this report, accusing USCIRF of promoting the agenda of "anti-Bharat vested interests. (ANI)
United States President Donald Trump has warned that Washington is prepared to launch strikes against Irans power infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened to safe maritime traffic within 48 hours.

As reported by AzerNEWS, the statement was published on the American leaders account on Truth Social.

If Iran does not completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours and ensure safe passage, the United States will strike and destroy numerous power plants, Trump stated.

The remarks mark a sharp escalation in rhetoric, underscoring growing concerns over global energy security and the stability of one of the worlds most critical oil transit routes.
The Department Affairs Committee of the University of Jammu on Sunday recommended the removal of topics concerning former Pakistan Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah from the curriculum of political sciences, following protests by the ABVP, a press note stated. According to the press note, the committee also recommended the removal of topics related to Aligarh Muslim University founder Syed Ahmad Khan and Pakistani poet Mohammad Iqbal. The Board of Studies will decide on the recommendations at its meeting on March 24. Jammu University said, "The Faculty/Departmental Affairs Committee (DAC) meeting was held on March 22 at 12:00 noon in the office of the Head of the Department to deliberate upon certain issues raised concerning the syllabi of the One-Year and Two-Year MA Programmes in Political Science as per the guidelines of NEP-2020." "After a thorough consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to recommend the removal of topics concerning Mohd. Ali Jinnah, Syed Ahmad Khan and Mohd. Iqbal from the course content of PIPSTC 102 of the One-Year Postgraduate Programme and the course content of P2PSTC 302 of the Two-Year Postgraduate Programme in Political Science to the Board of Studies for its consideration. The meeting of BOS is scheduled on March 24 at 11:30 AM through online mode to further deliberate on the matter," the press note read. This came after a protest by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Saturday against the inclusion of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in the curriculum of Jammu University. "ABVP Jammu University protests against the inclusion of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the Political Science syllabus under 'Minorities and the Nation.' We demand an immediate rollback. Academic freedom cannot ignore national sentiments and historical integrity," ABVP Jammu and Kashmir wrote on X. Muslim League leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the first Governor-General and is regarded as the founder of Pakistan. The Muslim League, adopting the Pakistan resolution in the Lahore session, later in 1947, led to the partition of India upon independence. (ANI)
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Sunday announced that Rs 9000 crore of Rythu Bharosa scheme benefit will be deposited in the farmers' bank accounts in three installments in 45 days and released the first instalment of Rythu Bharosa benefit on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Oil Palm factory at Narmetta in Siddipet Assembly Constituency. Speaking at a public meeting organised on the occasion of 'Farmers Festival', the CM noted that Rs 2533 crore was spent on farmers' welfare every month in the previous BRS government. Whereas, the People's Government was incurring an expenditure of Rs 5500 crore every month, according to a release. "I firmly believe that neither agriculture where the ox weeps, nor a kingdom where the farmer weeps can ever truly prosper ", he said, further adding that they are releasing Rythu Bharosa funds to see a delightful moment in the lives of the farming community in the state. CM Revanth Reddy highlighted that the government was providing compensation to farmers who lost their crops and had already spent over Rs 1 lakh crore on farmers' welfare within just two years. In view of Telangana emerging as number one in Paddy production in the country, the Chief Minister stressed that the Agriculture sector needs to undergo a transformation and the farmers should adopt crop diversification for more profits. "We need to encourage farmers to cultivate not just paddy but a diverse range of crops", the CM said, explaining the difficulties in the paddy procurement. He also said that the government has procured 71 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, but claimed that the Central Government is not procuring more than 50 lakh metric tonnes. "In this backdrop, we must formulate and implement necessary plans for crop diversification to ensure that the crops cultivated by our farmers become profitable ventures," he said. Stating that the Government is making efforts to facilitate the export of agricultural produce to international markets, the CM stressed that every crop grown in Telangana should be profitable to achieve "Golden ( Bangaru )Telangana." Following the recent West Asia conflict, CM Reddy cautioned the farmers of a fertiliser shortage in the coming days, as per the release. The Chief Minister ordered the authorities to convince the Union government for more fertilisers. "We must meet with Prime Minister Modi and strive to secure the maximum possible allocation of urea for our state. This is not the time for politics, but for moving forward with coordination and unity. We do politics only during the elections. Once the elections are over, the development of the state becomes the sole priority," he said. Explaining the importance of the Oil Palm project, which he emphasised is meant to benefit farmers and not for the local MLA, the CM announced that the leader who wins against the BRS leader in Siddipet in the next elections will be inducted into the state cabinet. "I am entrusting our ministers, G Vivek and Damodar Raja Narasimha, with the responsibility of winning the Congress candidate in the assembly segment. The legislature representing the area hailed from the same single family," CM Revanth Reddy said, appealing to people to give an opportunity to others and bring a change. The CM clarified that the People's Government was not discriminating against anyone, and it was not his nature to give priority over others. Further, the Chief Minister said that he is ready for a debate on fund allocations to Kodangal during the BRS rule. He also reiterated that Congress will retain power by winning the majority of seats in the 2029 assembly elections. The Chief Minister outlined the government's plan to promote the oil palm industry. He said that the government is ready to purchase the produce in 10 lakh acres, and Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageshwar Rao was requested to establish an oil palm processing plant in the Kodangal constituency as well. "Ankapur should serve as an inspiration for all 12,728 Gram Panchayats across the state in the field of agriculture. It is the responsibility of our government to transform every village into a model like Ankapur and to make agriculture a profitable business," he said. Listing the welfare and women empowerment schemes introduced by the government, the CM said that a free travel facility was provided for women in RTC buses. Also, empowered women by making them the owners of the RTC bus fleet, aiming to transform one crore women into millionaires, the release noted. CM Revanth Reddy ordered the officials to increase the membership of women's self-help groups in urban areas as well. The government has already provided Rs 57,000 crores of loans to women groups through bank linkages. "It is also a proud moment that women's groups are competing with Adani and Ambani in solar power generation. The nation's economy will truly flourish only when women attain equal economic partnership," he added. The Chief Minister also said that the government is launching Telangana Public Schools in the upcoming academic year, aiming to compete with the government Educational institutions with private and corporate institutions. The proposal to overhaul all Government schools is under active consideration, and is also establishing Advanced Training Centers (ATCs) to provide skills training to the youth. (ANI)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Sunday said it did not receive any indication of damage to the nuclear research centre Negev in Israel. The agency said that it was monitoring the situation and is aware of the incident in Dimona. In a post on X, the IAEA said, "The IAEA is aware of reports of an incident in the city of Dimona, Israel, involving a missile impact and has not received any indication of damage to the nuclear research centre Negev. Information from regional States indicates that no abnormal radiation levels have been detected." Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi, called for maximum military restraint. "Closely monitoring the situation, Director General Rafael Grossi stressed that 'maximum military restraint should be observed, in particular in the vicinity of nuclear facilities." https://x.com/iaeaorg/status/2035440400194768929?s=20 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Dimona Mayor Benny Biton and Rishon LeZion Mayor Raz Kinstlich. In a post on X, Netanyahu's Office said, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening with Dimona Mayor Benny Biton and Rishon LeZion Mayor Raz Kinstlich. The Prime Minister praised the residents' resilience and wished a speedy recovery to those who were wounded following the firing from Iran." https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/2035438198315257915?s=20 The official account of IDF International Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said that over 70 people have been injured in two different civilian neighbourhoods in Israel. In a post on X, he said, "Within just a few hours, over 70 people have been injured in two different civilian neighborhoods in Israel. These attacks highlight the nature of the Iranian terror targeting civilian communities. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Iranian regime is resorting to reckless attacks that only further expose its instability and disregard for human life while strategically targeting civilians." https://x.com/LTC_Shoshani/status/2035460564139282814?s=20 Iran said it is targeting Dimona, which houses Israel's main nuclear research center, as a "response" to an earlier strike on the Natanz nuclear enrichment site. The Israel Defense Forces said it was not responsible for striking Natanz, as per The Times of Israel. (ANI)
The Israel Defense Forces said on Saturday (local time) that Iranian missiles can reach a distance of almost 4,000km, which brings London, Paris or Berlin within its radar. The IDF further said that during Operation Rising Lion in June 2025, it found that Iran poses a danger to several countries across Europe, Asia and Africa. In a post on X, the IDF said, "The Iranian terrorist regime launched a long-range missile for the first time since the start of Operation Roaring Lion that could reach a distance of ~4,000 km. During Operation Rising Lion in June 2025, the IDF revealed that the Iranian regime has intentions to develop missiles with a range of 4,000 km, which pose a danger to dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. The Iranian regime denied this." https://x.com/IDF/status/2035420428294889658?s=20 "We have been saying it: The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat. Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin. The Iranian terror regime has carried out attacks against 12 countries in the region and is developing a capability that poses a much broader threat," it added. Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Hyderabad said that Israeli skies will be deemed defenceless if they fail to intercept missiles in Dimona. In a post on X, the Consulate said, "If the Israeli regime fails to intercept the missiles in the heavily fortified area of Dimona, it will be an operational sign of entering a new phase of the battle: Israeli sky is defenceless. As a result, it seems that the time has come to implement the next pre-planned plans. Happy Nowruz to the Iranian nation." https://x.com/IraninHyderabad/status/2035457927893704828?s=20 Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel was determined to continue striking its enemies on all fronts. https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/2035478393639076045?s=20 "This has been a very difficult evening in the battle for our future. A short while ago, I spoke with Arad Mayor Yair Ma'ayan and asked to convey, on behalf of all the citizens of Israel, our prayers for the recovery of the wounded. I have instructed the Director General of my office to provide the full necessary assistance, together with all government ministries. I offer my support to the emergency and rescue forces currently operating on the ground, and I call upon everyone to follow Home Front Command instructions. We are determined to continue striking our enemies on all fronts," the Israeli PM's Office said. (ANI)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday held talks with the Mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan and conveyed his prayers for those injured. Israeli Foreign Ministry said that over 100 people, including children, were injured in the attack. In a post on X, the Ministry said, "The Iranian regime devastated Arad and Dimona by deliberately striking civilians with missiles. Over 100 people were injured, including children. A blatant war crime. Pure terrorism." https://x.com/IsraelMFA/status/2035478814445224149?s=20 Yair Maayan, the mayor of Arad in southern Israel, said that about 150 families were evacuated from the neighborhood that was hit, as per Al Jazeera. Netanyahu said in a post on X, "This is a very difficult evening in the campaign for our future. Just a short while ago, I spoke with the Mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan, and asked him to convey, on behalf of all Israeli citizens, our prayers for the peace of the injured. I have instructed the Director General of my office to provide all the necessary assistance together with all government ministries." https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2035473053703168504?s=20 "I strengthen the emergency and rescue forces operating in the field right now, and I call on everyone to heed the instructions of the Home Front Command. We are determined to continue to strike our enemies on all fronts," he added. Former Prime Minister of Israel, Naftali Bennett also condemned the attack. In a post on X, he said, "Our hearts are now in Arad and Dimona. Praying together for the peace of the injured and their families." https://x.com/naftalibennett/status/2035454512891060600?s=20 Former Prime Minister of Israel, Yair Lapid also said, "Our hearts are with the south this evening. A great disaster with dozens of wounded in Dimona and Arad. Strengthening the security and rescue forces who are working at this moment to save lives. And wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded. We are all with you." https://x.com/yairlapid/status/2035461172913123688?s=20 Earlier in the day, an Iranian missile hit Dimona, a southern town hosting Israel's nuclear facility. (ANI)
Major General Seyed Majid Moosavi, head of Iran's IRGC Aerospace Force, said on Saturday (local time) that Iran now dominates the skies of the occupied territories. Moosavi said that the upcoming waves of attacks in those skies would leave the US and Israel 'dumbfounded'. In a post on X, Moosavi said, "From this moment, I declare the missile dominance of Iran's sons over the skies of the occupied territories. The new tactics and launch systems employed in the upcoming waves will leave the American-Zionist commanders dumbfounded. Tonight, the skies over the south of the occupied territories will remain illuminated for hours." https://x.com/smajid_moosavi/status/2035412828631302326?s=20 Meanwhile, Speaker of Iranian Parliament, MB Ghalibaf, said that if Israeli skies are defenceless. In a post on X, he said, "If the Israeli regime fails to intercept the missiles in the highly protected Dimona area, it is operationally a sign of entering a new phase of the battle: Israel's skies are defenseless. As a result, it seems the time has come to implement the next pre-designed plans. Happy Nowruz to the Iranian nation." https://x.com/mb_ghalibaf/status/2035454933084889523?s=20 Al Jazeera said that the Israeli air force will investigate how Israeli defences failed to intercept a ballistic missile that made a direct impact in the southern city of Arad. It further said that Israeli media, citing the Israeli military, said there were two failed interception attempts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday held talks with the Mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan and conveyed his prayers for those injured. Israeli Foreign Ministry said that over 100 people, including children, were injured in the attack. In a post on X, the Ministry said, "The Iranian regime devastated Arad and Dimona by deliberately striking civilians with missiles. Over 100 people were injured, including children. A blatant war crime. Pure terrorism." https://x.com/IsraelMFA/status/2035478814445224149?s=20 https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2035473053703168504?s=20 Yair Maayan, the mayor of Arad in southern Israel, said that about 150 families were evacuated from the neighborhood that was hit, as per Al Jazeera. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump on Sunday lashed out at a political analyst who claimed that he had not met his goals in Iran. Trump then said the US had blown Iran off the map and that Tehran is willing to come on table; however, he is not interested in making one. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "The United States has blown Iran off of the map, and yet their lightweight analyst, David Sanger, says that I haven't met my own goals. Yes I have, and weeks ahead of schedule! Their leadership is gone, their navy and air force are dead, they have absolutely no defense, and they want to make a deal. I don't! We are weeks ahead of schedule. Just like their incompetent Election coverage of me, The Failing New York Times always gets it wrong! President DJT." As per The New York Times, US President Donald Trump claimed progress in the war, but his objectives keep changing. "As the U.S.-Israeli airstrike campaign got underway last month, the Trump administration said it aspired to create conditions for regime change in Tehran. The White House also said it aimed to completely strip Iran of its stockpile of nuclear fuel, which could be fashioned into a weapon," The New York Times report read. New York Times also reported further that fuel was being sold in the US for USD 4 per gallon, and the Pentagon called for USD 200 billion to replace its ammunition. Trump then said that the US was "very close" to meeting its objectives. "Friday's post appeared to retreat from earlier, more ambitious goals, omitting any reference to them. Instead, President Trump focused on weakening Iran's military and defence capabilities, while vowing to defend U.S. allies in the Middle East," The New York Times reported. "He maintained that the United States was "getting very close to meeting our objectives" and left the issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to other countries that use it, claiming the United States does not. "If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn't be necessary once Iran's threat is eradicated," he said, the report added. President Trump also repeated claims that Iran wants a deal but says he does not. Iranian officials continue to reject talks following the February 28 attacks. President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) said that the United States would soon wrap up its military operations in Iran. Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social, listing five objectives that largely include the destruction of Iranian military infrastructure and facilities, not allowing Iran to get close to nuclear capability and protecting America's allies in West Asia, such as Israel, the UAE, Qatar, among others. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of six Chinese naval vessels and an official ship operating around its territorial waters as of 6 am (local time) on Sunday. Taiwan's MND said it monitored the situation and responded. In a post on X, the MND said, "6 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan 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/2035521860574847020?s=20 Earlier on Saturday, the MND detected the presence of two PLA aircraft and eight naval vessels around itself. In a post on X, MND said, "2 sorties of PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 2 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's eastern part ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/2035159807066534215?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 President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Iran of obliterating its power plants if it fails to open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump gave Iran precisely 48 hours for the job. In a post on Truth Social, he said, "If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP" Meanwhile, US Central Command said that they were clear in their objectives of eliminating Iran's ability to project power against Americans. It said, "U.S. forces remain centered on very clear military objectives in eliminating Iran's ability to project power against Americans, and against its neighbors." https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2035473433136341334?s=20 Meanwhile, Major General Seyed Majid Moosavi, head of Iran's IRGC Aerospace Force, said on Saturday (local time) that Iran now dominates the skies of the occupied territories. Moosavi said that the upcoming waves of attacks in those skies would leave the US and Israel 'dumbfounded'. In a post on X, Moosavi said, "From this moment, I declare the missile dominance of Iran's sons over the skies of the occupied territories. The new tactics and launch systems employed in the upcoming waves will leave the American-Zionist commanders dumbfounded. Tonight, the skies over the south of the occupied territories will remain illuminated for hours." https://x.com/smajid_moosavi/status/2035412828631302326?s=20 Meanwhile, Speaker of Iranian Parliament, MB Ghalibaf, said that if Israeli skies are defenceless. In a post on X, he said, "If the Israeli regime fails to intercept the missiles in the highly protected Dimona area, it is operationally a sign of entering a new phase of the battle: Israel's skies are defenseless. As a result, it seems the time has come to implement the next pre-designed plans. Happy Nowruz to the Iranian nation." https://x.com/mb_ghalibaf/status/2035454933084889523?s=20 Al Jazeera said that the Israeli air force will investigate how Israeli defences failed to intercept a ballistic missile that made a direct impact in the southern city of Arad. It further said that Israeli media, citing the Israeli military, said there were two failed interception attempts. (ANI)
The Pentagon has formulated comprehensive strategies for the potential deployment of United States ground troops into Iran, according to various sources informed on the matter who spoke with CBS News. High-level military commanders have reportedly put forward specific requests to ensure readiness as US President Donald Trump considers further actions within the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel. While Trump has been examining the possibility of stationing ground forces in the Middle East, CBS News reported that he has yet to define the exact conditions under which he would approve their use. The deliberations have been held under anonymity as those involved were not permitted to discuss the sensitive planning publicly. When questioned about the possibility of a ground presence in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump told reporters, "No, I'm not putting troops anywhere," but added, "If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you." Responding to inquiries, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Pentagon's role is to ensure the Commander-in-Chief has "maximum optionality" in any crisis. She added that such preparations do not indicate a final decision, noting that "as the President said in the Oval Office yesterday, he is not planning to send ground troops anywhere at this time." CBS News reported that the military has also convened sessions to address the logistics of capturing and detaining Iranian personnel and paramilitary members in the event of an invasion. These discussions include specific locations where detainees would be processed and held. The United States is currently readying components of the 82nd Airborne Division for possible deployment to the region. This includes the Marine Corps' Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Army's Global Response Force. According to CBS News, thousands of Marines are already in transit toward the Middle East. Three naval vessels carrying approximately 2,200 Marines recently departed California, marking the second such unit dispatched since the onset of the conflict. A previous unit, redirected from the Pacific, is still en route to the region. These movements indicate the Pentagon's effort to expand military options available to the President, with assets being repositioned to maintain a high state of readiness amid the ongoing conflict. (ANI)
Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, has hit out at former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, stating he was "ill-advised" to publicly level allegations linking India to the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Verma noted that the move by the former Canadian leader placed a robust bilateral partnership under significant strain. In an interview with ANI, Verma's comments followed recent clarifications from Canada's National Police Chief, Mike Duheme, who confirmed that there is currently no evidence connecting the Indian state to the Nijjar case, an issue that had previously sparked a major diplomatic fallout between the two nations. Reflecting on Trudeau's past claims of "credible allegation," the former envoy described the decision to go public as misguided. Verma told ANI, "He was ill-advised. The timing was of his choosing, but he was ill-advised to put a very strong bilateral relationship on hold and move ahead with his political, I would say, motives." Verma further deconstructed the narrative surrounding the accusations, questioning the persistent lack of tangible proof or legal proceedings. "So let's try to sort of dissect that. And if we say credible allegations, it was still not evidence. But due to some reason, the then Prime Minister thought it appropriate to state that in their own Parliament. I did not consider it well thought of on his part," he remarked. The diplomat pointed out the inconsistencies in the Canadian narrative over the past year. "But then moving ahead, even RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] in October 2024 said that they have credible evidence linking transnational repression and crime with Indian agents and proxies. Now even that has failed. Now my only question to those who had levelled these charges is if there was such clinching evidence, why the charges have not been filed so far? So I look at it both from the logical point of view as well as from the international law point of view," he added. Verma reiterated that India has firmly maintained that the claims were driven by domestic political agendas. "We always maintained that. If you recall, both from New Delhi and from Ottawa, the Indian interests, the Indian representation always talked about this. We always said that this is politically motivated, we always said that this is vote-bank politics, we always said that there is no evidence available to say so," he said. Elaborating on the current situation, Verma explained that Canadian authorities have now categorised the issues into two distinct "buckets." "When I look at it, what he said, let's be very clear what he said first. So he has kept it in two different buckets. One bucket is the Khalistani terrorist who was killed there. And another bucket is transnational repression and transnational crimes. So these are two buckets," he stated. Regarding the first category, Verma noted that the matter is already being handled by the Canadian judiciary. "So when you look at the first bucket, there is a court case already on, charges have been filed against four Indian nationals. These four Indian nationals went to Canada as international students. God knows what happened in society, and they became whatever they have been alleged to have become. And their trial is on," he told ANI. On the broader allegations of transnational interference, Verma reaffirmed New Delhi's stance. "I always said it is not India's policy to interfere in the internal affairs of any other country. Unfortunately, this was not accepted by the regime of that particular point of time," he said. Highlighting the recent police findings, Verma said that investigators now see no connection between India and alleged transnational crimes. "What he (Canada National Police Chief) said was that right now he doesn't see any link with any foreign entity, which includes India, I'm sure, any foreign entity having links with transnational crimes and transnational repression in Canada," he said. (ANI)
Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, has emphasised the necessity of a collaborative future between New Delhi and Ottawa, noting that the two nations must move past previous diplomatic friction. Highlighting the path forward for the bilateral relationship, he stated that the current shift represents a transition towards a more functional partnership. In an interview with ANI, Verma reflected on the evolution of the relationship following a period of intense strain. He noted that the realisation of mutual dependency is now guiding the two countries, stating, "I wouldn't go ahead and call it vindication, but I would say it is diplomatic pragmatism. Because, finally, the realisation is that Canada-India have to work together. There is no other option. And when we work together, there will be issues where we'll fight. There will be issues on which we see convergences. So those issues on which we see convergences, let's move ahead on that. Those issues where we see a lack of unison of our voices, let's discuss, let's talk about it across the table. But let's not call names to each other." The former envoy addressed the recent findings by Canadian law enforcement regarding allegations of transnational repression. He explained that the RCMP has now distinguished between the legal proceedings regarding the death of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and broader claims of state-sponsored interference. Verma noted, "He has kept it in two different buckets. One bucket is the Khalistani terrorist who was killed there, and another bucket is transnational repression and transnational crimes. So these are two buckets. When you look at the first bucket, the court case is already on. Charges have been filed against four Indian nationals. These four Indian nationals went to Canada as international students. God knows what happened in society, and they became whatever they have been alleged to have become. Their trial is on." Regarding the second category, Verma expressed satisfaction that the narrative of Indian state involvement has not been substantiated. "Now the second bucket is India's overall engagement in Canada. And initially, if you recall, when I was still serving in Ottawa, a lot of noise was there on India's role in transnational repression as well as transnational crimes in Canada, which I always said is not India's policy to interfere in the internal affairs of any other country. Unfortunately, this was not accepted by the regime at that particular point in time. But I am very glad to see the statement which came out, and what he said was that right now he doesn't see any link with any foreign entity, which includes India, I'm sure, any foreign entity having links with transnational crimes and transnational repression in Canada," he told ANI. Verma criticised the handling of the situation by the previous Canadian administration under Justin Trudeau, suggesting the allegations were rooted in domestic interests. "We always maintained that. If you recall, both from New Delhi and from Ottawa, the Indian interests and the Indian representation always talked about this. We always said that this is politically motivated. We always said that this is vote-bank politics. We always said that there is no evidence available to say so. And we are glad that this is coming true. And finally, they will see India for what it is, a deep civilisation and India which doesn't interfere with any other country's internal affairs," he remarked. The diplomat further questioned the lack of formal legal action if "credible" evidence truly existed. Dissecting the previous administration's claims, he said, "So let's try to sort of dissect that. And if we say credible allegations, it was still not evidence. But, due to some reason, the then Prime Minister thought it appropriate to state that in their own Parliament. I did not consider it well thought of on his part. But then moving ahead, even RCMP in October 2024 said that they have credible evidence linking transnational repression and crime with Indian agents and proxies. Now even that has failed. Now my only question to those who had levelled these charges is: if there was such clinching evidence, why have the charges not been filed so far? So I look at it both from the logical point of view as well as from the international law point of view." Attributing the diplomatic fallout to poor counsel and political timing, Verma stated, "I would say he was ill-advised. The timing was of his choosing, but he was ill-advised to put a very strong bilateral relationship on hold and move ahead with his political motives." He added that, as the leader at the time, the responsibility lay with the former Prime Minister: "See, he was the Prime Minister of the country at that point in time. He was the one who spoke about it in Parliament. So I don't have inside information, but since he was the Prime Minister of the country at that point in time, everything will fall on him and I mean that's the end of the tunnel." Addressing the impact of the rift, Verma noted that the relationship had been "hugely" affected, resulting in lost time and emotional damage. "See, this episode had two major impacts. One on the bilateral relationship itself, because everything was put on hold. Downsizing of mission, EPTA put on hold, early progress trade agreement put on hold. No high-level visits taking place. So the bilateral relationship was put on hold in a sense. So we lost two years," he said. He further lamented the personal toll on Indian diplomats: "Second part is it has created so much emotion amongst the two peoples. So Canadians thought that we six who have been declared as persona non grata are actually criminals. We are not diplomats. Now that damage to our reputation, that damage to our emotional fabric, who is going to mend that?" Despite these challenges, Verma voiced optimism following the recent visit of Prime Minister Mark Carney to India. He noted, "Thankfully, the present Prime Minister of Canada, Prime Minister Carney, has been able to see through it. And what he has done is he has not taken off the case from the court, which is going on. So that is still there. But he has moved ahead with other relationships with India, and he had a very successful visit to India, as I see." (ANI)
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has indicated that the country could consider deploying its Self-Defense Forces (SDF) for minesweeping operations within the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Kyodo News. The top diplomat suggested that such a move would be contingent on the realization of a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. During a television appearance, Motegi highlighted Japan's advanced maritime capabilities in this specific field. "Japan's minesweeping technology is at the top level in the world," he stated, as reported by Kyodo News. He further elaborated on the conditions under which a deployment might be discussed, noting, "Let's say (the parties have entered into a) cease-fire, and in the event that mines pose an obstacle, we may have to think about it." The Foreign Minister's remarks follow high-level diplomatic engagements in Washington last Thursday. Motegi, who attended the Japan-U.S. summit, recalled that U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to acknowledge Japan's constitutional and legal constraints. Kyodo News reported that the President was nodding as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi clarified the statutory limits regarding the dispatch of Japanese naval vessels. Addressing the outcomes of the summit, Motegi clarified that there was "no specific promise" made during the talks, nor were there any outstanding issues that required immediate home-based deliberation by the Japanese government. The regional situation remains critical following the 28 February airstrikes launched by US and Israeli forces against Iran. Kyodo News noted that the escalation has significant ramifications for global energy security and Middle Eastern stability, particularly for Japan, which depends on the region for more than 90 per cent of its crude oil imports. In a separate development regarding Japanese citizens in the region, Motegi confirmed the release of one of two Japanese nationals previously detained in Iran. The individual, who had been in custody since June, reportedly departed via Azerbaijan last Wednesday and arrived in Japan on Sunday in good health. According to Kyodo News, the Japanese government is now intensifying efforts to secure the freedom of the remaining detainee. "We are working towards the early release of the other individual," Motegi stated. Reports from a non-profit organisation suggest the second individual is the Tehran bureau chief of the public broadcaster NHK, who was taken into custody by local authorities on 20 January. (ANI)
The Japanese government has confirmed the release of one of the two Japanese nationals who had been detained in Iran, according to a report by Kyodo News. In a development shared on Sunday, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi confirmed that the individual, who had been in custody since June, departed via Azerbaijan last Wednesday and arrived in Japan in good health. Addressing the status of the remaining detainee, Motegi stated, "We are working toward the early release of the other individual." Reports from a non-profit organisation suggest the second individual is the Tehran bureau chief of the public broadcaster NHK, who was taken into custody by local authorities on 20 January. This follows an earlier announcement this month in which the government formally requested the release of its citizens. Amid these diplomatic efforts, the Foreign Minister also indicated that the country could consider deploying its Self-Defense Forces (SDF) for minesweeping operations within the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Kyodo News. The top diplomat suggested that such a move would be contingent on the realisation of a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. During a television appearance, Motegi highlighted Japan's advanced maritime capabilities in this specific field, noting, "Japan's minesweeping technology is at the top level in the world." He further elaborated on the potential deployment by stating, "Let's say (the parties have entered into a) cease-fire, and, in the event that mines pose an obstacle, we may have to think about it." These remarks follow high-level diplomatic engagements in Washington last Thursday, where Motegi attended the Japan-U.S. summit. During the talks, US President Donald Trump appeared to acknowledge Japan's constitutional and legal constraints as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi clarified the statutory limits regarding the dispatch of Japanese naval vessels. Following the summit, Motegi clarified that there was "no specific promise" made during the talks, nor were there any outstanding issues that required immediate home-based deliberation. However, Kyodo News noted that the regional situation remains critical following the 28 February airstrikes launched by US and Israeli forces against Iran. The escalation has significant ramifications for global energy security and Middle Eastern stability, particularly for Japan. According to Kyodo News, the country remains highly vulnerable to disruptions in the region as it depends on the Middle East for more than 90 per cent of its crude oil imports. (ANI)
The Israeli military has confirmed that a fresh barrage of missiles was launched from Iran towards Israeli territory, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing aerial offensive. According to a report by Al Jazeera, the Israeli Home Front Command stated that "rescue crews are heading to central Israel" following reports of a strike during the first phase of the bombardment. The situation remains fluid as military officials monitor the incoming threats. Al Jazeera noted that the Israeli military has "identified a new wave of missiles launched from Iran towards Israel," marking the second such high-alert status triggered within a single hour. Local media outlets, including Channel 12, have reported that the impact of the strikes is already being felt on the ground. At least one person was reportedly injured in the city of Holon during the initial engagement. Furthermore, Al Jazeera reported that "explosions have been heard in central Israel" shortly after the projectiles were detected entering Israeli airspace. In response to the persistent threat, the Israeli military confirmed that its "air defences are currently working to intercept a new wave of Iranian missiles". This defensive operation is part of a broader effort to neutralise what the military described as an incoming threat aimed at various urban and strategic centres across the country. The scale of the casualties from earlier strikes has also begun to emerge. According to Al Jazeera, Israeli Army Radio has reported that approximately "150 injured individuals arrived at the Soroka Medical Centre" following Iranian strikes directed at Dimona and Arad. As the second wave of the attack continues, the Israeli military reiterated that its "air defence systems are working to intercept the incoming threat" in an attempt to mitigate further damage. While the full extent of the latest barrage is still being assessed, Al Jazeera highlighted that there were "no immediate reports of casualties or damage" from the most recent set of explosions reported in the central region. (ANI)
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a comprehensive and "unequivocal condemnation" of what it described as persistent Iranian aggression directed at the Kingdom and its regional partners. According to a report by Gulf News, the official statement highlighted that these "blatant Iranian attacks" have also targeted members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and several other Arab and Islamic nations. In a formal communication released via the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the ministry emphasised that the "continued targeting" of Saudi Arabia, specifically its "sovereignty, civilian objects, civilians, economic interests, and diplomatic premises", is a serious breach of global legal standards. Gulf News noted that the Kingdom views these actions as a "flagrant violation of all relevant international conventions" and a contradiction of the "principles of good neighbourliness." The Saudi authorities further asserted that Iran's military activities directly contravene the "Beijing Agreement" and "United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026)." Additionally, the ministry observed a stark disconnect between Tehran's rhetoric and its conduct. Gulf News reported that the ministry found Iran's actions to be in opposition to the "principles of Islamic brotherhood" and the "values and tenets of the Islamic faith" that the Iranian leadership frequently cites. As a direct consequence of the escalating hostilities, Riyadh has taken decisive diplomatic action. Reaffirming a previous warning issued on 9th March regarding the "serious consequences for relations," the Kingdom has ordered the "military attache of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the "assistant military attache," and "three members of the mission staff" to exit the country. Gulf News confirmed that the Saudi government has "declared them personae non gratae" and mandated their departure within a 24-hour window. The Kingdom concluded by stressing its firm resolve to defend its national interests. Invoking "Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations," Riyadh affirmed it "will not hesitate to take all necessary measures" to "preserve its sovereignty" and "safeguard its security." As reported by Gulf News, this commitment extends to the protection of the Kingdom's "territory, airspace, citizens, residents, resources, and interests" amid the current regional crisis. (ANI)
More than 100 people, including children, were injured after ballistic missiles fired by Iran struck the southern Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona, causing extensive damage to residential areas and overwhelming local emergency services, officials said. The Israeli Foreign Ministry sharply condemned the Saturday (local time) evening strikes, stating on X: "The Iranian regime devastated Arad and Dimona by deliberately striking civilians with missiles. Over 100 people were injured, including children. A blatant war crime. Pure terrorism." Rescue crews worked throughout the night, tending to the wounded and clearing debris from collapsed buildings. Hospitals in the region reported treating dozens of civilians for shrapnel wounds, broken bones and shock, with some in serious condition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the evening as "a difficult moment in the battle for the future" and vowed that Israel would respond to the attacks in a manner that ensures its security. Local mayors in both Arad and Dimona echoed the sentiment, highlighting the trauma inflicted on families and the urgency of restoring a sense of safety. The Iranian attacks reportedly came after Tehran's response to a strike on its Natanz nuclear facility earlier in the day, which Iran blamed on a joint US-Israeli operation -- an allegation Israel has denied. Iranian military spokespeople claimed their missiles were aimed at strategic targets but did not dispute that towns were hit. Israeli air-defence systems, including the Iron Dome network, attempted to intercept several incoming missiles, but at least two projectiles breached the defences and struck populated areas, officials said. Firefighters battled blazes sparked by impacts in residential neighbourhoods, and sirens sounded repeatedly as alerts echoed across the region. Israeli authorities have appealed for calm as investigations continue into how the missiles penetrated defences. The strikes have reignited international concerns over the widening Iran-Israel conflict, which has seen escalating exchanges of missile and air strikes in recent months, raising fears of a broader regional war. Residents in Arad and Dimona expressed shock at the sudden violence striking communities that had been relatively removed from the front lines, with many now calling for reinforced shelter systems and greater protective measures. Officials said that schools in both towns would remain closed while medical teams tend to those affected and structural assessments proceed. As tensions mount, world powers are urging restraint to prevent further civilian casualties, even as both Tehran and Jerusalem trade accusations and prepare for possible further escalation. (ANI)
Qatar's Ministry of Interior has confirmed that its specialized teams are actively engaged in search and rescue operations in the country's territorial waters following a helicopter crash early on Sunday, an incident first reported by the country's Ministry of Defence. Authorities have launched a coordinated response effort to locate survivors and assess the situation, deploying multiple units with expertise in maritime emergencies. According to their official statement on social media platform X, "The Ministry of Interior announces that its specialized teams are carrying out search and rescue operations in the country's territorial waters, following a helicopter crash, as reported by the Ministry of Defense." The statement underscores the urgency and scale of the ongoing operation, which involves several key agencies working in tandem. The search efforts are being led by the Maritime Search and Rescue Team of the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security. This unit, known for its rapid response capabilities in maritime incidents, has been mobilised alongside the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya). Both teams bring extensive experience in handling complex rescue missions in challenging sea conditions. Officials noted that "These operations are being carried out in close coordination by the Maritime Search and Rescue Team of the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security, along with the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya)." The joint effort highlights the government's preparedness to respond swiftly to emergencies involving aviation and maritime domains. While details about the number of people on board the helicopter or the cause of the crash have not yet been disclosed, authorities are prioritising rescue and recovery efforts. Surveillance equipment, rescue vessels, and trained personnel have been deployed across the designated search area to maximise the chances of locating any survivors. Sources indicate that the operation is being continuously monitored, with updates expected as more information becomes available. Weather and sea conditions are also being closely assessed, as they can significantly impact both the progress and safety of rescue teams involved in the mission. The incident has prompted heightened attention from relevant authorities, with coordination between defense and interior agencies playing a critical role in ensuring an effective response. Further details, including the circumstances leading to the crash and any casualties, are likely to be shared once confirmed by officials. As the operation continues, authorities have reiterated their commitment to utilising all available resources to carry out the search and rescue mission efficiently and safely. (ANI)
Amid rising tensions in West Asia, recent developments have once again placed Iran, Israel, and the United States at the centre of global attention. Former Diplomat K P Fabian says that Tehran's strategic moves are being closely watched internationally, particularly following attacks on nuclear and energy facilities. "First Iran said that Strait of Hormuz is open for everyone, ships belonging to America and Israel are open. And I think Iran will repeat this. Because you know that Japanese Prime Minister was in the White House," Fabian noted, highlighting Iran's careful diplomatic maneuvering. Japan's PM Sanae Takaichi was on an official visit to the US recently, in which she met with US President Donald Trump at the White House and later told reporters she had briefed Trump on what support Japan could provide under its laws.Trump had earlier called on Japan and other countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz that Iran has closed in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks. Meanwhile Fabian noted that discussions between Iran and Japan reportedly paved the way for the release of two Japanese nationals previously detained in Iran. "One was released by Iran and the other will also be released. This means that Iran plays such a chess game that there be another announcement. Look, they are open. Only America and Israel," the diplomat added, emphasising the calculated nature of Tehran's actions. International monitoring agencies have also weighed in on the situation. "Secretary of National Automic Energy Agency, IAEA has tweeted that the missile attack news reported and the nuclear research centre has any sign. Also, according to no unknown radiation level has been found," the former diplomat said, noting that there were no immediate nuclear threats detected despite the attacks. Reflecting on regional history, the diplomat recalled the Suez Canal crisis of 1956, underscoring the long-standing complexities in the region: "Britain, Israel, or France conspired. When Israel attacks Egypt, France and Britain will withdraw. But Egypt is the Egyptian territory. At that time, France, Israel and America had information. When the American president got the Israel said, stop it. But Israel did stop. The American president said, let's this is now radiation, but before that, Israel attacked Natan's nuclear facility. It means that Israel started first. Iran only retaliated. This is very important." Highlighting the humanitarian aspect, Fabian stressed the irony of the attacks occurring during Eid. "Eid is of peace Now, on that day to do such a thing shows how much hatred is there in people's minds, which is very, very sad. People are going mad," he said. The regional energy situation has also been affected. "Our condition is not good. You know there is a shortage LPG. Qatar, from which we have a big contract because of Iran's attack, the production capacity has been brought down by 17 percent and Qatar has made it clear it is going to lose about 20 billion dollars yearly and it will take a couple of years for it to restore the full production capacity," he noted. Addressing the broader geopolitical picture, he underscored that Israel and the US initiated the recent tensions: "The big picture is that there was a conversation between Prime Minister Modi and Iranian President Pesach Kyan. And the Iranian President has made it very clear that Iran is urging India to speak out at the BRICS chair. It is Israel and America who started this." Regarding Iran's nuclear commitments, Fabian said, "Iran agreed to zero enrichment, zero stockpiling of nuclear material, down blend the uranium, and never ever to seek a nuclear weapon." He criticized the US response, noting, "Now why didn't he do it? Because he was under the influence of Netanyahu. Now, that is most unfortunate. The tail is wagging the dog." (ANI)
All seven individuals onboard a Qatari Armed Forces helicopter that crashed during a training mission earlier today have been confirmed dead, including one Turkish soldier and two personnel from Turkish defence company Aselsan. According to a statement issued by the Turkish Ministyr of Defence, search and rescue operations were launched immediately after the crash, leading to the recovery of the wreckage and the bodies of those onboard. The ministry confirmed that the victims included four personnel from the Qatari Armed Forces, one member of the Turkish Armed Forces, and two technicians from Aselsan, adding that the exact cause of the accident would be determined following a detailed investigation by Qatari authorities. "Search and rescue operations were immediately launched, and the wreckage of the helicopter and the bodies of our martyrs were recovered. Four Qatari Armed Forces personnel, one Turkish Armed Forces personnel, and two ASELSAN technicians on board the helicopter were martyred in the accident. The exact cause of the accident will be determined by the Qatari authorities following an investigation," the Turkish Defence Ministry stated. The incident occurred at dawn on Sunday, when the helicopter, operating under the Qatar-Turkey Joint Combined Force Command, went down in regional waters. Initial findings suggest that the crash was caused by a technical malfunction. Separately, Qatar's Ministry of Defence identified the deceased as Captain (Pilot) Mubarak Salem Daway Al-Marri, Sergeant Fahad Hadi Ghanem Al-Khayarin, Corporal Mohammed Maher Mohammed and Captain (Pilot) Saeed Nasser Samekh from the Qatari Armed Forces and Major Sinan Tastekin of the Qatar-Turkey Joint Forces. The other two were identified as Suleiman Cemra Kahraman and Ismail Anas Can. Qatar's Ministry of Defence extended condolences to the families of the victims, praying for mercy and peace for the deceased. Turkey's defence ministry also conveyed its sympathies to the families, the Turkish Armed Forces, the Qatari Armed Forces, and the people of both nations. (ANI)
In a post on X, the IDF said Dib was a senior official in Hamas' financial network operating in Lebanon and played a key role in transferring funds for the group's activities across multiple regions.

" ELIMINATED: Walid Muhammad Dib, a senior official in Hamas' financial array in Lebanon. Dib operated under Hamas' central financial ministry, transferring funds to depts. in Judea & Samaria, Lebanon and additional countries, as well as recruiting terror operatives from Syria and Lebanon," the X post read.

https://x.com/IDF/status/2035654601890799645

Earlier on Friday, at least 20 people were killed and 57 others injured in Israeli attacks across Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported, citing the country's Disaster Risk Management Unit.

The latest fatalities had pushed the total death toll from Israeli strikes since March 2 to 1,021, as per figures released by the National News Agency. The number of injured had climbed to 2,641, while over 134,600 people have been displaced and are currently sheltering in relief centres, as per Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a series of retaliatory attacks targeting Israeli positions. The group said it had carried out a drone strike on Israeli troops in the north, using what it described as a "swarm" of unmanned aerial vehicles near the town of Maroun al-Ras, Al Jazeera reported.

According to Al Jazeera, Hezbollah also reported launching missiles toward Nahariya, stating that the strike was in line with an earlier evacuation warning issued by the group. (ANI)
UK Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed on Sunday said that the United Kingdom will not be drawn into the conflict involving Iran in West Asia; however, it will remain committed to safeguarding its national and regional interests. Responding to questions by Sky News over US President Donald Trump's 48-hour ultimatum to Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Secretary of State said the British government's focus remains on security and de-escalation as the conflict, which started on February 28, escalates. "Well, I think you need to ask President Trump about the things that President Trump is talking about. What we're doing is we have in place the necessary equipment and security structures to keep British nationals and British interests across the region and beyond safe," Reed said. He emphasised that the UK would not be pulled into war, while underlining its readiness to act in its own interests. "We're not going to be dragged into the war, but we will protect our own interests in the region. We will work with our allies to de-escalate the situation because we know that the best way to protect our security and indeed the economic interests that we have is to bring this conflict to a close as quickly as we can," he told Sky News. The remarks come after Trump warned Iran of severe consequences if it fails to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that if Iran does not "fully open" the Strait within 48 hours, the United States would target and "obliterate" Iranian power plants. "If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" the post read. When asked about Trump's criticism, including remarks labelling allies as "cowards", Reed declined to engage directly. "Well, I think Donald Trump, as the President of the United States, can speak for himself and the language that he chooses to use," he said. Earlier on Friday, Trump issued a stinging rebuke to international partners, labelling American allies, particularly from NATO as "cowards" for failing to meet his demands for military assistance against Iran to secure the critical Strait of Hormuz. Expressing his frustration over the lack of support for the maritime mission, Trump took to his Truth Social platform and called the NATO alliance "paper tigers". "Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! They didn't want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran," the post stated. He also issued a sharp warning, adding, "COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!" (ANI)
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, on Sunday, accused Iran of "deliberately" targeting civilian areas, calling the recent missile attacks a "clear war crime". Addressing reporters at the missile strike site in Arad, Sa'ar said the attacks demonstrate that Iran is " solely and deliberately targeting civilians and civilian populations" and that there is no "military dimension" to the attacks. https://x.com/gidonsaar/status/2035676177910657085 He said, "You can see here very clearly the war crimes of the Iranian regime," Sa'ar said. He added, " You can see a totally civil neighbourhood, no military dimension, and the Iranian regime is solely and deliberately targeting civilians and civilian populations." He further claimed that since the start of the current conflict between Israel and Iran more than three weeks ago, all casualties from Iranian strikes have been civilians. "Without any exception from the beginning of this operation, a bit more than three weeks ago, we didn't have even one casualty from Iranian attacks from the military forces," he said. He added, "All the casualties from Iranian attacks without an exception are civilians." According to Sa'ar, the patterns of attacks indicate a clear "strategy" aimed at increasing "number of civilian casualties". "So from that simple fact, you can understand the strategy", he said. He added, " The strategy is to shoot on civilian populations in order to increase the number of civilian casualties." He also pointed to recent missile strikes in multiple locations, including the southern Israeli city of Dimona and the commercial hub of Tel Aviv. "We had here actually a miracle that seeing the destruction all around that the number of casualties was relatively low," Sa'ar said, adding that children were among those severely injured. He added, "We had also yesterday, as you know, in Dimona, another attack. In both scenes, we have children that were severely injured. Here, here we had a child, that was literally thrown out from his bed on the third floor, and found himself here." Sa'ar said that another attack occurred in Tel Aviv shortly before his statement, adding that the strikes lacked any military "meaning". "And of course, a few minutes ago, we had another attack in Tel Aviv. All of these attacks don't have any military meaning or significance whatsoever," he said. "The only target, the only objective is to hurt as many civilians as possible", he added. He stated the ongoing attacks as "clearly a war crime." He said, "So it is clearly a war crime." More than 80 people were injured after a missile strike hit the southern Israeli city of Arad on Saturday night (local time), according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), which alleged Iran of targeting civilian population centres. In a post on X, the IDF said that the attack in the city of Arad caused injuries to over 80 people. Brigadier General (BG) Elad Edri, Chief of Staff of Israel's Home Command, visited the site and described the extent of the damage. "Here behind me, we can see the point, the exact location, where the missile hit in Arad," Edri said while speaking from the site of the attack. He added, "And here we can see the building that got the hit." He added that the attack directly struck a populated area, resulting in a large number of casualties. "Once again, the Iranian enemy aims its missiles into civilian population centres," he said. " We have many dozens of people that got injured, severely, here in the middle of the evening," he added. (ANI)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday urged global leaders to join with Israel and the United States' war effort against Iran, citing recent attacks on Israeli territory as evidence of what he described as a growing global threat. Speaking at the site of a missile strike by Iran in Israel's Arad, Netanyahu said recent developments over the past 48 hours demonstrate that Iran poses a danger not only to Israel but also to the wider international community. The Israeli PM stated that Iran has targeted civilian areas and key religious sites in Jerusalem, including the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. "If you want proof that Iran endangers the entire world, the last 48 hours have given it. In the last 48 hours, Iran targeted a civilian area. They're doing that as a mass murder weapon. Luckily, no one was killed, but that's due to luck, not their intention. Their intention is to murder civilians," Netanyahu said. "Second, they fired on Jerusalem right next to the holy sites of the three monotheistic faiths, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. And by dint of a miracle, again, none of them were hurt, but they were targeting the holy sites of the three major monotheistic religions," he added. He further claimed that Iran had demonstrated long-range strike capabilities, including launching missiles over significant distances and targeting strategic routes, including maritime and energy corridors. "They are putting everyone in their sights, and fourth, they're stopping a maritime international route and energy route and trying to blackmail the entire world," the Israeli PM said. "What more proof do you need that this regime that threatens the entire world has to be stopped? Israel and the United States are working together for the entire world. And it's time to see the leaders of the rest of the countries join up. I'm happy to say that I can see some of them beginning to move in that direction, but more is needed," he added. Netanyahu also welcomed calls by US President Donald Trump for broader international action against Iran, describing it as essential not just for Israel and the US, but for global security. "President Trump's call to have the international community confront this fanatic terrorist regime of zealots is a call not only for the security of America and the security of Israel; it's for the security of the entire world," Netanyahu said, adding, "It's time for them to act." Earlier on Saturday, Iran targeted two Israeli cities, Arad and Dimona, striking civilian and civilian infrastructure with missiles and leaving several injured. According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), more than 80 people were injured after a missile strike hit the southern Israeli city of Arad, which the IDF alleged Iran was targeting. In total, more than 100 people, including children, were injured after ballistic missiles fired by Iran struck the southern Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona, causing extensive damage to residential areas and overwhelming local emergency services. In a post on X, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated, "The Iranian regime devastated Arad and Dimona by deliberately striking civilians with missiles. Over 100 people were injured, including children. A blatant war crime. Pure terrorism." Rescue crews worked throughout the night, tending to the wounded and clearing debris from collapsed buildings. Hospitals in the region reported treating dozens of civilians for shrapnel wounds, broken bones and shock, with some in serious condition. Netanyahu described the evening as "a difficult moment in the battle for the future" and vowed that Israel would respond to the attacks in a manner that ensures its security. The Iranian attacks came as Tehran's response to a strike on its Natanz nuclear facility, which Iran blamed on the joint US-Israeli operation - an allegation Israel has denied. Iranian military spokespeople claimed their missiles were aimed at strategic targets but did not dispute that towns were hit. (ANI)
A Tibetan Buddhist monk, Palden Yeshi, who vanished in May 2021 after being taken into custody by Chinese authorities, has resurfaced years later as a convicted prisoner serving a six-year sentence in Lhasa's Chushul Prison, raising fresh concerns over China's treatment of Tibetan cultural figures, as reported by the Central Tibet Administration. In a post shared on X, CTA stated that Yeshi was reportedly detained on May 17, 2021 and remained missing for nearly five years, with no official information provided about his condition or whereabouts during that period. Even now, Chinese authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact charges against him. However, sources suggest he may have been targeted for organising voluntary Tibetan language classes for more than 300 local children, an initiative authorities could have construed as a threat to state security under broadly defined laws against "separatism." Throughout his disappearance, Yeshi's family allegedly faced continuous harassment and pressure from security agencies. They were warned against pursuing information about his case. His brother was detained for over a week, during which he was reportedly interrogated and physically assaulted. Meanwhile, Yeshi's elderly father, Sonam Tsewang, suffered prolonged emotional distress due to the uncertainty surrounding his son's fate and passed away on September 29, 2022, without ever learning what had happened. Yeshi's case is a part of a wider pattern of repression in Tibet's Karze Prefecture. In recent years, authorities have intensified efforts to curb Tibetan identity and language. A directive issued in 2024 reportedly ordered all primary and middle schools in the region to discontinue Tibetan language instruction, further fueling concerns of cultural erasure, as highlighted by CTA. Such actions, combined with opaque legal proceedings and a lack of due process, point to a systematic attempt to silence cultural expression and dissent. The absence of transparency in Yeshi's detention and trial has drawn particular scrutiny, with activists calling for greater accountability and access to information, as reported by CTA. (ANI)
World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Sunday, called for maximum military restraint as the conflict in the Middle East escalates, warning that attacks near nuclear-related facilities in Israel and Iran pose "escalating threat to public health and environmental safety". In a post on X, Tedros said, "The war in the Middle East has reached a perilous stage with strikes reportedly hitting the Natanz Enrichment Complex in Iran, and the Israeli city of Dimona, where a nuclear facility is located." https://x.com/DrTedros/status/2035674256671912410 He added that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is examining the incidents reported in southeastern Iran and in the Israeli city of Dimona. "@iaeaorg is looking into incidents reported yesterday in southeastern Iran, and in Israel's city of Dimona. No indications of abnormal or increased off-site radiation levels have been reported," Tedros said. Highlighting the potential consequences of such attacks, he warned, " Attacks targeting nuclear sites create an escalating threat to public health and environmental safety." Tedros also said the WHO has taken steps to prepare for possible health emergencies related to nuclear incidents. "Since the outbreak of hostilities, @WHO has provided critical training to its own staff and @UN personnel across 13 countries to help them respond effectively to public health threats in the event of a nuclear incident," he said. Calling for de-escalation, he urged all sides to avoid further escalation that could "trigger nuclear incidents." "I urgently call on all parties to exercise maximum military restraint and avoid any actions that could trigger nuclear incidents. Leaders must prioritise de-escalation and protect civilians," Tedros said. He added, " Peace is the best medicine", making a broader appeal of peace amidst the ongoing Middle East Conflict. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with the Mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan and conveyed his prayers for those injured. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that over 100 people, including children, were injured in the attack. In a post on X, the Ministry said, "The Iranian regime devastated Arad and Dimona by deliberately striking civilians with missiles. Over 100 people were injured, including children. A blatant war crime. Pure terrorism." The Iranian attacks reportedly came after Tehran's response to a strike on its Natanz nuclear facility earlier in the day, which Iran blamed on a joint US-Israeli operation -- an allegation Israel has denied. Iranian military spokespeople claimed their missiles were aimed at strategic targets but did not dispute that towns were hit. (ANI)
In a strong rebuke to China, the United States has reiterated its support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in global institutions, while accusing China of deliberately misinterpreting a key UN resolution to sideline Taiwan diplomatically. The remarks highlight growing tensions over Taiwan's international space, as reported by The Taipei Times. Speaking at a congressional oversight hearing on reforms and accountability at the United Nations, US Representative Mike Waltz emphasised that backing Taiwan's engagement in international organisations remains a core US priority, according to The Taipei Times. Waltz underscored that Taiwan's strengths in technology, healthcare, and supply chains make it an indispensable global contributor. Waltz also criticised Beijing's interpretation of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, arguing that China has distorted the resolution to justify isolating Taiwan. He clarified that the resolution only addressed China's seat at the UN and did not determine Taiwan's sovereignty or restrict its participation in international bodies. During the same hearing, US lawmaker John Moolenaar raised concerns about China's expanding influence within the UN system. He alleged that the People's Republic of China is leveraging financial contributions and strategic appointments to shape the organisation's direction, a development he warned could undermine institutional integrity. Taiwan welcomed the US stance, with the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressing gratitude for Washington's continued backing. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung stated that such support reaffirms Taiwan's role as a responsible and capable democratic partner, as cited by The Taipei Times. Lin stated that excluding Taiwan through political manipulation harms global cooperation. He further argued that Taiwan's expertise in public health, disease prevention, and digital innovation could significantly benefit the international community if given proper access. Lin also urged democratic nations to push back against China's attempts to frame Taiwan as an internal issue and misuse UN mechanisms for strategic leverage, The Taipei Times reported. (ANI)
Recalling a harrowing brush with death in the middle of the sea, Bikram Ghosh, a chief cook and one of the eight Indian survivors of the oil tanker MT Skylight attack, described the moments when a missile or drone struck their vessel earlier this month near the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia conflict. The Palau-flagged oil tanker 'Skylight' was targeted in waters off the Musandam Governorate in Oman near the Strait on March 1 when the vessel was struck approximately five nautical miles north of Khasab Port. Speaking after returning safely to Mumbai, Ghosh said the attack occurred in the early hours of the day, catching the crew completely off guard. "On 1st March, around 7 am, our ship came under a drone or missile attack. We saw plumes of smoke when we rushed outside. The situation was very bad," he recounted. The tanker, carrying a mixed crew of Indians and Iranians, quickly descended into chaos as flames and panic spread across the vessel. According to Ghosh, survival instincts took over as crew members scrambled to find safety amid the unfolding disaster. "We tried to reach the safe zone. At that time, out of the 10 Indians who were on board the oil tanker, we found out that two Indians were missing," he said. With the situation deteriorating rapidly, the crew made the desperate decision to abandon ship. "We managed to put on life jackets and jumped into the water," Ghosh said, describing the perilous escape into open waters and added that rescue came in time as naval forces intervened. "The Omani Navy boat then rescued us. The injured were shifted to the hospital," he stated. In the chaos of the attack, survivors also lost their belongings and essential documents, further complicating their return journey. Ghosh himself was brought back to India on an emergency passport after necessary arrangements were made. "We were then brought to Mumbai. We request the Indian government to ensure that other Indian seafarers don't face the kind of situation we faced and are brought to India safely," he added. Echoing his concerns, Ghosh urged authorities to intensify efforts to rescue Indian nationals still stranded on foreign vessels in conflict-hit regions. Earlier, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a briefing on March 12, confirmed that the merchant vessel Skylight was among the ships targeted during the conflict. He stated that one Indian national had lost his life in the attack, while another remains missing. Jaiswal added that the eight surviving Indian crew members had completed necessary formalities and were being assisted by the Indian mission in Muscat for their return. "This particular merchant vessel, Skylight, came under attack, where we lost one Indian National, and one continues to be missing. There, the eight members who were on board, their travel documents and the necessary formalities have been completed. The embassy in Muscat is in touch with the company so that other requirements can be fulfilled and they can come back home," he stated. For Ghosh and others who survived, the return marks the end of a traumatic chapter--but also a stark reminder of the dangers faced by seafarers navigating volatile waters. The development comes amid the escalating tensions and conflict that began on February 28 with the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the US and Israel, after which Iran, in its retaliation, targeted Israel, and US assets in several Gulf countries, causing disruption in the waterways and affecting international energy markets and global economic stability. Due to the conflict in the region, Iran has virtually closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit route for global energy supply. (ANI)
Sri Lankan Member of Parliament (MP), JC Alawathuwala, on Sunday offered prayers to Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh. According to the official website of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, in terms of his career, MPJC Alawathuwala was the Chairman of Reedigama Pradeshiya Sabha from 1991 to 1993, Member of Provincial Council North Western Province (NWP) from 1993 to 1994, Member of Sri Lankan Parliament from 1994 to 2000, Member of Provincial Council NWP from 2004 to 2010, Opposition Leader of Provincial Council NWP from 2010 to 2015 and Member of Parliament from 2015 to 2020. Currently, he is serving as the MP of Sri Lanka. Earlier on March 12, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) allocated Rs. 118.89 crore for the comprehensive development of its educational institutions for the financial year 2026-27. The funds are said to focus on introducing modern technology, enhancing students' capabilities and providing skill development training, according to am official release. In previous years, excluding salaries, the funds allocated for development works in the TTD Education Department in 2025-26 were Rs. 13.08 crore, Rs. 25.99 crore in 2024-25, Rs. 33.08 crore in 2023-24, Rs. 39.04 crore in 2022-23, and Rs. 24.37 crore in 2021-22.These funds were utilised for building construction and improving infrastructure facilities. For the current financial year 2026-27, a total of Rs. 118.89 crore has been allocated jointly by the SV Vidyadanam Trust and TTD to modernise educational institutions and provide better facilities to students. During a recent review meeting, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, suggested taking steps to provide modern facilities to students studying in TTD educational institutions. Following these directions, TTD has allocated these funds to undertake several development works, the release stated. With this allocation, additional classrooms and hostel accommodation will be constructed, and various development works will be taken up in schools and colleges run by TTD. In addition, to ensure the overall development of students, sports, cultural and co-curricular activities will be encouraged. Training programmes will also be conducted for teaching and non-teaching staff. Courses aimed at preparing students for competitive examinations such as IIT, NEET, CA and CLAT will be introduced. Skill development, job-oriented and vocational courses will also be made available. Emphasis will be laid on modern technology-based education by setting up digital classrooms, computers, smart panel boards, computer labs and virtual conference facilities. Modern CCTV cameras will also be installed in schools and colleges, and mobile medical unit services will be provided, the release stated. (ANI)
Iran on Sunday warned that the strategic Strait of Hormuz would be "completely closed" and the energy infrastructure of Israel and the Gulf countries in the region that host American bases would be "legitimate targets" if the US hits the country's power plants. In a statement quoted by Iran's state media, Press TV, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari, said the Strait of Hormuz is "closed only to the enemy" but will be "completely" closed if the "terrorist" American President acts on his threats. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters is Iran's highest operational command unit that coordinates operations between the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). "The terrorist American President, continuing his aggressive behaviour and efforts to destabilise the world, has threatened that if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz, he will target Iran's power plants. We have said repeatedly that the Strait of Hormuz is closed only to the enemy and to harmful traffic, and it has not yet been fully closed. It remains under our intelligent control, and harmless passage occurs under specific regulations that ensure our security and interests," Zolfaghari said. "The Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed, and it will not be reopened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt," the spokesperson said as quoted by Press TV. He further warned that "All power plants, energy infrastructure, and information technology (ICT) infrastructure of the Zionist regime will be extensively targeted," and added that "the power plants of countries in the region that host American bases will be legitimate targets for us." Zolfaghari also warned that "All similar companies in the region that have American shareholders will be completely destroyed," as quoted by Press TV. He added, " Everything is ready for the great struggle aimed at the complete destruction of all American economic interests in the West Asia region." Emphasising that Iran does not seek conflict, the spokesperson said, "We were not the initiators of war, nor will we be now. However, if the enemy damages our power plants, we will do whatever it takes to defend our country and the interests of our nation. " "The relentless process of destroying the specified targets will begin, and nothing will be able to stop the continuation of our operations to destroy the energy, oil, and industrial infrastructure of America and its allies in the region," Zolfaghari added, according to Press TV. Earlier, US President Donald Trump warned Iran of obliterating its power plants if it fails to open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump gave Iran precisely 48 hours for the job. "If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP," he said in a post on Truth Social. (ANI)
Secretary (West), Ambassador Sibi George, on Sunday called on Iceland Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir to discuss issues of bilateral, regional and multilateral interest and the implementation of India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Secretary (West) @AmbSibiGeorge called on Foreign Minister of Iceland, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir. They discussed issues of bilateral, regional and multilateral interest, also the positive progress made in bilateral engagement in recent years, especially in sectors such as geothermal, fisheries and clean energy. The implementation of India-EFTA TEPA was also discussed." The post said that both officials discussed issues of bilateral, regional and multilateral interest and also the positive progress made in bilateral engagement of India and Iceland in recent years. The discussion was based especially in sectors such as geothermal, fisheries and clean energy. Earlier on March 10, the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) completed two years, continuing to strengthen cooperation between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in areas such as trade, investment, and technology collaboration. The agreement between India and the member States of the European Free Trade Association, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, the partnership has moved from negotiation to implementation with effect from October 1, 2025. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, "The Agreement brings together India and a group of advanced European economies in a framework that supports trade, investment, services, technology collaboration and long-term industrial growth." Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said: "Over the last few years, we have built a strategic and purposeful network of Free Trade Agreements. We now have FTAs with 38 partner nations." "This gives our manufacturers and producers enough diversity and depth to sell our products across many markets. These FTAs have opened up the markets of major economies to India's manufactured products," he added. On the 2nd Anniversary, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal stated, "India-EFTA TEPA is an agreement with a long-term economic purpose. It gives Indian exporters access to high-income markets, creates an investment pathway of USD 100 billion over 15 years." The India-EFTA TEPA is one of India's most significant trade arrangements with a group of high-income and innovation-driven economies. Along with India's other trade agreements and ongoing trade negotiations, it forms part of a wider effort to expand opportunities for farmers, fishermen, MSMEs and start-ups, while supporting investment and job creation across sectors. (ANI)
SAITAMA, Mar 22 (News On Japan) - A festival celebrating the Kurdish New Year, known as "Newroz," was held in Saitama City on March 23rd, drawing around 1,500 participants, although tensions briefly escalated as individuals calling for the exclusion of foreigners gathered at the venue.

The event took place at Akigase Park in Sakura Ward, where attendees dressed in vibrant traditional attire and danced to Kurdish music. One participant said, "This is Kurdish clothing. It's very enjoyable."

Newroz, which means "new day" in Kurdish, is considered one of the most important celebrations for Kurdish people, marking the arrival of spring and renewal.

However, the atmosphere became tense when city assembly members from Toda, known for advocating the exclusion of foreigners, appeared at the venue, leading to a confrontation between them and festival participants. According to reports, one of the assembly members was struck during the altercation.

In recent years, discrimination against Kurds living in Japan, including instances of hate speech, has been on the rise. Wakkas Chorak, who organized the festival, expressed hope for coexistence, saying that he wishes for Japanese and Kurdish people to live together peacefully.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Mar 22 (News On Japan) - One of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has been released and returned to Japan on March 22nd, while diplomatic efforts continue to secure the release of the remaining individual.

Foreign Minister Motegi announced the release during an appearance on a television program on March 22nd, stating that he had strongly urged Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to address the matter, leading to the detainees release on March 18th.

Motegi: "Regarding one individual, I made a strong request to Foreign Minister Araghchi, and the detention was lifted, resulting in the individuals release on March 18th."

The individual, who had been detained since June 2025, returned to Japan at around 8:30 a.m. and is reported to be in good health, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The second Japanese national, believed to be the Tehran bureau chief of NHK, was detained in January 2026. Motegi stated that efforts are ongoing to secure an early resolution, adding that the government is working closely with the individual and their family.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the released individual first traveled overland to neighboring Azerbaijan after being freed on March 18th local time, before boarding a flight and arriving in Japan on the morning of March 22nd.

The government continues to press for the release of the remaining detainee, with Motegi having held telephone talks twice this month with his Iranian counterpart to request the release of both individuals.

Source: FNN
OHIO, Mar 22 (News On Japan) - SoftBank Group announced on March 20th a plan to build a new data center in the United States dedicated to artificial intelligence, with total investment including external funding expected to reach 500 billion dollars, or approximately 80 trillion yen, making it one of the largest projects of its kind in the country.

Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said, "We will create an investment of 500 billion dollars (approximately 80 trillion yen) concentrated in a single location," as he revealed the plan in Ohio in the U.S. Midwest.

As part of the first phase of investments and financing into the United States based on the Japan-U.S. tariff agreement, SoftBank is already planning to construct a gas-fired power plant in Ohio, with the new data center to be built alongside it on the same site.

The company aims to realize the massive project by incorporating funds from external partners and has established a consortium of 21 Japanese and American companies, including Panasonic Holdings, to participate in the initiative.

Son noted that the project aligns with the positive stance of President Donald Trump, who has expressed support for active business expansion, saying, "There is a forward-looking attitude from President Trump that welcomes aggressive business growth, which matches our vision."

The groundbreaking ceremony for the power plant held on March 20th was attended by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and other officials, as SoftBank continues to strengthen its ties with the Trump administration.

Source: BIZ
OSAKA, Mar 21 (News On Japan) - A deer believed to have come from Nara Park has remained in a park in central Osaka, prompting city officials to urge residents to keep their distance as they monitor the situation.

The animal was first spotted on March 18 at around 10 a.m. in a park along the former Yodo River in Miyakojima Ward, Osaka, and was still staying in the area as of after 5 p.m.

A visitor to the park said, "It's quite far from Nara Park to here. I wonder how it got here. But it looks dangerous."

The park is located about 2 kilometers from the busy Umeda district, and according to the city, there had been a series of deer sightings since March 21st in eastern areas such as Tsurumi Ward.

Officials believe it is highly likely that a deer from Nara Park crossed the Ikoma Mountains and entered Osaka. City personnel were also seen guiding the animal from a distance to prevent it from wandering onto major roads.

Osaka City is calling on the public not to approach the deer, warning that it is a wild animal and could pose a danger.

Source: ABCTVnews
U.S. Representative to UN Mike Waltz has announced that his country is conducting a comprehensive, performance-based review of several peacekeeping missions including the MINURSO within the frame of a new Trump policy to optimize effectiveness of UN bodies, streamline bureaucracy, reduce costs and restore accountability.

Mr. Waltz made the announcement during his testimony at a hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on accountability and UN reform.

The U.S. diplomats remarks suggest that the days of the UN Mission in the Sahara are numbered as the Trump administration is pressing to end the failed peacekeeping missions such as the MINURSO, sending a strong message to Polisario and Algerian regime.

Waltzs statement at a congressional hearing also comes after the quadripartite talks held lately in 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.

Were looking at a strategic review of the MINURSO that has been there for 50 years, said the U.S. ambassador, calling for a UN that is more focused and leaner, while ensuring that every U.S. taxpayer dollar is spent responsibly and efficiently.

Despite the billions of dollars spent over the past decades, no progress has been made and the UN-led Sahara political process has been stalled due to the disengagement and procrastination of Algeria and Polisario.

During the last 25 years, UNs budget has quadrupled. We have not seen, arguably, a quadrupling of peace and security around the world commensurate with those hard-earned dollars, said Mr. Waltz, stressing the need for a 25% reduction in peacekeeping troops globally and for winding down ineffective or costly missions, including scaling back or reviewing long-standing ones.

The 2026 UN regular budget was estimated at $3.45 billion. The U.S. funds roughly a fifth of that at $820 million in 2025 alone. The U.S. is seeking to lower its share in peacekeeping budget and halt waste that undermine the UN effectiveness, said Mr. Waltz, affirming that the United States will work with the UN leadership to align American reform.
Despite its current limitation of only holding a charge for nanoseconds, the technology's near-term application is likely in quantum computing, with future potential in grid storage and wireless energy transfer.

Researchers have demonstrated the first complete charge-store-discharge cycle for a quantum battery, experimentally proving the fundamental physics works at room temperature.

The core finding is that a quantum battery charges faster as it gets bigger due to a quantum effect called superextensivity, which is counterintuitive to conventional battery physics.

There's a quirk in physics that most engineers never have to worry about: the bigger a conventional battery gets, the longer it takes to charge. Obvious, really. More capacity, more time. It's one of those rules so intuitive you never bother to question it.

Dr. James Quach questioned it.

Quach, who leads quantum science research at CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, has spent years working on a class of energy storage devices that do something your phone battery would consider impossible.

Add more storage units to a quantum battery and it doesn't charge slower. It charges faster.

Published this month in Light: Science & Applications under the title Superextensive electrical power from a quantum battery, the paper represents the first fully functional proof-of-concept that makes the complete charge-store-discharge cycle work.

It also carries an Altmetric score of 567, a number so high it places this paper among the most-discussed scientific publications on the planet right now.

The device itself is tiny. A multi-layered organic microcavity, roughly the size of a human hair in cross-section, wirelessly charged by a laser.

Not the stuff of grid-scale energy storage. But that's not the point.

What the Math Actually Says

Here's the core finding, stated plainly: if a quantum battery has N storage units, and each takes one second to charge alone, charging all N units simultaneously takes each one only 1/N seconds.

Double the units from four to sixteen, and the charging time per unit drops by half. Scale to a million units and you're charging each one in a millisecond. The math is not intuitive. The physics is real.

This property, technically called superextensivity, where the system's response scales super-linearly with its size, comes from collective quantum effects.

When the storage units interact collectively through strong lightmatter coupling, induced by the microcavity geometry, they stop behaving like independent units and start behaving like a single coherent system.

The whole becomes more than the sum of its parts.

And crucially, the Quach team showed this isn't just visible in the charging dynamics, it shows up in the steady-state electrical output, which is what makes this experimentally meaningful rather than a theoretical curiosity.

Our findings confirm a fundamental quantum effect that's completely counterintuitive: quantum batteries charge faster as they get bigger, Quach said, writing in The Conversation. Today's batteries don't function like that.

What makes this harder to dismiss than prior theoretical work is the full cycle.

Related: Six Stocks That Could Soar in an Era of Regional Instability

Previous quantum battery research demonstrated charging or superextensive behavior in isolation. This is the first architecture to complete the loop, charging, storing, and discharging electrical current, using incoherent low-intensity light.

The team used advanced spectroscopy to verify the charging behavior, confirming that the device retained stored energy for six orders of magnitude longer than the charging process itself took.

Six orders of magnitude sounds impressive. The catch: the charging process takes femtoseconds to picoseconds. Which means storage lasts somewhere in the nanosecond range.

The Gap Between Here and There

A nanosecond is not a long time to hold a charge. It is, to put it plainly, completely useless for almost every application you could name.

Electric vehicles, grid storage, portable electronics, none of these run on nanosecond energy packets.

So let's be direct about what this actually is: a demonstration that the fundamental physics works.

The specific quantum effect is real, measurable, and experimentally reproducible at room temperature. The rest, durability, scale, commercial viability, is engineering. Years of it.

The next step for quantum batteries right now is extending their energy storage time, Quach said. If we can overcome that hurdle, we'd be that bit closer to commercially viable quantum batteries.

That's the careful language of a scientist who understands how much distance exists between a proof-of-concept and a product.

CSIRO is already seeking development partners, which suggests they're thinking beyond the lab bench.

Related: No Missiles, No Drones: What Happens When Rare Earths Stop Flowing?

But the honest read is that quantum battery technology is where solar cells were in the 1950s, demonstrably real, with a theoretical upside that justifies continued investment, and a long engineering road ahead.

Why It Matters Even Now

The near-term application that makes the most physical sense is quantum computing.

Quantum processors operate at cryogenic temperatures and require energy delivery that is precise, fast, and controlled.

Nanosecond storage is actually fine for that use case.

If quantum batteries can supply the fast, coherent bursts of energy that quantum circuits need, more efficiently than current approaches, that's a real market, even if it's not the one that gets written about in car magazines.

Further out: wireless energy transfer. Quach's stated ambition includes charging devices over long distances, or vehicles while moving.

The strong lightmatter coupling mechanism that drives the quantum advantage is, by its nature, compatible with photonic energy delivery, light in, electricity out.

That's not a wiring problem.

The efficiency advantage at low light levels, specifically called out in the paper, hints at something potentially useful for low-power sensing or satellite applications where sunlight is sparse and every photon counts.

For now, though, the result in Light: Science & Applications is what it is: an elegant, reproducible, room-temperature demonstration that quantum mechanics can be engineered to do something conventional chemistry cannot.

The battery that charges faster, the bigger it gets, is real.

What it still needs is time.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

A grandmother from Multnomah County sent this letter to her Lawmaker in a stout defense of the Kicker Income tax.

-

I am very concerned about the State wanting to take half or any of our Kicker.

I have always lived within my budget. I have rented an apartment in Oregon for almost 35 years. I worked until the age of 70 and only got 7 paid holidays a year in the private sector and never got a COLA adjustment. The last 25 years I worked in health care.

The Kicker has really helped me as I have had cancer 3 times. I could not work during my chemo treatments and 5 surgeries for my breast cancer. The kicker has also helped me after extensive dental work. Or the time a 13 year old kid took his family car for a joy ride, without his lights on at dusk and totaled both our cars. Mine was a 24 year old Camry.

I find it very wrong for the legislature to use the kicker as a slush fund when there has been so much misuse, poor planning and waste.

I think that the State and all the departments need more accountability, so we dont pay extravagant prices like for the following:

 $273 million for consultants for a new Interstate Bridge

 $1,000 monthly to criminal homeless youth

 $10 million to the Celebrity Food Court

 $75,000 used by Trimet for a zoo part

 $200,000 for a consulting firm to organize a mental-health conference featuring Koteks wife  with only 28 guests

I think that you NEED MORE AUDITORS TO KEEP PEOPLE HONEST WITH TAXPAYER MONEY, and to have consequences for people who abuse our money.

One last thought, on the I-5 bridge, only 4% of tri-county people use mass transit. The bridge should not dedicate lanes for MAX. It will be much more efficient to use them for cars and buses. (END)

A beautiful letter!

 Help us spread the word. Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).
Kathmandu, Nepal, March 22, 2026: The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has officially proposed three ambitious flagship projects aimed at integrating the skills, capital, and technology of the global Nepali diaspora into the countrys national development. Following its 12th Global Conference and International General Assembly, the associations newly elected executive committee has moved to operationalize these high-impact initiatives in the health, education, and transportation sectors. According to NRNA Senior Vice President and Head of the 'Trade and Investment' Department, Robin Sherchan, these projects are designed to introduce international standards and a modern work culture to Nepal. To provide the necessary financial backing, the NRNA has announced the immediate activation of the NPR 10 billion (USD 75 million) Nepal Development Fund.

The first major initiative, the NRNA Hospital and Integrated Care Home, directly addresses a primary concern for Nepalis living abroad regarding the well-being of their aging parents. This state-of-the-art 'Multiple Complex' is envisioned as much more than a standard hospital, incorporating a retirement home, a specialized care center, and a safe environment for children. The primary goal is to provide international-standard healthcare and a dignified living space for the elderly by utilizing the expertise of diaspora medical professionals and advanced technology. By creating a professional support system for families back home, the project aims to offer peace of mind to the millions of Nepalis working overseas.

In tandem with healthcare, the NRNA plans to establish a dedicated NRNA School to bridge the cultural gap for second- and third-generation Nepalis born and raised overseas. This world-class educational institution will blend a rigorous international curriculum with essential teachings in Nepali language, culture, and history. By fostering an emotional bond between diaspora youth and their roots, the association hopes to encourage the younger generation to eventually return and contribute their skills to Nepals future. This project serves as a cultural bridge, ensuring that the identity of the global Nepali community remains vibrant across generations.

To modernize urban infrastructure, the NRNA has also proposed an Electric (EV) Double-Decker Bus Service for the Kathmandu Valley. This initiative seeks to combat rising urban pollution and traffic congestion by deploying advanced, eco-friendly buses along the Ring Road and major city corridors. In coordination with the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the project aims to restore public confidence in the transportation system while supporting the 'Green City' initiative. This transition to sustainable mobility is seen as a critical step toward making the capital more livable and environmentally resilient.

These projects will be financed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, involving Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs), the Government of Nepal, and the private sector. To attract global investors, the NRNA will launch a series of "Road Shows" across its six regional structures, covering North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa. Senior Vice President Sherchan emphasized that while the diaspora is ready to invest, government support remains crucial for land acquisition and clearing legal hurdles. The NRNA believes these projects will create significant local employment and provide a major boost to the Return to Nepal campaign as the new government takes shape.
Geneva/Delhi, 22 March 2026: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, expresses concern over sealing of the office of United News of India (UNI, one of the country's oldest news agencies) in New Delhi on Friday and urged the concerned parties to reconsider the decision. According to the local media outlets, the closing down of the UNI office raised serious concerns over press freedom in the largest democracy on Earth. It was also reported that some staff members on duty were forcibly evicted and even female journalists faced manhandling by a team of Delhi police personnel.

The action was taken following an order from Delhi high court as it upheld the cancellation of the land allotment to the UNI for failing the condition to construct a composite office complex for the news agency and a few other media bodies. The particular plot of land, measuring around 5,289 square meters at 9, Rafi Marg, was allotted to the UNI management in December 1979 with the condition to erect the office building within a stipulated time period, but it was never realized

So the government cancelled the permits in March 2023. The aggrieved party challenged the cancellation in the court, but finally it did not receive any positive direction. A notice pasted on the UNI office reads that the premises was taken over by the Union government in New Delhi on 20 March 2026 following the court ruling. Any entry, occupation, or use of the premises by any person without authorisation was also strictly prohibited which would invite legal actions, added the notice.

"It's unfortunate that a pioneer news agency (which was founded in 1961) is facing such treatments in India. However, the UNI management had to follow the prescribed regulations. Since the digital media overpowers the traditional news outlets, which was aggravated after the Covid-19 pandemic, the news agencies needed a complete revamps in its functioning. Probably the UNI management failed to deal with challenges," said Nava Thakuria, south Asia representative of PEC (https://www.pressemblem.ch/pec-news).

A number of social media posts had termed the action as very unfortunate for the Indian press freedom. The police personnel arriving in hundreds simply 'stormed, seized and silenced' the UNI office in the capital city, where they treated the media professionals almost like wanted criminals. They could (should) have been asked to vacate the office and then locked the campus, added Thakuria, but it was not done.
Overturned cement mixer leaves Riviera Maya highway traffic at a standstill

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Traffic heading south of Playa del Carmen was at a standstill Saturday afternoon. Both lanes were affected when the driver of a cement mixer overturned.

The driver of the industrial truck was heading south when he lost control and overturned his vehicle. The rollover caused a large oil spill on the highway along with blocked lanes.

Traffic was at a standstill until a shoulder was opened to allow the passage of vehicles. March 21, 2026.

According to available information, the driver allegedly dozed at the wheel. When he swerved during his doze, he crossed into the oncoming lane, and struck a light pole before overturning.

Emergency services found the mixer laying on its side blocking both lanes. Traffic was heavily affected due to the single vehicle accident.

Emergency crews attending to a two vehicle accident nearby also attended to the cement mixer accident. Firemen were brought in the aid as hazmat due to the large oil spill.

Emergency services attending to another accident on the same highway arrived Saturday afternoon. March 21, 2026.

National Guard Highways opened a shoulder lane to allow for the passage of traffic until the mixer was towed.
Tourists cautioned about being swayed by good deal after Americans stopped driving stolen rental

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  Tourists are being cautioned about renting vehicles through unregistered agencies after a group was stopped. Last week, a group of American tourists were stopped by police when the vehicle they were driving came back as stolen.

The group had rented the large SUV the day before to get around Playa del Carmen during their visit. The Quintana Roo Vehicle Rental Association is warning tourists about being swayed by a good deal.

Police found them traveling city streets in a stolen rental vehicle. March 17, 2026.

The lure for the rental vehicle and company they chose was the price. Quintana Roo Vehicle Rental Association President Alma Reynoso Zambrano says the low price to rent the large SUV was what they found attractive.

To avoid a similar situation, Reynoso Zambrano recommends verifying the company before deciding. She says it is important to contract only with established companies, preferably companies affiliated with recognized organizations.

Authorities recommend consulting the Commercial Bureau of the Federal Consumer Protection Agency, Mexicos consumer watchdog. Travelers can look up the history of complaints against companies to find possible irregularities beforehand.

The group was stopped Tuesday for driving a stolen vehicle in central Playa del Carmen. March 17, 2026.

Reynoso Zambrano pointed out that the rental company choice should not be based solely on price, but on legal and security conditions offered by the leasing company.

She said that contracting with unregulated companies based on a good deal exposes tourists to situations that can affect their vacation.

Reynoso Zambrano added that during peak seasons, complaints increase from people who rent cars from unauthorized companies, resulting in financial losses and adverse legal situations.

On Tuesday, a group of American tourists were stopped in central Playa del Carmen for driving a stolen vehicle they had rented. The vehicle was leased from a company on 10th Avenue the day before.

The driver was able to produce the rental contract to police during the stop March 17, 2026.

The group had no idea the vehicle was stolen but were able to produce the rental contract when they were stopped by police. While they were free to go, their rental vehicle was towed.
Macaulay Culkins wife-to-be has criticised Alaska Airlines for giving away their seats  despite the family booking spots together months in advance.

Alaska Airlines for giving away their seats  despite the family booking spots together months in advance

The 45-year-old Home Alone actors actress fiancee Brenda Song, 37, said she had arranged first-class tickets for a family trip with her fiance Macaulay and their sons Dakota Culkin, four, and Carson Culkin, three, but alleged the airline reassigned their seats without warning.

Writing on Instagram, Brenda said the incident occurred as the family prepared to travel to celebrate Dakotas birthday.

She said: I didnt know when you book your first class tickets 6 months in advance for your family @alaskaair can just give away your seats the morning of with no warning.

She added a warning directed at followers, urging them to never fly with the airline.

Macaulay responded by reposting her comments, writing: Hell hath no fury like a Brenda scorned .

In a statement, a spokesperson for Alaska Airlines said: Traveling can be stressful, especially with young children, and we pride ourselves on being a top airline for traveling families.

The spokesperson added: We are deeply sorry for adding friction to the experience.

The airline described the incident as unacceptable and said it had contacted the couple following the complaint.

Brenda and Macaulay, who met in 2017 on the set of Changeland, became engaged in early 2022 and have two children together.

The couple have largely kept their private life out of the public eye, though Brenda has recently spoken about their home life in interviews.

During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Brenda said about Macaulay: I took him out to drive in our neighborhood. I was terrified.

She added Macaulay is a very unique human being.

Alongside their family life, Brenda and Macaulay have also been active in the property market.

Reports indicate the couple purchased a six-bedroom home for $10.3 million after selling a previous property for $14.24 million.

Macaulay rose to global fame as a child star in Home Alone, becoming one of the highest-paid child actors of the 1990s.

He later stepped back from Hollywood before returning to acting, music and podcasting, building a varied career across film, television and comedy.
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Why we love this deal

Spring cleaning isn't just a time for dusting, sweeping, mopping, and polishing. It's also a time to refresh your home, renovating old worn out spaces, investing in new decor, furniture, and clothing, and overall reinvigorating your everyday spaces into something fresh and new. Of course, these changes don't have to be big or cost a lot of money to complete, but sometimes something as simple as swapping out your bedding can add some energy and freshen up a room that feels dull and drab. In fact, when you don't have the money for a full home renovation, a bedding refresh is the perfect way to clean up the old and bring in something new without breaking the bank. And now that Wayfair's Spring Cyber Week Sale has started, bedding at an affordable price is more accessible than ever.

The March 19 through March 23 sale is offering deals up to 80% on everything from rugs and mattresses to patio furniture and wall decor. But one of the most exciting parts of this five-day sale is that the bedding brand Bedsure is working in special partnership with Wayfair to deliver you great deals on all kinds of comforters, multi-piece bedding sets, and blankets so that your bedroom looks and feels as great as the rest of your home after a good spring cleaning. One of our favorite sales? The Bedsure GentleSoft Pinch Pleat Bed-in-a-Bag that's 77% off right now.

Bedsure GentleSoft Pinch Pleat Bed-in-a-Bag, $50 (was $220) at Wayfair

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Available as a seven-piece set (or a five if you're purchasing either of the twin sizes), this bed-in-a-bag comes exactly as you'd expect, but it's what inside that will grab your attention. Made of brushed microfiber fabric, which gives the bedding a soft, velvety or flannel-like texture, this set comes with a comforter, two pillow shams, two pillowcases, a fitted sheet, and a flat sheet. With the twin or twin XL sizes, you receive one less pillow sham and pillow case which is why in those cases it's a five-piece set, not a seven. The comforter has a pintuck pinch pleat design that gives it texture and style, and it's filled with microfiber filling for additional "cloud-like" warmth giving it a bit of a fluffy feel. It comes in 25 colors, ranging from bright pops of green and pink to more neutral beiges, blacks, and white. Because it comes in a bag, it's perfect for gifting or for situations where you're moving, like a college student moving into a dorm.

If you like the feel of texture but want something that looks a bit more demure or don't need a full multi-piece set, you can't go wrong with the Bedsure Waffle Weave Plaid Duvet Cover.

Bedsure Waffle Weave Plaid Duvet Cover, $84 (was $500) at Wayfair

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Originally retailing for $500, this duvet cover is only $84 right now  meaning you save a whopping $416 to put towards something else on your list! Duvets themselves typically run pretty expensive, so the last thing you want to have to do is pay an additional fortune for the cover. Not only is this particular one reversible, but it's also made of 100% cotton which means it's super soft, durable, breathable, and moisture-wicking. For hot sleepers, that's especially important because it means the cotton promotes air circulation, keeping you cool as you sleep, while the moisture-wicking capabilities ensure that no matter how hot you do get, you stay nice and dry. The textured waffle weave pattern only adds to the comfort the cotton gives, and helps balance out the heaviness of a duvet insert while sprucing up its look. It has eight corner ties and a hidden button to securely keep the insert in place and evenly distributed.

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We know a lot of folks are very divided when deciding between duvets and regular comforters, and if you're someone who likes to keep it simple with the hassle of using buttons and ties to keep your bedding neat and tidy, then you'll love the Bedsure Boho All-Season 7-Piece Bedding Set.

Related: Wayfair is selling a scalloped 3-piece quilt set for only $55, and it's reversible

Bedsure Boho All-Season 7-Piece Bedding Set, $60 (was $220) at Wayfair

Shop at Wayfair

As much as we understand bedding that is season-specific, with prices being what they are, it's not surprising most of us prefer a set that'll work all year long no matter what the weather outside is. Some bedding is too hot to keep using during the summer months, while others are too light to keep you warm during the winter, but this seven-piece set puts those worries to rest. Made from ultra-fine microfiber fabric, this set offers year-round comfort with a "perfect balance of softness, weight, and warmth." The full set includes a plush comforter that's filled with "cloud-like" fibers for extra warmth, a fitted sheet that has a 14-inch deep pocket with 360-degree elastic, one flat sheet, two pillowcases, and two pillow shams. Like the previous set, the twin sizes are a five-piece, not a seven-piece, because they include one less pillow sham and one less pillowcase. Machine washable and reversible, this set, which comes in 19 colors, uses contrasting shades to add depth and play around with color in a fun and unique way.

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If you're not in the market for a brand new set, perhaps you're looking for something like the Bedsure Sherpa Fleece Blanket to spruce up your bed a bit without completely overhauling your existing comforter and sheets.

Bedsure Sherpa Fleece Blanket, $33 (was $180) at Wayfair

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Available as a throw or in twin, queen, and king bed sizes, as well as in 12 colors, this blanket is what we think of when we hear the word "cozy." Made of polyester fleece and sherpa fabric, as well as filled with polyester material for cushioning, this blanket delivers exceptional softness and is perfect for keeping you warm both inside and outside. Use it on the bed for extra insulation at night, wrapped around you on the couch when you're reading or watching TV, or to keep a chill away when you're outside on the patio and the sun starts to set. The reversible blanket has two sides  one with a shaggy fleece surface with vertical striping and another with a fluffy sherpa that is perfect for times when you need a bit of extra warmth. To maintain quality, it's best to wash on cold in a gentle cycle separately from other laundry and then tumble dry on low. It's the perfect cozy accessory for a bed that is both functional and stylish, and for only $33 instead of the original $180 it's quite a steal.

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Luxury bedding certainly isn't for everyone, but the thing is all bedding should feel luxurious, and thanks to Wayfair's Spring Cyber Week Sale, everyone can get super soft, high-quality comforters, duvets covers, blankets, and more without the luxury prices attached.

This story was originally published by TheStreet on Mar 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Deals section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Wealthy people may live their own version of frugality in their daily lives, but when it comes to traveling abroad, some may throw a little bit of financial caution to the wind, at least when it comes to shopping.

Read Next: 5 Trips Only the Rich Can Afford

Check Out: 4 Safe Accounts Proven To Grow Your Money Up To 13x Faster

A January 2026 report by MyCross analyzed some purchases made by the ultra-wealthy when traveling overseas  and how much they tend to spend.

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Also see five ways to travel like a millionaire without spending like one.

Exclusive Gourmet Ingredients

Popular cities to shop in: Morocco, India and Italy

Price range: $50 to $1,000

Most purchased items: Saffron, white truffles, black Perigord truffles, Himalayan pink salt

Anyone who has had the privilege of traveling to another country knows that a big part of the experience is culinary. We may have access to American-style cuisine, but its the local foods and flavors that make the trip memorable. Its common for wealthy travelers to stock up on the rare spices and gourmet ingredients that you cant find back in the States.

Explore More: Im a Luxury Travel Agent  These Are the Destinations My Wealthy Clients Are Booking for 2026

Custom-Made Jewelry

Popular cities to shop in: Dubai

Price range: $5,000 to $50,000

Most purchased items: Statement earrings and rings, high-karat gold and diamond pieces

Custom-made jewelry is something you can buy pretty much anywhere online, but in this case, were not talking about Etsy artisans. Were talking about high-end jewelers who make one-of-a-kind pieces. The ultra-wealthy know to go to Dubai to get spectacular jewelry pieces, checking out contemporary jewelry houses Messika and the Gold Souk.

Limited-Edition Bags and Purses

Popular cities to shop in: Paris, Milan and Tokyo

Price range: $1,500 to $150,000-plus

Most purchased items: Hermes Birkin, Gucci Dionysus, Prada Galleria, Louis Vuitton Keepall

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When in Paris, the ultra-wealthy arent necessarily lining up with the masses to see the Eiffel Tower or board a tourist boat circling the Seine. Theyre spending big bucks on big bags like the iconic Hermes Birkin. High rollers may check out Milan for exclusive Gucci and Prada bags, and then pop over to Tokyo for Japan-only Louis Vuitton collections.

High-End Watches

Popular cities to shop in: Geneva and Zurich

Price range: $5,000 to several million dollars

Most purchased items: Rolex Submariner, Rolex Patek Philippe Nautilus, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore

Nothing says high status like a high-end watch, and nothing says no, like really, really high status like buying a high-end watch in its European city of origin. Wealthy travelers can hop over to Geneva for Rolex and Patek Philippe timepieces and head to Zurich to nab a top-shelf Audemars Piguet or IWC.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Items the Ultra-Rich Always Buy When Traveling Abroad
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On March 18, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi held talks with Special Envoy of UAE President to China Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak in Beijing.

Wang Yi conveyed warm greetings from President Xi Jinping to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stating that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-UAE relations have achieved substantial progress. Amid the accelerating evolution of profound changes unseen in a century and an international landscape marked by turbulence and disorder, the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are a cause for concern. In this context, the strategic significance of China-UAE relations has become even more prominent. It is all the more important for both sides to maintain timely strategic communication and enhance strategic mutual trust, which will contribute to realizing peace and stability in the Middle East at an early date. China stands ready to work with the UAE to strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen the alignment of development strategies, and promote the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level.

Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak conveyed sincere greetings from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to President Xi Jinping, stating that UAE-China relations are at an unprecedented high level. The UAE views China as a true friend it can rely on and trust, and expresses full confidence in Chinas future development. The UAE stands ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with China, deepen cooperation in fields such as education, culture, energy, and the economy, and advance the century-long vision for the development of bilateral relations.

Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak briefed on the latest developments in the Middle East situation. Wang Yi reiterated Chinas principled position, expressing gratitude for the UAEs efforts to safeguard the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions. He emphasized that this war should never have happened and there is no need for it to continue; greater casualties and losses must be avoided. China firmly supports the UAE in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, condemns attacks targeting civilians and civilian facilities, and will continue to mediate a ceasefire and an end to hostilities, so as to restore peace and stability to the Middle East at an early date.
On March 20, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi had a phone call with Diplomatic Adviser to the French President Emmanuel Bonne at the latters request to communicate on the situation in the Middle East.

Emmanuel Bonne briefed on Frances views regarding the current situation in the Middle East, including in Iran and Lebanon, stating that as major countries, both France and China support the United Nations, abide by international law, and advocate resolving differences through dialogue. The two sides should work together to de-escalate tensions, seek ways to restart negotiations, and make contributions to this end. France stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China on this issue to promote peace and stability in the Middle East at an early date.

Wang Yi elaborated on Chinas position, stating that the current situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate, with hostilities persisting and spilling over into wider regions, which not only undermines the stability of global energy supplies but also precipitates a severe humanitarian crisis. The use of force cannot solve problems, and unjust wars must not continue. Faced with this critical situation, China and France, as permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, should strengthen strategic communication and coordination, firmly uphold the UN Charter and international law, and prevent the world from reverting to the law of the jungle. The most urgent tasks are threefold: first, to contain the spread of conflict and prevent further involvement by other countries; second, for the international community to speak with one voice in calling for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, while intensifying efforts to encourage peace talks; and third, for the United Nations and the Security Council to play their due role in promoting the early restoration of peace and stability in the region. Despite the difficulties, the correct path out of the crisis remains dialogue and negotiation. China and France should make joint efforts to this end.
Hank Green has worn a lot of hats. Hes one half of Vlogbrothers, with his brother, John. Hes written some novels. Hes hosted Crash Course and SciShow, and started VidCon. The list honestly goes on and on.

Recently, Green pulled a reverse OpenAI, taking his education platform Complexly and making it a nonprofit.

On a recent episode of What Next: TBD, host Lizzie OLeary spoke to Green about how, in a world where outrage, A.I. slop, and brainrot are all heavily incentivized by platforms, hed rather make content that leans into the complexity of our world. This transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Lizzie OLeary: Lets talk about the salience engine and storytelling platform on which you primarily exist, which is YouTube. On the one hand, you can find anything on YouTube. You can fix your sink. You can learn about the Roman Empire. But also, theres almost no oversight, from an editorial standpoint, on the platform. Pretty much anyone can say anything, right or wrong. When you think about your work and your company, Complexly, you dont want to squish it down to the shortest version, right? How do you think about it?

Hank Green: There are lots of people who will give you the simple story. If you want that, go get it.

But thats not what Im here for. I remember thinking that YouTube and social media were going to be such clear goods, and they were going to bring people together and were going to help us understand each other better. But thats not what happened.

This isnt like you have options for smoking or nonsmoking, two options. The internet is like food. You need information, and you need food, and yet some food is not good. And in fact, you might imagine, a particular kind of food thats very hard to ignore. Its always there in your mind. And I imagine the current state of internet information as if theres just a lot of Doritos.

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I want to talk about what Complexly has just done. Its what I would call a reverse OpenAI. You went from for-profit into a nonprofit. Why?

So many different reasons. John and I started Complexly with the goal that this is an educational media company. And the goal was to help people understand their world better, to lower barriers to understanding. And one way to lower a barrier is just a really good explanation, a really compelling video that holds your attention and teaches you things in a way that you hadnt heard before. But there are also a bunch of other cost structures to education. There are lots of educational media companies, most of which are based on selling the content and putting it behind paywalls of various kinds. We really didnt want to do that, and we kept feeling the business pull to do things not for the people who were our actual customers, but for the business case.

Can you give me an example of that?

Crash Course is a series of videos used in pretty much every high school in America, lots of colleges, and definitely every school district in America. Every person in the education industry has said the same thing: Create a bunch of additional products around it and put up a paywall, and then use that as the beginning of the paywall, and then slowly start to only release content inside of the paywall. Thats the way to make a billion dollars, no doubt. But theres no doubt in my mind that we would make more money while having less impact on that world. We would do less good while making more money. That just seemed so obvious to me. We kept saying no to advertisers who we didnt think were good partners to work with. We kept saying no to certain sources of funding that we felt would lead us in the wrong direction.

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If we wanted to create a bunch of worksheets that went along with the Crash Course, we couldnt justify the cost. We still felt like we couldnt do that. We still felt we couldnt sell that product because it would be starting down the path of the dark side. And it just seemed like we were so clearly making a bunch of choices, specifically not to let profit be the motivation, that it started to seem very silly that we werent just formalizing this.

I dont know if the timing is accidental or if it just feels like some mantle being handed to you, but this is happening right as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is under assault. Theyve closed their doors. Do you see what youre doing as filling the gap?

No, I dont think there is any filling that gap. There are different media, there are different distribution systems. Theres a real loss there, but also, that gap doesnt have to be open. Like, the gap left by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, obviously, is open. But people are working very hard to get that content to continue to be funded in other ways, to continue using those distribution systems, to continue to reach the people who need it.

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Also, we are way smaller than that. And Ive had this question from a different angle, which is that, of course, the biggest harm done by DOGE was USAID cutting. And John and I have also helped raise $30 million to fund a hospital in Sierra Leone. And that might seem to some people like, because it might be just as attention-grabbing, a big story. And Im not diminishing the work that we did, or especially the work that Partners in Health have done to help make that hospital a reality, but I need people to understand the scale of the difference here. Its just that so much was lost, and there isnt a way to fill that gap.

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Lets talk a little bit about the future, right? Whatever happens in the next five, 10 years is probably not going to unwind that damage. Our children or their children can, or are trying, but how do we get them to have the kind of critical thinking skills that are necessary to think through those problems in this age? How do we do that part? Because you are in an environment that is now suddenly overrun with a tremendous amount of A.I., and I worry about critical thinking skills.

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Its super scary. One of the crazy things about A.I. as it currently stands is that its an engine of media. So when youre talking to a chatbot, its creating media, right? Its hard to call it media because its not mass broadcasted, but this is content that is being consumed. And in aggregate, it is a kind of media now.

The crazy thing about this is that we are looking at it as if it is this big new thing. Obviously, it is, but at the same time, it feels like we completely ignored the fact that A.I. took over our brains 10 years ago with what gets recommended to us. These are content recommendation algorithms. Theyre not an LLM, but theyre A.I.; they are machine learning that is figuring out how to make you stay on a website. And thats really their only goal: to get you to stay on the website, and then theoretically also come back to the website to hopefully also make sure you have somewhat of a positive experience.

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Were there now, and that feels deeply unexamined, even though we are in the world that that created now, and its not a good one. Its worse.

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Youre right that the critical thinking part of it is really important. How do you talk to your kid about this? My kid is 9, so he is old enough to start to really be looking into this stuff.

I tried to explain how theres a reason why everything is the way that it is. Those very popular YouTube videos are structured this way for a reason. Youre paying attention to it for a reason, and you should understand what your brain is doing and what they are doing to your brain.
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Every week, millions of Americans fill prescriptions for GLP-1 receptor agonists, drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. These injectionsand, now, pillshave reshaped how medicine thinks about obesity and diabetes, as well as helped usher in a new era of hyperskinny celebrities and models. Many experts agree: GLP-1s are, when it comes to their medical applications, something of a miracle drug. But as a neuroscience Ph.D. candidate who studies how the gut and nervous system negotiate pain, I keep returning to a question I havent seen asked loudly enough: What happens to a body that already makes GLP-1 naturally when we flood it with pharmacological doses of the same signal?

GLP-1 is not a foreign molecule. It is a hormone your intestines release after every meal, a chemical signal between your gut and your brain that says Slow down, youve had enough. The drugs dont introduce something new to the bodythey connect with receptors that are already there. They make you feel full much sooner than you would otherwise by flooding the zone with the message Youre full! Youve had enough! And in my field, when you chronically overstimulate a signaling pathway the nervous system depends on for normal function, things tend to go wrong in ways that may be quiet at first but get much louder later.

The evidence is beginning to catch up. Between 40 and 70 percent of patients on these drugs report gastrointestinal adverse effects, like acid reflux, chronic diarrhea, and/or constipation. Studies now show that patients on GLP-1 agonists face a nearly fourfold increased risk of gastroparesis (a chronic slowdown of the gut causing abdominal bloating and pain) and a ninefold increased risk of pancreatitis compared to people on other weight-loss medications. If those numbers are borne out in the real world, most people on GLP-1s may have some kind of undesirable GI effect from them. Yet current prescribing guidelines dont recommend asking a basic question before initiating treatment: Does this patient actually have low endogenous GLP-1 levels? At a time when many doctors pride themselves on practicing precision medicine, that omission is striking and dangerous.

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Consider a hypothetical woman in her late 40s who is just looking to lose 10 pounds before summer so that she can finally wear that bikini she bought a decade ago. She has no diabetes, no prior GI historybut she also has a body she doesnt love after bringing two kids into the world. Shes prescribed semaglutide for weight loss by her primary care physician, but six months later, she is nauseated most mornings, bloated after small meals, and losing an amount of weight she didnt intend to lose. Her doctor attributes it to the drug working. A gastroenterologist eventually diagnoses her with gastroparesis. Whether the medication caused it, accelerated a subclinical condition, or simply unmasked something already there is nearly impossible to determine. That ambiguity is precisely the problem.

GLP-1 receptor agonists slow gastric emptying. That slowing isnt incidentalits the drug doing exactly what it was designed to do, because GLP-1 is the signal that makes it happen. But the enteric nervous system, which governs gut motility through a dense network of neurons that neuroscientists sometimes call the second brain, is not built to sustain that kind of chronic, pharmacological override. In patients who already produce normal or elevated levels of endogenous GLP-1, flooding those same receptors with long-acting agonists may push a finely tuned system past its adaptive range.

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Proving that in any individual case remains elusive. The population-level signal, however, is hard to dismiss. A large cohort study found the gastroparesis and pancreatitis risk figures cited above among patients using GLP-1 agonists specifically for weight loss, not diabetes. And because obesity itself is a known driver of GI dysfunction, every data point carries an asterisk: Is this the drug or the disease its treating? The honest answer is that we dont fully know. That uncertainty should be making prescribers more cautious, not less.

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What makes this especially frustrating from a neuroscience perspective is that the gut-brain axis is one of the most pharmacologically sensitive systems in the body. We have decades of evidence showing that chronic manipulation of enteric signaling (i.e., telling different sections of the digestive tract what to do and when), whether through opioids, supplements, or antidepressants, produces adaptations that outlast the drug itself. GLP-1 receptors are expressed not just in the pancreas and stomach, but throughout the vagus nerve, the brain stem, and the hypothalamus. When we prescribe these drugs to patients whose endogenous GLP-1 system is functioning normally, we are not filling a deficit. We are overwriting a signal the body is already sending, and were doing it at scale, in millions of people, without a baseline measurement to tell us what were overwriting.

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The guidelines have not caught up. Current prescribing criteria center on body mass index thresholds and glycemic targets, metabolic markers that tell us something about a patients need for weight loss but nothing about their underlying GLP-1 physiology. No major guideline recommends measuring endogenous GLP-1 levels before initiating treatment. Whats more, patients can order these drugs without ever setting foot in a doctors office, or even truly needing the assistance of these drugs from a clinical perspective.

So what would a more thoughtful approach look like? The proposal I want to put on the table is simple: Before prescribing a GLP-1 receptor agonist, measure the patients endogenous GLP-1 levels. This is not a radical idea. Medicine already requires baseline measurements before initiating treatments that manipulate endogenous hormone systems; we check thyroid levels before prescribing levothyroxine, testosterone and estrogen before starting hormone replacement, insulin secretion capacity before choosing between diabetes drug classes. The logic is the same here. If a patients body is already producing GLP-1 at normal or elevated levels, prescribing a long-acting agonist isnt correcting a deficit; it may be amplifying a signal thats already there. Are the potential effects of that a risk the prescriber and patient are willing to take on?

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To be clear, the evidence linking GLP-1 agonists to gastroparesis and pancreatitis is suggestive, not definitive. I am not arguing that these drugs are dangerous and should be restricted. I am arguing that the question of who should receive them has not been asked with nearly enough precision, and that a baseline GLP-1 measurement is an obvious, low-cost starting point. It could be as simple as a blood-sample analysis in a lab, but we have yet to commercialize the currently available test for GLP-1s so that prescribers could truly do due diligence before prescribing them.

For researchers, this is a tractable problem. We need prospective studies that stratify GLP-1 agonist outcomes by baseline endogenous hormone levels, something no major clinical trial has done. We need validated instruments for diagnosing functional GI disorders in patients on these drugs, so that adverse events stop being absorbed into the noise of expected side effects. Perhaps that is simply your doctor assessing your risk for GI disorders before prescription, or maybe they take you off the drug for a few months to see if symptoms subside. Further, we need to consider the neuroscience seriously: GLP-1 receptors in the vagus nerve and brain stem are part of the same pain-modulating circuitry my own field studies in the context of visceral hypersensitivity and chronic GI pain.

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For clinicians, the ask is more immediate: Pause before treating BMI as sufficient justification for a prescription. Ask whether your patient has any history of functional GI symptoms. The Food and Drug Administrations own prescribing label already notes that semaglutide is not recommended in patients with severe gastroparesis, meaning that the agency acknowledges the risk. The question is whether that caution is traveling far enough upstream, before patients are symptomatic. Im not sure that it is.

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And for the guideline bodies: The precision-medicine framework applied to oncology and cardiology has not yet reached metabolic pharmacology. Endogenous GLP-1 testing is not currently standard, but it is not technically out of reach. The question is whether the field is willing to slow down long enough to ask what its missing.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are genuinely remarkable drugs. For patients with Type 2 diabetes, for people whose endogenous GLP-1 signaling is impaired, they represent a meaningful advance. I am not arguing against them. I am arguing that doctors should be able to pause and collect a little bit more information before prescribing them.
Savannah Guthrie could return to her role on the Today show in the coming weeks as she continues to deal with the disappearance of her mother.

Savannah Guthrie could return to her role on the Today show in the coming weeks as she continues to deal with the disappearance of her mother

The broadcaster, 54, has been away from the NBC programme following the vanishing of her mum Nancy Guthrie from her home in Arizona in January.

According to sources cited by Page Six, Savannah is hoping to resume hosting duties after her childrens spring break, with most schools in New York returning by 10 April.

The outlet said: A source tells Page Six that while plans may change as her mothers case develops, the host is hoping to return to the Today show after her childrens spring break.

During her time away, Savannah has been focusing on her family  her husband Michael Feldman and their two children, Vale Feldman and Charley Feldman  while developments in the investigation and her own circumstances remain ongoing.

Speaking during a visit to colleagues at Studio 1A in Rockefeller Center on 5 March, Savannah said: I wanted you to know that Im still standing, and I still have hope, and Im still me.

She added: And I dont know what version of me that will be, but it will be.

Savannah also addressed her return to work during the same appearance.

She said: I have every intention of coming back. I dont know how to come back, but I dont know how not to. Youre my family. And I would like to try.

Hoda Kotb has been filling in for Savannah during her absence.

According to Page Six, Hoda has a number of upcoming commitments, including the launch of her Joy 101 app and a wellness retreat held in Scottsdale, Arizona, from 13 to 15 March.

Sources told the outlet Hodas schedule is not placing pressure on Savannahs return, with other anchors available to step in if required.

However, another source close to the Today show told Page Six: There is no announcement regarding Savannahs return date, and Hoda will remain filling in for her.

Savannah previously thanked her colleagues for their support during her visit to the studio, saying they have been caring about my mom as much as I do.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Credit: Aptenod / YouTube

The entire tech industry and all of us that follow it are waiting with bated breath for the arrival of the iPhone Fold later this year. Apple's first ever foldable has the potential to blow away the Galaxy Z Fold 8 on the first try and potentially redefine foldable phones for the mainstream.

But it's also tipped to cost as much as $2399 in a year when everything is getting more expensive. That price point is prohibitive for a large number of people, so I predict the regular iPhone 18 Pro (and regular iPhone 18) will be the natural upgrade for most users.

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The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max offered plenty of upgrades across the board, including an all-new design. I expect this year's iPhone models to iterate further on these handsets and deliver incremental improvements. It's safe to say if you're an iPhone 17 owner you won't need to upgrade but if, for example, you're still using an iPhone 14 Pro you may feel the time is right.

Here are three rumored iPhone 18 upgrades that I'm particularly excited for.

Variable Aperture

Credit: Future

One of the big rumors around the photography upgrades is that Apple will equip the iPhone 18 Pro's 48-megapixel Fusion camera with a variable aperture. This means that users can control the amount of light passing through the camera's lens to reach the sensor.

You could then control the depth of field in your shots depending on whether you wanted a scene-wide image or a narrower focus on a particular subject. The iPhone currently does this with software trickery but moving from a fixed aperture to a variable aperture could be a huge step forward.

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Smartphone dimensions will naturally constrain the sensor size so I don't expect the iPhone 18 Pro to offer a better experience than the best mirrorless cameras but since the best camera is the one you have with you, and we always carry our phones  any improvement is welcome.

A20 Processor

Credit: Apple

Apple's iPhone processors are some of the best in the business. So good, in fact, the company put the A18 Pro inside a laptop with the MacBook Neo.

For the iPhone 18 Pro, it's widely believed Apple could unveil the A20 Pro chip, which would likely use TSMC's 2nm architecture. A big step onwards from the 3nm architecture used on the current A19 Pro chip. Rumors claim the A20 chips could place the RAM on the same wafer as the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine instead of having it sit adjacent and connected through an interposer.

In day-to-day terms, this is likely to mean big power and efficiency improvements over the current generation. Apple may consider putting this same chip into the iPhone Fold, so we could be getting an equivalent performance regardless of whether you opt for Fold or Pro.

Red color

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Ok, I know this is just an aesthetic thing, but I always loved the red iPhone models. I was really impressed with the bold orange that Apple went with for the iPhone 17 Pro and according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, this year's special color for the iPhone 18 Pro will be a "deep red".

The last time we saw a red iPhone was the the (PRODUCT) RED variants of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. So I think it's definitely about time for the shade to make a comeback.

Bottom line

Credit: Tom's Guide / John Velasco

It's the iPhone Pro line that continues to be the backbone of the company's lineup

The iPhone 18 Pro is in all likelihood going to arrive in around six months' time this September and Apple is bullish. The company is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and in a recent interview, Tim Cook said, "There's so much left that we can do with the iPhone".

The iPhone Fold will surely grab all the headlines this year, and I've no doubt it'll be an incredible product. But it's also going to be a first attempt at a new form factor.

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Over the years, we've seen Apple experiment with the iPhone mini (one of my favorites), iPhone Air and now the iPhone Fold. But it's the iPhone Pro line that continues to be the backbone of the company's lineup. I think there's plenty to be excited about with what this year's model has to offer.

Do you agree? Or do you think the iPhone Fold and the iPhone Air could tempt people away from upgrading to a Pro? Let me know in the comments below.
Prince Harry is reportedly facing the prospect of losing a renewed bid for taxpayer-funded security in the UK.

Prince Harry is reportedly facing the prospect of losing a renewed bid for taxpayer-funded security in the UK

The Duke of Sussex, 41, and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, 44, have been seeking security provision through the Home Office following their decision to step back from royal duties in 2020 and relocate to North America.

Their publicly funded protection was removed after the move, and the issue has since been under review by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures.

Now, according to the Daily Telegraph, divisions remain within the committee, with security officials said to support reinstating protection due to ongoing threats, while political figures are reportedly wary of public reaction.

A source told the Telegraph: The political side believe(s) there is too much political risk, while the police and security chiefs believe that he absolutely must have it due to the extant threat.

The reported disagreement comes as Harry and Meghan continue to fund their private security, having previously offered to pay for protection themselves when visiting the UK.

That proposal was declined, according to reports, and the absence of official protection has affected Harrys ability to travel with his family  Meghan, their son Prince Archie, six, and four-year-old daughter Princess Lilibet.

In 2022, Harry said he does not feel safe in the UK, stating that his family had allegedly been subjected to well-documented neo-Nazi and extremist threats.

The Home Office responded at the time that Harry had failed to appreciate its position as the expert, and democratically accountable, decision-maker on matters of protective security.

In May 2025, Harry lost an appeal relating to his security arrangements and criticised the decision-making process of the committee.

He said he had asked the Home Secretary to urgently examine the matter and review the RAVEC process, describing the move as a last resort.

The case continues to raise questions around security provision for members of the royal family who no longer carry out official duties, with the committees decision still pending.

It comes as Harry and Meghan are set to mount another international tour next month in Australia, after their recent visit to Jordan.
Boarding a flight usually involves scanning your ticket, stowing your carryon, and settling in with the hope of a smooth journey ahead. But for some travelers, theres another layer of preparation: communicating a serious health concern. Recently, a passenger shared her experience asking for a simple accommodation related to her airborne peanut allergy, and the response has sparked a lively debate online about how airlines handle such situations.

In a video shared on social media, the traveler explained to a flight attendant that she lives with a severe peanut allergy that can be triggered by airborne exposure. She politely asked if communications could be made to passengers via an announcement to the people surrounding her seat that she would need a "buffer zone." The crew told her they could not make that kind of announcement beforehand. She was told to email the major airline about the issue.

The exchange highlights a tension many flyers live with quietly: balancing personal health needs with the realities of flying in a crowded cabin where policies and capacities vary from airline to airline.

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You can see the Instagram video here.

The Reaction Online: A Mix of Empathy and Frustration

Once the video circulated, reactions poured in from travelers and members of the allergy community.

Some expressed empathy, noting that those with severe allergies live with constant vigilance during travel.

A disturbed Instagram user claimed "Cabin crew are primarily responsible for safety. That is their top priorityso refusing to carry out a safety-related, potentially life-saving action is deeply concerning."

Others pointed out that enforcing such accommodations in a shared space may be beyond what flight attendants can reasonably manage.

One commenter stated "I work for an airline and the airline I work for has buffer zone policy but would never be able to 'announce' it to the whole airplane. Pax would have PWNA on the boarding pass indicating pax has nut allergy and rows around would have been allocated as buffer zone. FAs would speak to other pax seated on the buffer area to inform they can't consume anything with nuts due to pax with allergy seated close to them, but are NOT allowed to make a public announcement like 'pax seated in 38F has nut allergy so don't eat nuts near that pax' due to the pax safety. If you think about it, a psycho can suddenly decide to kill you and start breathing nuts really close to you, or watch you suffer at least. I understand you have severe allergy but trust me, it's better not to announce it for YOUR safety."

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The airline responded to the video in a comment reading "Hi, [redacted]. We are so sorry about this, and would like to look into it more closely. Please send us a DM with your confirmation number whenever you have a chance."

This issue is not unique to the airline. Other passengers with nut allergies have shared stories of mixed experiences on various airlines, where requests for safety measures are met with cooperation on some flights and resistance on others. These accounts often highlight inconsistencies in airline approaches and underscore the difficulty crew have in juggling passenger needs.

It is important to note that the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology's position that airborne peanut dust doesn't pose an immediate threat.

"Since the issue was first studied in 2004, data have consistently shown that peanut dust does not become airborne nor does inhaling peanut butter vapors provoke a reaction, that skin contact with either form of peanut is unlikely to cause any reaction beyond local irritation that can be washed off, and lastly that surfaces (including hands) that become contaminated with peanut can be easily washed off. Lets briefly summarize this evidence," it states.

Related: United Airlines Is Finally Cracking Down on One of Flyings Biggest Annoyances

Allergy Accommodations in the Sky: Policies and Limits

Air travel is a unique environment. Snacks and meals are served in a closed space, and once the cabin door shuts, passengers and crew alike are dependent on whats already onboard. That makes allergy management particularly challenging.

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Airlines do not guarantee a nutfree environment and flight crews typically do not make cabinwide announcements about individual allergy concerns. Detailed summary charts of airline policies show that Uniteds accommodation procedures do not include routine allergic passenger notifications for all flyers.

Related: Passenger Baffled by Bizarre Carry-On Situation but Not Everyone Is on His Side

This means that while airlines may take steps to minimize risk, such as not serving peanuts during a flight, they cannot ensure that no passenger brings their own snacks aboard. The Federal Aviation Administration has also noted that allergenfree cabins cannot be guaranteed, as passengers often bring food onboard themselves.

But this does not make the debate any less emotional for those affected. Peanut allergies can be lifethreatening. Just a few particles of airborne allergen can trigger a reaction in highly sensitive individuals, leading to symptoms ranging from hives and swelling to anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially fatal response.

Tips for Travelers With Severe Allergies

As someone who travels often and has friends with serious allergies, Ive learned that preparation is key. For travelers with lifethreatening allergy concerns, here are a few practical steps that can improve peace of mind:

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Notify the airline well before travel about your allergy when you book your ticket. Many carriers allow this through special assistance request forms.

Inform gate agents and flight attendants in person early during boarding so they know your needs.

Carry necessary medication on your person and ensure it is easily accessible throughout the flight.

Consider a buffer zone by asking if you can preboard or be seated away from areas where food is consumed.

Bring your own snacks in case cabin options are not safe for you.

None of these strategies guarantee a riskfree flight, but they can help you feel more in control in an environment where so many variables are out of your hands.

Get the latest travel inspiration and news delivered straight to your inbox.

A Broader Conversation About Inclusive Travel

This incident is sparking thoughtful discussion not just about airline policy, but about how travel can be more inclusive for people living with invisible conditions. For every commenter who sees the request as unreasonable, theres someone else for whom a simple accommodation could mean the difference between a routine flight and a medical emergency.

Travel is meant to expand horizons, not amplify stress about basic safety. As flyers, we ask a lot of ourselves to get from Point A to Point B. The more we understand each others needs, the better equipped our shared spaces will be for everyone.

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The individual involved in the incident declined to comment.

This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After spending nine days in Bari, I recommend the capital of Puglia to all travelers. Mark Marino

I frequently travel to Italy, and last year I visited Bari, Puglia's capital, for the first time.

The city quickly became one of my favorites thanks to its walkability, nightlife, and beach access.

I also love that Bari can serve as a base for day trips to stunning towns, like Polignano a Mare.

I've been in a love affair with Italy since my first visit there 20 years ago. After over 13 trips to Il Bel Paese  ticking Rome, Florence, Venice, and other popular destinations off the list  I yearned to explore different Italian destinations.

For my April 2025 trip, I landed on Bari, the capital of Puglia in southern Italy. I had never been despite already visiting nearby towns in the region like Lecce and Alberobello.

After nine glorious days there, I left smitten.

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Here's why the port city is currently my favorite place in Italy and why I've already started recommending it to fellow tourists.

Bari is a walkable city that's easy to reach by plane or train.

Mark Marino

Bari is a major city with its own airport, the Bari Karol Wojtya Airport, and a well-connected train station called Bari Centrale. I arrived by plane after a brief visit to London and took a 20-minute train into the heart of the city. The whole experience was so easy.

As someone who doesn't drive, I loved how accessible Bari is by foot, train, or bus. From Bari Centrale, I was able to walk everywhere I wanted to go, and Giardini di Piazza Umberto I, a beautiful park, is right outside the station.

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It took me 10 minutes to walk to Murat, a modern neighborhood in the heart of Bari. I was immediately impressed by its beauty and took time to admire its Art Nouveau architecture. From Murat, it took only three minutes to reach Bari Vecchia, the historic old town.

A few blocks east is Lungomare e Murat, a scenic promenade that runs along the Adriatic Sea, and Porto Vecchio, a harbor where fishermen dock their boats and sell their catches of the day.

Being able to access different neighborhoods and landmarks directly from the train station without worrying about driving or taking public transportation made the entire trip seamless.

Cafes, shops, wine bars, and nightlife line Bari's streets.

Mark Marino

By day, the Murat district buzzes with people catching up at outdoor cafes, streaming into the iconic restaurant Mastro Ciccio for an octopus sandwich, and shopping at local boutiques. I love drinking coffee, so I treated myself to a mint-green Moka pot from Bialetti during my trip.

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By night, the city comes alive. It has restaurants for a range of budgets, including L'Assassineria Urbana, which specializes in spaghetti all'assassina, a Barese dish that's charred in a skillet in a fiery tomato sauce. Urbana offers 14 variations on the spicy spaghetti. To this day, I still dream about the meal I had there.

Murat also has plenty of wine and cocktail bars. I mellowed out with a glass of red at a restaurant called Milo and also popped into Chinato, a cocktail bar dedicated to vermouth. It offers a wide variety from different distillers.

The cocktail options are endless, but I stuck with a classic Negroni  its cool bittersweetness made it a perfect nightcap.

There's an old town that exudes character and charm within walking distance.

Michele Ursi/Shutterstock

Entering Bari Vecchia is like traveling back in time. I loved wandering the winding cobblestone alleys lined with medieval buildings.

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When I was there, one particular alleyway  Strada Arco Basso  was lined with nonnas (Italian for "grandmothers"), who sat outside making and selling orecchiette, an ear-shaped pasta. I was mesmerized by how swiftly they rolled, cut, and shaped each piece.

There are also many lovely churches in the old town, but I was most excited to see Basilica San Nicola, where the relics of Saint Nicholas  who inspired the legend of Santa Claus  are entombed in a crypt.

On top of all the culture, Bari has plenty of beaches and natural beauty.

Mark Marino

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For a change of scenery, I walked 40 minutes from my Airbnb in the Murat district to a beach called Pane e Pomodoro.

I strolled along the Lungomare e Murat, a promenade lined with palm trees, art deco street lamps, and plenty of benches where I could stop and rest.

When I visited the beach on an April morning, there were a lot of locals sunbathing, playing games, and swimming.

I'd mostly seen pebbled beaches frequented by tourists in my travels throughout Italy, so I was glad to see Barese families and friends enjoy time together in the soft white sand.

The city is a fantastic launchpad for day trips to stunning towns.

Mark Marino

Beautiful towns like Ostuni, Monopoli, Trani, and Polignano a Mare are all within a 45-minute train ride from Bari Centrale station.

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Ostuni took my breath away. I climbed up and down countless stairs to explore the hilltop city. I found myself surrounded by a maze of churches and white buildings, with splashes of vibrant color on their doors and window shutters.

Monopoli is tiny, but I loved ambling through the old alleys, which often had intricately detailed arches at their entrances, and walking the small stretch of the port to a red-and-white-striped lighthouse.

My favorite spot is Polignano a Mare, a coastal town with ancient white buildings perched atop a limestone cliff.

From there, I could spend hours taking in the spectacular views of the Adriatic Sea. For a closer look at the water, I walked under the Ponte Borbonico, an iconic bridge, to the picture-perfect pebble beach.

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As the final stop of the day, I grabbed a caffe speciale  a coffee with cream, amaretto, and lemon peel  at a famous ice cream and coffee shop called Il Super Mago del Gelo before making my way back to Bari.

Nearly a year later, I still haven't stopped thinking about my time in Bari. Although I made a rule not to revisit the same location twice on my annual Italy trip, I will absolutely make an exception for Bari.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The state of Connecticut is blessed with over 600 miles of intricate shoreline fronting the idyllic Long Island Sound; however, 80% of it is privately owned. Therefore, Connecticut's waterfront state parks, such as Sherwood Island State Park, are rare gems that allow public access to the state's scenic coast. Sherwood Island State Park is also unique, as it is one of Connecticut's oldest state parks, dating to 1914. However, it took nearly 30 years to officially open to the public, because wealthy residents wanted to keep the coastline private. Today, the park measures 235 acres, and it's tucked just outside of Westport, a hidden town with sandy shoreline strolls and a cute downtown. Westport is a train stop between New Haven and Manhattan's Grand Central Station, so in less than 90 minutes, New Yorkers can trade towering skyscrapers for blissful beach days and outdoor adventures.

Sherwood Island State Park is flanked by two scenic beaches, the longer East Beach and the cove-like West Beach, which are both lapped by the cool and calm waters of the Long Island Sound. The park is also a popular fishing spot to hook saltwater species that dwell in the Sound. Further inland, visitors can traverse nature trails or visit the park's 9/11 Living Memorial and Nature Center.

Sherwood Island State Park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset year-round. However, the best time to visit the state park for swimming is between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when lifeguards monitor the coastline. Entry to the state park is free for Connecticut-registered vehicles, but out-of-state drivers will have to pay a fee, ranging from $7 to $22 (at the time of writing), depending on the time of year and day of the week.

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Read more: 25 Gorgeous Islands For Vacationing That Won't Break The Bank

Scenic beach days at Sherwood Island State Park

View of a sandy path to the beach at Sherwood Island State Park - hs3189/Shutterstock

Sherwood Island State Park's two scenic beaches are the park's main draw, promising about 1.5 miles of prime waterfront footage. Both beaches have a unique array of shells, sea glass, and pebbles that are deposited along the water. The East Beach is the larger crescent, and it's just steps from the park's main parking lot, bathrooms, and concession stand. During the summer, lifeguards are on duty here from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. "The water was calm with some small waves, and while shallow, you could swim without going too far out," wrote a Tripadvisor reviewer, who also recommended bringing water shoes, as the sand bed can be rocky. Active travelers can launch kayaks and paddleboards from the eastern end of the beach to explore the Sound and the park's shoreline from a new perspective. Set back from East Beach is the park's Nature Center, where you can learn more about the park's flora and fauna.

For a quieter escape, head to the smaller West Beach, which is accessed by the beachfront path along the shoreline. Marking Sherwood Point between the East and West Beach is the 9/11 Living Memorial, where a stone memorial is carved with the names of Connecticut residents who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. In the distance, you can see the skyline of New York City rising over the water, if the weather is right. Continuing along the path, you'll reach West Beach, flanked by a basalt jetty. There are also bathrooms here, and picnic tables are nearby for group gatherings. For more beaches in the area, head 5 miles east to Fairfield, a thriving Connecticut beach town that offers plenty of recreation.

Fishing at Sherwood Island State Park

View of a rocky jetty jutting into the Long Island Sound at Sherwood Island State Park - Dan Hanscom/Shutterstock

Anglers can fish anywhere off of Sherwood Island State Park's Long Island Sound shoreline, except for the designated swimming areas at the beaches between April 15 and September 30. Outside of those months, surf fishing is permitted anywhere on the beach. One of the most popular spots for anglers to congregate is along the park's Sherwood Point jetty that juts into the Sound in between the two beaches. The waters of the Long Island Sound are brackish  a combination of saltwater and freshwater  due to its location between Connecticut's rivers and the Atlantic Ocean. These waters support over 100 species of fish, and from the park's shore, you can catch a number of saltwater species, including bluefish, flounder, and striped bass. "I fished the last couple of weeks over at the west beach but changed it up today and went over to the Far East side near the channel," wrote a Reddit reviewer. "Beautiful spot, feel so lucky to have Sherwood island to explore."

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Fishing is only allowed at Sherwood Island State Park with a Connecticut fishing license, which costs $32 for residents and $63 for non-residents (at the time of writing). However, there are a few free fishing days offered throughout the year when you can get a free one-day license. For a more adventurous Long Island Sound fishing trip, venture to the uninhabited Shea Island, Connecticut's hidden island retreat with rustic camping and serene sunsets, which is about 8 miles west of the state park off the coast of Norwalk.

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.
Government shutdown causing longer waits. How long are they at PBIA?

If you're heading to one of the major airports in South Florida soon, you're probably wondering if you'll come across delays while waiting to board your flight.

Thousands of employees with the Transportation Security Administration are working without pay, for the third time in six months. An agreement to end the partial government shutdown impacting TSA, as well as the Coast Guard, remains elusive during partisan politics in Washington, D.C., prompting airline CEOs to demand Congress "come together to reach an agreement."

Adam Stahl, TSA acting deputy administrator, told Fox News on March 17 the agency may have to "collapse lanes" at select airports and more drastic measures may be ahead.

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More: Trump threatens to send ICE to airports to arrest 'illegal immigrants'

US President Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 20, 2026, en route to his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he steps from Air Force One upon his arrival in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens to U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) speaking to the media, as Trump departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One as he departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump gestures while boarding Air Force One as he departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump gestures while walking with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to board Air Force One as he departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump boards Marine One as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump walks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to board Air Force One as he departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio step out from Marine One to board Air Force One, as President Trump departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump salutes next to Secretary of State Marco Rubio while boarding Air Force One, as they depart from Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump walks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to board Air Force One as he departs from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media near Marine One, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump gestures toward members of the media while walking with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens to U.S. President Donald Trump speaking to the media, as Trump departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he steps from Air Force One upon his arrival in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Donald Trump steps from Air Force One upon his arrival in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY US President Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 20, 2026, en route to his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump waves while boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on March 20, 2026, before departing for his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio walk to board Air Force One prior to departure from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, March 20, 2026, as they travel to Florida for the weekend. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland as he departs for his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he will spend the weekend, on March 20, 2026. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) walk to board Air Force One on March 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One on March 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One on March 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One on March 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One on March 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) approach reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump gestures to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) as he stops to speak to reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump salutes as he boards Air Force One with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) on March 20, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio () looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters while departing the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump walks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump stops to speak to reporters as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump walks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) as he departs the White House on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump walks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards Marine One as he departs the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump on March 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) US President Donald Trump walks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2026 for his Mar-a-Lago residence, where he will spend the weekend. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images) 1 / 59 Trump returns to Mar-a-Lago for 24th visit in second term US President Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 20, 2026, en route to his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)

"If this continues, it's no hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports, particularly smaller ones," Stahl said.

Here's what you should know.

Will some airports close because of partial government shutdown?

That is possible, Stahl told Fox News.

"If this continues, it's no hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports, particularly smaller ones," Stahl said.

"It's going to get worse and there will be significant pain by the passengers, 3- to 4-hour wait times at select airports. TSA is fully stretched and there's not much else we can do."

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"Some TSA officers cant afford gas to drive to work because they arent getting paid," TSA posted on X, noting this was the third time in nearly six months TSA workers have gone without pay.

Get ready to wait to get through airport security

Congress failed to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration, in midFebruary.

On March 13, TSA officers missed their first full paycheck after receiving partial paychecks on Feb. 28.

Here are the current wait times at South Florida airports:

What is TSA wait time at Palm Beach International Airport, PBI?

Security wait times at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) currently average 6 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 10 a.m. March 22.

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Check-in typically takes 28 minutes, and immigration processing averages 10 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 3 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, FLL?

Security wait times at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL) currently average 15-30 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 10 a.m. March 22.

Check-in typically takes 43 minutes, and immigration processing averages under 15 minutes.

TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 12 minutes.

What is TSA wait time at Miami International Airport, MIA?

Security wait times at Miami International Airport (MIA) currently average under 15 minutes, according to flightqueue.com at 10 a.m. March 22.

Check-in typically takes 45 minutes, and immigration processing over 45 minutes.

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TSA PreCheck lanes average approximately 4 minutes.

You can also check the airport's website at miami-airport.com/tsa-waittimes.asp.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: TSA shutdown could close airports, cause long waits
Since the pandemic, budget airlines have struggled amid rising fuel and labor costs, increasing airport fees, and competition in the market. Southwest Airlines, once an iconic choice for air travel, has struggled in recent years, epitomized by a high-profile operational meltdown over Christmas 2022, which caused almost 17,000 flight cancellations  stranding 2 million passengers  and earned the airline the largest Department of Transportation fine in history, a whopping $140 million. As it continues to lose goodwill among its customer base, Southwest is also announcing reductions in flight routes across America, including the recent news that it would be ending all flights at two major airports, Dulles and O'Hare, starting in June.

In a press release, Southwest said this was part of a strategy to "refine" its network. The airline also noted that it still serves smaller airports in the Chicago and D.C. areas, including Baltimore Washington International and Washington Reagan National, as well as Chicago Midway (notorious for its severe delays). But the two airports no longer on its roster are among the most significant in America. Chicago O'Hare International Airport was ranked the most-connected airport in the country in 2025, flying to almost 300 destinations, more than 200 of which are domestic. Meanwhile, Dulles International Airport is the major air terminal for the nation's capital, handling over 20 million passengers a year.

Frequent Southwest flyers may be concerned by the news. Moreover, as noted in Reader's Digest, the presence of budget airlines in the market lowers ticket prices across all air carriers. Scott Keyes, founder of flight deal platform the Going App, told the magazine, "Even if you never fly low-cost airlines, you still owe them a debt of gratitude for driving fares lower on the airlines you do fly." So as budget airlines disappear from an airport, prices could quickly rise in lockstep.

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Read more: 5 Changes Coming To American Airlines In 2026

When do the Southwest flight reductions take effect?

Southwest flight over D.C. - Artem Onoprienko/Shutterstock

Southwest will end all flights to and from O'Hare and Dulles airports starting June 4, 2026  all flights up to and including June 3 are set to go ahead as planned. A spokesperson for the airline told the New York Post that travelers who have booked flights from June 4 onwards are entitled to compensation. "All affected customers have been contacted and offered an opportunity to rebook or to receive a full refund," they said. Nevertheless, frequent flyers generally view the move as a continuation of Southwest's downfall and a net negative to the consumer.

"Southwest got rid of free checked bags, is getting rid of useful routes, doesn't have the appeal of honest boarding, and now has nothing to offer compared to other carriers," wrote one commenter on Reddit, echoing the sentiment of many others in the forum. That said, if you've got brand loyalty and are determined to stick with Southwest, you can book flights from the aforementioned regional airports it still serves. Alternatively, consider some of the other budget carriers operating out of Dulles and O'Hare.

Spirit, which was quietly named America's best low-cost airline in 2025, flies from O'Hare to airports on the East and West coasts, as well as Mexico and other parts of Central and South America. According to WalletHub's rankings, which also named Spirit the best overall airline, the budget carrier scored well for affordability and safety, despite languishing near the bottom of the comfort ratings. Budget airlines like Frontier, Contour, and Allegiant fly from Dulles, the last of which won the Skytrax World Airline Award for best low-cost air carrier in North America in 2025. It's domestic flights from Dulles travel to cities including Austin, Savannah, and Nashville.

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Read the original article on Islands.
President Donald Trump is weighing a reset of ICE operations after private talks at the White House with senior aides and First Lady Melania Trump, according to a Wall Street Journal report published this week, with the president said to be pushing for a narrower focus on what he called 'bad guys' rather than tactics that create 'chaos in American cities.'

The account has not been independently confirmed by the administration, and the White House insists there has been no change in policy, so the reported shift should be treated with caution for now.

For context, the reported rethink follows months of scrutiny over ICE tactics and political blowback inside Trump's own circle. The Journal report, echoed elsewhere, says Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has been central to the internal push for a course correction because aggressive enforcement has started to look less like a signature strength and more like a midterm liability.

Why Donald Trump Is Reshaping the ICE Message

At the centre of the story is language, which in politics is rarely just language. The Journal report says Trump has told aides he wants the emphasis placed on arresting 'bad guys' and less on the phrase 'mass deportation,' a notable shift from a president who built much of his political brand on maximalist immigration rhetoric.

It suggests not a moral epiphany but a tactical correction, the sort of adjustment administrations make when the headlines turn sour and voters begin to flinch.

Will ICE go away?



Trump WANTS TO LOWER THE PROFILE on MASS DEPORTATION  Directing top advisers to adopt a new approach  WSJ pic.twitter.com/DouLy19fsg  RT (@RT_com) March 20, 2026

The White House, however, is not entertaining the idea of a retreat. Abigail Jackson, speaking to the Journal, said, 'Nobody is changing the administration's immigration enforcement agenda. President Trump's highest priority has always been the deportation of illegal alien criminals who endanger American communities.' That denial matters because it leaves the administration in a familiar position, publicly rigid and privately flexible, with the official line standing even as reports of internal anxiety multiply.

NOW - Reporter: "Is your mission now to deport everyone who came in illegally?"



Trump: "We are totally focused on criminals, really bad criminals. Now you could say people that came in illegally are criminals, but I'm talking about murderers from different countries." pic.twitter.com/OdlrhyFOe5  Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 5, 2026

One reason this story has travelled so quickly is that the underlying numbers point to movement, even if the politics remain uncertain. Reports citing people familiar with enforcement trends say daily immigrant arrests have already fallen from more than 1,500 to around 1,200.

That is not a symbolic dip. It is a material slowdown, and one that makes the claim of no operational change harder to present as entirely straightforward.

The Politics Behind the ICE Reset

The pressure appears to have intensified after two American citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, both 37, died during separate ICE raids in Minneapolis, cases that generated fierce criticism and sharpened attention on the agency's conduct. Those deaths seem to have shifted the internal mood, not least because they handed Trump the kind of coverage he dislikes most, sustained, visual and politically expensive.

President Trump makes an offer as the standoff drags on.



Bodycams, visible IDs, and limits on ICE enforcement are on the table. pic.twitter.com/qAl06t3nEt  Brandon Straka #WalkAway (@BrandonStraka) March 18, 2026

The same reports place this against wider upheaval at the Department of Homeland Security. Kristi Noem has been described in follow-up coverage as having been pushed out after intense scrutiny over the department's operations, with Trump reportedly complaining about the negative headlines produced under her watch.

In her place, Senator Markwayne Mullin has signalled a quieter style of management, telling a Senate hearing this week, 'My goal in six months is that we're not in the lead story every single day.'

Trump on his Markwayne Mullin: "He's a brutal human being."



This is the kind of person Trump is putting in charge of ICE. pic.twitter.com/lZ7oLiujgf  First To Hear It (@firsttohearit) March 17, 2026

Mullin's formulation is revealing in its own right. He did not promise a softer department but a less visible one, which is a different ambition entirely and arguably the more politically realistic of the two. Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, has meanwhile backed him, saying this week that Mullin is 'focused on the mission,' despite his limited experience in the role.

That leaves Trump trying to thread a very Trumpian needle. He wants the deterrent effect, the arrests and the hard-line credentials, but apparently with fewer lurid images, fewer chaotic raids in major cities and fewer stories that portray ICE as the administration's most combustible instrument.

If the Journal's account is correct, the president has not abandoned the politics of force. He is seeking to smooth the optics before they begin to damage him.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
Amber Sherlock lodges legal complaint against Nine

Dumped after 18 years at Nine, Amber Sherlock turns to high profile media lawyer John Laxon.

Former Nine News presenter Amber Sherlock has lodged a legal complaint with the Federal Court following her retrenchment last November.

According to The Australian she lodged a statement of claim with the Federal Court on March 9, accusing Nine of dismissing her in contravention of a general protection.

Sherlock joined Nine in 2007, but was culled in up to 50 redundancies in Broadcasting and Streaming Divisions.

She is now being represented by high profile media employment lawyer John Laxon, whose previous clients include Airlie Walsh, Amanda Paterson, Robert Ovadia, Mark Llewellyn, Simon Reeve, Amy Tauber and more.

A first salvo fired would appear to be an interview given to Stellar magazine in which Sherlock said, I dont think it was a financial reason. Its unfortunate and I think the people that have gone on and are stepping into the role I was doing are 10 to 15 years younger than me.

She added, Over the course of Nine, I think Ive done over 5000 bulletins. I mean, thats a lot. I was so privileged to have the opportunity to be in peoples lounge rooms.

Now being replaced by 20-or30-year-olds  I know Hollywood might have a lot to answer for because maybe 50-year-olds are looking like 20- or 30-year-olds  [we need to have] management accept that people are OK seeing themselves reflected on the TV.

But a Nine spokesperson told Yahoo, Nine does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of age or any other factor.

We strongly reject any suggestion that this influences any decision to remove a role that is no longer required in our business.

The dedicated role of the 6pm weather presenter for 9News Sydney was made redundant in November 2025.

Since then, a number of different reporters and presenters have presented the 6pm weather in addition to filling other roles across the network.
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Cardinal Gioan Baotixita Pham Minh Man. Photo: TGPSG.

According to an announcement from the Archdiocese, parish churches across the region tolled mourning bells for 10 minutes at 8 pm the same evening, bidding farewell to the Cardinal as he returned to God.

Born in 1934 in Ca Mau, Cardinal Pham Minh Man was ordained a priest in 1965. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the My Tho Diocese in 1993.

During his time leading the Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese, he placed strong emphasis on pastoral life closely linked with social responsibility, encouraging the faithful to actively engage in community activities.

He played a significant role in promoting dialogue, strengthening unity within the Catholic community, and consolidating Church life during the countrys reform period. He was widely respected for his simple and humble lifestyle.

Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man was born on March 5, 1934, in Hoa Thanh, Ca Mau.

From 1944 to 1946, he studied at Cu Lao Gieng Minor Seminary, before continuing his formation at Phnom Penh Minor Seminary in Cambodia from 1946 to 1954.

Between 1954 and 1956, he pursued philosophical studies at Saint Joseph Major Seminary in Saigon. After a period of teaching in Bac Lieu, he returned in 1961 to undertake four years of theological studies.

On May 25, 1965, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Giacobe Nguyen Ngoc Quang of the Can Tho Diocese at Can Tho Cathedral, after which he taught at A Thanh Quy Minor Seminary.

From 1968 to 1971, he studied administration and education at Loyola University in the US. Upon returning to Vietnam, he continued teaching and was appointed Rector of A Thanh Quy Minor Seminary in 1974. In 1988, he became the founding Rector of Thanh Quy Major Seminary.

On March 22, 1993, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the My Tho Diocese by Pope John Paul II and was consecrated bishop on August 11 the same year.

In March 1998, he was appointed Archbishop of the Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese and officially assumed the role on April 2.

On October 21, 2003, he was elevated to Cardinal in Rome. He also served in the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, as well as the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man retired on March 22, 2014.

Nguyen Hue
A ceremony was held at Da Nang International Airport on March 20 to celebrate the inaugural flights operated by AirAsia.

At 3:20pm, flight Z2824 of Philippines AirAsia from Ninoy Aquino International Airport landed in Da Nang, carrying 180 passengers. The ManilaDa Nang route will operate four flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using Airbus A320 aircraft.

Later the same day, at 5:55 pm, flight QZ480 of Indonesia AirAsia from Ngurah Rai International Airport arrived with another 180 passengers. This marks the first direct air link between Bali and Da Nang, also operating four times weekly on the same schedule with Airbus A320 aircraft.

Passengers on the two new international routes, Da NangManila and Da NangBali, receive gifts upon arrival in Da Nang. (Photo: VNA)

The welcoming event, held at Terminal T2, was attended by representatives of the municipal Peoples Committee, the Indonesian Embassy in Vietnam, relevant agencies, and the airline. Activities included a ceremonial water salute, cultural performances, and the presentation of flowers and souvenirs to passengers.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi highlighted that the launch of the ManilaDa Nang and BaliDa Nang routes plays an important role in expanding the citys aviation network, contributing to tourism growth, trade promotion, and cultural exchange. The new routes are expected to shorten travel time and improve access to key regional markets.

According to Jane Runkat, Minister Counsellor of the Indonesian Embassy in Vietnam, travel demand between Vietnam and Indonesia has surged, with over 300,000 passenger movements recorded in 2025 and bilateral trade reaching 17.2 billion USD. The BaliDa Nang direct service is anticipated to further boost cooperation across multiple sectors.

The introduction of these routes is expected to strengthen Da Nangs position as an attractive destination in the region while opening up new opportunities to attract international visitors in the coming years./. VNA
For an agriculture-based economy such as Vietnam, the volatility highlights the need to secure fertiliser supply and contain input costs to protect farm production from external shocks.



Domestic fertiliser prices often move in tandem with international trends. When global prices surge, local producers tend to adjust their selling prices to align with market levels and take advantage of export opportunities.



Market observations have shown that several wholesale warehouses and distributors have announced new price increases.



At the retail level, urea prices in many areas range between 610,000 - 650,000 VND per 50-kilogram bag for products from the PetroVietnam Ca Mau Fertiliser Joint Stock Company, while urea from the PetroVietnam Fertiliser and Chemicals Corporation (Phu My) is priced at around 610,000  660,000 VND per bag.



Other fertilisers also remain at relatively high levels. DAP Hong Ha is sold at around 1.251.3 million VND per bag, granular potassium fertiliser at about 500,000  530,000 VND and NPK 16-16-8 at roughly 600,000  750,000 VND depending on region and distributor.



Compared with late February, several common fertilisers, including urea from Ca Mau and Phu My, NPK 16-16-8 and powdered potassium, have increased by about 10,000 VND per 50kg bag, indicating that the domestic market has begun reacting to the global price rally.



Shipping risks



According to Phung Ha, Chairman of the Vietnam Fertiliser Association, disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz are a major factor behind the surge in fertiliser prices, as the waterway is a critical route for global fertiliser shipments.



Different fertilisers rely on different raw materials. Urea production depends largely on natural gas or coal, while phosphate-based fertilisers such as DAP require apatite ore. If the strait were disrupted, shipments of sulphur, urea and ammonia, key inputs for nitrogen fertilisers, could be significantly affected.



Each month, around 1.21.5 million tonnes of urea, 1.51.8 million tonnes of sulphur and 400,000500,000 tonnes of ammonia are transported through the route. Ammonia is a key input for nitrogen fertilisers such as urea, MAP, DAP and SA, while sulphur is used to produce sulphuric acid, an essential material for fertilisers including DAP, SSP and SOP.



Logistics costs could also surge if shipping routes are disrupted, as most ammonia carriers and bulk vessels transporting sulphur cannot easily reroute. Without an alternative maritime route out of the Gulf that bypasses the strait, shipping expenses such as container rates, insurance premiums, fuel and labour costs may rise sharply.



In addition, geopolitical tensions have forced some fertiliser plants in Iran to suspend production of urea and ammonia. Facilities in Egypt and Jordan have also been affected due to disruptions in natural gas supplies from Israel.



Domestic cushion



These global factors could influence fertiliser prices in Vietnam in the coming period, particularly as the country remains a major importer.



Data from the General Department of Customs show that in 2025 Vietnam imported about 6.2 million tonnes of fertilisers worth roughly 2.2 billion USD. Potassium fertiliser accounted for the largest share at around 1.2 million tonnes, valued at 437 million USD. Imports of SA fertiliser reached about 1.2 million tonnes worth 193 million USD.



Despite having domestic production facilities, Vietnam still imported around 576,000 tonnes of urea worth 226.4 million USD in 2025. Imports of NPK fertiliser reached about 867,000 tonnes, while DAP imports totalled roughly 575,000 tonnes, valued at 414.6 million USD and 415.1 million USD respectively.



However, experts believe the situation remains manageable thanks to Vietnams relatively strong domestic fertiliser industry. Major plants such as those operated by the PetroVietnam Fertiliser and Chemicals Corporation, the PetroVietnam Ca Mau Fertiliser Joint Stock Company, the Ha Bac Nitrogenous Fertiliser and Chemicals Company and the Ninh Binh Nitrogenous Fertiliser Company help ensure stable urea supply for the domestic market.



According to the Vietnam Fertiliser Association, the country consumes around 1010.5 million tonnes of inorganic fertiliser annually through a combination of domestic production and imports.



Vietnam is capable of producing most major fertiliser types, including urea, DAP, SSP, FMP, SOP and various NPK blends and even exports moderate volumes of some products such as SSP, DAP and NPK.



According to Nguyen Thi Hien, Deputy General Director of the PetroVietnam Ca Mau Fertiliser Joint Stock Company, the companys plant continues to operate steadily, producing its two core products: urea and NPK fertilisers.



She noted that global urea prices had been rising sharply, largely due to higher freight costs and that domestic prices could follow suit as the farming season approaches. Whether the increase would be sustained would depend on further developments in the global market.



Meanwhile, representatives from the PetroVietnam Fertiliser and Chemicals Corporation have said international urea prices are currently influenced by market sentiment amid geopolitical risks, though domestic plants are operating normally and local supply remains secure.



Managing volatility



Despite relatively stable supply conditions, experts warn that Vietnams fertiliser market is not immune to global volatility. As global commodity markets become increasingly interconnected, geopolitical tensions in distant regions can still ripple through supply chains and affect prices.



Closely monitoring developments in global energy and logistics markets will therefore be crucial for both businesses and regulators in responding to potential price fluctuations.



Vietnamese fertiliser producers have already developed strategies to cope with such shocks. These include diversifying supply sources, maintaining stable production, cutting intermediate costs, developing substitute products and investing in advanced technologies to improve efficiency and reduce production costs.



Industry experts also recommend that producers prioritise domestic supply, reduce energy and raw material consumption and accelerate research into enhanced efficiency fertilisers.



For farmers, applying fertilisers according to the four rights principle  using the right type, right quantity, at the right time and in the right way  can help optimise fertiliser use and mitigate the impact of price fluctuations./.





VNA
Voter turnout nationwide reached the highest level ever recorded, Nguyen Huu Dong, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Deputy Affairs and member of the National Election Council (NEC), said at a press conference on March 21 announcing the resolution on the results of the general election and the list of elected deputies to the 16th NA.



According to preliminary reports from 34 provinces and centrally-governed cities, as many as 76,198,214 out of 76,423,940 eligible voters cast ballots, representing a turnout of 99.7% - the highest-ever rate recorded.



Regarding the election of deputies to the 16th NA, a total of 500 deputies were elected from 863 candidates. Of those nominated by central agencies and organisations, 214 were elected while two were unsuccessful.



The results indicated that the composition of the new legislature has reduced the proportion of part-time deputies holding concurrent posts in executive or judicial bodies, while increasing the number of full-time legislators. The proportion of deputies expected to serve full-time is projected at 40%, the highest to date.



Notably, for the first time in 16 terms, the elected rate of centrally nominated candidates standing in local constituencies was the highest ever, with 214 out of 216 elected. All deputies expected to serve full-time secured seats. The NA will also, for the first time, include a representative of the O Du ethnic group, one of the smallest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, while the proportion of women deputies remains high, at 30%.



As for the election of deputies to Peoples Councils at all levels, reports from the 34 provinces and cities showed that 2,552 provincial-level councillors were elected in accordance with the law, along with 72,437 commune-level ones.

Nguyen Huu Dong, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Deputy Affairs and member of the National Election Council (NEC), speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA).

Dong emphasised that the success of the general election reflected thorough, democratic and lawful personnel preparations, as well as a strong sense of political awareness and civic responsibility among voters.



He added that political security, public order and safety were maintained throughout the electoral process, with no serious incidents or unusual situations arising. The number of complaints and petitions related to the event was significantly lower than in previous terms.



Dong identified close and decisive leadership from the Party Central Committee as well as its Politburo and Secretariat and Party committees at all levels as the foremost factor ensuring the success of the election.



Public confidence, national unity, citizens sense of responsibility and the active participation of the entire political system are also elements underpinning the successful outcome, he said./. VNA
The disruptions are already rippling through exporters in Ho Chi Minh City, forcing companies to adjust production schedules, diversify markets and rethink supply chains in order to maintain export orders and protect employment.



Following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, several key maritime routes such as the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz have faced heightened security risks.



The disruptions have caused major changes in global shipping routes, pushing up logistics costs and lengthening delivery times, particularly on AsiaEurope trade lanes.



Shipping disruption



At Saigon Ports Hiep Phuoc terminal, shipping schedules have been frequently adjusted in recent days, reducing operational stability.



Cargo turnover has slowed as incoming and outgoing shipments have become uneven, affecting businesses cash flow.



The decline in vessel calls has also reduced workloads for port operators, shipping lines, freight forwarders and logistics companies.



Port workers involved in container handling and operations have been directly affected.



Nguyen Anh Hao, Acting Director of Saigon Port Hiep Phuoc, said many shipping lines serving Europe-bound routes had been forced to alter their itineraries, rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope instead of passing through the Suez Canal.



The detour would extend shipping time by around seven to 15 days, leading to higher fuel, insurance and freight costs.



However, thanks to a diversified customer base and a significant share of intra-Asia cargo, the ports throughput remains within controllable levels, Hao said.



We are working closely with shipping lines and logistics firms to update information early and adjust operational plans, helping minimise additional costs for customers.



Export pressure



Pham Van Xo, Chairman of the citys Import-Export Association, said longer shipping routes had reduced vessel availability while demand for cargo transport remained high.



This resulted in shortages of container space and rising fuel costs, insurance premiums and security surcharges.



Disruptions in global shipping routes not only increase production costs but may also affect employment in export industries, he said.



When export orders are delayed or logistics costs rise too sharply, businesses are forced to adjust their production plans.



In the garment sector, Pham Quang Anh, General Director of Dony Garment Company, said the Middle East remained a key export market for the firm, particularly Jordan, which had accounted for more than 20% of the companys export revenue for many years.



However, rising shipping costs and longer delivery times are raising concerns among buyers about missing seasonal sales windows.



Dony is currently increasing production capacity to meet delivery schedules. But even after production is completed, securing shipping slots on schedule remains uncertain, Anh said.



Fortunately, most of the companys orders were shipped before mid-February, leaving only a final container awaiting departure.



Anh noted that most of Donys contracts follow FOB (Free on Board) terms, meaning the company does not bear direct responsibility for ocean freight costs.



However, if high shipping costs affect buyers ability to sell products, the company would be willing to share part of the cost by supporting between 500 - 1,000 USD per container to maintain long-term partnerships.



If the disruptions continue, we have contingency plans to diversify markets, he said.



Besides the US and the Middle East, we are expanding exports to Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia, while strengthening the domestic market starting from 2025.



Seafood exporters have also expressed concerns as shipments already at sea face uncertain arrival times while new orders are being postponed.



This situation has affected businesses cash flow and created pressure to maintain payroll and labour stability.



Experts warned that if disruptions persist, not only the logistics sector but also major export industries such as garments, footwear, wood products, agriculture and seafood may face ripple effects.



Declining orders or rising costs could force companies to scale down production, directly affecting workers income and employment.



Despite the challenges, businesses in Ho Chi Minh City are actively seeking solutions such as diversifying shipping routes, expanding markets and strengthening negotiations with partners.



These flexible strategies are helping companies sustain exports while maintaining jobs and livelihoods for workers.



Market shift



Rising tensions in the Middle East are not only disrupting global shipping routes but also highlighting the urgent need for Vietnamese businesses to expand markets and find alternative partners.



Phan Van Co, Marketing Director of Vrice Rice Company, said many international shipping lines had temporarily suspended cargo services to ports in the Middle East and Africa.



As a result, some shipments currently in transit were unable to dock at their intended ports, forcing companies to wait for updates from shipping lines or consider redirecting cargo to other markets, he said.



Co said the company was negotiating with buyers to resolve shipments stranded at ports.



However, additional costs for container storage and port handling had become a significant burden.



To reduce risks, the company was accelerating exports to alternative markets.



According to Anh of Dony, recent geopolitical events have prompted businesses to rethink market strategies and production models.



Experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war showed that companies should avoid over-reliance on a single market or supply chain.



We believe the period from 2020 to 2030 will remain unpredictable, he said.



Our strategy is to stay lean, simple and efficient. Instead of expanding factories excessively during peak orders, we integrate resources and cooperate with satellite partners for production.



Adapting strategies



This flexible production model helps maintain stable employment even when orders decline suddenly, while also reducing operational costs during market volatility, according to Anh.



Seafood exporters are facing similar challenges.



Le Hang, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said geopolitical tensions were forcing businesses to restructure markets and supply chains.



Companies need to optimise logistics costs, renegotiate freight contracts and diversify shipping routes to limit additional surcharges, according to Hang.



Businesses are also advised to plan shipments earlier than usual to reduce the risk of transport disruptions.



Maintaining cold storage facilities at regional transit hubs and prioritising long-term shipping contracts are also considered effective measures.



From a logistics perspective, Nguyen Le Chon Tam, General Director of Saigon Port and Chairman of Saigon Port Hiep Phuoc, said the port was implementing three groups of solutions to adapt to market fluctuations.



In the short term, the port was optimising berth and container yard operations, controlling internal costs and providing flexible storage arrangements for customers.



In the medium term, it was accelerating digital transformation in port management, increasing automation and expanding cooperation with logistics companies to offer integrated services.



In the long term, the port aimed to diversify markets, develop integrated logistics ecosystems and invest in greener, more sustainable infrastructure.



Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City's Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (Hepza) said geopolitical tensions were affecting import-export activities and supply chains of enterprises operating in the citys industrial zones.



Companies were facing rising surcharges due to security risks, higher transport costs and potential shortages of raw materials.



Some businesses were also encountering difficulties in international payments due to disruptions in regional banking systems.



Hepza said it would strengthen support for enterprises in administrative procedures related to import-export activities, including certificates of origin and work permits for foreign experts.



Authorities would also closely monitor the situation, particularly for companies heavily dependent on Middle Eastern and European markets.



Economic experts emphasised that Vietnamese businesses need long-term market strategies, diversified partners and flexible transport routes to better adapt to the increasingly volatile global trade environment./. VNA
According to the citys Traffic Police Division (PC08) under the municipal Department of Public Security, the unit currently manages and operates nearly 2,000 traffic surveillance cameras installed along key streets and major routes, including National Highway 1, which runs through Ho Chi Minh City from the border with Dong Nai province to the area adjacent toTay Ninh province.



The system is also linked with surveillance camera networks in several neighbouring localities, enabling authorities to enhance traffic management and improve the effectiveness of law enforcement.



The Traffic Police Division said camera-based enforcement has significantly strengthened the detection and handling of traffic violations, while also helping raise public awareness of traffic regulations and encouraging greater compliance among road users.



Traffic police urged residents and drivers to strictly observe regulations on speed limits, traffic signals, road signs, and parking rules when travelling on roads./. VNA
This view was expressed by Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang in an open letter to the business community and industry associations in the sector, calling for proactive responses to global volatility to ensure this years growth targets are met.



Escalating tensions in the Middle East are negatively affecting the global economy, including Vietnam, Thang said.



The most immediate consequences include risks of supply chain disruptions, rising logistics costs, and increasing prices of input materials.



These factors directly affect production costs, business efficiency, and the competitiveness of Vietnams agricultural products in international markets.



In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) has identified key priorities, including stabilising production, ensuring the supply of inputs, reducing costs, and strengthening self-reliance. At the same time, the sector must maintain export chains and make effective use of natural resources such as land and minerals.



To respond proactively to these challenges, the minister called on businesses and industry associations to adapt flexibly to market fluctuations and share difficulties with producers, based on the principle of harmonised interests and shared risks.



A key solution highlighted is the stabilisation of input prices. The minister urged suppliers of agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, animal feed and plant protection products, along with logistics companies, to maintain or reduce prices while maximising capacity to ensure supply and support production.



At the same time, maintaining stable purchasing of agricultural products is considered crucial to protecting farmers. The minister encouraged businesses to increase purchasing, storage and processing during peak harvest periods to avoid the familiar scenario of bumper crops but falling prices, thereby boosting farmers confidence in production.



Another key direction is strengthening value chain linkages in agriculture. Thang called on businesses, cooperatives and farmers to enhance co-operation across the entire chain, from production to consumption, with a focus on sustainable contract farming models.



Amid ongoing challenges in international logistics, the domestic market continues to be seen as an important pillar. The ministry recommended that businesses boost domestic consumption, support the campaign Vietnamese people prioritise using Vietnamese goods, and flexibly adjust export plans to adapt to changing conditions.



Alongside consolidating the domestic market, the minister also emphasised the need to diversify export markets.



Businesses are encouraged to expand their presence in potential regions such as East Asia, South Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America to reduce dependence on traditional markets and offset disruptions caused by conflict.



Effectively utilising free trade agreements, strengthening trade promotion, participating in trade fairs, and developing cross-border e-commerce are also identified as key measures to expand market access.



In addition, green transformation is seen as an inevitable trend. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment encourages businesses to adopt circular economy and low-carbon models, while meeting international standards to enhance the value and competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products.



In particular, adapting to new international regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation is highlighted as a way to strengthen the global positioning of Vietnams agricultural brands.



In his letter, the minister also underlined the role of industry associations in connecting businesses with regulators.



Associations are encouraged to proactively gather and promptly report difficulties faced by businesses related to mechanisms, policies, administrative procedures, credit, taxation, logistics and insurance.



On that basis, MAE pledged to listen, address issues, and advise the Government on timely solutions, thereby creating more favourable conditions for business development./. VNA
According to data from the General Department of Customs, by the end of February this year, Vietnam exported 35,570 tonnes of pepper, generating US$231.2 million in revenue. Compared to the same period last year, exports rose sharply by 30.8 percent in volume and 25.6 percent in value.

In 2026, global pepper supply is expected to decline by 15-20 percent due to shrinking inventories in major producing countries. Meanwhile, global demand is forecast to recover, particularly in the US as tariffs are reduced to zero.

Demand from China is also expected to increase, where inventories are believed to be low and may not be sufficient to meet domestic needs. This creates favorable conditions for Vietnams pepper industry to accelerate exports and maintain growth this year.

After three consecutive months of decline, the average export price of pepper rebounded in February, reaching US$6,609 per tonne, up 2.8 percent compared to January 2026.

However, for the first two months of the year as a whole, the average export price still fell by 4 percent year-on-year, to US$6,499 per tonne.

Over the past two months, the US remained Vietnams largest export market for pepper, accounting for 25.09 percent of total volume, up from 21.57 percent in the same period last year.

Notably, Vietnams pepper exports to Thailand surged, making it the third-largest export market in the first two months of 2026, after the US and Germany.

In January alone, Vietnam exported 1,940 tonnes of pepper to Thailand, earning US$14.02 million - an increase of 124.8 percent in volume and 103.5 percent in value compared to the same period in 2025.

Thailand is emerging as a key export destination for Vietnamese pepper, with import demand rising rapidly in recent years.

Statistics from Thailands Ministry of Commerce show that the countrys pepper imports increased from 5,990 tonnes in 2020 to 9,652 tonnes in 2025, representing an average annual growth rate of 10 percent over the period.

This year, imports have continued to rise sharply. In January alone, Thailand imported 978 tonnes of pepper worth approximately US$7.48 million, up 121.2 percent in volume and 105 percent in value compared to January 2025.

Thailand currently imports pepper from 11 markets, with Vietnam accounting for 99.63 percent of total import volume, making it by far the dominant supplier.

According to industry experts, demand for spices in Thailands food and tourism sectors is increasing rapidly, while domestic supply remains insufficient or costly. As a result, the country has been forced to boost imports to meet consumption and processing needs.

At the same time, Thailand is also increasing its pepper reserves amid rising global demand and declining production.

Imports are expected to continue growing in the coming months, offering Vietnam an opportunity to further expand its pepper exports to this market.

Tam An
The aircraft carrying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-level Vietnamese delegation arrived at Vnukovo-2 International Airport in Moscow at 5:00 pm on March 22 (local time), beginning a four-day official visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.



The official welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was held solemnly at Vnukovo-2 International Airport, chaired by Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrey Yurevich Rudenko.



Among those welcoming the Vietnamese leader at the airport were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Rudenko; Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko; representatives of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi; along with embassy staff and members of the Vietnamese community in Russia.



This marks the first visit by a high-ranking Vietnamese leader to Russia in 2026. During the visit, PM Chinh is scheduled to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin; meet with President Vladimir Putin, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia Valentina Matviyenko and Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin.



PM Chinh and Russian leaders are expected to discuss measures to further strengthen VietnamRussia relations, particularly in politics, and expand cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, investment, infrastructure development, science and technology, education and training, culture and arts, with special emphasis on nuclear energy and oil and gas.

The official welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was held solemnly at Vnukovo-2 International Airport, chaired by Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrey Yurevich Rudenko. Photo: VNA

During the visit, the PM will also lay flowers at the monument to President Ho Chi Minh and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers; and receive veterans, representatives of the RussiaVietnam Friendship Association, friends, and contributors to bilateral relations.



He will hold meetings with leaders of major Russian corporations and enterprises; engage with VietnamRussia businesses; visit educational and high-tech facilities; tour notable Vietnamese investment projects in Russia; and meet with embassy staff and the Vietnamese community in the country.



The visit is expected to comprehensively promote cooperation across multiple sectors and set a long-term vision for bilateral relations in politics, security, defence, foreign affairs, economy, trade, science and technology, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges. It aims to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the benefit of both nations and for regional and global peace, cooperation, stability, and development./. VNA
Accompanying the Prime Minister are Deputy Prime Ministers Tran Hong Ha and Bui Thanh Son, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi; among others.



Built on a solid foundation of traditional friendship, mutual understanding and support, this official visit - the first high-level visit by a Vietnamese leader to Russia in 2026 is of great significance. It aims to strengthen bilateral ties while promoting international cooperation opportunities to serve Vietnams development in the coming period.



Taking place shortly after Vietnam successfully held the 14th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and Peoples Councils at all levels for the 20262031 term, the visit reflects the determination of the Vietnamese Party, army, and people to boost economic development while fostering support and assistance from international partners, including Russia.



The main focus of the visit is to deepen bilateral relations, especially in politics, and expand economic-trade cooperation, with a strong emphasis on investment, energy, and oil and gas.

The farewell ceremony for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the high-level Vietnamese delegation at Noi Bai International Airport. Photo VNA



Against the backdrop of global energy security challenges arising from conflicts in the Middle East, PM Chinhs visit is expected to elevate bilateral cooperation across all sectors, laying a foundation for strategic collaboration in key areas and creating breakthroughs in a new era of development. The two countries are expected to sign several important agreements, including the one on enhanced cooperation in the energy sector, particularly nuclear power and oil and gas.



This visit underscores the importance both countries attach to their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the benefit of their people and for regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development./. VNA
The discovery was made on the afternoon of March 22 by residents of Tam Tan hamlet, who spotted the lifeless fish drifting near the shoreline close to the Dinh Thay Thim area.

The fish had a long, flattened body, with a striking red dorsal fin running from head to tail. Its head featured elongated barbels, while part of its tail appeared to be missing.

Local residents worked together to bring the fish onto the shore. Based on its physical characteristics, they identified it as an oarfish, a rarely seen deep-sea species.

Considering the creature to be sacred and unusual, villagers organized a burial ceremony later that same evening in accordance with local customs.

The oarfish, known scientifically as one of the longest bony fish in the world, has a ribbon-like, silver body and a vivid red dorsal fin extending along its length. It typically inhabits ocean depths ranging from 200 to 1,000 meters and is seldom seen near coastal areas.

Most oarfish measure between 3 and 8 meters, though some exceptional specimens can reach up to 17 meters in length and weigh as much as 270kg.

The species is surrounded by numerous legends, including beliefs that it is a messenger from the sea gods palace, often associated in folklore with omens of earthquakes or tsunamis.

Local residents joined forces to bring the fish ashore. Photo: T.H.

The oarfish measured around 4 meters in length, with its tail severed. Photo: T.H.

Quang Hung
The event also kicked off the programme Children and youth acting for clean air and a sustainable future.



Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh underscored that water, climate, and energy are fundamental pillars of sustainable development. In Vietnam, water resources and weather patterns influence every aspect of life, from food and water security to livelihoods, ecosystem stability, and economic growth, he said.



However, climate change is intensifying challenges. Rising water demand, pollution, and ecosystem degradation are placing growing pressure on infrastructure and daily life. Meanwhile, extreme weather events such as storms, heavy rainfall, droughts, saltwater intrusion, and landslides are becoming more frequent and severe.



These challenges call for urgent action to strengthen water governance, improve forecasting, enhance disaster preparedness, and advance green and sustainable development, Thanh said.



The ministry called for concerted action across all sectors, including government, businesses, and the public. Key priorities include developing a national natural resources database, applying technology in environmental monitoring, and integrating climate adaptation into sectoral and local planning.



The communitys engagement remains central. Efforts should focus on energy conservation, water protection, and promoting gender equality, particularly the role of women and children in water management. Businesses are encouraged to drive innovation, adopt circular economy models, develop low-carbon solutions, and improve resource efficiency. Individuals can contribute through simple actions such as saving energy and water, reducing waste, and embracing sustainable habits.



A highlight of the event was the launch of the youth-focused programme aimed at empowering young people to take practical environmental action in schools and communities.

UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Silvia Danailov speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Silvia Danailov emphasised the vulnerability of children to climate risks.



Nearly 26.2 million children in Vietnam, or 99.5%, are exposed to environmental and climate risks at varying levels, she said. Their voices must be heard and translated into meaningful action.



Experts noted that young people are not only beneficiaries but also key drivers of change, and require support from schools, authorities, businesses, and society to maximise their impact.



This years global campaigns highlight shared responsibility. World Water Day focuses on Water and gender equality, drawing attention to the role of women and children. World Meteorological Day, themed Observe today, protect tomorrow, underscores the importance of monitoring systems in disaster forecasting. Earth Hour 2026, under the theme Green innovation, green future, promotes energy conservation and sustainable lifestyles.



The launch featured a range of interactive activities, including a water protection exhibition, an environmental creativity contest, a 60-minute walk for a green future, and tree planting.



Thanh stressed that action must not be delayed, noting that safeguarding water resources, protecting the environment, and improving air quality are shared responsibilities.



He added that collective efforts are key to building a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable Vietnam./. VNA
HONG KONG SAR - HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 March 2026 - CREGIS, a leading Hong Kong-based digital asset infrastructure provider, recently announced that its privatized deployment solution,, has officially been honored with theaward. The award was presented by Mr. Joseph Chan Ho-lim, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Government of Hong Kong, to CREGIS Founder and CEO, Shawn Yan. This distinction not only recognizes CREGIS's technical prowess but also marks its standing alongside industry leaders such as HSBC, AXA Hong Kong, ICBC (Asia), Bank of China(Hong Kong), and CITIC Bank (International) in driving innovation within Hong Kong's financial ecosystem.

CREGIS Nexus awarded "Excellent Brand of Enterprise Digital Asset Infrastructure.

In the convergence of traditional finance and digital assets, fiduciariesrepresented by custodian banks and trust companieshave long faced challenges regarding security, compliance, and high technical barriers. Relying solely on third-party services often means forfeiting critical control, while building internal systems entails prohibitive costs and risks. The CREGIS Nexus solution provides global licensed custodians, trust companies, and professional trustees with institutional-grade infrastructure that aligns with existing compliance and risk control frameworks, ensuring they maintain absolute "Asset Control."

"We are standing at a turning point in the evolution of financial infrastructure," said Shawn Yan, Founder and CEO of CREGIS. "For institutions bearing fiduciary responsibilities, asset security and compliant governance are paramount. Privatized deployment offers the highest level of autonomy, transparency, and business resilience."

CREGIS serves over 3,500 corporate clients and manages over $300 billion in transaction assets. The company has maintained a record of zero incidents over the years, with its business among financial institution clients growing at an annual rate of over 50%. This is because "Security Autonomy" and "Compliance Controllability" are at the core of CREGIS's mission.

The core advantage of the CREGIS Nexus solution lies in its reshaping of the underlying trust model. It deeply integrates TEE (Trusted Execution Environment) technology and seamlessly incorporates bank-grade Hardware Security Modules (HSM) compliant with FIPS 140-2/3 standards. This ensures that private keys are never exposed throughout their lifecycle, and all critical computations are completed within a client-controlled physical environment or a hardware-protected TEE secure zone, eliminating single points of failure and external interference.

CREGIS also addresses the complexities of operational and governance compliance. Its unique Declarative Intent Gateway (DIG) technology allows institutions to transform internal risk policies, compliance mandates, and trust agreement terms into programmable, immutable business logic. This ensures that every asset operation is not only cryptographically secure but also automatically executed at the business intent and compliance levels, with full auditability. This "Rules-as-Code" capability aligns perfectly with Hong Kong's maturing digital asset regulatory regime.

As a company with its global strategic headquarters in Hong Kong, CREGIS has introduced a "Tripartite Oversight" logical architecture for licensed institutions. This framework technically separates asset operational rights, ownership, and audit supervision rights, providing custodians and trustees with a ready-to-use digital upgrade solution that meets licensing requirements.

"CREGIS is closely monitoring the legislative progress of the licensing regime for digital asset custody service providers by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau(FSTB) and the Securities and Futures Commission(SFC)," Yan added. "Once the relevant regulatory framework is formally implemented, we plan to officially submit our application for a Hong Kong digital asset custody service license, leveraging the institutional-grade security and compliance capabilities built upon the CREGIS Nexus solution."

Hashtag: #cregis #cregisnexus #CEOShawnYan



https://www.cregis.com

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About CREGIS

CREGIS is a world-leading provider of enterprise-grade digital asset infrastructure, offering secure, scalable, and compliant solutions for institutional clients. Its core productsincluding MPC-based self-custody wallets, Wallet-as-a-Service (WaaS), payment engines, and CREGIS Nexusempower exchanges, fintech platforms, financial custodians, and Web3 businesses to manage digital assets with confidence. CREGIS has served over 3,500 enterprises globally, enabling them to accelerate their Web3 transformation and unlock new digital asset opportunities.



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FlipHTML5 introduces a blank newspaper template library, streamlining digital newspaper creation for publishers with interactive page-flipping effects, full customization, and advanced multimedia integration.

The demand for efficient digital publishing solutions has prompted publishers and content creators to seek versatile tools that simplify the newspaper creation process. FlipHTML5's blank newspaper template library provides a foundational framework that enables users to design newspapers tailored for various audiences and occasions. These templates eliminate the constraints of print formatting, offering flexibility for rapid content updates and seamless adaptation to evolving editorial needs.

FlipHTML5's blank newspaper templates stand out with their interactive page-flipping animation and accompanying sound, replicating the tactile experience of reading a physical newspaper. This feature enhances reader engagement by providing a visually appealing and immersive way to navigate publications. The digital format not only modernizes the reading process but also supports cross-device compatibility, making newspapers accessible on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Versatility is a defining characteristic of FlipHTML5's blank newspaper templates. Publishers can apply a template to a wide range of scenarios, such as daily news reports, themed wedding newspapers, technology trend digests, financial briefings, and school bulletins. The adaptable layout supports structured news columns, photo spreads, and editorial features, catering to both professional newsrooms and independent publishers. This level of flexibility enables educators, marketers, and event organizers to produce specialized publications without extensive design expertise.

Customization remains central to the FlipHTML5 platform. It allows users to modify logos, font styles, and color schemes within a blank newspaper template, ensuring alignment with brand identity or thematic requirements. The integrated multimedia editor facilitates the addition of videos, audio clips, links, and interactive elements, while the built-in AI Assistant streamlines writing, editing, and layout optimization. Once completed, digital newspapers can be shared through multiple channels, including direct URLs, QR codes, and embedding on websites.

"Our blank newspaper templates are designed to give publishers and organizations a flexible yet powerful starting point for creating digital newspapers that are both interactive and visually engaging," said Winston Zhang, CEO of FlipHTML5. "With advanced customization and multimedia support, FlipHTML5 continues to support the evolving needs of modern content creators."

To learn more about the blank newspaper template library, please visit FlipHTML5.
Wrexhams 20 million regeneration programme has been formally approved by the UK Government, confirming the full decade of funding for a plan that will include a new city centre youth zone and targeted measures to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

UK Government confirmed in Wrexham .the funding will go towards a new youth zone and making the town centre safer and more welcoming for everyone.

Back in 2023 it was announced Wrexham had been allocated 2m a year for ten years, however with a change in UK Government the funding had an uncertain future. The new UK Government confirmed as part of its Plan for Neighbourhoods the new 20m programme and the Wrexham City Board had been formed to steer how that cash would be used.

The overview plan document  viewable here as a PDF  was recently backed by Wrexham Councils Executive Board, submitted and now approved.

As it details, the idea for a Youth Zone grew out of a city-wide exercise called Just One Thing, launched in July 2024, that asked some residents what single change they would make to Wrexham city centre. More than 1,500 people responded, with over 90% of contributors under 18. Young people consistently called for safer spaces, better transport, and more opportunities to belong. That evidence was reinforced by The Big Conversation in 2023, which engaged more than 400 young adults and found widespread educational disengagement, loneliness, and economic anxiety among Wrexhams youth.

A visit to The Hive Youth Zone in Birkenhead, followed by two dedicated workshops asking what the best possible youth facility for Wrexham would look like, helped translate that into a concrete proposal.

The delivery timeline in the plan puts the opening of the Youth Zone in 2029 to 2030, with private sector capital investment of around 4 million expected alongside at least 700,000 per year in long-term revenue contributions.

Wrexhams MP Andrew Ranger welcomed the official approval of the Pride in Place programme from the the Ministry of Housing, he said We are a city with a massive heart and a global profile, but our success must be felt on our own doorstep.

By focusing on our young people, making our streets safer, and using our incredible culture as an economic engine, we are ensuring that Pride in Place is a reality for everyone who calls Wrexham home.

We are using culture as the spark, but safety and placemaking are the foundations. When people feel safe and proud of their surroundings, our businesses thrive and our community grows stronger.

I am proud to say that this Labour UK Government has stepped up where the previous Tory government did not. We have secured the 20 million necessary to actually get to work. This is a win for every resident who wants a safer, more vibrant, and more successful Wrexham. We are finally putting our money where our mouth is.

I am delighted to see these plans approved and I will continue to work with the City Board and partners to get delivery underway

UK Government Communities Secretary Steve Reed said: People have watched their communities decline for too long, with little say over how theyre run. This government is determined to change that  giving communities the tools, the funding and the power they need to rebuild.

From new playgrounds to reimagined high streets, were putting power back in peoples hands. People across the country will see and feel the difference this investment makes, restoring pride in local areas.

Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com
Waless First Minister has said corridor care at north Wales hospitals is absolutely unacceptable but refused to apologise or describe the situation as a crisis, after a television programme revealed almost 90,000 patients have been treated in corridors in north Wales over the past three years.

The exchange at First Ministers Questions in the Senedd came the morning after S4Cs Y Byd ar Bedwar broadcast a report on corridor care at hospitals in the region, including Glan Clwyd Hospital near Rhyl.

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar opened the questioning by telling Eluned Morgan the programme had revealed the scale of the problem in stark terms, citing the case of Steve Jones, a 68-year-old who spent 44 hours in a corridor at Glan Clwyd with a gangrenous gallbladder.

He described the situation there as a war zone, Millar said. Doctors tried to send him home due to bed pressures, and if it hadnt been for his wifes persistence as a former nurse. Because of her intervention, he was re-examined. If it hadnt been for her intervention, he would not have been rushed into emergency surgery to remove his gallbladder, and would likely now, unfortunately, have passed away.

Millar asked the First Minister directly whether she had watched the programme and whether she would accept the NHS in Wales was in a full-blown crisis.

Morgan said she had not seen the broadcast but was aware of the situation at Glan Clwyd.

I think the situation is absolutely unacceptable, she said. It is deeply upsetting for the people who are waiting to be treated there. Let me be clear: corridor care is unacceptable. That is the position of the Welsh Government.

The First Minister pointed to investment in community care, a 14 per cent increase in NHS staffing in recent years, and the development of the Royal Alexandra Hospital as measures that would help reduce pressure on Glan Clwyd. She did not use the word crisis.





Millar returned for a second question, telling the chamber the programme had also included testimony from a nurse at Ysbyty Gwynedd who said corridor care was a daily occurrence and that staff now feel ashamed of the substandard quality of care that theyre being forced to provide.

He then raised a separate incident he said occurred earlier this month, involving Nadia Wainwright of Henllan, whose partner had been taken ill.

She told about her horror at witnessing an elderly woman die alone, in distress, on a trolley in a corridor, with no dignity, in front of other patients, Millar said. Eventually a sheet was pulled over the face of that old lady while other patients were waiting for treatment around her. Its not good enough. It really isnt good enough. Im afraid that people are now frightened to go into these hospitals for treatment.

He asked the First Minister to apologise to patients and staff. Morgan did not do so. She said she worried every day about people who have been failed by the NHS in Wales but pointed to what she described as years of austerity under the previous UK Government as the root cause of the pressure on the system.





We have suffered 14 years of austerity, and now what weve got is the taps being turned on, the additional money, she said. Weve had the biggest uplift in funding weve had since the Senedd was established.

In a third exchange, Millar escalated his questioning, telling the chamber that the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, the Royal College of Nursing and the British Medical Association had all called for a significant increase in bed numbers. He asked whether the First Minister would pull the ripcord, declare a health emergency and surge those bed numbers.

Morgan rejected the call and turned her response on the Conservatives voting record in Westminster, accusing Millar of opposing funding for the NHS.

The waiting lists have come down seven months in a row, she said. This was a priority for us, and we are delivering on it.

She said the additional funding had come from the UK Labour Government, and challenged Millar directly: You had an opportunity to vote for additional money to go into the NHS, and you chose to vote against.

Millar had told the chamber the programme should be required viewing for every Senedd member: I would encourage every Member of the Senedd to watch it to see for themselves the scale of the challenge.

Spotted something? Got a story? email us at Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com
Kanye West settles copyright dispute with Memphis artists over "F## Sumn" sample. Details on the last-minute settlement before his 'Bully' album release.

AceShowbiz - Kanye West has resolved a copyright dispute with Memphis rappers Criminal Manne, DJ Squeeky, and the estate of the late Kilo G shortly before the release of his upcoming album Bully.

The settlement addresses claims related to an unauthorized sample used in Wests 2024 track F## Sumn, which features Ty Dolla $ign. The contested sample comes from the 1994 song Drink a Yak (Part 2) by the Memphis artists.

According to federal court documents filed in Tennessee, both parties have agreed in principle to settle all claims, with District Judge Thomas L. Parker giving them 30 days to finalize the written agreement. The original complaint was filed in November 2024, with the plaintiffs asserting that Wests team only sought clearance for the sample after F## Sumn was already released.

Negotiations became complicated when West dismissed his entire legal and business team months after the complaint was filed. While Ty Dolla $ign settled his share of the lawsuit in July 2025, West remained legally responsible until this recent agreement.

This settlement is timely, coming just days before Wests album Bully is set to drop on March 27. The rapper has been facing significant legal challenges from various parties, including multiple copyright infringement lawsuits.

Since 2019, West has been involved in twelve lawsuits related to unauthorized sampling. In May 2024, his estate reached a settlement with Donna Summers family over the sample of I Feel Love in the track Good (Dont Die), which was subsequently removed from streaming platforms.

Reports indicate that Bully may contain other uncleared samples from artists like the Carpenters and the Supremes, potentially leading to further legal issues.

Compounding his legal troubles, West was ordered to pay $140,000 last week after a jury found him liable in a lawsuit concerning renovations on his Malibu mansion. A former project manager alleged injury on the job and wrongful termination. West has filed a motion to overturn that verdict.

The settlement with the Memphis rappers removes one obstacle as West prepares to finally release Bully after several delays, allowing him to focus on the albums launch amid ongoing legal battles.
Michael B. Jordan's tense 2023 interview with Lore'l resurfaces, sparking new calls for an apology over a viral red carpet confrontation.

AceShowbiz - Michael B. Jordan may owe a public apology after a past controversy with media personality Lore'l resurfaced, reigniting calls for accountability.

The incident dates back to the 2023 press tour for Creed III, when Lore'l approached the Oscar-winning actor for what appeared to be a routine red carpet interview. Instead, the exchange quickly turned viral and contentious.

During the conversation, Lore'l referenced their shared past at Newarks Chad Science High School and praised Jordan for his success. However, the tone shifted when Jordan confronted a report claiming that Lore'l had once called him corny. This accusation clearly stuck with him and changed the dynamics of the interview.

Lore'l immediately pushed back, clarifying that she was misquoted and that it was actually her co-host on the Undressing Room podcast, Domonique The Diva, who used that term during a previous discussion. Despite this, Jordan appeared to believe the initial report.

Years later, Lore'l has reopened the matter on her platform, Listen To Black Women, suggesting that Jordan is aware the claim was based on incorrect information. She revealed that the actor attempted to privately make amends but has yet to address the issue publicly.

"The disrespect was way louder than the apology," Lore'l said, recounting how a mutual friend informed her that Jordan admitted his mistake privately, recognizing that his reaction came from an article he had read rather than her actual words. Still, she pointed out that he continued to speak publicly about the issue in other outlets.

Beyond recounting the episode, Lore'l extended an invitation to the actor to come on her nationally syndicated morning show to discuss the matter openly. She described this as both an olive branch and a challenge for Jordan to demonstrate public accountability.

"Not only that, I have a nationally syndicated morning show. Come have a seat and talk about it," she said. "The thing that hurts from it, and this is why, now, I watch what I do, because I was defending him a lot. Think about all the people who were saying many things about this man, and I would always be like, 'Nah.' I don't defend people like that anymore."

To date, Michael B. Jordan has not commented on the reopening of this conversation. Whether he will respond publicly remains to be seen.

This situation highlights the lasting impact of misunderstandings in the public eye and the importance of addressing them transparently. Time will tell if Jordan chooses to engage with Lore'ls invitation and clarify the matter for his fans and the media alike.
Margot Robbie's Ocean's Eleven prequel loses director Lee Isaac Chung due to creative differences. Warner Bros. confirms the amicable split.

AceShowbiz - The highly anticipated untitled Ocean's Eleven prequel starring Margot Robbie has encountered a significant hurdle with the departure of Oscar-nominated director Lee Isaac Chung. The filmmaker has exited the project due to creative differences, as confirmed by a spokesperson from Warner Bros., which is producing the film alongside Robbies LuckyChap production company.

Despite the sudden nature of his exit, the statement from Warner Bros. emphasized that the split was amicable, with no hard feelings between Chung and the creative team. The spokesperson explained, "This is an amicable split due to creative differences." Both Warner Bros. and LuckyChap praised Chungs contributions, calling him a visionary filmmaker and an invaluable asset during his involvement with the project.

Representatives expressed enthusiasm about future collaborations with Chung, noting that his departure from the Ocean's Eleven prequel would not mark the end of their professional relationship. They highlighted his unique talent and the positive impact he had on the project thus far, underlining their desire to work with him again on upcoming films.

As Warner Bros. advances toward finalizing its deal with Paramount, the Ocean's Eleven prequel remains a priority for the studio. However, the production is now actively searching for a new director to take the helm. While detailed story information is still under wraps, it is confirmed that the screenplay, penned by Carrie Solomon, will remain faithful to the original characters created by George Clayton Johnson and Jack Golden Russell.

The original Ocean's Eleven movie debuted in 1960 and starred iconic performers such as Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean, Dean Martin as Sam Harmon, Sammy Davis Jr. as Josh Howard, Peter Lawford as Jimmy Foster, and Angie Dickinson as Beatrice Ocean, among others. The classic film follows Danny Ocean and his World War II comrades as they attempt a daring heist on New Year's Eve, aiming to rob five Las Vegas casinos. Their mission faces numerous obstacles, including interference from a former gangster intent on stealing their loot.

Currently, no official release date has been announced for the Warner Bros. and LuckyChap-produced Ocean's Eleven prequel. The film's future now hinges on the studios ability to secure a new director and continue development without further delays.

Margot Robbie continues to be attached to the project not only as the lead actress but also through her production company, LuckyChap, which remains deeply involved in bringing this fresh chapter of the Ocean's Eleven saga to the screen.

The original film is celebrated for its blend of crime, comedy, and music, running 127 minutes under the direction of Lewis Milestone, with a screenplay by Charles Lederer. The 1960 release remains a classic heist story known for its star-studded cast and intricate plot. The prequel aims to capture the spirit of this classic while exploring new narrative territory linked to the beloved characters.

As the studio moves forward, the departure of Lee Isaac Chung represents a notable challenge but also an opportunity to find fresh creative leadership that can honor the originals legacy while delivering a compelling new vision. Fans and industry observers alike will be watching closely to see who steps in to direct this eagerly awaited project.

With the collaboration between Warner Bros. and LuckyChap solidified and the script already completed, the anticipation for the Ocean's Eleven prequel remains high, despite the recent setback. The production is poised to continue progressing as key decisions about the films creative direction are made in the coming months.
A close friend reveals the real Meghan Markle: her quiet commitment to service and the strong personal bonds she keeps away from the spotlight.

AceShowbiz - A close confidante of Meghan Markle has offered a unique glimpse into what the Duchess of Sussex is truly like when away from the public eye and outside of her royal duties. Kelly McKee Zajfen, who has known the Duchess for nearly two decades, shared her thoughts on Meghans character and her quiet commitment to service.

Kelly McKee Zajfen appeared with Meghan Markle on the Netflix series With Love, Meghan and described the Duchess as someone who consistently "always shows up" for those she cares about. The pair recently attended the Alliance for Childrens Rights 34th Annual Champions for Children event in Beverly Hills, where Meghan supported Kellys work with the Alliance of Moms.

At the event, the two friends displayed a warm connection on the red carpet, with the Duchess wrapping her arms around Kelly, who is currently expecting a baby boy. This public display of friendship highlighted the strong bond between the two women.

Speaking exclusively to HELLO! Magazine, Kelly described Meghan as a person who often undertakes her efforts quietly rather than seeking attention. She said, "Shes an incredible role model in living a life of service. She does not necessarily do everything loudly; she does things quietly, so its really beautiful to watch." Kelly emphasized their shared passion for giving back and supporting others, noting that this mutual dedication strengthens their friendship.

Kelly also expressed her gratitude that Meghan accepted the invitation to present at the event, praising her ongoing support of the Alliance for Childrens Rights. She remarked, "Meghan is one of my best friends, and Im honoured that she said yes [to presenting] and that shes been along this journey with me as well." The Duchesss commitment to the alliance has been consistent over several years.

Beyond her activism, Kelly reflected on the privilege of watching Meghan as a mother to her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. "She not only shows up for my family, but its a real privilege to be able to watch her mother too," Kelly said, highlighting the personal side of the Duchess away from the spotlight.

Following the event, Meghan Markle took to Instagram to express her pride in honoring Kellys work. Sharing a video from the evening, she wrote: "Proud to honor my forever friend @_heartmom_ for her outstanding work for @allianceforchildrensrights and @allianceofmoms. Kelly, you are one of one. Such a special evening + kudos to the gals in the ladies' room doing a TikTok video (!) Sorry, we crashed your party, but it was too good not to share."

Kelly also shared her thoughts on social media, reflecting on the nights significance. "Some nights stay with you forever... Last night was one of those moments I wish I could bottle up." She described feeling deeply supported by her friends and family, including her children Lily and Julian, who were by her side during the event.

Kelly paid tribute to those who have helped and inspired her along the way, including her dear friend and social worker Shire and the youth they work with. "You are why I show up," she said, underscoring the motivation behind her dedication.

She also expressed the joy of sharing the stage with Katherine Pope and highlighted the memorable hosting by Kumail Nanjiani, who brought a special birthday moment that lit up the evening.

This rare and heartfelt account from a close friend offers a genuine perspective on Meghan Markles personality away from the cameras  a woman devoted to quietly making a difference in the lives of others while balancing her role as a mother and friend.
Acclaimed 2025 film with 13 Oscar nods. DiCaprio stars as a paranoid ex-revolutionary searching for his missing daughter. Sequel talks underway.

AceShowbiz - One Battle After Another has emerged as one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2025, generating significant awards attention and early talks of a sequel centered on one of its standout characters. The film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, boasts 13 Academy Award nominations and features powerful performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor.

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Bob Ferguson, a troubled former revolutionary living in a haze of paranoia alongside his daughter, Willa, played by Chase Infiniti. The story unfolds 16 years after Bobs past catches up with him, triggering a frantic search when Willa mysteriously disappears. DiCaprios portrayal adds to his impressive career, which includes iconic roles in films such as Titanic, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood. Despite multiple Oscar nominations, his first win came in 2016 for The Revenant, and One Battle After Another positions him for further accolades.

Teyana Taylor delivers a compelling performance as Perfidia Beverly Hills, a radical revolutionary who betrays her cause and abandons her family. Taylors role has earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards and a Golden Globe win, marking a breakthrough moment in her acting career. The films critical acclaim is reflected in its 94% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 85% audience rating, underscoring its impact both in storytelling and cultural relevance.

Amid the ongoing awards season success, Taylor has revealed that discussions about a sequel focusing on her character are underway with Paul Thomas Anderson. In a recent interview, Taylor shared that she is eagerly advocating for a continuation of Perfidias story, joking with Anderson about exploring what happened to her character during the 16 years covered by the films timeline. She emphasized, "The conversations are very, very real. I want to give everybody confirmation that I am currently begging PTA to give us that. I'm begging him to give us that."

Paul Thomas Anderson has been praised for crafting a film that balances a big-budget action aesthetic with his signature tone and style. Critics have lauded the film as a defining work of the era, blending humor, tension, and emotional depth. Colliders Ross Bonaime awarded the film a perfect 10/10, highlighting its relevance to contemporary issues and calling it one of the directors and 2025s best.

With a runtime of 162 minutes, the film combines elements of action, crime, and thriller genres. It was released on September 26, 2025, and is currently available to stream on HBO Max in the United States. The screenplay was co-written by Paul Thomas Anderson and Thomas Pynchon, and the production team includes Adam Somner, Anderson himself, and Sara Murphy.

Supporting cast members include Sean Penn as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, adding further gravitas to the ensemble. The films narrative explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the long shadows cast by past choices, resonating with audiences and critics alike.

The remarkable number of Academy Award nominations13 in totalplaces One Battle After Another just three shy of the record held by the film Sinners, which earned 16 nods. This level of recognition solidifies its status as a major contender during the 2026 awards season.

As anticipation builds, fans and industry insiders alike will be watching closely to see if the sequel centered on Perfidia Beverly Hills will come to fruition. Taylors enthusiasm and Andersons creative vision suggest that the story may continue to unfold, offering deeper insight into the characters and the complex world they inhabit.

In the meantime, One Battle After Another remains a must-watch film for those interested in compelling storytelling, outstanding performances, and cinematic excellence. Its blend of thrilling action and layered character study ensures it will be remembered as a standout film of 2025.

With the Academy Awards approaching, the films success and the buzz surrounding its potential sequel only add to the excitement. Both DiCaprio and Taylor are poised to make significant impacts during the ceremony, potentially expanding their already impressive legacies.

For viewers eager to experience the film's gripping narrative firsthand, streaming options are readily available, making it accessible to a broad audience. As its influence continues to grow, One Battle After Another exemplifies the power of modern cinema to captivate and provoke thought in equal measure.
Real Housewives stars Teddi Mellencamp & Dolores Catania react to rumors of Dorit Kemsley's mansion foreclosure & debt after her divorce from PK.

AceShowbiz - Teddi Mellencamp and Dolores Catania recently spoke out regarding the financial rumors swirling around Dorit Kemsley following her divorce from PK Kemsley. On the March 13 episode of Two Ts in a Pod With Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge, the Real Housewives stars reacted to reports suggesting that Dorits home might face foreclosure due to mounting debt.

Teddi Mellencamp, 44, referenced an article from Radar Online headlined, Dorit Kemsley Faces Foreclosure of $6.5 Million Mansion Over $842K Debt Mountain After Fans Call Out Her Shopping Addiction. While Mellencamp did not confirm the accuracy of the report, she acknowledged that if this financial strain is real, Dorit has every reason to be concerned.

Dolores Catania, 55, also weighed in on the situation, highlighting the risks women can face when they are not fully aware of their finances during a marriage. Shes been very clear: I dont know my finances, I dont know my bills. He handled it all, Catania said. And youre really taking a really big risk when you dont know your finances in a marriage.

Catania, speaking from her perspective, questioned how Dorit has managed her money since her separation from PK. Shes been on Real Housewives long enough. You know what I thought about when I saw this? Shes not a dumb girl. She speaks several languages, Catania said. She stressed that she was on Dorits side but wondered aloud, What have you been doing with your money all this time? Have you been spending it?

The financial speculation follows a turbulent period for Dorit Kemsley, who is navigating life post-divorce. In May 2024, Dorit and PK Kemsley announced their separation, sharing two children together: son Jagger, 11, and daughter Phoenix, 9. They released a joint statement addressing the speculation about their marriage, saying, We as a couple have been subject to a lot of speculation about our marriage. We have had our struggles over the last few years and continue to work through them as two people who love each other and share two amazing children together.

The couple emphasized their intention to maintain a positive environment for their children during this difficult time. To safeguard our deep friendship and maintain a harmonious environment for our children, we have made the mutual and difficult decision to take some time apart and reevaluate our relationship while we prioritize our children, they said. We appreciate your love and support while we continue to do the work necessary throughout this journey. With love, Dorit and PK.

Despite the public statement, Dorit Kemsley officially filed for divorce from PK in April 2025, nearly one year after announcing their separation, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly.

Adding to the financial tension, Dorit revealed in a previous interview that she received a seven-page email from PK, which primarily focused on financial expectations. She shared, His expectations were within a month or two that I will be responsible for the mortgage and all the bills associated with the house.
Amanda Peet reveals her breast cancer diagnosis in a personal New Yorker essay, sharing her story of resilience amid profound family loss.

AceShowbiz - Amanda Peet, the actress known for her role in Something's Gotta Give, opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis in a deeply personal essay for The New Yorker titled "My Season of Ativan."

The revelation came at a difficult time for Amanda Peet, as both of her parents were simultaneously in hospice care on opposite coasts of the United States. Despite her emotional distress, she continued with routine health screenings.

Amanda Peet explained that she had been seeing a breast surgeon every six months for checkups. Just before Labor Day last year, she went in for what she assumed would be a standard ultrasound scan. However, the atmosphere changed when her doctor, Dr. K., who usually engaged her in casual conversation during exams, suddenly became silent.

During the ultrasound, the doctor noticed something concerning and recommended a biopsy. After the biopsy was performed, Dr. K. informed Amanda Peet that she would personally deliver the tissue sample to pathology at Cedars-Sinai hospital. It was at this moment that Amanda Peet realized the gravity of the situation.

The essay captures the emotional weight of receiving a cancer diagnosis amidst family health crises and highlights Amanda Peet's courage in facing these challenges. Her story sheds light on the importance of vigilance in health screenings and the complex emotions tied to family and personal health battles.
50 Cent posts photo of Bieber & Usher fighting, captioned to imply past abuse by Diddy. Explore the explosive allegations and industry rumors.

AceShowbiz - 50 Cent recently reignited controversy by posting a photo of Justin Bieber and Usher involved in a physical altercation, alongside a caption implying past abuse linked to Sean Combs, also known as Diddy.

The image, originally published by TMZ, shows Bieber grabbing Usher, but 50 Cents caption referenced deeper issues tied to Biebers early career. He wrote, "I was a baby why you let him do that to me. WHAT THAT'S what thought when saw this picture," alluding to long-rumored accusations that Diddy assaulted Bieber when he was a young artist breaking into the music scene.

Diddy played a significant role in Biebers rise during the late 2000s, mentoring the pop star and introducing him to influential industry figures. While Bieber has recently spoken out about his difficult experiences and trauma within the music business, he has never publicly accused Diddy of any wrongdoing.

50 Cents trolling campaign against Diddy is not new. He has persistently targeted the mogul for years, turning their feud into a widely discussed cultural phenomenon. This ongoing conflict culminated with 50 Cents Netflix documentary series Sean Combs: The Reckoning, released in December 2025. The series attracted 21.8 million viewers within its first six days, becoming Netflixs most-watched show of that week and highlighting public interest in allegations against Diddy.

Currently, Diddy is incarcerated at Fort Dix in New Jersey, serving a 50-month federal sentence handed down in October 2025 for sex trafficking and prostitution-related offenses. He is expected to be released in 2028.

Despite being behind bars, Diddy continues to face numerous accusations. Several lawsuits have been filed alleging that he orchestrated severe abuse. Most recently, on March 21, 2026, AllHipHop reported a disturbing story involving Diddy and Cassie Ventura allegedly drugging a male prostitute with baby oil and spiked orange juice.

This latest development adds further fuel to the ongoing legal and public relations battles surrounding one of hip-hops most controversial figures. Meanwhile, 50 Cent remains vocal, using social media and documentaries to keep the conversation alive.
Steven Spielberg suspects we are not alone. Read his UFO views and reaction to Obama's alien comments ahead of his new film Disclosure Day.

AceShowbiz - Steven Spielberg recently discussed his views on UFOs and extraterrestrial life ahead of the release of his new movie Disclosure Day. Speaking at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas, Spielberg expressed a strong suspicion that humanity is not alone on Earth at this moment.

During a keynote interview, the acclaimed filmmaker, aged 79, stated, "I don't know any more than any of you do, but I have a very strong suspicion that we are not alone here on Earth right now - and I made a movie about that." This hint at the films theme reflects his long-standing fascination with the subject of extraterrestrial encounters.

Spielberg elaborated on his reaction to a recent public comment made by former President Barack Obama, who stated that aliens are real. Spielberg recalled thinking, "Oh, my God, this is so great for Disclosure Day!" He noted that two days after the statement, Obama clarified his belief in life existing somewhere in the cosmos, a perspective Spielberg endorses as logical, saying, "No one should ever think that we are the only intelligent civilization in the entire universe."

Reflecting on his lifelong curiosity, Spielberg shared that he has pondered the question of whether humanity has been alone not just now, but over the last 80 years or even thousands of years. His interest was reignited by a 2017 New York Times article exposing a secret government program tracking UFOs and by recent congressional hearings involving government whistleblowers discussing unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs).

Despite his deep interest and history with the subjecthaving previously directed the iconic 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third KindSpielberg admitted he has never personally witnessed a UFO. He expressed a playful envy, saying, "Half of my friends have seen UFOs or UAPs. Wheres the justice of that?"

Addressing concerns about alien contact, Spielberg assured the audience that he harbors no fear of extraterrestrials. However, he acknowledged that revealing decades-long interactions with alien life could cause societal disruption. He believes such a revelation would challenge many belief systems but does not foresee it causing catastrophic turmoil, describing it instead as a non-lethal upheaval.

The interview took place during a panel titled The Big Picture with Steven Spielberg Live from SXSW, moderated by podcaster Sean Fennessey. During the conversation, Spielberg also passionately defended the unique experience of watching films in theaters. He contrasted this communal experience with watching movies at home on streaming services, emphasizing the power of shared reactions in a darkened auditorium.

Spielberg remarked, "If were just not making the same sequel over and over and over again, and its not the same Marvel title over and over and over again, we all get a real chance to experience something which is precious." He highlighted how attending movies, concerts, ballets, or operas allows communities to come together, share emotions, and communicate in ways that are difficult to replicate in private settings.

The director also addressed recent internet buzz involving actor Timothee Chalamets humorous critiques of opera and ballet, using the opportunity to extol these art forms alongside cinema. Spielberg emphasized the irreplaceable value of diverse original filmmaking and live performance arts.

Looking back at his earlier UFO film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg recounted how studios initially resisted the project because it strayed into science and mythology. He said many dismissed it as a movie about conspiracy theories or sensational tabloid stories. Yet, the film went on to become a defining work in the UFO genre.

In addition to discussing his UFO-related projects, Spielberg revealed he is working on a Western film, fulfilling a long-held dream. He assured the audience that this new project will avoid cliches and stereotypes, promising a fresh take on the genre.

Spielberg also shared a personal ritual: he watches the classic film Lawrence of Arabia annually. He said the film keeps him humble, reminding him that he will never match the brilliance of director David Lean.

When asked about underrated works in his own filmography, Spielberg pointed to the 1989 fantasy film Always, which stars Richard Dreyfuss. He also talked about his method of improvisation on set, noting that he did not use storyboards for films like Schindlers List or Saving Private Ryan. Instead, he embraces the spontaneity and creative possibilities that each day of shooting presents.

Despite his extensive career, Spielberg stated clearly that he has no intention of retiring anytime soon. He declared, "I never want to quit."

Disclosure Day, distributed by Universal, features a cast including Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, and Colin Firth. The film explores the global panic and societal upheaval that ensues after undeniable proof of alien existence is revealed. This timely release joins a growing number of projects examining UFO phenomena seriously, especially in light of recent government hearings and media coverage on UAPs.

There has been some confusion among audiences due to the existence of a 2023 documentary titled Age of Disclosure, which includes interviews with former government officials about UAPs. However, Disclosure Day is a fictional film and not part of any conspiracy theory narrative.

The movie is scheduled to open in theaters on June 12.

Contributing to this report was Mia Galuppo.
Bleachers announce 2024 North American tour. See dates for their 'everyone for ten minutes' album tour, including a special LA residency.

AceShowbiz - The indie rock band Bleachers is gearing up for an extensive North American tour following the upcoming release of their fifth studio album, everyone for ten minutes, set to drop on May 22, 2024.

Tour dates kick off on June 5 in Chicago, Illinois, and will span across the United States and Canada, culminating on October 8 in Nashville, Tennessee. A highlight of the tour includes a special five-night headline residency in Los Angeles this September, with performances scheduled from September 10 to 15.

The new album follows their self-titled fourth LP, which was released in March 2024. Leading the project is the single "you and forever," which comes with a music video featuring actress Margaret Qualley, known for her roles in The Substance and How to Make a Killing.

To celebrate the tour announcement, Bleachers, fronted by Jack Antonoff, performed "you and forever" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The performance took place on an intimate soundstage, complementing the band's indie aesthetic. Additionally, the group shared another fresh track from the upcoming album titled "dirty wedding dress."

According to an official statement, everyone for ten minutes represents "the inevitable culmination of a lifetime of devotion to bands for the six members of Bleachers and, ultimately, finds each one at their creative peak." The album explores a range of emotions, containing "moments where it briefly peers into darkness," while remaining "essentially an optimistic record that feels lovestruck and hopeful."

The musical style of the album traverses multiple genres, moving from harmony-rich folk rock to shimmering pop soul, and incorporates the saxophone-driven New Jersey sound that has become a hallmark for Bleachers. The six-member ensemble first emerged onto the music scene in 2014 with their debut album, Strange Desire.

Besides his work with Bleachers, Jack Antonoff has built a notable production career, earning 13 Grammy Awards for his collaborations with prominent artists such as Lana Del Rey, Lorde, Sia, and Taylor Swift.

Fans eager to experience the band live or explore the new music can look forward to the following tour dates:

Bleachers 2026 Tour Dates:

June 5 - Chicago, IL

June 9 - Toronto, ON

June 10 - Montreal, QC

June 12 - Columbia, MD

June 13 - Philadelphia, PA

June 16 - Boston, MA

June 20 - Canandaigua, NY

June 23 - New York, NY

September 10-15 - Los Angeles, CA (five-night residency)

September 17 - Berkeley, CA

September 19 - Seattle, WA

September 20 - Bend, OR

September 23 - Denver, CO

September 26 - Minneapolis, MN

September 27 - Milwaukee, WI

September 29 - Sterling Heights, MI

September 30 - Cincinnati, OH

October 5 - Atlanta, GA

October 6 - Raleigh, NC

October 8 - Nashville, TN

The full tracklist for everyone for ten minutes is as follows:

sideways

the van

we should talk

you and forever

dirty wedding dress

take you out tonight

i can't believe you're gone

dancing

she's from before

i'm not joking

upstairs at ELS

Listeners can stream "dirty wedding dress" now as a preview of what to expect from the new album. With their signature blend of heartfelt lyrics and dynamic instrumentation, Bleachers continue to solidify their place in the indie rock landscape.

For weekly updates and more music news, fans are encouraged to subscribe to official newsletters and follow Bleachers on their social media channels.
Cole Goldberg found not guilty of attempted murder charge involving 90 Day Fiance star Caroline Schwitzky after a Florida bench trial.

AceShowbiz - Cole Goldberg has been found not guilty of an attempted murder charge related to an incident involving former 90 Day Fiance star Caroline Schwitzky. The verdict was delivered on March 12 in a West Palm Beach, Florida courtroom after a bench trial.

The case centered on an altercation that took place at the 2022 Boca Bash boating event. Schwitzky accused Goldberg of attempting to harm her during a heated confrontation in the water following the end of their relationship. Witnesses reportedly observed a struggle and heard cries for help before bystanders intervened to separate the two.

Goldberg consistently denied the allegations throughout the legal proceedings. He testified that he entered the water because he believed Schwitzky was at risk and claimed his actions were intended to protect her from danger posed by nearby boats.

Judge John Parnofiello ultimately ruled that the evidence presented was insufficient to convict. Conflicting witness testimonies created reasonable doubt about the exact events during the incident, leading to the acquittal.

Following the ruling, Goldberg expressed relief, stating, I'm relieved this chapter is finally over. It has been hanging over my life for years. Meanwhile, Schwitzky has not made any public comments regarding the verdict but is expected to address it in the near future.
Michael B. Jordan wins Best Male Lead in a surprise victory. Read his emotional acceptance speech and personal reflection on his journey.

AceShowbiz - Michael B. Jordan earned the award for best male lead at the Actor Awards on Sunday night, delivering a surprise victory against nominees such as Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The announcement came from Viola Davis, who expressed great enthusiasm while presenting the award. Following the announcement, Jordan warmly embraced his co-star Delroy Lindo and his mother before making his way to the stage.

In his acceptance speech, Jordan admitted he did not expect to win. He expressed deep gratitude for being nominated alongside actors he admires and emphasized how much he values the contributions these artists make to their craft. "This ride has been unbelievable," he said, thanking the community for welcoming him and making him feel recognized.

Jordan shared a personal reflection about his early aspirations to join SAG-AFTRA, the actors union. He recalled longing to be part of what he once thought was an exclusive club, watching other actors he respected participate in it. "I thought it was this club I wanted to be in so bad," he said, remembering the admiration he had for those who were members.

The actor also reminisced about seeing performers on stage receiving awards and dressed in elegant attire at prestigious events. He highlighted the contrast with his own beginnings, saying, "That kid from North Jersey is standing here right now."

He paid tribute to his mother for her unwavering support, recalling the sacrifices she made to drive him to auditions in New York despite financial challenges, including struggles with tolls, gas money, and parking.

Jordan also acknowledged filmmaker and screenwriter Ryan Coogler, a frequent collaborator who has played a significant role in his career. He praised Coogler for creating a safe environment that allowed him to perform fearlessly and deliver his best work.

"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do, and to be fearless," Jordan said. He expressed appreciation for being surrounded by people who have witnessed his growth both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, emphasizing the love and encouragement he has received.

Concluding his remarks, he simply said, "Yeah man, it's pretty cool."

Later in the evening, Jordan accepted a second award when the cast of Sinners won for outstanding ensemble performance. Lindo led the acceptance on behalf of the cast, noting the dedication everyone brought to the project each day.

Lindo expressed profound gratitude during the speech, saying, "Thank you does not even begin to encompass the gratitude that we feel." This marked the second time a film by Coogler has received this honor, following the recognition of Black Panther's cast in 2019.
Bad Bunny stars in his first lead role in "Porto Rico," an epic Caribbean western directed by Residente. Co-starring Norton, Bardem & Mortensen.

AceShowbiz - Porto Rico will feature Bad Bunny in his first leading film role, marking a significant step in his acting career. Known primarily for his music, Bad Bunny previously appeared in notable films like "Bullet Train" alongside Brad Pitt and Darren Aronofsky's "Caught Stealing."

The historical drama is directed by Rene Perez Joglar, also known as Residente, the Grammy-winning Puerto Rican rapper making his feature directorial debut. The movie is described as an "epic Caribbean western" that tells a gripping story inspired by true events about the origins of Puerto Rico.

Joining Bad Bunny are acclaimed actors Edward Norton, Javier Bardem, and Viggo Mortensen, who will co-star in this ambitious project. While the official logline has not yet been released, the film is expected to delve into powerful historical and cultural themes tied to Puerto Ricos past.

This collaboration brings together a diverse and talented cast under the direction of a celebrated musician taking on filmmaking. Porto Rico promises to be a compelling addition to the genre of historical dramas, spotlighting Puerto Rican heritage and narratives on a global stage.

As Bad Bunny steps into this lead role, audiences will be eager to see his performance alongside cinematic heavyweights like Norton and Bardem. The film is generating considerable anticipation for its unique blend of history, culture, and star power.
Daredevil: Born Again rewrites MCU history, confirming Netflix heroes like Jessica Jones as canon and revisiting Civil War's legacy.

AceShowbiz - The upcoming season of Daredevil: Born Again is poised to bring significant changes to the Marvel Cinematic Universes continuity, particularly concerning the iconic conflict between Iron Man and Captain America in Captain America: Civil War. As the MCU expands in 2026 with new projects, this series will revisit key storylines from the franchise's past, notably through the reintroduction of Jessica Jones.

For years, it remained uncertain whether characters from the Netflix Marvel shows, including Jessica Jones, would be solidly integrated into MCU canon. Despite Charlie Coxs return as Daredevil, ambiguity lingered over whether the broader narratives of Netflixs Marvel series were still relevant to the main MCU timeline. However, with Krysten Ritter reprising her role as Jessica Jones and her dynamic with Coxs Daredevil echoing their chemistry from The Defenders, it appears this uncertainty is coming to an end.

This confirmation carries profound implications for the MCUs narrative fabric. Most notably, it means that Jessica Jones backstory, and by extension one of Marvels most terrifying villains, Kilgrave, is now unquestionably part of MCU history. Portrayed by David Tennant, Kilgrave was a chilling character in the Netflix series, wielding mind control powers to strip free will from those around him. His ability to manipulate others without consequence made him a uniquely disturbing villain until Jones ultimately defeated him in the first season of Jessica Jones.

The integration of Kilgrave into MCU canon adds a new layer of context to Tony Starks position during the events of Captain America: Civil War. The films central conflict revolves around the risks and responsibilities of metahuman powers, highlighted through the Scarlet Witchs abilities. While Scarlet Witch is generally a heroic figure, the existence of a villain like Kilgrave introduces a darker perspective on the dangers such powers can pose if left unchecked. Starks awareness of individuals like Kilgrave could explain his more cautious and stringent stance on regulating enhanced individuals, contrasting with Steve Rogers approach.

Including Kilgrave retroactively in the MCU enriches the narrative complexity of Captain America: Civil War and elevates the moral debate at its core. Marvels strength has always been exploring the ethical dilemmas surrounding superhuman powers, blending fantastical elements with grounded, believable storytelling. By embracing the Netflix Marvel shows lore, the MCU deepens its exploration of these themes, drawing on the nuanced character studies those series were known for.

Kilgrave embodies the profound risks of unchecked power. His mental domination and abusive control over others serve as a stark reminder of what could happen in a world where extraordinary abilities exist without oversight. This makes him a crucial figure in understanding why heroes and governments alike might seek to regulate metahumans. His presence also highlights the importance of heroes moral compasses, as seen in parallels between Kilgraves powers and those of characters like Professor Xsimilar abilities wielded with very different intentions and ethics.

The confirmation of Kilgraves place in MCU canon alongside Jessica Jones also adds depth to the franchises ongoing struggles with heroism and responsibility. It reinforces the stakes behind the arguments made in Captain America: Civil War, where protagonists grapple with balancing freedom against safety. Kilgrave stands as a cautionary example of what happens when power is abused, underscoring why characters like Iron Man might advocate for stricter control measures.

As Daredevil: Born Again prepares to expand the MCUs tapestry, fans can expect a thoughtful reexamination of past conflicts through the lens of this newly affirmed continuity. The return of Jessica Jones will not only revive beloved characters but will also challenge viewers to reconsider the ethical and practical implications of superhuman abilities within the MCUs evolving universe.

Ultimately, the integration of the Netflix series characters and stories promises to enhance the MCUs already rich storytelling, providing fresh perspectives on familiar debates and enriching the franchises exploration of power, control, and heroism. With 2026 shaping up to be a pivotal year for the MCU, the forthcoming revelations in Daredevil: Born Again are set to redefine how fans understand one of the franchises most significant moments: the clash between Iron Man and Captain America.
Jessie Buckley's heartfelt SAG-AFTRA 2026 speech, honoring her Hamnet co-star Emily Watson for lifelong inspiration and friendship.

AceShowbiz - Jessie Buckley delivered a moving acceptance speech during the SAG-AFTRA 2026 Actor Awards, where she publicly thanked her Hamnet co-star Emily Watson for her inspiration and friendship. The ceremony took place on Sunday, March 1, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

Jessie Buckley, who was honored with the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, expressed deep appreciation for Emily Watson, sharing how their collaboration and Watsons artistry profoundly influenced her career. "I would like to say a special thank you to my incredible friend and date tonight, Emily Watson. Breaking the Waves made me whisper to myself, Thats what I want to do, and to share those scenes with you in Hamnet, I will cherish that for the rest of my life," Buckley said.

She praised Watsons creative spirit and strength, saying, "Your wild imagination, your brave, untethered womanhood, your ferocious gentleness is a guiding light to me. And the best advice you always give to me is to go back to the well of just being human. Ground zero, babe. You are the realest of the real."

Buckley also expressed her gratitude toward the SAG-AFTRA community, emphasizing how much she values being a part of this artistic family. "I love and cherish being part of this community and hope I can continue to offer something meaningful back," she added.

The SAG-AFTRA 2026 Actor Awards featured a highly competitive lineup in the leading female actor category. The event, hosted by Kristen Bell for the third consecutive year, brought together many renowned actresses. The nominees included Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another, and Emma Stone for Bugonia.

Following the nomination announcements in January, many of the actresses expressed their gratitude for the recognition by their peers within the SAG-AFTRA community. Chase Infiniti, in particular, shared her excitement after receiving her first nomination, stating, "Thank you to the Actor Awards and SAG-AFTRA for this incredible honor. To be recognized by my peers within this dynamic community of artists, a community that has so warmly welcomed me, is just beyond anything I could have ever dreamed up."

She continued, "Getting to play Willa was one of the greatest gifts and it is all thanks to the visionary [director] Paul Thomas Anderson. I'm over the moon for Leo [DiCaprio], Benicio [del Toro], Sean [Penn], and Teyana [Taylor] for their nominations. Congratulations to my fellow nominees Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, and Emma Stone. All your performances completely blew me away this year and it is a deep honor to be nominated alongside you all."

Buckley, who had earlier in the year won both the Golden Globe and Critics Choice awards for her role, echoed similar sentiments. She described the recognition from fellow performers as "monumentally special," highlighting how inspiring it was to be acknowledged by a community she admires.

The ceremony was a showcase of Hollywoods finest talent, with stars arriving in stunning fashion on the red carpet. The event celebrated not only individual achievements but also the collective spirit of artists who contribute to film and television.

In her remarks, Buckley reflected on the collaborative nature of filmmaking, particularly praising director Chloe Zhao for uniting such a talented group of actors and creators. "I will keep saying this: I love being part of this village. I'm so grateful to [director] Chloe Zhao for bringing together this extraordinary group of actors and humans to share in the deeply emotional experience of making this film," she said.

She named her castmates  Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Jacobi Jupe, Noah Jupe, Joe Alwyn, and others  as key to her emotional journey during the project. "I share this with you. I am forever both lifted and grounded by you. Thank you," Buckley added.

Rose Byrne, who also won a Golden Globe this year for her role in the Mary Bronstein film, expressed admiration for the talented group of nominees she stood alongside. "I am so beyond honored to be recognized by my peers! This is truly so meaningful and overwhelming," she said. "This group of actresses is extraordinary and I am honored to be among them and their incredible work. Thank you to SAG AFTRA and thank you for my dental insurance!!!!"

The 2026 SAG-AFTRA Actor Awards highlighted a dynamic and supportive community of artists celebrating exceptional work across film and television. The event underscored the importance of camaraderie, creative collaboration, and mutual respect among performers in the industry.

Jessie Buckleys heartfelt tribute to Emily Watson stood out as a poignant moment during the ceremony, emphasizing the power of mentorship and friendship in the demanding world of acting.

With the competition fierce and the talent pool rich, the awards ceremony reaffirmed the value of peer recognition and the joy of sharing creative achievements with a community that deeply understands the craft.
Explore the life of Fab 5 Freddy, the graffiti pioneer and hip-hop visionary who connected NYC's art, music, and film scenes from their very origins.

AceShowbiz - To explore the life of Fab 5 Freddy is to explore the very origins and evolution of hip-hop culture itself. Known as a versatile creative force, Freddy is a graffiti pioneer, gallery artist, rapper, television host, filmmaker, and cultural connector who linked diverse artistic communities in New York City.

Growing up in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, Fred Brathwaitebetter known as Fab 5 Freddywas immersed in a rich cultural environment from an early age. He often listened in on conversations in his fathers basement, where his dad and his circle, including jazz legend and Freddys godfather Max Roach, discussed art, music, politics, and technology. This early exposure nurtured his curiosity and passion for creative expression.

Freddy voraciously consumed books on art and architecture, visited every museum he could find in New York City, and tuned into DJs like Frankie Crocker, who defied genre boundaries to play whatever sounded good. Inspired by the Pop Art movement led by figures such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, Freddy embraced a visual language that drew on comic books, advertising, and bold commercial logos.

In the 1970s, Freddy emerged as one of New Yorks foremost graffiti artists, tagging entire subway cars and adopting the moniker Fab 5 Freddy from his affiliation with the Fabulous 5ive graffiti crew. As he recounts in his memoir Everybody's Fly, The Pop artists had drawn from the same visual language we did: comic books, advertising, big colorful product logos ... Maybe New York City itself could be an art gallery. A museum of my own.

Alongside contemporaries like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Futura 2000, and Lee Quinones, Freddy was instrumental in transporting street art from the subways and streets into galleries, helping transform graffiti into a recognized and respected art form. He writes, For the first time, people were starting to see graffiti in a different context. One where it could be appreciated, not just criminalized.

However, Freddys impact on hip-hop goes far beyond visual art. He served as a key cultural bridge between early hip-hop pioneers, punk and New Wave musicians, and the downtown New York art scene. Graffiti, rap, and punk shared a rebellious spirit, he notes, all of it bubbling up off the radar, straight from the streets. His ability to move fluidly between these worlds helped shape the foundation of hip-hop culture.

His role in the 1980 Blondie hit Rapture video helped introduce hip-hop and himself to a broader audience, while the 1983 film Wild Stylewhich Freddy produced, starred in, and composed music forremains the definitive movie about hip-hops early days. A 1991 profile in The New Yorker by Susan Orlean famously dubbed him the coolest person in New York.

Freddy credits his instinctive connection with creative communities for his enduring career. For whatever reason, I have always had an instinctive connection with creative people and scenes, he writes. I've been lucky to find community ... wherever I go and bring out creativity in others while drawing it out of myself ... I'd created my own playbook, followed my own path, and made a life rooted in creativity and connection.

From 1988 to 1995, a new generation of hip-hop fans knew Freddy as the charismatic host of Yo! MTV Raps, a groundbreaking show that introduced hip-hop to millions globally. His tireless work as an ambassador of the genre cemented his place as one of its most influential figures.

Today, Freddy continues his artistic endeavors, currently focusing on projects related to the history of Black pirates. He has also ventured into the cannabis industry with his company B Noble Global, named in honor of Bernard Noble, a Black man who endured seven years of hard labor for possessing a small amount of marijuana.

Speaking from his Harlem apartment, Freddy reflects on a New York City that has changed dramatically since his youth. Though Everybody's Fly is a personal memoir, it also stands as a vivid chronicle of the citys cultural landscape from the mid-1970s through the early 1990s, capturing the era with journalistic detail and the flair of someone who was at the heart of it all.

When asked about his initial motivation for writing the book, Freddy explains that he wanted to tell the story of his involvement in hip-hop and art without sounding boastful. There was a lot of stuff that I'd had my hands in heavily, that I would feel like I'm bragging, he says. I really just wanted to lay out things that I played a role in that were not as succinctly told.

He wanted to explain his origins, inspirations, and the ways he connected with key figures in New Yorks downtown cultural scene to get things moving and grooving. As hip-hop grew beyond expectations, Freddy was determined to present his story in full context, showing how he influenced and shaped the narrative.

Freddy also draws parallels between himself and Jean-Michel Basquiat, noting their shared desire to control their own stories. Jean, like me, was always focused on the narrative. He wanted to control his story the way I wanted to control mine, he says. This drive was fueled by the frustrations Freddy heard growing up from his father and his friends, who struggled to gain visibility and authority as Black men in creative and intellectual spaces during earlier times.

Those early frustrations shaped many of Freddys decisions, including how to position himself and others within artistic circles to maximize impact and control over their work and stories. I want to make sure that that doesnt happen when I try to shape what the narrative is, he says, emphasizing his intention to clarify his purpose and drive.

The memoir does not shy away from the tragic losses of friends like Basquiat and Haring. Yet, unlike many autobiographies that focus on hardship as emotional centers, Freddys book is largely celebratory. Im a half-full guy as opposed to half-empty, he explains. Im constantly looking for that [and] Im going to find that. Thats how I got to this point, not dwelling on how messed up things have been or sometimes still are.

He likens his outlook to making lemonade out of unexpected lemons, emphasizing resilience and optimism despite challenges. This perspective has enabled him to build a multifaceted career and maintain his influence in art, music, and culture.

In sum, Fab 5 Freddy remains a seminal figure whose life and work embody the creative spirit and cultural intersections that defined early hip-hop and New Yorks vibrant art scene. His memoir offers both a personal and historical lens on a transformative era, reflecting a legacy of innovation, community, and artistic connection.
From Derry Girls' creator: Three friends reunite for a funeral, uncovering dark secrets in this witty, suspenseful Belfast-set mystery. 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.

AceShowbiz - Created by Lisa McGee, the brilliant mind behind the beloved comedy Derry Girls, this new Netflix series offers a unique blend of humor and suspense that echoes the charm and wit of her previous work. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 94%, the series has quickly become a must-watch, especially for viewers who appreciated McGees signature style.

The premise of How To Get To Heaven From Belfast revolves around three lifelong friendsSaoirse, Robyn, and Darawho reunite after receiving shocking news about the death of their childhood friend Greta. Saoirse (played by Roisin Gallagher) is a TV writer known for her secretive and provocative nature; Robyn (Sinead Keenan) is a no-nonsense mother of three with a sharp tongue; and Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne) is the dependable yet somewhat naive member of the trio. The series kicks off when they travel back to their hometown in Northwestern Ireland for Gretas funeral, only to find that things are far from what they seem.

As the friends delve deeper into the mystery surrounding Gretas death, they encounter a complex web of lies and danger. Alongside a charming police officer named Liam (Darragh Hand), they begin to uncover unsettling truths and soon realize they themselves are being followed. The tension escalates as the trio confronts a long-buried secret from their youth, raising the stakes of both the mystery and their personal relationships. Supporting performances from Emmett J. Scanlan, Bronagh Gallagher, Michelle Fairley, Josh Finan, and Emma Canning further enrich the narrative.

The connection between How To Get To Heaven From Belfast and Derry Girls runs deeper than just shared creators. Both series share a distinct pacing, sharp dialogue, and a unique comedic tone that fans of McGees work have come to love. Moreover, several actors from Derry Girls, including Sinead Keenan, appear in the new show, creating a familiar atmosphere.

One particularly notable scene in How To Get To Heaven From Belfast is set in front of the iconic mural of the Derry Girls group in Northern Ireland, a subtle nod to fans that ties the two series together visually and thematically. This crossover helps cement the feeling among critics and viewers that McGees new show acts almost like a time jump, featuring a similar group of friends navigating complex adult lives about two decades later.

Despite its strong critical acclaim and a peak position at number two in Ireland, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast has yet to break into Netflixs global top 10. However, its mixture of comedy, drama, mystery, and thriller elements makes it a compelling watch that highlights McGees ability to spotlight powerful Irish female characters and explore their enduring friendships amid dark secrets and suspenseful storytelling.

The show is classified as TV-MA and combines genres in a way that offers both laughs and tension, a balance that Derry Girls fans will appreciate. With Lisa McGee at the helm as both creator and writer, and Michael Lennox directing, the series promises tight storytelling and strong performances. The ensemble cast, featuring Roisin Gallagher, Sinead Keenan, Caoilfhionn Dunne, and Darragh Hand among others, brings depth and authenticity to this gripping, character-driven mystery.

For viewers seeking a fresh yet familiar series with sharp Irish humor and a gripping narrative, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast is well worth adding to the watchlist. The shows exploration of friendship, secrets, and justice resonates with the themes that made Derry Girls a beloved hit, while also pushing into new, darker territory that showcases McGees versatility as a storyteller.
Chelsea Handler shares details of her new romance and vibrant travels to Dubai, Finland, and Istanbul, offering a glimpse into her personal life and cultural...

AceShowbiz - Chelsea Handler has recently unveiled a new chapter in her love life, sharing an intimate look into her budding romance alongside glimpses from her recent travels.

The comedian gave fans a peek at her relationship while recounting a recent trip that included stops in Dubai, Finland, and Istanbul. On March 10, she posted about her time in Istanbul, describing it as a vibrant city rich in history and culture. "I swung by Istanbul after Finland to check out what goes down during Ramadan," Chelsea Handler wrote. She expressed how much she learned about the Byzantine, Ottoman, and Arabian Empires during her visit, joking that she retained about half of the information.

Though she did not reveal many details about her new partner, she made it clear she enjoyed her vacation immensely. She described the trip as "gorgeous" and filled with history, combined with her usual playful humor.

In one of the photos shared, Chelsea Handler is seen wearing a blue hijab, posing in a selfie with her beaua tall, blond, bearded man dressed in a houndstooth coat and sunglasses. Another snapshot captures the couple embracing in front of a small castle, while a third shows them happily raising Aperol spritzes together, smiling for the camera.

This public display of affection follows closely on the heels of Chelsea Handler's revelation that she found love in Las Vegas. In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, she recounted a memorable encounter at a blackjack table with a man wearing a cowboy hat. "I had to ask this guy sitting at a blackjack table who was wearing a cowboy hat, he had a lot of chips, like, thousands of dollars," she said. She asked to borrow $1,000, confident she would start winning immediately, and he agreed without hesitation.

After their initial meeting, her friend passed the man's phone number to her, leading to a connection. Though she joked that "he's not a real cowboy," she affectionately calls him Cowboy.

Chelsea Handler also revealed that the couple enjoys traveling together. She shared that after sending him a link about her Antarctica trip, he decided to buy a ticket and meet her there. She emphasized her excitement about their relationship, stating, "I'm still going strong with this guy. It's hot, and a woman like me needs a big move like that."
Spider-Man's 2026 slate: new films, shows, & a comics event. But Sony's universe is getting a full reboot with fresh talent. Details inside.

AceShowbiz - 2026 promises to be a landmark year for Spider-Man fans as the character is set to headline multiple projects across film, television, and comics. Sony plans to release Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Spider-Noir, and the second season of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Additionally, a significant comics crossover event featuring Superman is scheduled. Despite this extensive slate, Sony has confirmed it will reboot its Spider-Man film universe, signaling a fresh start with new talent behind the scenes.

Tom Rothman, Sony's CEO, revealed on The Town Podcast that the upcoming Spider-Man films would be a fresh reboot featuring new people. This decision comes amid criticism of Sonys previous Spider-Man-related films, which have often been faulted for not centering Spider-Man himself or for lacking quality. To succeed, Sonys reboot must learn from recent successes like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse by incorporating the concept of the Spider-Society.

The Spider-Society is a collective of spider-themed heroes from across the multiverse, including many versions of Spider-Man and Spider-Woman. This group was created by Miguel OHara, the Spider-Man of 2099, to protect the fabric of reality by fighting villains and ensuring key canon events occur. This concept directly addresses a dilemma Sony faces: with Tom Hollands Spider-Man films now part of the Marvel Studios universe, Sony must spotlight different Spider-Men who are not Peter Parker.

The Spider-Society offers an ideal foundation for Sonys revamped Spider-Man universe. Previous Sony attempts focused heavily on villains turned antiheroes, with mixed results. While Venom succeeded due to its characters comic legacy and Tom Hardys committed performance, films like Morbius and Kraven the Hunter stretched the antihero concept too thin. Shifting focus toward alternate Spider-Men would allow Sony to explore diverse genres and storytelling styles while preserving the core elements that make Spider-Man compelling.

An excellent example of this fresh approach is Spider-Noir, which features Ben Reilly, voiced by Nicholas Cage, in a black-and-white worldsomething entirely new for Spider-Man on screen. If the Spider-Society becomes a central element, lesser-known spider heroes could finally receive the attention they deserve. For instance, the canceled series Silk: Spider-Society aimed to follow Cindy Moon, known as Silk, as she discovered the Spider-Society. Sony has the opportunity to revive this project and give Silk a well-deserved spotlight.

Similarly, characters who received minimal development in earlier films could be rebooted and expanded. Take Madame Web, which introduced Anya Corazon, a hero known as Arana, only to reduce her to a minor role. While actress Isabela Merced has since moved to the DC Universe as Hawkgirl, Arana could still lead her own film or feature prominently in future Sony projects.

Alongside reboot talk, Sony is actively developing spinoffs focusing on alternate Spider-Men. The presidents of Sony Pictures Animation, Kristine Belson and Damien de Froberville, revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that films centered on Hobie Brown (Spider-Punk) and Gwen Stacy (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) are currently in production. These projects suggest the Spider-Society could appear prominently across multiple films. Additionally, an animated Venom project is underway, potentially setting the stage for Spider-Man and Venom to face off on the big screen.

If these animated ventures succeed, Sony should ensure its live-action reboot prominently features a diverse array of Spider-Men. The Spider-Verse is vast, offering countless opportunities to highlight heroes beyond Peter Parker and Miles Morales. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe possibly preparing for a reset and DC Studios enjoying a strong start, Sony's timing for a renewed, Spider-Society-led approach is impeccable.

By embracing the multiverse and spotlighting various spider-themed heroes, Sony can differentiate its Spider-Man franchise and craft unique stories that appeal to both longtime fans and new audiences. The reboot offers a valuable second chance to build a Spider-Man universe that respects the characters legacy while expanding its narrative horizons.
Explore the neon-drenched future in Blade Runner 2099, the Prime Video miniseries starring Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer. A direct sequel continuing the i...

AceShowbiz - Blade Runner 2099 is poised to become a standout entry in the iconic cyberpunk sci-fi franchise, according to early reports. This upcoming live-action miniseries on Prime Video is set to continue the legacy established by the original 1982 film directed by Ridley Scott and its 2017 sequel. Fans of the franchise have high hopes for the show, and the available details suggest it will meet those expectations.

The franchise, rooted in Philip K. Dicks 1968 novel, has become emblematic of the cyberpunk subgenre, blending futuristic technology with complex human themes. Blade Runner 2099 aims to extend that tradition, serving as a sequel to both iconic films. The productions approach indicates a thoughtful continuation rather than a simple exploitation of the valuable intellectual property.

Key casting announcements have already generated excitement. The series stars Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer as co-leads, signaling a strong and dynamic presence for the show. Yeoh is currently experiencing a career resurgence, making her a perfect fit to lead this ambitious project. Meanwhile, Schafer has been gaining prominence, especially with the anticipated return of the show Euphoria, which will likely boost her profile further.

Behind the scenes, the involvement of Ridley Scott as an executive producer and the participation of his production company, Scott Free Productions, lend considerable credibility to the project. The decision to present Blade Runner 2099 as a miniseries rather than a multiple-season saga suggests a focused narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end, rather than a sprawling franchise extension. This approach may appeal to fans eager for a concise and well-crafted story.

Despite the promising setup, the show faces significant challenges. One of the biggest will be establishing and maintaining a distinct visual style. Both Ridley Scotts original and Denis Villeneuves sequel have unique, highly regarded aesthetics that fans associate strongly with the franchise. The new series will need to choose whether to carve out its own visual identity or align closely with one of these established looks. Attempting to blend the two could risk alienating viewers who have strong attachments to the films distinct styles.

The expansion of the Blade Runner franchise into live-action television marks a bold step. Previously, the franchise consisted of just two films, an animated series, and some comic books. Moving into TV introduces new opportunities but also greater risks, as larger audiences and higher expectations come into play. The franchises growth may attract more fans but also opens it up to increased scrutiny and criticism.

The original Blade Runner film remains one of the most celebrated sci-fi movies ever made, while the 2017 sequel navigated fan expectations carefully and successfully. Now, with Blade Runner 2099, the franchise once again faces the challenge of living up to its legacy. The combination of a compelling cast, Ridley Scotts executive involvement, and the miniseries format has set a hopeful tone, but the ultimate success will depend on the shows execution and ability to resonate with longtime fans and new viewers alike.

In summary, Blade Runner 2099 appears primed to be a compelling addition to the Blade Runner universe. With Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer leading the cast, and Ridley Scott guiding the production, Prime Videos new series is shaping up to be a thoughtful, visually striking sci-fi experience. Fans and critics will be watching closely to see if it can deliver on its promise and uphold the franchises distinguished reputation.
March 21, 2026: China has established a network sustained by thousands of groups around the world that strive to make the Chinese Communist Party acceptable and respectable, and to assist diplomatic, economic and espionage efforts. Each of these groups works to improve the image of China and all manner of Chinese activities in their vicinity. The 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre required Chinese groups worldwide to try and explain what happened and lessen the blemish on Chinas image and reputation. This worked better in some countries than in others.

Meanwhile, some of the countries where these Chinese operations were most active found themselves under scrutiny and counterintelligence pressure. Over the past two decades American counter-intelligence efforts have been snagging more Chinese spies. This may be more because of increased spying effort by China than increased effectiveness by the FBI and CIA. For example, a former U.S. Army analyst was arrested as he was boarding an airliner headed for China. He had a one-way ticket. In his possession were electronic versions of classified army manuals. Another recent development was the indictment of a Chinese born man for stealing $300 million worth of trade secrets on how to manufacture new organic insecticides for use in China.

Incidents like this are examples of China's use of industrial espionage to turn their country into the mightiest industrial and military power on the planet. For over three decades, China has been attempting to do what the Soviet Union never accomplished; steal Western technology and then use it to move ahead of the West. The Soviets lacked the many essential supporting industries found in the West most founded and run by entrepreneurs and were never able to get all the many pieces needed to match Western technical accomplishments. Soviet copies of American computers, for example, were crude, less reliable and less powerful. Same with their jet fighters, tanks and warships.

China gets around this by making it profitable for Western firms to set up factories in China, where Chinese managers and workers can be taught how to make things right, both at the same time. China allows thousands of their best students to go to the United States to study. While most of these students will stay in America, where there are better jobs and more opportunities, some will come back to China and bring American business and technical skills with them. Finally, China energetically uses the thousand grains of sand approach to espionage. This involves China trying to get all Chinese going overseas, and those of Chinese ancestry living outside the motherland, to spy for China, if only a tiny bit.

This approach to espionage is nothing new. Other nations have used similar systems for centuries. What is unusual is the scale of the Chinese effort. Backing it all up is a Chinese intelligence bureaucracy back home that is huge, with nearly 100,000 people working just to keep track of the many Chinese overseas, and what they could, or should, be trying to grab for the motherland. It begins when Chinese intelligence officials examine who is going overseas, and for what purpose. Chinese citizens cannot leave the country, legally, without the state security organizations being notified. The intel people are not being asked to give permission. They are being alerted in case they want to have a talk with students, tourists or businesspeople before they leave the country. Interviews are often held when these people come back as well.

Those who might be coming in contact with useful information are asked to remember what they saw, or bring back souvenirs. Over 100,000 Chinese students go off to foreign universities each year. Even more go abroad as tourists or on business. Most of these people were not asked to actually act as spies, but simply to share with Chinese government officials, who are not always identified as intelligence personnel, whatever information they have obtained. The more ambitious of these people are getting caught and prosecuted. But the majority, who are quite casual, and, individually, bring back relatively little, are almost impossible to catch.

Like the Russians, the Chinese are also employing the traditional methods, using people with diplomatic immunity to recruit spies, and offering cash, or whatever, to get people to sell them information. This is still effective, and when combined with the thousand grains of sand methods, brings in lots of secrets. The final ingredient is a shadowy venture capital operation, sometimes called Project 863, that offers money for Chinese entrepreneurs who will turn the stolen technology into something real. No questions asked. If you can get back to China with the secrets, you are home free and potentially very rich.

But there are some legal problems. When the Chinese steal some technology and produce something that the Western victims can prove was stolen via patents and prior use of the technology, legal action can make it impossible, or very difficult, to sell anything using the stolen tech, outside of China. For that reason, the Chinese like to steal military technology. This kind of knowledge rarely leaves China. And in some cases, like manufacturing technology, there's an advantage to not selling it outside of China. Because China is still a communist dictatorship, the courts do as they are told, and they are rarely told to honor foreign patent claims.
David Boreanaz stars in NBC's modern reboot of The Rockford Files, reuniting with SEAL Team co-star Michaela McManus.

AceShowbiz - David Boreanaz is set to lead NBCs reboot of the classic detective series The Rockford Files, bringing a modern spin to the show that originally aired from 1974 to 1980. The original series starred James Garner as private investigator Jim Rockford and ran for six seasons. Now, decades later, NBC is reviving the franchise with David Boreanaz cast as the iconic detective.

In a notable casting decision reported by Variety, Michaela McManus has been added to the new cast, reuniting with Boreanaz after their work together on the CBS/Paramount+ military drama SEAL Team. This reunion marks a fresh collaboration between the two actors, who previously portrayed a married couple on SEAL Team.

Greg Mottola, recognized for his directing work on projects like Confess, Fletch (2022) and Peacemaker (2022), will direct the pilot episode of the reboot. His involvement brings a strong creative vision to the series launch.

The official logline for the reboot describes the story of James Rockford as a man newly paroled after serving time for a crime he did not commit. Returning to private investigation, Rockford uses his charm and intelligence to solve cases across Los Angeles. His efforts to rebuild his life, however, put him at odds with both local law enforcement and organized crime syndicates.

In this updated version, McManus will portray Kate, an East Hollywood detective with a complex romantic history with Rockford. Their relationship becomes strained after Rockford publicly accuses fellow officers of framing him, adding layers of tension to the narrative. This dynamic echoes their previous roles as a couple on SEAL Team, where McManus played Alana Hayes, the estranged wife of Boreanazs character Jason Hayes.

Michaela McManuss return to NBC in this role continues her ongoing presence on television. She is known for her portrayal of Assistant District Attorney Kim Greylek on Law & Order: SVU and has appeared in series such as One Tree Hill, The Orville, and You. Currently, she stars in the Fox drama Memory of a Killer, further showcasing her versatility.

Similarly, David Boreanaz brings extensive experience playing law enforcement and investigator roles. His career includes starring as a vampire-turned-private investigator on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (19972003) and its spin-off Angel (19992004). Additionally, he portrayed FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth on Bones (20052017) and led the cast of SEAL Team (20172024) as Jason Hayes. These roles underline his affinity for characters involved in crime-solving and military backgrounds.

The reboot of The Rockford Files is penned by Mike Daniels, known for his work on NBCs The Village. The production team includes Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverlywho worked on Elementaryand Chris Leanza, ensuring experienced leadership behind the scenes.

The original The Rockford Files was a highly regarded series that combined elements of crime, drama, mystery, and action. It aired on NBC for six seasons and featured a variety of directors and writers throughout its run, including names like William Wiard, Lawrence Doheny, and Stephen J. Cannell. The show earned a devoted following and remains a significant part of television history.

With the reboot, NBC aims to capture the spirit of the original while updating it for contemporary audiences. The casting of David Boreanaz alongside Michaela McManus brings both fresh energy and proven chemistry to the project, promising a compelling revival of the classic detective story.

Fans of the original series and newcomers alike can anticipate a blend of suspense, character-driven drama, and action as The Rockford Files returns to the small screen with a modern edge. The upcoming season will showcase how Rockford navigates the challenges of clearing his name and solving cases in a new era.
Netflix's live-action Assassin's Creed series begins filming in Ancient Rome, 64 AD. Meet the cast and explore the historic war between Assassins and Templars.

AceShowbiz - Netflix is advancing its project with the upcoming live-action adaptation of the acclaimed Assassin's Creed franchise. Following earlier announcements, Netflix has now revealed the entire principal cast and shared a significant update on production.

The Assassin's Creed series has officially commenced filming in Rome. The story will unfold in Ancient Rome, specifically set in 64 AD. This setting will bring a historical backdrop to the conflict between the Assassins and the Templars.

The cast lineup includes Lola Petticrew, Toby Wallace, Laura Marcus, Tanzyn Crawford, Zachary Hart, Claes Bang, Nabhaan Rizwan, Noomi Rapace, Ramzy Bedia, Sean Harris, Corrado Invernizzi, Sandra Guldberg Kampp, Youssef Kerkour, Mirren Mack, and Louis McCartney. The characters these actors portray remain undisclosed.

This series marks the first time the franchise will explore Ancient Rome. The official synopsis highlights the ongoing struggle between the Assassins and the Templars. The series creators have the option to incorporate other figures from the franchise through the Animus technology.

Netflix has yet to confirm the roles, including who will embody the main Assassin protagonist. Details regarding character identities are expected to be shared at a later date.

The series is helmed by creators Robert Patino and David Wiener.

In a joint statement, Wiener and Patino shared, "We've been fans of Assassin's Creed since its release in 2007. Every day we work on this show, we come away excited and humbled by the possibilities that Assassin's Creed opens to us." They elaborated that beneath the series parkour sequences and spectacle lies a human story about identity, destiny, and the search for purpose.

The show aims to explore themes of power, violence, sex, greed, and vengeance, but focuses on the significance of human connection across different cultures and time periods. Wiener and Patino underscored the risk humanity faces when those connections fracture.

The executive production team includes Gerard Guillemot, Margaret Boykin, Austin Dill, Genevieve Jones, and Matt O'Toole. Netflix has not announced an official release date.
By He Yin, People's Daily

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 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.



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 Tianwen2 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.
Despite the fact that funding for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) was already set for three years, Senate Democrats insisted on shutting down funding for DHS (Department of Homeland Security), CBP (Customs and Border Protection), and TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) in an effort to geld ICE. This partial shutdown has lasted over 30 days, with delays at airports reaching as long as three hours. TSA workers, unpaid for weeks, were quitting. The Democrats wanted to force the Administration to change the policies and practices of ICE.

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The partial shutdown also negatively affected the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and FEMA operations, also under DHS, raising real national security issues. Elon Musk offered to pay the TSA agents out of his own pocket. The Democrats threatened to sue him to prevent that.

On Saturday, the President ordered ICE to assist with security operations at airports, effectively removing any leverage the Senate Democrats hoped to capitalize on in the hope that angry travelers would force the administration to buckle.

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"If the Radical Left Democrats dont immediately sign an agreement to let our Country, in particular, our Airports, be FREE and SAFE again, I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before..."

Iran

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On Friday night, the IDF and the U.S. effected one of the longest, strongest waves of attacks on Tehran. As quickly as eliminated regime leaders are replaced, their replacements are also eliminated. Ballistic missiles buried deep underground have been hit with bunker buster bombs, destroying not only the bombs but also pinning beyond rescue the personnel (probably in the hundreds) located there. Drones are targeting those Basij forces on the ground, aided by Iranian civilians sending in location information.

Critics foolishly tried to suggest that the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz proved the Administration had not thought through all the consequences of attacking Iran. We have eliminated all the military stationed on the chokepoint and Kharg Island, and bombed the missile sites aimed at the Strait. Then, because it is other countries that depend on oil shipped through the Strait, Trump told them it was up to them to secure passage. As of this weekend, 22 countries have pledged to do this. In the meantime, Trump has issued a threat:

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"If Iran doesnt FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!"

To lessen the shock on oil prices, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent announced that we are temporarily removing the sanctions on Russian oil which is parked on the seas (130 million barrels of which are in floating storage outside the Strait along with another 140 million barrels of Venezuelan oil destined for China which we had seized and will now make available on the world market). In sum, we released a lot of oil to keep prices down as the campaign finishes up. Finally, the president, invoking the Defense Production Act, restarted oil platforms off California, which sit in federal waters outside the reach of California. The first sale of this oil is expected in April.

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Anne Applebaums claim, Donald Trump does not think strategically, is the kind of ill-informed comment we are used to from Administration detractors. Every aspect of this war demonstrates technological world supremacy and careful and meticulous planning.

The final proof of the necessity of the war (and the fecklessness of the prior administration and Europe) was provided this week by Iran itself. Except for the administration, every pundit and politician I am aware of claimed that the range of Irans ballistic missiles did not exceed 2000 km. Iran shot two of them at Diego Garcia, a tiny island housing UK and US bases 4000 km away. We do not know if this is the maximum reach of these missiles, but even at that range, many of Europes capitals are within the demonstrated range (London, Berlin, Paris, Munich, Rome, Oslo).

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Now picture these missiles with nuclear warheads. Or the reaction if theres even the belief that the missiles might be so armed.

The unexpected appearance of Iranian IRBMs baffled analysts. The threat posed by Tehran to Europe proved to be much more real last night than analysts previously thought, ITA Milradar reported. And maybe Trump was onto something. This technological and tactical development provides further context to Washingtons concerns, ITA said, highlighting one of the key reasons that pushed the American administration to launch the current campaign of strikes against Tehrans military infrastructure. Wait! You mean they mightve had a key reason apart from Trump having a bad day or being somebodys puppet? Huh. Heres the question: if Iran successfully concealed its lies about its voluntary cap on long-range missiles -- what else has it lied about? What about its voluntary restraint from developing nuclear weapons? Lets consider the possibilities. One of these must be true: The peace-loving Ayatollah had no intention of building nukes, just as he said (even if he did lie about the missile thing); The lizard-lipped Ayatollah did want nuclear weapons, and did lie about it, but the Iranians are too dumb to actually build one or keep it secret; or The sinister Ayatollah did want nukes, did lie about it, and was doing everything he could to get some on his long-range missiles. Go ahead. Pick one. Or, if I somehow missed a valid option (I doubt it), let me know in the comments. The long-range missiles Iran launched at Diego Garcia were reportedly in the Khorramshahr family (you wouldnt want that family as neighbors). Opensource analysts describe the Khorramshahrs wide, conical nose -- about 1.5 meters in diameter -- and its heavy payload as perfect for holding a nuclear device.

To my knowledge, Europe has no defenses adequate to deal with this Iranian threat. It has so denuded its armed forces, shipped so much in the way of armaments to Ukraine, and so diminished its energy stocks that it doesnt seem able to defend against a conventional attack by land or sea, let alone intermediate-range ballistic missiles like the two Iran just aimed at Diego Garcia.

The message is clear: Trump was right to attack Iran to prevent a worldwide catastrophe triggered by fanatics. The U.S. is Europes only real defender. Its time to cut the nonsense and take seriously the threats to their existence.

As for how the feckless Obama Administration handed billions to Iran, allowing the mullahs to develop these missiles and speed up their nuclear arsenal, the evidence is shocking.

The JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action which removed sanctions on Iran] dismantled restrictions on Iran producing and selling missiles, even though the deal was sold by Team Obama as only about nuclear. When asked by Senators why they dismantled those restrictions, Kerry said it's because Iranian diplomats made a good argument.

They did have an agreement on nuclear development, research, and production, all of which Iran violated without consequence.

Under the JCPOA, Obama sent $1.7 billion from a settlement to Iran and unfroze Iranian assets held abroad, probably in excess of another $50 billion. In return, from the middle of 2019, Iran violated the terms of the agreement, exceeding the agreed-upon 300 kg stockpile of enriched uranium; exceeding the enrichment of uranium to close to weapons grade; and expanding the number and type of centrifuges, resuming prohibited research and development, and reducing the IAEAs access and monitoring of its nuclear facilities. Such a deal! Such negotiators!

The Iranian missile attacks have had some success yesterday, which is concerning.

Saturday, Iran struck Israel near Dimona, Israels nuclear site, and in Arad, where Israel reports 100 casualties. There is a concerning but unconfirmed report that U.S. defenses failed this time:

A preliminary investigation found that the American THAAD air defense system was supposed to intercept the missiles that hit Arad and Dimona but missed both, according to Maariv. A similar failure occurred in a recent Beit Shemesh incident. The missiles were identical in all three cases.

I think we can expect a massive response. In fact, hours later, massive strikes were seen throughout Tehran.

Saving Honest Elections

The Senate is still stalled on the SAVE America Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act), which would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. Polls show this has majority support in all demographics.

At one point, Senator Chuck Schumer said theyd pass it if the act merely required photo IDs to vote, but when Republican Senator Jon Husted put forth such a stripped-down version, the Democrats turned it down.

I anticipate we will soon be offered even more evidence of large-scale election fraud through the manipulation of electronic and mail-in voting. Whether or not this results in a change by law in time for the midterm elections, Ive no idea. Trump tried to accomplish much the same thing in Executive Order 14248 , but it met with immediate legal challenges.

The Grand Conspiracy

The attempted coup by former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, and others, called the grand conspiracy, is the subject of a grand jury in Miami under U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon.

At issue is what could be the greatest political hit job in history. Of course, the growing evidence of this conspiracy continues to be buried by one of its key components: the media. Nevertheless, the truth will out, and it appears to be coming out in Florida. [snip] It is time for the public to learn whether top Obama officials and the media pulled off the greatest political hoax in history. [snip] With Democrats promising to resume impeachments and investigations if they retake power in the midterms, it would be useful for the public to have a full understanding of what actually occurred last time.

The number of people subpoenaed, besides those two, includes former FBI officials Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, and Andrew McCabe. I fully expect a number of indictments in the near future.

Whether in a war to save civilization from fanatics, in beating back election cheating, in deportations of illegals, or in exposing and punishing deep state interference, I dont think its a good idea to bet against Trump winning.
Recently, Treasury secretary Scott Bessent stated that oil prices would begin to fall once it is safe for tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This seems very likely, but even Bessent could not predict exactly when this will be.

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The price of oil and gas is a factor of supply and demand along with other factors such as regulation, taxation, and local availability. At the moment, prices are high because some twenty percent of global production is stranded with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran situation is only one factor determining the price of oil, but it is an important one.

No one can predict exactly when and by how much energy prices will rise or fall. What we can say is that, at present, reserves and potential production are more than enough to meet demand, so once the bottleneck is removed and with other factors remaining the same, prices may fall, and possibly a lot. It is impossible to predict exactly when that will happen, but when it does, producers will respond by reducing investment in new production, and prices will rise again back to the level of profitability. That is the nature of the energy market. It is inherently cyclical, though it may have become less so as a result of more careful fiscal controls at the large oil and gas companies.

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Its a mistake to look at the large gas station signs displaying the price of a gallon of gas and conclude that this is the price of gas. That is the momentary price in one location. That information is largely meaningless. The average American fills up his vehicle weekly, and over those 52 weeks, prices will vary greatly, as they have this past year. Just over the past three months, oil prices have gone from $60 a barrel at the end of 2025 to a recent high of $148, and over the past 42 years, global prices have varied from a high (in 2026 dollars) of $410.45 to a low of minus $40.32. It is foolish to put much weight on the daily price at the pump, yet that is what often gets reported and what motivates some voters.

It gets reported especially when a conservative is in office  not so much when a progressive like Biden is president. A recent AP articles reports that oil prices are the highest since 2023 as the Iran war drags on. The war in Iran began on Feb. 28, some three weeks ago. Its a bit too early to speak of the war dragging on. Are liberals so impatient that they cannot even stomach a necessary military action for less than one month? If thats the case, our country is defenseless. No one wants war, but sometimes we must take pre-emptive action to stop the growth of an enemy power. Had the Allies done so against Hitler, the world would have been vastly better off, but liberals had no taste for war, and so a much greater war ensued.

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If you want a lower gas price, wait until next month or six months from now, when prices may (or may not) be lower. The current price of oil is high compared to prices over that past five years or even three months, and President Trump has promised a re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz, so it seems likely but not certain that prices will decline in the near future. There is also the near certainty of increased production from Venezuela, which holds 17% of proven global oil reserves. In addition, when the war is resolved, Iran, which currently produces some three million barrels per day, could return to producing 3.8 million. Finally, at about 13.7 million bpd, U.S. production is enormous and has increased over the past five years from approximately 11 million bpd to 12.67 bpd, though at the same time, global demand has increased.

Those who whine about current oil prices should be more patient. Until very recently, they have enjoyed very low prices, especially since Trumps second term began. Only since March 2, when Irans Revolutionary Guard announced closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have prices spiked. One or two months of higher energy prices is not a great sacrifice to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon and missiles capable of striking the U.S. Whether the threat was imminent depends on ones definition of imminent, but no one can deny that the threat existed.

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The cost of the war in Iran has been high, both in direct costs of some one billion dollars a day and in indirect costs, such as the price of energy around the world, but that cost is low, in both lives lost and damage, compared to the destruction Iran would have wrought with nuclear weapons or even compared to Irans support of violent proxies absent nuclear weapons.

There is a widespread belief that the war in Iran will hurt Republicans at the polls in November, but if the war is concluded successfully, the Strait of Hormuz is re-opened, and the price of energy declines, the GOP may benefit at the polls. President Trump has been a remarkably decisive president in terms of both domestic and foreign policy. He has lowered taxes, expanded the private sector and reduced government, reduced violent crime in the U.S. by half, and ended wars around the world, making America safer.

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Making a knee-jerk reaction to the war in Iran is like getting upset over the recent cold temperatures in the eastern U.S. Those temperature readings are temporary, and in one month, things will probably look different. The same is true of gas prices. Until March 2, global oil prices hung at around $60 per barrel. As Secretary Bessent stated, there seems to be little reason why prices should not decline to that level or even lower once the Strait is re-opened and increased supply comes online from Venezuela and elsewhere. Those lower prices would be good for the U.S. consumer, good for the global economy, and good for the GOP in the midterm elections.

The reality is that energy prices fluctuate, and not just because of war or recession. The same consumer who is paying a higher price today will probably be paying a lower price in the future. Its not too much to ask for a little patience, especially in return for the prospect of a safer and more peaceful world.

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Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture, most recently Heartland of the Imagination (2011).

Image: Micov via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The British Empire was the largest in history. With colonies on every continent, it covered more than a quarter of the earths land and governed over a fifth of the worlds population. Besides dominating military, economic, diplomatic, and political affairs, it transformed the world by spreading Western values, customs, and culture, as well as ideas such as individualism, rationalism, capitalism, and modern scientific thought. That influence continues in the educational, legal, and parliamentary systems of many countries.

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But Britain is now a shadow of its former self, having allowed its institutions, the media, academia, and the public to be heavily influenced by Islam, which the late Christopher Hitchens described as the most toxic form that religion can take. Fashionable deference to Islamthe government, for example, treats even the most innocuous criticism of Islam as hate speechhas caused a noticeable shift in power, identity, and influence, and it may not be long before Britain becomes an Islamic state.

The Muslim population is projected to exceed 8% by 2030. There are over 2,000 mosques, more than 85 sharia courts challenge British common law, sharia finance is growing in popularity, halal food is widespread, and the government recognizes Islamic holidays with an enthusiasm that would shame many Muslim countries. Iftars are hosted at the House of Commons, and Ramadan prayers are offered at Windsor Castle, a symbol of Britains historical pre-eminence.

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For years, public discourse has been filled with discussions about Britains Islamization. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance once joked that Britain might be the first truly Islamic country to acquire nuclear weapons. Elon Musk criticized U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer for ignoring Muslim sex grooming gangs that exploit children and for remaining silent on Pakistani rape gangs when he was Britains director of public prosecution. But governmentsespecially Labour Party governmentshave consistently ignored the warning signs and have encouraged Islam by permitting mass migration and giving in to every demand made by Muslim groups.

Examples are plentiful of Britains decline into submission to Islam and the replacement of its Western culture by sharia. Guidance documents for schools from Labor-run city councils in northern England warn educators that drawing and music lessons could be considered blasphemous to Islam. The Green Party of England and Wales plans to change school curricula to teach children that it is their moral duty to welcome immigrants. In the name of raising awareness about a religion from another culture, children too young to question their teachers are being brainwashed.

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While the authorities go out of their way to accommodate Islam, they have no hesitation about attacking Christianity or being lenient with those who criticize it.

Hatun Tash, a Turkish-born British citizen and former Muslim, was arrested twice for preaching Christianity and criticizing the Quran at Hyde Parks Speakers Corner, a stronghold of free speech. Ironically, she was the victim in these incidents and has been stabbed and beaten by Muslims more than once.

Daniel Ayettey, a pastor, was pulled off a ladder and threatened with a knife by a Muslim asylum seeker from Sudan who had 29 previous convictions for 67 offenses. The attacker was spared jail by a judge.

A police officer instructed a group of gospel-sharing Christians to stop their activities.

A preacher was detained for questioning a Muslim woman about Quranic verses related to domestic violence.

Christmas markets across the UK were canceled in 2025, with city councils claiming they lacked funds, while money was allocated for Ramadan and Eid celebrations nationwide.

Perhaps the most powerful symbolic statement by Muslims was a recent Iftar gathering in Londons Trafalgar Square. Over 3,000 Muslims assembled for evening prayers, which started with the adhan; London Mayor Sadiq Khan attended and distributed dinner packages. When senior conservative Nick Timothy objected to the event, describing a public call of Allahu akbar as a declaration of domination, Starmer called for his removal as shadow justice secretary.

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Islamist influence is already evident in self-proclaimed Muslim areas of London, where the vigilante Muslim London Patrol confronts passersby and advises them not to drink alcohol or wear short dresses. A 2013 report details how its volunteers scold non-Muslims and tell them to stay away from mosques. Gay men are called dirty and asked to leave.

Muslims are heard saying that England is not a Christian country and that Islam is on the rise. Anjem Choudary, a prominent radical preacher and Sharia court judge now serving a life sentence for terrorist activities, once led the Islamic Emirates Project, aiming to turn 12 British cities into independent Islamic states outside of British law.

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Meanwhile, ignoring widespread expressions of Jew-hatred by Muslims, the British government has taken steps to define anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia. Currently, hate crimes against Muslims are twice as likely to result in prosecution as hate crimes against Jews. Antisemitism is blatant and rampant: Muslim mobs chant Death to Israel and call for the murder of Jews; at anti-Israel rallies, protesters mention a historic 7th-century battle against Jewish tribes, shouting Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Mohammad will return; and Muslim clerics promote Jew hatred and support terrorist groups like Hamas. Significant efforts are madeby the government as well as the liberal mediato downplay such antisemitism.

But even perceived offenses to Muslim sensibilities invoke the wrath of the law, as West London restaurateur Harnam Singh Kapoor learned. Kapoor, a Sikh, has a sign at his restaurant Rangrez that says, Proudly Non Halal Restaurant. For this, he faced threats and confrontations from Muslim groups, while he and his wife received phone calls warning that their daughter would be raped by grooming gangs. To protect himself and his family, he began carrying a kirpan, a Sikh ceremonial dagger. On March 14, after Kapoor called for a non-halal meet-up at his restaurant, over 100 people gathered around the premises, chanting slogans. When he contacted the police, they arrested him instead.

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The extent to which the British government is willing to accommodate Muslim practices is clear in its choice to normalize cousin marriage, ignoring scientific evidence that shows it increases the risk of inheriting recessive disorders. According to a Bradford study, the rate of cousin or relative marriage among immigrant Muslims reaches as high as 46%. This practice is banned in Norway and most American states and is set to be banned in Sweden. Last year, Conservative MP Richard Holden proposed a bill for a similar ban in the U.K.

But the National Health Service (NHS) has directed its doctors and nurses to stop issuing blanket discouragements against the practice to Muslim families. They were informed that giving such advice is unacceptable. It even published a reportnow withdrawnpraising the benefits of cousin marriage, and advertised for nurses to support families choosing close-relative marriages. Holden was outraged that public funds were being used to address a custom that should be banned outright.

As conservative commentator Patrick West writes in The Spectator: Should British culture be allowed to be diluted by a self-abasing and cowardly coterie of white liberals, all in the dread names of multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusivity? Can the British public genuinely support the idea that Muslims need special laws and protections in addition to those protecting other citizens?

How much longer before the once-greatest empire on earth is surpassed by Islam?

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America is careening toward a fiscal crisis that makes 2008 look manageable, yet most taxpayers remain unaware that it is coming.

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State and local governments currently owe $1.37 trillion more in pension benefits than they have saved to pay them, per the Equable Institute, and that uses accounting standards governments themselves prefer. Apply the market-based discount rates Stanford economist Joshua Rauh of the Hoover Institution considers the only honest methodology, and the true shortfall reaches $5.1 trillion, roughly the annual GDP of Japan.

This a structural death spiral. Rising pension costs force tax increases and service cuts, which drive out residents and businesses, which shrinks the tax base, which forces still higher taxes, until something breaks. We have already seen a road map for what breaks looks like. It is called Detroit.

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Pension distress is not randomly distributed, and treating it as apolitical is a courtesy the data cannot support. Per the Equable 2024 State of Pensions report, five states qualify as distressed with funding ratios below 60 percent: South Carolina, Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, and Kentucky. Three of the five have been governed by Democrat majorities for most of the past two decades.

Illinois is the standard-bearer for failure. Its five state pension systems carry a combined funded ratio near 45 percent and an unfunded liability exceeding $142 billion. The state already devotes roughly 20 percent of its general fund budget to pension contributions, crowding out education and infrastructure. New Jerseys teachers pension fund, designated Deep Red by the Urban Institute as one of the nine worst public pension funds in the country, was projected for insolvency by 2027 by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. When assets run dry, $4.5 billion in annual benefit payments fall directly onto the general budget of a state already among the highest-taxed in the nation. Meanwhile, CalPERS, the countrys largest public pension fund, reported a market-value funding ratio of roughly 48 percent in the most recent comprehensive study, while publicly projecting figures nearly 30 points higher by using discount rate assumptions that bear little relationship to what markets actually deliver.

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This crisis was not delivered by bad luck. It was manufactured by a feedback loop between public-sector unions and the politicians they finance. Public-sector unions contributed over $1 billion to political campaigns in 2024, with the vast majority flowing to Democrat candidates. The return on that investment is straightforward: Unions deliver money and organizational capacity; in exchange, elected officials protect defined-benefit plans, block structural reforms, and allow union appointees to sit on the pension boards that vote on benefit levels and contribution rates. In California, union representatives hold multiple CalPERS board seats and vote on their own members benefits. In Illinois, AFSCME and SEIU funded Governor Pritzkers campaigns while simultaneously pursuing litigation to block reform.

I have spent thirty years advising ultra-high-net-worth families on capital allocation and fiduciary responsibility. When a conflict of interest this severe exists at a client meeting, we have to disclose it and/or remove the conflicted party. The public pension system does neither. It treats the conflict as a design feature.

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The accounting mechanism that sustains this fiction deserves equal scrutiny. Public pension funds assume average annual returns of 6.87 percent to minimize the contributions governments must make today. Professor Rauhs research demonstrates that pension obligations, which carry essentially zero default risk from the employees perspective, should be discounted at the risk-free rate, near long-term Treasury yields. That methodology converts a $1.37-trillion shortfall into a $5.1-trillion debt that governments have simply chosen not to place on the balance sheet. Illinois paid only 40 to 60% of its required contributions from 1995 to 2015, while maintaining retirement formulas featuring 3% compounding COLAs and pension-spiking schemes no fiscal reality could support long-term. These were political promissory notes written by one generation and billed to the next.

The solution is not theoretical. The working models already exist, and they have audited balance sheets to show for it.

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Wisconsins Act 10, enacted in 2011, required employees to contribute 50 percent of pension costs, prohibited employer pick-ups of employee contributions, and capped collective bargaining to wages only. The political response was dramatic: Senate Democrats fled to Illinois to deny quorum. The fiscal result speaks for itself. Wisconsin has maintained a fully funded pension system for more than a decade, and Act 10 has saved taxpayers an estimated $16 billion since enactment. Tennessee and South Dakota, funded at 107 and 100 percent, respectively, demonstrate that full funding is achievable through contribution discipline and realistic actuarial assumptions, not financial engineering. Utahs hybrid plan pairs modest defined benefits with 401(k)-style accounts, giving employees retirement ownership without transferring unlimited actuarial risk to taxpayers.

These systems share a common set of principles: assumptions grounded in market reality; mandatory contributions that cannot be deferred when budgets tighten; benefit structures sized to the resources actually available; and, crucially, competitive elections that force politicians to answer for what they have promised. The last element may be the most important of all.

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The 2021 American Rescue Plan included roughly $80 billion in relief for failing multi-employer pension plans, establishing a troubling precedent. If a Democrat administration returns with cooperative congressional majorities in 2028, blue-state governors will make compelling arguments about systemic risk and public employees who planned their retirements in good faith. I would ask them to explain why Wisconsin taxpayers, who absorbed the political cost of structural reform and maintain a fully funded system today, should subsidize the consequences of Californias and Illinoiss choices.

The federal government already carries a national debt exceeding $39 trillion. Folding $5.1 trillion in state pension liabilities onto that balance sheet does not solve the funding problem. And a federal bailout creates a moral hazard with no logical boundary: Fiscal irresponsibility becomes the rational strategy for every state that has not yet adopted it. The proper federal role is to establish an orderly restructuring framework, analogous to Chapter 9 bankruptcy for municipalities, so that insolvent systems can reorganize without systemic contagion.

The bill for decades of fantasy accounting, union capture, and insulated one-party governance is coming due. The 2028 election cycles will determine whether reform arrives through political courage or through the involuntary discipline of collapse.

Scott Walker demonstrated in Wisconsin that a fully funded system can be built from the wreckage of a structural deficit, given the will to accept short-term political cost for generational fiscal solvency. The alternative is to keep writing checks the next generation did not sign. Your children and grandchildren are watching.

Jay Rogers is a financial professional with more than 30 years of experience in private equity, private credit, hedge funds, and wealth management. He has a B.S. from Northeastern University and has completed postgraduate studies at UCLA, UPENN, and Harvard. He writes about issues in finance, constitutional law, national security, human nature, and public policy.

Image: kolyaeg via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
When I was about 12 or 13, I had a friend who was fun to be with. When we were in my house or hers, wed talk endlessly about our schoolmates, our teachers, her mothers illness, and boys, boys, boys. But whenever we went outside, she would start counting.

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What are you doing? I would ask.

Counting my steps, she responded.

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Why?

She stopped walking to answer me, so she wouldnt lose count.

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I just have to count them, she said. I cant stop counting them.

At that age, I had never even heard the word obsession, much less understood that my friend was in the grip of an irresistible compulsion to count every step she took.

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One time I asked her, What if you stopped counting? What would happen?

No, no, no, no, no, she said. You just dont understand.

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And I didnt, until decades later, when I became a psychotherapist and studied this vicious, life-altering malady. Before that, I had no idea that there were at least 12 types of obsessions, ranging from uncontrollable thoughts about contamination, sex, religion, illness, hoarding, on and on and on.

Some obsessions come on with no warning  for instance, the woman who is accustomed to getting things in her home in tip-top shape when spring cleaning rolls around, but who one year finds herself unable to dispose of anything, including old tattered magazines, leftover paper plates from entertaining her grandchildren, a frayed sweater...and then it escalates until she  and the few people who continue to visit her  has to push open her front door and step over piles of junk and debris just to get into her own home.

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Or the highly-skilled ICU nurse who, like her colleagues, sported an Apple watch but all of a sudden found herself checking her pulse and EKG readouts and oxygen levels so often  and calling her doctor with anything she thought was suspicious  that she had to quit her job and consult a psychotherapist three times a week.

Or the successful hedge fund manager who read an article about artificial intelligence that scared him so much that he became paranoid, thinking every article he read and every graphic he saw and every song lyric he heard were created by A.I. and that every streetlight or iPhone or uniformed officer he saw was tracking him, which forced him to stop commuting to his job and sequester himself in his basement to do business, which ultimately forced his employer to terminate him.

Oh...did I leave out politics?

Where Tucker Comes In

One type of obsession is called Aggressive Obsession, which involves violent or angry thoughts and actions about hurting others  in Tucker Carlsons case, toward Jews and Israel and Zionism.

Personally, I have no doubt that this bias was always inside Mr. Objective Conservative Commentator, possibly inculcated with mothers milk and reinforced by the career racists he has chosen to interview like Nazi-fetishist Nick Fuentes, et al., but hidden successfully for decades in order to further his ambition to be accepted as a credible talkathon commentator.

But there comes a time, like my counting-footsteps friend, when an obsession erupts, and the person so afflicted no longer has the ability to suppress or ignore it. There it is, every day, every night, every weekend, persistent and impossible to control. In fact, if the obsessed person turns his thoughts on other things, it triggers the kind of anxiety that compels him to return to the soothing remedy of his obsession.

This, in fact, is the definition of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

What now comes out of Tuckers mouth is the exact same turgid tripe that emanates from the execrable Candace Owens and that once flowed like lava from the mouths of Louis Farrakhan and Barack Obamas pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright...to name but three out of a history of antisemites that goes back thousands of years.

It is fascinating to watch Tucker devolve  to abandon a respected broadcasting profession for a reputation as a career racist, to lose a wide mainstream audience for a cheering section of equally obsessed fanatical haters, and at one time to be mentioned among the leaders in mass media but now lumped in with the clickbait cabal of wild-eyed flamethrowers.

This is not to omit the nodding and enthusiastic approval of both Carlsons and Owenss racist vomit by podcaster Megyn Kelly, whom writer Micha Danzig accused of moral confusion, whom journalist Elie Mischel indicted for making antisemitism respectable again, and whom Abe Greenwald, executive editor of Commentary, condemned for being Carlsons gutter-mouthed yes-woman.

A Coveted Invitation?

Carlson has consistently bashed not only Jews and Israel and Zionists, but also President Trumps war on Iran, calling it an absolutely disgusting evil war. And yet, strangely, it seems, the president invited him to lunch at the White House.

Really? Well, according to close Trump ally Laura Loomer, that information/rumor was spread by Tuckers business partner, Neil Patel, and thoroughly debunked by President Trump. Loomer accused Patel of sabotaging the president and covering up the person who actually invited Carlson.

Who could that be? Could it be Carlsons close friend and the employer of his son, Buckley Carlson, who is deputy press secretary to none other than V.P. J.D. Vance?

And is it too impolitic to ask why, after over a year of non-stop vilification of Israel on the part of Tucker Carlson  who has called Israel one of the ugliest countries in the world, that Mr. Vice President finds it impossible to condemn this florid racist, this hater, this obsessed madman?

He certainly wasted not a millisecond in slamming white supremacist Nick Fuentes, who made insulting racist remarks about Vances wife, Usha, who is of Indian descent. But not Carlson?

Is this the reason why President Trump threw Tucker out of Club MAGA and now, it appears, prefers secretary of State Marco Rubio to Vance as his successor?

It Never Ends

Meanwhile, and in keeping with the uncontrollable repetitive nature of obsessions, Carlson  who was named Anti-Semite of the Year by StopAntisemitism.org  is now interviewing Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, who resigned because he claimed  practically quoting Carlson verbatim  that the Iran war was started due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby. Currently, Kent is being investigated by the FBI for allegations of leaking classified information.

But according to prolific writer Amil Imani on The Geller Report, Joe Kent didnt resign  he imploded. His was not a protest, but rather

a confession of moral and strategic bankruptcy. While the United States and Israel finally move to cauterize the nuclear cancer growing in Tehran, Kent has chosen to retreat into the fever dreams of the antisemitic fringe, trading his duty to the nation for the hollow rhetoric of the Jew-hating cabal. ... On one side stands the cold, hard reality of Iranian enrichment; on the other, a disgraced official spewing the same bile as Candace Owens and Nicholas Fuentes ... and fully embracing the antisemitic tropes popularized by the likes of Tucker Carlson and his ilk.

You can bet that Carlsons unrelenting assault on all things Jewish and Israel will go on and on and on and on and on. Thats how obsession works. It clenches on to the part of the brain that is beyond human control, and it doesnt let go. Its very similar to drug addiction. All the bromides and encouraging words and treatment programs mostly dont work because obsession is stronger than all of them.

No one really knows what triggers obsessions. In Carlsons case, it might have been the injury of being fired from Fox News. But it might have gone another way. He might have become inflamed and subsequently obsessed with the massive, too-huge-to-count, possibly nine-billion-dollar financial fraud among Minnesotas Somali population, which is largely Muslim...and which was aided and abetted by its governor, Tim Walz.

He might have been inflamed and subsequently obsessed with the case in New Orleans that claimed the settlements for widespread sexual abuse  which saw a pedophile Catholic priest in every city parish  were indefensibly late or nonexistent.

But Muslim or Catholic  or even Protestant or Buddhist or other religions with raging scandals  were not at all interesting to Tucker. It was Jews who inflamed him and turned him from a legitimate political commentator into a raving racist.

Usually, when people are stricken with a negative personality change  from nice to not nice, from charitable to cheap, from warm to cold  the sentiment is to say, More to be pitied than scorned. But in Tuckers case of malevolent racism, he is far more to be scorned than pitied.

Heres a warning to Tucker and his ilk from the Canadian author and philosopher Matshona Dhliwayo: If you kick a lion when it is down, God help you when it gets up.

Joan Swirsky is a New Yorkbased journalist and author. Her website is www.joanswirsky.com, and she can be reached at [email protected].

Image: ElisaRiva via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
As any civilization progresses, there exists a fundamental tension between two questions: What can we do? and May we do it? The first revolves around capability; that is, a societys raw, computational, or industrial power to manipulate the world. The second involves what can be called normative authority; that is, the internal and social framework of duty, debt, and permission.

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For the last century, the West has obsessed over the Can, scaling its technology and its administrative state to god-like proportions. But in doing so, we have allowed the May I to atrophy, creating a crisis of accountability that spans from the border to the BIOS (i.e., the entire computer infrastructure underlying the modern world).

We see the BIOS issue most clearly in the development of Artificial Intelligence. Modern Large Language Models are masterpieces of the Can. They can reason, they can simulate empathy, and they can process the sum of human knowledge in seconds.

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However, they lack the May I. They do not possess a normative framework. They have no internalized ought that weighs a request against a moral law. Instead, we apply behavioral patches, which are human-inserted safety filters that tell the machine dont say this or refuse that.

This is not an ethical framework; it is a muzzle. When the Can is scaled without a genuine, deep-seated May I, you get a system that is incredibly powerful but dangerously unconstrained, capable of being jailbroken because it has no soul to anchor its logic.

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This same decoupling of what we can do and what we should do has been hollowed out of our immigration and welfare systems. The Administrative State has the Can, for its capable of processing millions of entrants and distributing billions in resources. What its abandoned, however, is the sovereign May I. According to 2026 data from the Center for Immigration Studies, approximately 53% of immigrant-headed households now utilize at least one major welfare program. For non-citizen households, that number rises toward 60%.

The system can onboard these populations into the dependency of the state, but it no longer asks the normative question: May we impose this fiscal burden on the existing citizenry? By prioritizing the Can of high-volume processing over the May I of merit-based selection, we have replaced a Skill-Self immigration model with a Liability-Import model. We are minting Fiat Citizensentrants backed not by their productive output, but by the governments ability to print the benefits they consume.

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The 53% dependency rate is a margin call on the social contract. In the tradeswhich I look at in The Last Apprentices of Realityreality enforces its own May I. You may not build a bridge with inferior steel; the laws of physics will forbid it.

But in the administrative and digital realms, we have tried to bypass reality. We have created a generation (and a system) that is expert at the Can (marketing, signaling, and consuming) while ignoring the May I of fiscal and moral accountability. This can be broken into three primary parts:

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The Individual is trained in the Can of personal branding but lacks the May I of professional skill.

The AI is trained in the Can of information but lacks the May I of ethical restraint.

The State is trained in the Can of welfare distribution but lacks the May I of national interest.

A civilization that masters the Can but forgets the May I is a civilization in decline. Whether it is an AI that can generate a virus or a border policy that can bankrupt a country, the result is the same: Destructive power without an overriding moral value system.

To restore our standing, we must reintegrate these two layers. We must return to a hierarchy where capability is always subordinate to a moral permission system. Whether were speaking of entry into the Digital or American sphere, it must be predicated on the ability to contribute to the Common Good rather than the Common Debt. We must stop asking what we can process, and start asking what we may preserve.

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The news just keeps getting more disgusting from the Sandalista Spring Break crowd, descending on Cuba to show 'solidarity' as President Trump halts its "free" oil from Venezuela, and creating a boatload of misery for Cuba's socialism-impoverished locals.

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It wasn't just gawking at people's poverty from state safari-style tour buses while singing 'Guantamanera' at them, which I wrote about here.

"This is how the foreign communists visiting Cuba get around...like they're on a safari through a theme park. Then they ask us to resist in the name of their criminal ideology. They're all immoral." https://t.co/rf8k58RXnD Advertisement March 22, 2026

It wasn't just the chants of 'this is what democracy looks like' in one of the world's most oppressive hellholes, a place where literally millions have fled through shark-infested waters in flimsy homemade boats.

BREAKING: Code Pink chants This is what democracy looks like! in the streets of Cuba, an authoritarian country that explicitly bans all political parties outside of the Communist Party of Cuba.



pic.twitter.com/CpaDyhJfZK  Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) March 22, 2026

Going to Cuba / Fleeing Cuba pic.twitter.com/RlD8OxSDTD Advertisement March 21, 2026

Or offering them cringe 'art hour' graffiti 'murals' celebrating socialism, as if any of them had asked:

Code Pink flew artists to Cuba to leave behind a gift mural. Maybe their base eats that up, but it comes off as pure performative cringe to me. pic.twitter.com/HXnAAW0oiY Advertisement March 22, 2026

Or other Potemkin Village stunts clearly recognizable to those who have been there:

Being from Zimbabwe means I understand exactly what's going on here. The "farm" is most likely "owned" by a party member. Its unproductive and unprofitable but there's green things in it, so its where all the "foreign dignitaries" are taken to be shown "our agricultural prowess". https://t.co/hEeclqtAQA Advertisement March 22, 2026

Or simply the lefties purporting to speak for them, in the father of all patronization:

Useful Idiot Convoy member Hasan, from his 5-star hotel, says Cubans are partying on the street despite daily blackouts and the humanitarian crisis. They see the victims of communism as noble savages who dont need the privileges Hasan gets to enjoy in democracy and capitalism. pic.twitter.com/STnVn8FviX Advertisement March 22, 2026

It was staying at a five-star hotel and literally hogging all the electricity in the socialist-mismanaged country, blowing out the dilapidated electrical grid with their first-world 'needs' which left the rest of the island in the dark.

Wow Cuban journalist @yoanisanchez has reported that members of the Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (Code Pinks attendees) consumed so much electricity that buildings in close proximity lost power and plunged into darkness. pic.twitter.com/OE5UnCeNjq  CyberBoy (@BenHanan_) March 22, 2026

This is the most amazing encapsulation of Code Pink leftism that I've ever seen.



Going to an oppressed nation, showing solidarity with the oppressors, going around taking photos of poverty from tour buses, & then having a big party that takes down the electric grid. Perfection. https://t.co/SQZ0I4TZmz  Mike Cote (@ratlpolicy) March 22, 2026

Activists in Cuba enjoy electricity in five-star hotel while country plunged into blackoutshttps://t.co/8sREl3b2zH  GB News (@GBNEWS) March 22, 2026

All of Cuba has plunged into darkness again as the electrical grid collapses for the second time in a week, but the hotel where a large group of foreign communists (influencers, politicians, activists, etc.) are staying remains untouched. https://t.co/KPTswf5bgg  Mike Gonzalez (@Gundisalvus) March 22, 2026

One leftist even claimed that they "had" to stay at the five-star hotel, they had no choice in the matter.

Needless to say, the Useful Idiot convoy is lying. There are hundreds of Airbnb options in Cuba and it is not illegal for Americans to stay in them. It is the Cuban dictatorship that wont let the Idiots stay anywhere because this is a propaganda trip where the First Worlders https://t.co/dsd0nLYru3 pic.twitter.com/HTW6KE06K0  Germania Rodriguez Poleo (@iamGermania) March 22, 2026

Worse still, their use of electricity in their luxury digs deprived Cuba's vaunted 'free health care' hospitals to lose electricity, and now a Cuban source is reporting that every patient there on a ventilator has died.

BREAKING - All patients on ventilators at a Cuban hospital died after the Irish band Kneecap used massive amounts of electricity during a humanitarian performance for fellow communists, while the performers and activists stayed in a five-star hotel with power. pic.twitter.com/Swsg2ai4yX  Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) March 22, 2026

BREAKING: Just hours after Irish rappers Kneecap blasted the amps and turned a Havana concert into a rave for Code Pink activists chanting anti-blockade slogans, reports claim local hospital went dark and ventilator patients died.



Meanwhile, members of the communist flotilla pic.twitter.com/l0s8UMsDcN  I Meme Therefore I Am  (@ImMeme0) March 22, 2026

Sure, it's an anecdotal source. But it makes sense, given the amped up electricity used by the activists, and in a land of no free press, the only reporting at all.

What an evil record. Yet they party the night away.

The word is used too often, but this is digusting. This member of the international group of communists descending on Havana to side with the oppressors of the Cuban people onpenly admits that they're just "living large" and "living la vida loca." https://t.co/gDwBDF71rP  Mike Gonzalez (@Gundisalvus) March 22, 2026

The Cuban regime will kill a million Cubans before they let the influencers go without power https://t.co/yCJ4Cf1PkJ  Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) March 22, 2026

Irish band Kneecap consume electricity to perform concert for Code Pink and liberal activists in Cuba- while Cubans face constant electricity blackouts.



pic.twitter.com/FiTlSIBwh1  Oli London (@OliLondonTV) March 22, 2026

BREAKING: Footage from outside the hotel in Cuba where the communist flotilla, Pablo Iglesias, Hasan Piker, Code Pink, and other useful idiots and VIP propagandists lounge in comfort while Cubans are left in the dark during a nationwide blackout.



The entire island is without pic.twitter.com/wxbxO9OaiD  I Meme Therefore I Am  (@ImMeme0) March 22, 2026

Chris Smalls, the president of American labor union. A staunch supporter of communism, posted a clip of him & his comrades getting intoxicated during his time on the Code Pink Humanitarian project, meanwhile 89% of the population in Cuba lives in extreme poverty. This is a pic.twitter.com/TYMNTQY2To  CyberBoy (@BenHanan_) March 22, 2026

While partying hearty, it's worth noting that angry Cubans have made videos of how bad it is on the outside looking in.

Angry Cuban man goes to the hotel where the Code Pink communists are staying in Cuba.



They get to enjoy electricity thanks to a generator but 99.9% of Cubans are without electricity tonight after the nationwide blackout



 pic.twitter.com/p1nU3XlYg1  Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) March 22, 2026

From Cubas dissidents to the global communists whove suddenly descended on the island: Were not a theme park. Go do your ideological tourism elsewhere. Here we are suffering. https://t.co/1ei9ErRVXv  Mike Gonzalez (@Gundisalvus) March 21, 2026

This sounds like fuel for revolution -- to cast the communists and all their crummy little Sandalista Spring Break friends out of Cuba forever.

Zurdos extranjeros en Cuba diciendo que estan en el mismo barco que el pueblo cubano: pic.twitter.com/KOQVqgLts8  Ale Mantilla (@M4ntillAle) March 21, 2026

Esto va para toda la izquierda Internacional  pic.twitter.com/puz4Z4J6q6  Gaia () (@Gaia_GIg) March 21, 2026

And the regime knew:

BREAKING - Its now been revealed the Cuban regime was forced to deploy armed security to protect the five-star hotel where champagne socialists like Hasan were staying, fearing locals might attempt to storm it in protest of the countrys electricity being diverted to the hotel. pic.twitter.com/fzm96NiNyQ  Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) March 22, 2026

Image: X video screenshot.
March 20, 2026: Chinese military, mainly naval, operations in 2025 concentrated on several areas. These include the South China Sea, Taiwan, trade routes across the Pacific, the Persian Gulf and Europe. China is also making use of the Sea Route along the north Russian coast. China is also developing an aircraft carrier fleet. By the end of 2025 China had three carriers, one of which entered service in late 2025. The Chinese navy has also been active off Japan and South Korea, just to remind these neighbors that the Chinese fleet was growing and keeping its ships at sea for longer periods.

In the west Pacific China has militarized more of the Spratly Islands; Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief Reef and Subi Reef. Mischief Reef is the largest at 663 hectares. Subi Reef is about 70 percent the size of Mischief and Fiery Cross about half the size of Mischief Reef. All these reefs have air strips and docking facilities. Subi Reef recently received two radar domes like those on the other two reefs, which gives the Chinese near total radar coverage of the seas and airspace around the Spratly Islands. All three reefs have had their surface area expanded and built up to include upgrades to ELINT/Electronic Intelligence systems, weapons emplacements, housing and related infrastructure. Empty weapons and vehicle emplacements on these islands enable the Chinese to quickly fly or ship in vehicle-mounted weapons and radar/fire control sets. The emplacements can also handle anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile launchers.

Last year saw the Chinese ramming Filipino coast guard ships as well as using water cannons against them. The ongoing territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea continue to escalate as the Chinese openly and aggressively drive Filipino navy ships from areas the Philippines have long controlled. In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Netherlands ruled that, under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Philippines won their case in 2013 that Chinese claims and activities in the South China Sea were unlawful. China had claimed 90 percent of the South China Sea. Over the last sixteen years China has been increasingly aggressive while asserting those claims. While this recently escalated to using water cannon and ramming, past efforts are more tangible like the artificial islands built throughout the South China Sea and garrisoned with heavily armed Chinese forces.

The United States and other Western and local allies like Australia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore send warships and aircraft into the disputed areas to confront the Chinese. The message is that if China wants to start World War 3 in the South China Sea, the opposition will be substantial and include most of Chinas neighbors.

The Philippines increased its military presence and activities in the South China Sea, especially around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal, where it claims sovereignty over parts of the disputed waters and features. The country has also received support from its allies, such as the United States, Japan, and Australia, in conducting joint exercises and patrols, as well as providing military assistance and equipment. However, China has also intensified its operations and use of coercion in the region, deploying more ships, aircraft, and missiles, and building new structures and facilities on the artificial islands it occupies.

The risk of miscalculation and escalation remains high as China continues to ignore a 2016 ruling by the international Permanent Court of Arbitration. China had previously agreed to abide by the terms of the court ruling but denied knowledge of any previous agreement when the Philippines resisted Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. The international support the Philippines received to confront China has stalled the Chinese plans to occupy and fortify all the islands in the South China Sea,

The Philippines has maintained a balance between its alliance with the United States and its economic ties with China. The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States, which provide for mutual defense and security cooperation, as well as access to military bases and facilities. The country has also welcomed the U.S. support for its maritime claims and rights in the South China Sea, as well as the U.S. sanctions against Chinese officials and entities involved in the disputes. However, the Philippines has also sought to improve diplomatic relations with China, which is its largest trading partner and a major source of investment. The Philippines sought to manage and resolve the territorial disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, rather than confrontation and arbitration.
The Democrat Party is infamous for its economic illiteracy fueled by its compulsion to ignore and/or denigrate anyone who understands basic economics, like Margaret Thatcher who said the trouble with socialism is you always run out of other peoples money. This collective brain tumor causes Democrats like Hochul to say and do things guaranteed to cause financial disaster. Things like this:

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The comments are a far cry from Hochuls much-derided remarks from her 2022 election campaign where she ripped her GOP opponent, Rep. Lee Zeldin, as well as then-Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and President Trump, telling them and other New York Republicans to scram. Trump and Zeldin and Molinaro  just jump on a bus and head down to Florida where you belong. OK? Get out of town. Because you dont represent our values, Hochul said at the time. Advertisement

Well. Wealthy New Yorkers, people who run businesses employing thousands, all of whom contribute to the tax base of a state facing a $27.5 billion dollar budget deficit, which will surely be exacerbated by New York City Mayor Zhoran Mamdanis full communist economic illiteracynever go full communist--took Hochuls arrogant advice. Mamdani is chasing out NYCs billionaires, millionaires and folks who cant afford the Big, rotten Apple anymore, and wants Hochul to bail him out.

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At Powerline, John Hinderaker outlines part of the problem:

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So, what are our values? Liberals always claim to be acting on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged, but those arent the ones who get most of the money. Government has largely become a money-laundering operation, in which people who actually do productive work pay taxes, and the government then gives their money to NGOs, consultants, and politically-favored companies, all of which purport to be doing good, but in fact are corrupt rackets. Thus, to take just one example, New York City reportedly spends $81,000 to $97,000 per homeless person, more than the citys median income. Does that mean that homeless people in New York are rolling in dough? No, it means that politically-favored Democratic Party constituencies are siphoning off enormous amounts of money while doing virtually no good. Advertisement

What is Hochul doing about the massive money flight she smarmily encouraged? Shes suggesting that the few remaining wealthy in New York who havent fled to Florida fly down to Palm Beach to beg their wealthy friends to come back to New York. She's too busy ruining New York's economy to do it herself:



Graphic: Social Media Post

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul indicated that the Empire State needs wealthy individuals paying taxes in the state to help fund social programs, but noted that the state's tax base has "eroded." During remarks at Politico's "New York Agenda: Albany Summit" event last week, the Democratic governor explained that she needs individuals with a "high net worth to support the generous social programs that we wanna have in our state." She highlighted the issue by suggesting that wealthy individuals should visit Palm Beach, Florida, to "see who you can bring back home, because our tax base has been eroded."

Did she apologize for insulting people who provide a huge chunk of New Yorks tax base? Did she admit that telling them to get out of the state wasnt such a swift move? Of course not! Being a Democrat means never having to say youre sorry.

Hochul said that "Wall Street businesses looking at Texas" are moving due to taxes. "We have to be smart about this," she said, adding that "We can fund what we want to fund with what we already are taking in."

We have to be smart about this?! Too late. Hochuls Republican opponent for governor this year has campaign commercials that write themselves:

"Kathy Hochul finally discovered what New Yorkers already know," [Bruce] Blakeman said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. "When you raise taxes, drive up the cost of living, make it harder to do business, and try to destroy families' savings, people leave. Apparently Hochul's new economic development strategy is to ask them politely to come back." "Palm Beach is lovely this time of year, but I'm not sure former New Yorkers will be eager to trade sunshine, no state income tax, and sanity for the highest taxes in the nation under Kathy Hochul  especially while Zohran Mamdani proposes a massive death tax hike. He wants to start taxing inheritances as low as $750,000 and take up to half of what families leave behind. That's a tough sell."

Blakeman is promising to cut taxes and make New York affordable. Hes not insulting the rich and telling them to leave. Those are, by New York standards, crazy ideas, but theyre so crazy they just might work.

Become a subscriber and get our weekly, Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
NATO served a worthy purpose in helping us win the Cold War, largely without going hot. Even so, we always footed most of the bill for the defense of the free world, and our NATO allies rewarded us by denigrating us at every turn and spending themselves into near oblivion by means of social welfare programs. Theyll never forgive us for saving them during WWI and WWII. Circa 2026, theyve come close to complete national, civilizational suicide by inviting in armies of Islamists.

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President Trump is supposedly so stupid he had no idea of the potential consequences of the Iran war, yet were winning in ways impossible under Democrat presidents, all of whom in the last several decades swore that we would never allow Iran to get nuclear weapons, which meant doing what Trump is now doing. Obama and Biden kept that promise by ensuring Iran would get nuclear weapons and paying for them and Irans terrorist proxy armies. But poor old stupid Trump keeps playing four-dimensional chess while his detractors cant play checkers. Hes exposed our NATO alliesand particularly England--as toilet paper tigers unable and unwilling to sortie a single, rusty warship to assist us.

As we reported, President Donald Trump asked our NATO allies and others to help contribute to a coalition of escort ships to help ensure safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz. Advertisement But he was rebuffed by some of the NATO allies, like Germany, who said that they didn't start the military action, so why should they be involved? These are some of the same folks who thought the United States should pay endlessly for Ukraine, despite that not being "our war.' They had a bit of a karmic wake-up call when the hotel where their European Union Advisory Mission is housed was hit by an Iran-backed drone in Baghdad. Advertisement

Trump, using the hard ball techniques of NYC real estate development, read our allies the riot act:

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Graphic: Social Media Post

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, who to his credit has recognized NATO has a lot of stepping up to do, promptly responded:

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Graphic: Social Media Post

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"I have been in contact with many allies," Rutte said during a NATO exercise in Norway. "We all agree, of course, that Strait has to open up again. And what I know is that allies are working together, discussing how to do that, what is the best way to do it. They're working on that collectively to find a way forward." Rutte also explained the ballistic missile and nuclear capability had been "severely degraded."

This awakening is largely self-interest. Americas fortunes are not dependent on the Straits of Hormuz. Very little of our shipping transits that waterway, but thats not true of much of the rest of the world, including our NATO pseudo-allies. India, China and many Asian nations have higher stakes in free transit, and even the United Arab Emirates may chip in. I guess Iranian bombardment of its Arab neighborsIranians are Persianswasnt such a bright idea after all. Even Argentina is apparently ready to send a frigate or two.

Graphic: X Post

Under Donald Trump, America is once again a net exporter of oil. Were also respected and feared again, and our NATO pseudo-allies are afraid that should Russia decide to rebuild the Soviet Union or Europes Muslims decide to establish caliphates, Trump very well might not help. Even worse, he might demand cash up front before helping. Theyre not willing to call his bluff, which is the smartest thing theyve done in decades. Under Trump, America isnt bluffing. Now we get to see if our NATO allies have the money and the political will necessary to shove out their Islamist parasites and restore something like the capitalist economies necessary to provide for their own defense. Thus far, theyve acted like theyre not worth defending. They may be right.

Become a subscriber and get our weekly, Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Much has bueen rightly made of the $114 million butterfly bridge boondoggle inknown as the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing bridging the Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills on across the 101 in Southern California. Its costs have exploded, Its value is dubious. And the passage will open the way for coyotes and mountain lions to cross over to eat the kids in the suburban houses on the Simi Valley side.

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According to the California Post:

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing was pitched as a once-in-a-generation conservation fix to allow safe passage for wildlife in the Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills over the 101 Freeway. Advertisement Gov. Gavin Newsom said California had committed $54 million when he broke ground on the crossing in 2022, and said another $10 million would complete the project, which would also be funding by philanthropists.

It's a horrible waste of money all by itself and it appears to be run by idiots.

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This problem, though, spotted by investigative journalist Jennifer van Laar, with what looks like an ai illustration, caught my attention.

Yes! Not only is this wildlife bridge a massive waste of money, it's ruining a natural firebreak.



Right now, the 101 is a bit of a firebreak. Gavin's ruining THAT, too, by placing a fuel bridge - that'll allow fires to more easily burn from Simi Valley to the coast unimpeded. https://t.co/RYXljhCUFk  Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) March 18, 2026

It's actually a fire passage, and considering the dried weeds likely to be covering it by some fire season late in the year in California, the bridge passage will ensure that wildfires will have no trouble with crossing the state's natural firebreaks, which are in the vast interstate highways that slice through the state. Try arguing that won't happen in hot 100-mile-an-hour Santa Ana winds, which pass through that vicinity.

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With hot weather in California, it's always fire season. I had a close call last week when the canyon I live on was set ablaze by bums just north of Mission Valley. We have competent firemen, but who knows when the next one will start. Across the state, the memory of the Palisades fire is strong and a reminder of just what can happen.

The last thing this area needs is an open trail for the wildfires to cross freeways. We already know that state officials do not plan for these contingencies. One can only hope that a future Gov. Steve Hilton or Chad Bianco can tear the whole fire hazard down before we lose another city from it.

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Not too long ago, Paraguay was considered something of a dump, a land of no promise, a terrible history, lots of socialism, and one disadvantage after another.

How quickly things change.

Bloomberg reports that it's the prettiest girl at the ball now -- a desirable country, a growing country, a country getting rich -- to foreign investors, foreign tourists, expats, buyers, and obviously, Paraguayans themselves, who've done themselves proud.

Wedged between South American heavyweights Argentina and Brazil, Paraguay has long been ignored by the international community. Small, landlocked and poor, it was often seen as just a fly-over country. So its a little surprising  to both those in the capital and in the region  that the country of 6.1 million people is suddenly having a moment. Lured by low taxes, entrepreneurs from across Latin America are plowing in money and taking up residence, with applications surging more than 60% in 2025. Sleek towers and luxury car dealerships now dot Asuncion, a city where infrastructure is still struggling to catch up. And Wall Street investors are snapping up Paraguays bonds as its conservative president, Santiago Pena, aligns his government with the Trump administration. Though roughly the size of California, Paraguays $47 billion economy is about 1% of the Golden States. But rapid growth and economic reforms in recent years helped the country win investment-grade credit status from Moodys Ratings in 2024 and from S&P Global last year. We used to be like the ugliest girl at the ball, said Selene Rojas, director of the upscale Shopping del Sol mall in the capitals financial district. Today, everyones asking us to dance.

All they needed to do was embrace Trump, which they did, not just as an ally, but in his ideas.

No, it's not surprising that they did well afterward. They all do. Paraguay decisively embraced the ideas of President Trump and made them their own model -- fair play, better rule of law, smaller government, low taxes, and fewer regulations, and sure enough, nice things happened. It was as predictable as sunrise.

They're looking good on the classic indicators:

Cc @AKFREEDOM and the @Heritage Index of Economic Freedom@SantiPenaps Paraguay is a great place to do business! https://t.co/itUjxsVpKn Advertisement March 22, 2026

Former Reuters Latin American bureau chief Brian Winter notes that they're kind of following a Texas model for development, scarfing up refugees from socialism from around the continent based on their friendly business climate, and getting big, big, bigger.

Paraguay is trying to become South America's Texas -- hot as hell, but attracts people & investors thanks to low taxes & regulations. Fun deep dive here by Bloomberg (gift link)https://t.co/k70FasOwut

 Brian Winter (@BrazilBrian) March 22, 2026

Based on the report, Brazil is kind of like California, and Paraguay is kind of like Texas in terms of movement.

Now like Texas, the Paraguayans are getting rich -- and in the most impressive way possible -- from the standpoint of a country that had been viewed as a no-hoper. These days they're becoming another El Salvador in the dramatic change in their profile.

All it took was electing a youthful conservative president, Santiago Pena, which they did, and have him implement the Trump-like changes in how they run themselves. Bloomberg reports that he told Bloomberg Television:

Paraguay will keep growing more than the other countries in South America, Pena told Bloomberg Television in Washington last month. Very soon it will have the highest per-capita income, above Uruguay and above Chile.

Investors are also taking notice, pouring money into factories and real estate. Many of them are foreign, with migration authorities receiving nearly 50,000 residency applications last year. About half were Brazilians, though there were also large numbers of Argentines, Germans, Bolivians and Spaniards.

They cut taxes, made the business climate friendly, didn's nickel and dime the locals with new taxes as is being done in New York and California, didn't scream about taxing billionaires, didn't gerrymander, and all they needed started to pour in. Bloomberg quotes one expert who says they need to make their taxes higher to pay for roads and bridges, but that's questionable advice -- why shouldn't they beat the average tax rate in Latin America to stay competitive? Perhaps they can find ways to do more with less with less government waste.

It's up to them, of course. But they do stand out as an example for all blue states that the way to get rich is to not do what they've done, in raising taxes and regulations, but to 'go Paraguay' and draw in all that's out there over the other states.

Paraguay gets it. Texas gets it. California doesn't get it. But Paraguay remains as an object example that Trump capitalism works every time you try it. Socialism can make no such claims in any part of the world or any part of history. Paraguay is now living its best life, as socialism withers away.
Currently, air travel in America is a nightmare. Thats because, despite a hot war with Iran, which may have activated terrorist cells in America, the Democrats are refusing to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This affects air travel because the TSA, which provides airport security, is a subset of the DHS. The reason for the Democrats refusal to fund the DHS is that some of those funds will go to ICE. They would rather see terrorists on American planes, or air travel grind to a halt, than deport criminal illegal aliens.

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Currently, no one working for the DHS is getting paid. This means that TSA agents are working without pay, and many arent working at all. Lines at airport security are getting longer and longer, and there is now talk of shutting down smaller airports.

The Democrats are explicit: Theyll fund only TSA, but not any other part of the DHS, until they get changes to ICE enforcement.

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Those changes include requiring ICE to get judicial warrants for every single deportation. Currently, there is no such requirement, nor should there be, because deportations are not part of the criminal justice system; theyre part of the administrative state. This is nothing new. Our government has been using administrative warrants since the late 1800s, when modern immigration enforcement was first created.

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Going through all the due process hoops of the criminal justice system for people manifestly in the U.S., illegally, especially those who have committed violent crimes, will bring deportations to a halt. In truth, this is the Democrats goal.

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In addition, the Democrats want ICE agents to show their faces and wave around personal identification, even though the only reason for this is to dox them. Had Democrats not made agents targets, this wouldnt be an issue.

Put another way, Democrats are saying that they refuse to allow the Department of Homeland Security to protect the homeland during a war with a country with a 47-year history of terrorism until they can first destroy ICE. The TSA funding carveout that they propose is a cover to keep Americans from noticing that the rest of the United States is now completely vulnerable.

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Republicans, appropriately, are saying no. The DHS is a unified entity that exists to protect people from foreign actors trying to destroy the country from within. The Democrats dont get to hold part of the DHS hostage because they dislike some other part.

Elon Musk has offered to help out by funding the TSA himself:

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I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 21, 2026

Its a lovely offer, but not the right way to go, for it rewards the Democrats dangerous intransigence.

Trump, the most wily man of all, has figured out how to cut this Gordian knot. No negotiations and no kind offers from private citizens. Instead, hes going to turn the airports into a safe haven for travelers...and the Democrats worst nightmare:

ICE, by the way, is fully funded under the One Big Beautiful Bill, so this is totally do-able.

What Democrats keep forgetting, because theyve created this fantasy that Trump is an idiot, is that he spent decades in the rough-and-tumble world of commercial real estate and made his name as a no-holds-barred negotiator. When negotiations are polite, no one is more polite than Trump. When they get ugly, though, dont mess with the Donald.
The left will always live in the 1960s. The latest episode of the story is another group of socialists travelling to Cuba to show their support for the Cuban revolution. These people love revolutions, dont they? What they dont love are the victims of those revolutions.

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This is the story:

The Democratic Socialists of America announced that 20 DSA members will join an international group of humanitarians, the so-called Nuestra America Convoy, which says it is delivering critical aid to Cuba amid an economic and energy crisis caused by Americas blockade of fuel, flights, and other essential supplies... It has issued an open letter signed by celebrities like Jane Fonda, Mark Ruffalo, and Susan Sarandon, calling for the administration to treat Cuba with equality and respect and let Cuba live. ... With 89 percent of Cubans reportedly living in poverty, the Communist regime has a chokehold on food and energy distribution. Advertisement

Of course, they blame the US embargo. Yes, the darn embargo! What else?

The problem is that Europe, China, Brazil, Mexico, and Canada are not boycotting Cuba. Thats a big chunk of the worlds economy that did not join the embargo. Why arent those countries doing business with Cuba? Whats stopping them? Not the US embargo. Why arent these countries building power plants in Cuba to solve the energy problem?

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The answer may be that Cuba does not repay its debts, and the Castro regime has grown used to living off subsidies. Another problem may be that the Castro regime killed the middle class that would buy Chinese cars, Brazilian radios, Italian shoes, etc. There is no consumer market in Cuba as there was before what they call the revolution.

So, the socialists will go to Cuba, cheer the corrupt regime, probably meet with a few Cubans suffering under the US embargo, and fly back to their comfortable homes in the US. The Cubans they leave behind wont be so lucky. They wont have lights tonight, or who knows what food is available in the markets.

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To say the least, these people are as foolish today as they were in the past when they went sugar cane cutting or cheered one of Fidels speeches. Again, the socialists get to leave Cuba, but the Cubans dont.

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X screen grab.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.
Abby Huntsman, who co-hosted The View from 2018 to 2020, is returning to guest host ABCs daytime talk show years after she claimed the show had a toxic environment.

From March 23 until March 27, the former Fox News personality will join her former co-stars and serve as the conservative voice on the panel while Alyssa Farah Griffin is still away on maternity leave.

The 39-year-old journalist will join the growing slate of conservative commentators who have filled in for Griffin in recent weeks, including Savannah Chrisley, Sara Eisen and Elisabeth Hasselback.

When she left The View in 2020, Huntsman initially said she was stepping down from The View in January 2020 to become a senior adviser for her fathers gubernatorial campaign, but later claimed the real reason for her departure was that the shows workplace environment was rewarding people for bad behavior.

She claimed that The Views executives created an environment that was all about money and the tabloids, she said on her podcast I Wish Somebody Told Me in 2021.

Abby Huntsman is returning as a co-host on 'The View' while Alyssa Farah Griffin is away on maternity leave (Getty)

You would see people act in ways that were not okay, that was very much part of the toxic environment of The View, and here we were going on the air criticizing others for toxic culture, Huntsman said.

Additionally, her feud with former co-star and friend McCain was highly publicized at the time the show aired.

THIS WEEK: Our friend and former co-host Abby Huntsman joins us as guest co-host all week long!  pic.twitter.com/VREGAx6Jq5  The View (@TheView) March 22, 2026

She said in 2021 that she did not regret leaving The View, telling People at the time: "I don't talk much about that time, and I won't, but the decision that I made was probably the best decision I could have made for my life, for my mental health, for my happiness, for my family.

Guest stars who will be featured on Huntsmans week as a co-host on the talk show include Senator Cory Booker, the American Idol judges, comedian Chelsea Handler, Paradise stars Thomas Doherty and Julianne Nicholson, and actor Amanda Peet.

Huntsman, the daughter of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., got her start as a TV personality while working on shows like MSNBC and NBC News. She then worked as a reporter for Fox News Channel from 2015 to 2018.

She joined The View in September 2018, appearing alongside co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Meghan McCain. The five-person panel was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for hosting in 2019.

After her move out of the TV spotlight, Huntsman decided to focus on her podcast and her family. She shares three children with her husband, Jeffrey Livingston.
Products featured in this Yahoo article are selected by our shopping writers. We will earn a commission from purchases made via links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been pictured at Sandringham (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (PA Wire)

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been pictured for the first time following his arrest last month.

The former Duke of York was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations he shared sensitive information with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UKs trade envoy.

Images published by The Sun newspaper show the ex-prince walking his dogs near his current home on the royal Sandringham estate in Norfolk, alongside a bodyguard.

Andrew was most recently photographed looking visibly shocked in the back of a vehicle following his arrest on February 19 - the day of his 66th birthday.

The ex-royal was driven to Aylsham police station, 55 minutes away from his home, for questioning and is said to have been processed like a common criminal suspect.

Police are investigating whether Andrew gave commercially valuable and sensitive information to Epstein while serving as UK trade envoy. Detectives are understood to have asked him whether he handed over state secrets to the disgraced billionaire between 2001 and 2011.

It is known that as part of his arrest, Andrew was fingerprinted and underwent a mug shot, before being read his rights, and allowed to change clothing while being closely monitored by one of the arresting officers.

Andrew's two private bodyguards, both ex-Met Police officers, reportedly stood by him as officers searched through his cupboards and drawers.

For the past few weeks, Andrew has been temporarily residing in Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate while alterations are made for his new home, the five-bedroom Marsh Farm, where he is set to move in the coming days.

The ex-Duke of York has denied all wrongdoing.

Emails released by the US Department of Justice appeared to show Andrew had shared confidential reports with Epstein related to his visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore.

One from November 2010 suggests it was forwarded to Epstein five minutes after Andrew received it from his then-special adviser Amir Patel, while another the following month appeared to show Andrew sent a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand province, Afghanistan.
March 22, 2026: The United States has an ongoing problem with illegal drone use along its southern border. Most of the drones coming from Mexico are carrying illegal narcotics and other contraband, like weapons. Mexican drug cartels find the drones an easy way to get contraband across the border with little risk to cartel members. More recently illegal drone traffic near the El Paso, Texas border shut down airport operations for hours.

Airport disruption by drones has been a problem in other countries. Britain had something of an aviation crisis in late 2018 when someone allegedly flew a quadcopter near the runway of Gatwick airport near London and did so several times. Over a hundred people, including police and airport pilots, spotted the quadcopter between December 19 and 21. Some quadcopter sightings near airports turn out to be a plastic bag being blown about but this one was apparently the real deal. Initial efforts to deal with the situation failed and over 140,000 passengers had their flights delayed or canceled. The ultimate cost of the never identified mystery quadcopter operator was over $66 million.

The airport initially brought in an inexpensive and widely used AeroScope drone detector. AeroScope is made by DJI, the Chinese firm that builds most of the quadcopters on the market. DJI includes a microchip in its quadcopters that contains information about the quadcopter operator in the control signal. AeroScope is a briefcase size device that uses two small antennas to monitor for the presence of a DJI control signal within five kilometers. If a control signal is detected, the AeroScope display shows the AeroScope operator data about the DJI quadcopter including location, altitude, speed, direction, takeoff location, operator location, and an identifier such as a registration or serial number.

The Gatwick quadcopter was either not a DJI model or one that had been altered, which was not easy to do but possible by someone familiar with drone control hardware and software. The military was consulted and they brought in one of their recently acquired Drone Dome systems. These cost $3.4 million each and consist of a 360 degree radar system, an electro-optical day/night surveillance unit and a wideband detector for most frequencies drones use. With all this Drone Dome can reliably detect any small quadcopter or fixed-wing drone Unmanned Aerial Vehicles within 3,500 meters. Most quadcopters and drones encountered are larger and these can be detected out to ten kilometers. Once spotted, Drone Dome can use a focused jamming signal that will disrupt any radio control signals and force the drone to crash or operate erratically. Drone Dome has an optional laser gun that can be aimed by Drone Dome to destroy the drone at ranges up to 2,000 meters. In a combat zone, you can also employ machine-guns to bring down the drone. The British military did not purchase the laser option but was able to reliably detect all manner of small quadcopters from several manufacturers during tests earlier in 2019. It was not revealed if Drone Dome detected anything at Gatwick but the drone sightings stopped and Gatwick has since brought in a similar system to be permanently available for illegal drones operating around the airport.

The same Israeli firm Rafael that developed the Iron Dome system for effectively and economically destroying rockets and shells from mortar and artillery in 2005 had, by 2017, developed a version optimized to detect and shoot down small drones. Drone Dome is a lot cheaper because it does not use $90,000 Tamir guided missiles to intercept rockets or shells headed for residential areas or military targets. Instead, Drone Dome uses a high powered laser that can destroy or disable most drones. Drone Dome uses a radar that can detect most small drones at ranges of up to 30 kilometers at altitudes of 10 meters to 10,000 meters. Drone Dome is not a radical development but part of a trend. Since 2010 Israeli firms have developed a growing number of AUD/Anti-Drone defense systems largely because Israel is a nation that is most often threatened by hostile use of drones, particularly small commercial ones increasingly used by Islamic terrorists and criminal gangs.

What makes Drone Dome different is its heavy use of electronic sensors to detect and jam the control signals used by drones, leaving the laser as a last resort. Several AUD systems are already in service and effective because they are good at detecting drones electronically and either jamming those control signals or taking over the control signals and capturing it by making the drone land. Troops in Iraq and Syria were asking for AUD systems that used lasers and better drone detection systems as well those with jammers to disable drones. There is a need for AUDs that can detect and destroy drones that do not use control signals and basically go on pre-programmed missions. This can be to take photos or deliver a small explosive. Usually, it is to take photos and return. Drone Dome is one of several AUD systems equipped to detect and locate drones operating in pre-programmed mode and destroy or disable them quietly with a vehicle-mounted laser.

AUDs similar to Drone Dome also use one or more radar systems and one or more sensor systems for detecting drone control signals or visual images s0 that pattern recognition software can quickly identify what it is. While commercial drones are more common, the basic design principles have not changed. AUDs are constantly evolving to better detect and disable or destroy unwanted drones. The best ones are recent models that tend to be very expensive and used only for extreme situations, like drone defense in combat zones. Airports, especially the large ones, are going to have to join the military by buying the latest AUDs, which at least lowers the AUD price and inspires even faster innovation and development.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was photographed walking his dogs alongside a bodyguard on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk - Bav Media

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been photographed for the first time since his arrest.

The former Duke of York was seen walking his dogs alongside a bodyguard near his new home at Marsh Farm, on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

In February, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over accusations that he shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein.

He has not been seen in public since his release from Aylsham police station in Norfolk, when he was pictured attempting to hide from the cameras in the back of a car. He remains under investigation.

Thames Valley Police is assessing claims in the Epstein files that suggest the former prince sent the paedophile financier sensitive government emails from 2001 to 2011, when he was a UK trade envoy.

It was also reported this week that the police investigation may widen to assess potential corruption offences.

The former duke moved out of Royal Lodge last month after three million documents related to Epstein, published by the US department of justice, further exposed his links to the disgraced financier.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor features a number of times in the documents, including images apparently showing him crouched over an unidentified woman in what appears to be Epsteins New York mansion.

Andrew was pictured on all fours over a woman - AFP

The former prince and Sarah Ferguson, his ex-wife, feature in email exchanges with Epstein, with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor appearing to invite him to Buckingham Palace, and Ms Ferguson apparently saying: I am at your service. Just marry me.

In the correspondence, Epstein also appeared to introduce Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to a woman described by the paedophile as 26, Russian, clevere [sic] beautiful, trustworthy, while in the same month, the former prince apparently told Epstein: Wish I was still a pet in your family.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was forced to give up his lease on Royal Lodge following a public outcry when it emerged that he had only paid a peppercorn rent on the mansion for more than 20 years.

He temporarily relocated to Wood Farm, a private property on the Kings Sandringham Estate, which was raided by police when he was arrested. He is set to move to neighbouring Marsh Farm in the coming days.

One former courtier had previously predicted what Mr Mountbatten-Windsors life would look like once he relocated from the Windsor estate, one of the beating hearts of the current working Royal family, to Sandringham.

They said he would face a lonely life at the Kings bleak Norfolk estate, which is usually only bustling at Christmastime.

The former prince, photographed leaving Aylsham police station after his arrest on Feb 19 - Phil Noble/Reuters

Speaking to The Telegraph in October last year, after the King stripped his younger brother of his remaining titles and forced him to give up Royal Lodge, one source who has spent time at Sandringham said: Its going to be a lonely life for him.

Its a working farm, so there are always people around  but they are staff, and hes not someone who has a track record of being friendly with servants.

I wouldnt want to live there the whole time. Its remote, there is the wind whipping in from the Wash, its cold and he will be pretty much stuck there. It does have a certain beauty, but life will be bleak for him.

The former prince also no longer has the unorthodox arrangement of living with Sarah Ferguson, his ex-wife, as he did in Windsor.

Meanwhile his two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, have not been seen with their father since his arrest in February.

Exiled from the Home Counties, and a long train journey from his daughters homes at Kensington Palace and St Jamess Palace, his opportunities for seeing his children and grandchildren are likely to be limited.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing over his links to Epstein.
Warning: Antoine Semenyo (AFP via Getty Images)

Antoine Semenyo has sent Arsenal a Premier League title warning after Manchester City dealt a psychological blow by winning the Carabao Cup final.

The Gunners were largely second-best at Wembley, after a promising start, in which City's superiority and experience winning trophies shone through.

Nico O'Reilly scored two headers inside five second-half minutes, helped hugely by a Kepa Arrizabalaga for his first, to clinch another Carabao Cup for City.

For Semenyo, it was the first trophy of his career and came a little over two months after signing for Pep Guardiola's side.

The Ghana international was a thorn in Arsenal's side throughout, especially for Piero Hincapie, who struggled against the winger all afternoon.

It gives us a boost, gives us a confidence boost," Semenyo told Sky Sports.

"It gives us confidence coming back after the international break, and hopefully catching up.

"I feel like momentum can swing very quickly. So we just have to do our job leading up to that game [against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium], and hopefully we can finish off the job professionally.

"We've got top quality players, we create a lot of chances, and we've got good goalscorers. So listen, it can change very quickly."

For Man City captain Bernardo Silva, Sundays victory was another trophy to add to a packed personal cabinet.

But he believes the younger members of the City squad will benefit hugely from getting a first piece of silverware under the belt.

He added: "To get the first trophy releases a bit of pressure. It also makes you feel well and you want to repeat that feeling."
Ally is a former nurse who left her career to buy Dominion Hill Country Inn in New Brunswick, where she lives with her Bernese Mountain Dog, Benny, known on social media as the Hotel Dog. He's described on the boutique hotel's website as equal parts gentle giant and social butterfly who loves everybody. He's also the first to welcome guests with a tail wag and a smile, and takes his job very seriously.

Ally posted a short clip of Benny waiting at the entrance of the inn for the next guests to arrive. He'd been waiting for hours, and she didn't have the heart to tell him that no guests were arriving that day, and we wouldn't have been able to do it, either!

Our hearts can't take it! Benny is such a sweet boy, and you could see the sadness on his little tri-colored face. Ally shared a bit more in the caption.

"This time of year, the hotel is quieter and the days are slower. But Benny still waits all day, every day, hoping a guest will arrive. Every morning, Benny will wait just outside the reception office, patiently waiting for one of his hotel guests to drive up so he can be the first to greet them." Bless his sweet heart!

Related: Bernese Mountain Dog Cant Give Tiny Little Kitten Enough Love

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Commenters' Sweet Reactions to the Sad Berner

Ally and Benny's video has more than a million views, and people have left nearly 2,000 comments about the sweet Bernese Mountain Dog.

@MapleSugar was on to something when they said, "Diabolical advertising! Looks like Im planning a trip to New Brunswick this year!" @Delta Four added, "My spouse is wondering why the sudden switch from Maui to New Brunswick"

Big brand @Clorox chimed in with, "BRB asking my boss to approve my PTO..." Another commenter replied and shouted, "IT'S A WORK TRIP!"

@Angry Canadian got nearly 30,000 likes when they asked, "Am am I being guilted into booking?!" We think we all are, and everybody seems to be fine with it!

This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Mar 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Beset made all to lead home a Joseph OBrien one-two in the feature Irish Stallion Farms EBF Devoy Stakes at Naas.

Beset had the rail and battled it out with Iowa City as they entered the final two furlongs but the 11-4 five-year-old began to assert her authority on the race approaching the furlong make as she pulled clear.

Lemsairbat came out of the pack to pass Iowa City but was no match for her stablemate as she chased Beset home three lengths in arrears.

OBrien said: Shes a tough filly. She finished off the year great last year and shes picked up where she left off.

She likes soft ground so we had planned to start early and its great to win a stakes race early in the year.

She stays well and handles the ground and in conditions like that they are two helpful things.

Shell probably go for a group race somewhere now. There is a race in Newbury over a mile-and-a-half.

Wed like to find a bit of juice in the ground in group company, wherever that might be.

Shed have options in France. In Ireland the Munster Oaks in Cork is probably the obvious race for her if the ground was soft.

On runner-up Lemsairbat, he added: It was probably a career best from her. Shell probably come back to Gowran Park in a month. She likes a bit of juice in the ground too.
The desire to stay out of other peoples wars is understandable, and there is no dishonour in John McDonnell, a Labour neutralist, seeking Liberal Democrat and Green support in parliament to try to block the United States using British bases for attacks on Iran.

But it is not possible for Britain to have nothing to do with the conflict in the Middle East. Our citizens standard of living is affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. British expatriates are vulnerable to Iranian missiles in several Gulf countries, which are allies. And British bases, including Cyprus and Diego Garcia, are also within range.

Mr McDonnell would no doubt want to give up British military bases around the world, and thinks that British expats and the allied nations that accommodate them should look after themselves. But even then he ought to recognise that Britain has an economic interest in the free passage of ships in international waters  at least until such a time, some decades in the future, when we can function without petroleum products at all.

Sir Keir Starmer is right, therefore, to give American forces permission to use British bases, in Britain as well as in the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, for the purely defensive purpose of trying to knock out the launchers from which Iranian missiles are threatening international ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

That is why British forces took part in strikes against Houthi missile launchers over the past two years: in order to protect international shipping traffic in the Red Sea.

Indeed, we believe Sir Keir is right to go further, as he is doing, to volunteer British forces to take part in a multinational effort to police the Strait after the current phase of the conflict is over.

Mr McDonnell may wish that Britain did not have a base, Diego Garcia, on the Chagos Islands. Sir Keir even seems to agree with him, having agreed to pay Mauritius to take it off our hands  a transaction, currently in limbo, that many people struggle to understand. Even if the deal were to go ahead, however, Diego Garcia would be leased back to Britain and we would, in turn, continue to allow the Americans to maintain their base there.

Come what may, therefore, we have an interest in the base, which has been targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles. If we have the capability to intercept attacks on it, or to prevent them from being launched in the first place, we should use it. Just as our forces are intercepting drones and missiles aimed by Iran at Cyprus and our other allies in the region.

The Independent believes that the prime minister has followed the right policy in this conflict. He was right not to support America and Israel in starting the war, as their aim of containing the Iranian regimes nuclear weapons ambition was better pursued by diplomacy and intelligence. But once it had started, and Iran attacked its neighbours and closed one-fifth of the worlds oil supply, British forces were right to take defensive measures and the British government was right to give the Americans permission to use our bases for defensive purposes.

Mr McDonnells instinctive anti-Americanism and Sir Ed Daveys opportunist opposition to Donald Trump should not cloud their understanding of the British national interest. Britain should defend its citizens abroad, and it should stand by its allies in the region. But above all, Britain should join with the international community in seeking to protect the free flow of trade and to prevent a global recession.

The danger of a world economic crisis is one reason Mr Trump was so unwise to launch this war in the first place, and it is why the conflict should be brought to an end as quickly as possible, but as long as the conflict lasts, Britain cannot stay out of it.
Sir Keir Starmer is to chair an emergency Cobra meeting to address the economic impact of the Iran war, having been warned that price rises are inescapable.

Senior cabinet ministers, as well as the governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey, are expected to discuss energy security, the resilience of industry and supply chains, as well as how to help families and businesses with bills, as the conflict in the Middle East enters its fourth week.

Over the weekend tensions heightened again as Donald Trump warned Iran he would obliterate its power plants if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial to the worlds oil supply.

On Sunday night, Sir Keir spoke to Mr Trump on the need for access along the channel, which has effectively been blocked by the fighting.

Consumers have been warned that energy prices could rocket (PA Archive)

Iran has hit back at Mr Trump, vowing to target energy and oil infrastructures across the Middle East and shut the strait completely if the US president follows through on his threats.

Ahead of the meeting on Monday, which is also expected to involve the chancellor Rachel Reeves, the foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and the energy secretary Ed Miliband, sources have said the government would always act responsibly in the national interest.

It comes after, on Sunday, housing secretary Steve Reed would not rule out possible food and petrol shortages, adding that the government was monitoring the situation hour by hour but said there was no need for fuel rationing yet.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of Centrica, which owns British Gas, Chris O'Shea, warned a rise in energy bills may be inescapable if the war in the Middle East stays as it is.

Asked if the government had a plan for shortages of petrol and food, Mr Reed told Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: Of course, we need to be prepared for any eventuality.

But, he added: Theres no need to ration fuel. People should go around and buy their fuel, just like they always would. If the situation were to change, then the government would look at what was required in that circumstance.

He later said that when it came to energy bills, which look set to spiral due to the soaring cost of oil and gas due to the conflict, the government will take whatever action is necessary.

Mr O'Shea told the BBC that the impact on gas, and therefore electricity bills, from the closure of the strait, a key shipping lane, should be lower than the impact on oil. So, my gut feel is that you'll see more of an impact of this in the petrol pumps than you will in bills.

He also backed the idea of targeted government support to help people with bills, which he described as far better than blanket help, and called for more exploration in the North Sea to cut energy prices.

Steve Reed says there was is need to ration fuel (PA Wire)

It came as Sir Keir was urged to impose a temporary profit cap on energy companies and petrol retailers to stop them benefiting too much from the Iran war, by the governments cost of living tsar.

Lord Walker of Broxton, a boss of the supermarket Iceland, has asked the government to examine limiting profits during crises.

As executive chairman of a retailer, I have no problem with profit. Its what allows businesses to invest, employ people and pay tax. But I do have a big problem with profiteering, especially when families are under real pressure, Lord Walker said in an article for The Sunday Times.

He added: I have asked the government to consider a temporary profit cap to stop producers and retailers exploiting the crisis to make windfall profits at the expense of consumers.

Lord Walker, a former Conservative who became a Labour peer last year, said petrol retailers and energy producers had been summoned to Downing Street and warned that opportunistic rip-offs would not be acceptable, in what he described as a shot across the bows.

He added that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which also took part in the meeting, had newly enhanced powers to step in if required.

Keir Starmer has been urged to place a temporary profit cap on energy companies and petrol retailers by the government's cost of living tsar (AFP/Getty)

There has been a surge in global energy prices as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.

The average annual household energy bill alone is predicted to rise by 332 in July, according to the latest forecast from Cornwall Insights, and experts have warned that further rises in the price of petrol and diesel are inevitable after attacks on energy infrastructure in the region.

But Ms Reeves has been urged not to raise taxes in response to the economic shock brought on by the USs war with Iran.
One British-Iranian activist has accused supporters of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Irans former pro-western monarch, of intimidation. Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP (Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP)

Iranians living in the UK have expressed safety concerns to authorities amid heightened tensions linked to the conflict with the US and Israel.

Online videos of individuals allegedly being aggressive and coercing in London, which is home to one of the UKs largest Iranian communities, have led to some feeling unsafe.

There are people that have lived here for 40-plus years and theres never been any issues, and its just all of a sudden we keep hearing every day about incidents involved with these pro-monarchists and their intimidation, Naghmeh Rajabi, a British-Iranian activist, said.

Rajabi, who came to the UK at age 11 with her family and has had relatives killed by the former Iranian regime, said she no longer feels safe going to Finchley  the north London area known as Little Tehran owing to its large diaspora.

In recent weeks, she has met the Metropolitan police and members of Barnet council to voice concerns about alleged intimidation and harassment of Iranians.

Among them are online videos in Farsi of individuals being aggressive and attacking, Rajabi said, as well as people coercing shop owners in London to display the lion and sun flag, the symbol of Iran before the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

We are very worried, said Rajabi, who is a supporter of Maryam Rajavi, a leader of the exiled dissident group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK). The group has been accused of being a cult-like organisation that was once aligned with Saddam Hussein, and is vying for leadership among Iranian factions.

Unless concrete action is taken, this is just going to escalate, Rajabi said.

Local police officers have met community representatives and local businesses in recent weeks to help manage tensions and reassure the community, and have increased patrols in Barnet.

Det Supt Katie Harber, who leads policing in the borough, said: London is a global city and the impact of events that take place thousands of miles away play out locally in the capital.

Related: To call my part of London Little Tehran isnt quite right

We understand the fears that many people in our Iranian communities may have.

The concerns come amid broader heightened tensions linked to the Iran war. Last week, authorities banned a longstanding al-Quds Day march as well as planned counterprotests, citing high risks of public disorder.

In early March, police arrested four men suspected of spying for Iran. Two of the men were charged on Wednesday. On Friday, two people, one of them Iranian, were arrested after they allegedly tried to enter the Faslane nuclear submarine base in Scotland.

British-Iranians living in the UK have urged Keir Starmer not to let the UK get drawn further into the conflict. After the death of Irans longstanding supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some took to the streets in support of the US and Israeli attacks while others were not in a celebratory mood.

Now British-Iranians, some of whom have fled the Islamic republic and were united in anti-government protests in 2022, find themselves both concerned with the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and related matters in the UK.

A recent petition on Change.org called on the Home Office to investigate UK supporter groups of Reza Pahlavi, an exiled son of Irans former pro-western monarch, and to protect communities including Iranians, Iraqis, Kurds and others from intimidation and threats of violence.

Pahlavi, who has been approached for comment, last week urged Iranians abroad to protest outside Iranian embassies during Chaharshanbe Suri, an ancient Persian fire festival.

When asked by CNN about online harassment from individuals claiming to be Pahlavi supporters, Pahlavi said: Ive always spoken against any kind of political violence or intimidation.

While the level of popular support Pahlavi has garnered inside Iran is unclear, Vahid Beheshti, an activist and founder of Iran Front, said it was not possible to unify all the diverse groups within Iran under one individual or ideology. The way forward for a transitional leader, he said, was to work together around a legal framework.

We have to be very aware that the regime used any opportunity to spread this narrative that theres a big division between Iranian opposition and [that] they can not sit around one table, Beheshti said.

Thats a very famous narrative that the regime really wants to spread, by that telling to the international community we dont have a replacement, he added.

Beheshti has previously staged a two-year protest outside the Foreign Office and was warned last year by authorities that he might be a target after the Israeli embassy in London was the target of an alleged terror plot.

The regime, most of the time, at this very crucial moment, when they see they are collapsing, they are using the name of opposition against opposition and mainly they use monarchist masks to attack others, he said.

For Laila Jazayeri, the director of the Association of Anglo-Iranian Women in the UK, Finchley had become a no-go.

Its like, what do you call it? An atmosphere of terror that we have in Iran. Its so intense, she said.

Jazayeri hopes Rajavi will become modern Irans first female leader and has called on the British government to proscribe Irans Revolutionary Guards  which former UK leaders have previously rejected.

In recent weeks, Jazayeri said she has spoken with police. I just dont feel safe, she said.
Comedian and Taskmaster Greg Davies will host the 2026 Bafta Television Awards.

Nominations will be announced on Tuesday at midday ahead of the May 10 ceremony at the Southbank Centres Royal Festival Hall, London.

Davies breakthrough role was headteacher Mr Gilbert in E4 sitcom The Inbetweeners, and he hosts Skys quiz show Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Channel 4s Bafta-winning Taskmaster.

The actor, himself nominated for a 2013 Bafta Television Award for playing Ken in the BBCs sitcom Cuckoo, said: I see the whole event as an opportunity to wave a flag for this beloved medium and, with the exception of one commissioner, two execs and a co-star that I have personal beef with, I will do everything I can to ensure its a night of warm celebration for all.

Alan Carr on The Traitors (Cody Burridge/BBC) (PA) (Cody Burridge/BBC)

Davies, 57, said he was thrilled to take on the role.

Emma Baehr, executive director of awards and content at Bafta, said: His sharp humour, warmth and energy will set the stage for an unforgettable night honouring the very best in British television.

The ambition, craft, and sheer range of talent on-screen and behind it continues to raise the bar.

We cant wait to shine a spotlight on the creatives who defined 2025s standout programmes.

Last years awards attracted an audience of 2.5 million on BBC One and iPlayer.

Owen Cooper, who plays Jamie in Adolescence, at the Golden Globes (Corine Solberg/PA) (Corine Solberg)

They are partnered with P&O Cruises for the fourth year running and the cruise lines Memorable Moment Award is the only one that the public vote for.

Voting is open for six nominees, including when Jamie, played by Owen Cooper, snaps at the psychologist in Netflixs Adolescence, and when Alan Carr won The Celebrity Traitors on BBC.

Also up is the I didnt make it, did I? line in Channel 4s Big Boys, and when police are warned of an ambush plot to silence a key witness in the BBCs Blue Lights.

Voters can also choose Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoades speed date in Prime Videos Last One Laughing, and when Byron leaves for Brighton to start university and introduces herself as Paris, in the BBCs What It Feels Like For A Girl.
A yellow box junction in Croydon has generated almost 2 million in fines over the past decade, despite part of it being deemed illegal by adjudicators. There are now calls for the council to scrap the box outside East Croydon entirely, with a leading campaigner saying: Theres no other reason for that part of the box than to make money.

A yellow box is intended to prevent drivers from entering an intersection unless they can clear it fully. Vehicles that stop on the hatchings can be issued with a 160 penalty charge notice each time.

In Croydon, half the yellow box on Addiscombe Road, near Altyre Road, extends across a private driveway serving the iconic No. 1 Croydon  the 50p building, now being converted from offices into flats. Adjudicators have criticised it as disproportionately large, warning it can unfairly catch drivers out.

Following a successful Freedom of Information request, Sam Wright, the self-styled Yellow Box Guru, found that Croydon Council had issued 26,244 fines at the site, raising roughly 1.9 million since enforcement began on 17 January 2017.

Mr Wright was first alerted to the junction by a driver whose initial appeal against a penalty for stopping in the Addiscombe Road box was rejected by Croydon Council. However, London Tribunals  which has heard a number of similar cases  ruled in the motorists favour and ordered the council to issue a 160 refund without delay.

Mr Wright is a former Transport for London employee who used to design and implement box junctions across the TfL road network. He now uses his knowledge to help motorists assess whether they can challenge the offences.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), he said: I find in many cases these boxes dont serve any purpose and they cause more problems than they solve.

In this case in Croydon, all the vehicles turning left out of that bus station have to wait until there is a gap right at the end of that box. It creates enormous problems  and its all for what? In case one or two people want to turn into that office block.

Theres no logic to it  why does it exist and why do they enforce it?

Mr Wright believes many motorists  and even some enforcement officers  do not fully understand the rules surrounding yellow boxes. He said: Some of these boxes have been there for decades, and nobody knows why they were put in. Theres no other reason for that part of the box than to make money.

In a recent London Tribunals case, a motorist successfully argued the box was disproportionately large and essentially wrong. In their ruling, the adjudicator cited a 2022 decision noting that the box appears to extend for some distance in front of the driveway of a private building, and added: They cannot be placed anywhere.

Despite repeated appeals, the tribunal has no power to force the council to remove the non-compliant markings. Mr Wright is calling for a full review of the junction, saying it is a pointless obstacle or a hurdle for traffic that should be scrapped entirely.

Every box should be justified from a traffic point of view, not generic words, he told the LDRS. They should be implemented on a case-by-case basis.

Mr Wright has handled a number of similar junctions across London. He said the 1.9 million figure was typical for boxes of this kind, noting that others  such as a recent example in Kingston  can generate councils thousands of pounds in fines each day.

A spokesperson for Croydon Council said: We accept the adjudicators decision and have cancelled the motorists Penalty Charge Notice. Our highways department will review the issues raised to fully understand the scale of the issue and its potential implications.
US President Donald Trump has posted a skit from Saturday Night Live UK poking fun at himself and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to social media.

The 79-year-old politician shared the video on his Truth Social platform on Sunday and did not include any comment alongside the post.

The sketch aired on Sky One on Saturday to kick off the first episode of the UK edition of the US late-night comedy show.

It opened with a view of 10 Downing Street before cutting to cast member George Fouracres as the Prime Minister, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, played by Hammed Animashaun.

The sketches poked fun at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Sky/PA)

In the skit, the Prime Minister panics as he tries to dodge a phone call from the US president and says: Oh golly  what if Donald shouts at me? What do I say, Lammy?

Lammy elicited laughter from the live studio audience as he said: Just be yourself, Prime Minister. Yourself is who everyone likes.

The fake Sir Keir picks up the phone and a voice mimicking Trump says hello, before the Prime Minister hangs up on him and says: Oh sod that scary, scary, wonderful President. Why is he so bloody difficult to talk to?

Sir, just be honest and tell him we cant send any more ships to the Strait of Hormuz, Lammy says, referencing the fact that Iran has effectively blocked the oil shipping channel due to the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel.

The Prime Minister says: I just hate conflict so much.

Lammy jokes: Are you referring to the war, or just this phone call?

President Donald Trump shared the video of the skit to his Truth Social platform (Niall Carson/PA) (Niall Carson)

He responds: Isnt there a way I can not do both? I just want to keep him happy, Lammy. You dont understand him like I do  I can change him.

During a back-and-forth between the two, who are in a set of Sir Keirs Downing Street office, Starmer quips: How did Liz Truss make this job so easy?

The political sketch also references Trump calling Sir Keir a coward before introducing his new Gen Z adviser played by Jack Shep, who is called Starmzy as a play on the name of hit rapper Stormzy.

As the sketch wraps up, Sir Keir is given advice by Starmzy in how to set boundaries with Trump, and the video posted by the US president ends with Sir Keir saying: Ill do anything, except take a stand.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was poked fun at in the SNL sketch (Ben Whitley/PA) (Ben Whitley)

Mr Trump and the Prime Minister were among the notable figures referenced in the sketch show, which also included impersonations of the late Diana, princess of Wales, and Sir Winston Churchill.

The show also joked about Russell T Davies award-winning Channel 4 drama Its A Sin being turned into a musical.

TV producer Davies, 62, posted on Instagram on Sunday following the broadcast and said he laughed a lot, and acknowledged the gag at the expense of his hit series.

The Sky Original show follows NBCs late-night comedy show with 75-minute long episodes which feature a number of segments, including an opening monologue, topical sketches and a UK version of The Weekend Update.

The US version of Saturday Night Live has been running since 1975 and is responsible for launching the careers of the likes of Fey, Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy.
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Scott Peyton with his wife, Letitia. Photograph: Courtesy of Scott Peyton (Photograph: Courtesy of Scott Peyton)

A Louisiana man who resigned as a Roman Catholic deacon after a priest molested his son and then was excommunicated from the church entirely by his local bishop is asking global church leaders to inform him of the fate of his appeal against the prelates decision, something that was supposed to be resolved more than a year earlier.

In a letter to the Vatican entity in charge of clerical discipline, a canon  or church  law attorney representing Scott Peyton asserts that his case is nuanced and requires careful consideration. To the extent that the delay reflects such diligence, he is grateful, said the letter to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), prepared by Dawn Eden Goldstein on 3 February and obtained recently by the Guardian.

Nonetheless, the letter continued, Peyton wishes that I convey to you that, from his perspective, the unduly long span of time with no communication from your office only compounds the injustices that he and his family have suffered from the church.

Related: He broke the story of the US Catholic clergy abuse scandal. Now he reflects on struggling to keep his faith

Word of Peytons plight earned international news headlines in March 2024, with many outlets characterizing his excommunication as a remarkably harsh consequence that his childs molester does not appear to have ever faced because the church, in sum, does not consider the abusers offense on its own excommunicable.

Peyton was ordained into Louisianas diocese of Lafayette  about 135 miles (217km) west of New Orleans  as a deacon in 2012. Deacons are largely similar to priests, though they can join the clergy despite being married.

About six years after his ordination, a priest with whom Peyton ministered at St Peters church in Morrow, Louisiana, confessed to molesting the deacons teenage son, Oliver, and was arrested by authorities.

Michael Guidry, now 83, later pleaded guilty to abusing Oliver Peyton, who was an altar server. He received a seven-year prison sentence after his church feted him with a farewell lunch for which the diocese was forced to apologize.

In 2021, Peyton said he, his wife, Letitia, and Oliver secured a $350,000 settlement from Lafayettes diocese to settle a civil lawsuit without a trial. The Peytons in the meantime have become advocates for clergy abuse survivors. And in December 2023, Scott Peyton decided he was no longer a good fit to serve as a deacon in the diocese, quit and went on to join an Anglican churchs congregation.

Lafayette bishop J Douglas Deshotel responded to those developments by issuing a 13 March 2024 decree informing Peyton he had been excommunicated, effective immediately, basically because the deacon had severed ties with the Catholic church.

I am aware that your family has suffered a trauma but the answer does not lie in leaving the Most Holy Eucharist, Deshotel wrote, adding that we are not Catholics because the church  is perfect.

For pious Catholics, excommunication is as severe a punishment as there is, preventing recipients of it from engaging in certain sacraments as a way to essentially shock them into rethinking their sinful behavior before death condemns them to damnation. Among the most famous Catholic excommunicates are Henry VIII (over a divorce and remarriage), Napoleon Bonaparte (for annexing the Papal States within Italy to France) and Martin Luther (for igniting the Reformation).

Peyton formally appealed against his excommunication to the DDF in May 2024, arguing in part that there was no pastoral good to be accomplished by his censure. He also contended that his wife and six children feel unwelcome in the Catholic church because of his excommunication, meaning the punishment had harmed the spiritual lives of eight Catholics.

That appeal ostensibly initiated an adjudication process that generally should be completed in three months.

Deshotel wrote to Peyton in October 2024  five months later  notifying him that his appeal material  has been received and is currently being evaluated by the DDF. The bishop said he sent that letter at the behest of the DDFs secretary, Archbishop John Joseph Kennedy.

It had been well over a year since that missive when Goldstein herself wrote to Kennedy in early February asking for at least an update concerning the status of her clients appeal. She argued that the harm raised in Peytons appeal continues every day that [it] goes unanswered.

Goldstein also wrote to Kennedy asking him to inform Oliver Peyton of Guidrys current canonical status and any penalties that may have been imposed upon him after the latters guilty plea.

Neither inquiry had received a reply as of Saturday.

Furthermore, neither a Lafayette diocese spokesperson nor Guidrys criminal defense attorney immediately responded when sent a message asking whether he had been laicized, or removed from the priesthood.

Many Catholic clergymen convicted of child molestation over the years have been allowed to remain in the priesthood. Some abusers who have left the priesthood have done so voluntarily.

The late Francis was the pope when Peyton first filed his excommunication appeal. The pope now is Leo XIV, who was elected to succeed Francis in May 2025 and became historys first US-born pontiff.

Another abusive Lafayette diocese priest named Gilbert Gauthe all but brought the worldwide, decades-old Catholic clergy abuse crisis to the USs collective conscience by pleading guilty in 1985 to molesting several boys he met through his ministry.

More recently, Lafayettes diocese unsuccessfully asked Louisianas supreme court to strike down a state law passed in 2021 which eliminated filing deadlines for lawsuits seeking damages over child molestation that occurred long ago.

Meanwhile, on 5 March, a Lafayette diocese priest named Korey LaVergne was formally charged with three counts of felony indecent behavior with a juvenile in connection with allegations that he inappropriately touched a child.
Voters began casting their ballots for mayors in top French cities on Sunday, with the left battling to keep Paris while the far right eyes gains ahead of next year's presidential election.

Voter turnout for the second round of municipal elections in metropolitan France was 20.33% at noon on Sunday, up nearly one percentage point from the first round on March 15 at the same time (19.37%), according to the Ministry of the Interior.

In the second round of the 2020 municipal elections, which took place during the Covid-19 pandemic, turnout at noon was 15.29%, down from the previous election in 2014, where the second-round turnout was 19.83%. In 2008, turnout for the second round of the municipal elections at noon reached 23.68%, according to ministry data.

Most of the country's almost 35,000 villages, towns and boroughs elected their leaders in a first round last weekend, but the races went to run-offs in about 1,500 communes, including bigger urban centres.

The local ballots are being closely watched to gauge the mood on the ground and potential party alliances before the election of a successor to centrist President Emmanuel Macron next year, with the far right scenting its best chance yet at seizing power.

Patrice Laurent, 77, was among those voting Sunday morning in Paris, a capital of some 2 million inhabitants that has been under leftist leadership for the past 25 years.

"I don't want the city to go back to the right," he said outside a school turned polling station in a northeastern neighbourhood.

The race is tight between leftist Emmanuel Gregoire  a former deputy of outgoing Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo  and his runner-up, right-wing ex-minister Rachida Dati.

The former justice and culture minister, a mentee of now convicted ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, hopes to seize Paris for the right and become its second woman mayor in a row.

'Heartfelt choice'

Dati, who faces trial in September on corruption charges she denies, has boosted her chances after a centre-right candidate and a far-right hopeful dropped out.

But Gregoire had refused a helping hand from a hard-left contender who has remained in the race, splitting the leftist vote.

Leftists and centrists have allied in recent elections against the far right, but the left has been fractured since the fatal beating last month of a far-right activist blamed on fringe leftists.

Agnes Kaveh, a 41-year-old cybersecurity consultant, would not say who she chose as Paris mayor.

But she said she believed it should be "a heartfelt choice, based on what we enjoy in our everyday lives and what we believe is good for others".

In other parts of France, Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party is hoping for better scores than in previous local polls.

The RN claims that it and its allies were re-elected last Sunday in 10 communes, including the southern city of Perpignan of 120,000 inhabitants  the largest in France to be run by the far-right party.

They also say they have won for the first time in 14 other districts.

New city for the far right?

But the anti-immigration RN is also hoping to be elected in larger areas.

Its candidate won by far the most votes in Toulon, a southern city of 180,000 residents. If captured in the run-off, it would be the largest under RN control to date.

In the southern city of Marseille, France's second-largest, RN hopeful Franck Allisio came second last week, a single percentage point behind incumbent left-wing mayor Benoit Payan.

But the left looks likely to stay in charge, after a hard-left candidate stepped down.

In the northern port city of Le Havre, declared presidential candidate Edouard Philippe is well-placed to remain mayor.

Philippe, a centrist who as prime minister helped steer France through the start of the Covid pandemic, is seen as one of the strongest opponents to the RN's potential presidential pick -- whether three-time candidate Le Pen, 57, or her 30-year-old lieutenant Jordan Bardella.

Overall turnout for the first round stood at 57 percent  the country's lowest in local polls bar the Covid pandemic-affected last edition in 2020.

Results are expected to start trickling in during the evening.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
The US-Israel attack on Iran and Irans response have posed dilemmas for this country from the start. Chief among them was, and remains, how far to support the US and how far to distance the UK from the war, while seeking to defend UK citizens and assets in the region. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz brings the prospect of sharp all-round price rises, leaving the government with the additional dilemma of how far it can, or should, help consumers to cope with what could be substantial increases in the cost of living.

The drone strike that damaged a runway at RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus was an early warning about the absence of UK military capacity in the vicinity, compared with what France and some other allies had deployed. It prompted not only the urgent dispatch of the destroyer, HMS Dragon, but some very public soul-searching about the strength of the Royal Navy, or the lack of it.

After a difficult start, Sir Keir Starmers efforts to tread these difficult lines have generally been more successful than not, and have chimed with public sentiment. They have nonetheless entailed some complicated political and verbal gymnastics, especially on what counts as offensive and defensive, and how to deal with the periodic insults being lobbed across the Atlantic by Donald Trump.

This weekend, however, the prospect of war suddenly came even closer to home with the news that Iran had launched two missiles at the UK-US Indian Ocean base on Diego Garcia. The revelation was shocking for two reasons. Even though neither missile reached its target, the attempted strikes served notice that the range of Irans missiles was a good deal further than had hitherto been established, and that, as Israel hastened to point out, European cities, including London, could now be within Irans range.

The governments first response, via the foreign secretary, was to describe the attempted strikes as reckless, and its second (communities secretary Steve Reed on the Sunday talk shows) was to say there was no specific assessment that Iran planned to attack European cities, or none that he was aware of. He was also keen to stress that the UK was well able to defend itself at home and protect its assets abroad, that the government was intent on not being drawn into any wider conflict, and that it would work to de-escalate the situation.

Coinciding with President Trumps threat to destroy all of Irans power plants, should Tehran not unblock the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, however, the UKs appeals for de-escalation seemed unpromising, even allowing for the many mixed messages put out by the Trump White House since the start of hostilities. In the meantime, forecasts not just of spiralling prices, but of shortages  and not just of energy, but of fertiliser and even food  were also entering the conversation in the UK, punctuated on occasion by the dread word rationing and presenting the government with a new dilemma.

How far should it prepare people for the worst, and how, if the worst means a realistic Iranian threat to UK cities, soaring prices and perhaps rationing, can it at the same time fend off potential panic of the sort that could make shortages worse? For all that this government has warned of the threat from Russia, which was primarily in the military domain. The new threat calls for warnings that are more carefully calibrated, and where precautionary words are matched by preparations in deeds.

With Mr Trumps Iran deadline at hand, the war stands at a perilous pivot point, which may be one reason why Sir Keir has called Mondays emergency Cobra meeting. With the disclosure that it will also be attended by the governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, however, it is clear that it will also focus on the implications of the war for the governments economic priorities, and for the cost of living, and possible means of reducing the inevitable pain.

Most governments, at one time or another, face balancing the need to warn of unpleasant possibilities against the need to minimise the risk of panic, and any UK government is fortunate in the generally high level of public resilience. Whatever measures may be announced, however, must be carefully judged, with the overriding condition that the government holds hard to its pledge not to be drawn into the wider war. The slightest hint of backsliding here would only compromise any reassurances it had hoped to give.
Democrats who infuriated President Donald Trump when they said that U.S. military service members can refuse illegal orders are now sounding the alarm over Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths recent comments that the U.S. military would give no quarter in prosecuting the administrations war in Iran.

Last week, Hegseth offered harsh words about how the United States would conduct its military operations in Iran.

We will keep pressing, he said. We will keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies.

But the words alarmed many since the legal definition of giving no quarter means to kill enemy combatants rather than taking them prisoner. And no mercy only amplified that interpretation. The Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit the practice.

Last year, a coterie of Democratic members of the House and Senate who worked in the national security space or served in the military released a video saying that U.S. military service members could refuse illegal orders from their superiors.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) sent a letter asking Hegseth to clarify his no quarter ... no mercy comment. (Getty)

The group included Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan along with Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris DeLuzio of Pennsylvania, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire.

In response, Trump accused the lawmakers of committing SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, which he called punishable by DEATH. But Hegseths words seemed to vindicate their fears.

I mean, it just continues, just the irresponsible way he's showing leadership in this war, Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, told The Independent. Houlahan offered a more blunt criticism.

If he operates that way, that is a war crime, Houlahan told The Independent.

Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut and naval officer, sent a letter to Hegseth asking what he meant by the words.

Because that statement of No Quarter coming from a Secretary of Defense is very alarming, because that is against the law of armed conflict, and it's against the Geneva Convention and other things, Kelly told The Independent.

Kelly has been in the crosshairs of the administration ever since he appeared in the video. Hegseth attempted to lower his Navy retirement rank and therefore his pension, but a federal judge blocked the efforts. Hegseth has sought to challenge the judicial order.

But Kelly said he had significant concerns.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) criticized Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseths comments, saying it displays the irresponsible way he's showing leadership in this war. (Getty Images)

I want some clarification from him about whether or not this is just now the new policy of the Department of Defense, Kelly said. He doesn't get to make those kind of decisions. And if it's. not, what did he mean?

Throughout his tenure, Hegseth has focused on restoring lethality to warfighters.

No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire, no democracy-building exercise, no politically-correct wars, he said at the beginning of the war.

Goodlander was alarmed by the words.

He should immediately retract what he said, and he should clarify to our country and to the world that under no circumstances, consistent with our laws, our morality and our strategic choices we've made as a country, will any US forces order, threaten or tolerate no quarter, she told The Independent.

Goodlander, who served as a Navy intelligence officer and then in the Justice Department, said Hegseths words are part of larger pattern of troubling behavior.

He's spoken about maximum lethality and replacing that with tepid legality. He has disparaged our laws casually, and in the case of his statements earlier this week, it is deeply, deeply troubling and demands an immediate retraction and clarification from the secretary of Defense, she said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson for his part did not comment on the statement.

I havent heard that, he told The Independent, saying he did not want to comment on something out of context.
The U.S.s exit ramp from the ongoing war with Iran seemed much further away on Sunday as Israels ambassador to the U.S. proclaimed that the war would continue in the wake of a new round of devastating attacks in Israel.

Israeli and U.S. forces launched strikes targeting Iranian installations and commanders on February 28, succeeding in the initial hours of the attack in killing the countrys Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

Since then, progress has stalled. The Iranian government appears little closer to collapse under a barrage of munitions and threats from the West, the latest of which escalated on Saturday with the U.S. presidents threat to begin targeting civilian infrastructure in the country (which would be a war crime unless directly associated with military assets). The Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iranian forces, has become a major strategic goal for the Trump administration as it struggles to show evidence of making progress towards victory in a war it claims to have already won.

On Sunday, Israels ambassador to Washington said that the end of the war could be much further away than Donald Trump and his allies in the administration have let on, telling CNN that his country would continue with this campaign until we bring this regime to its knees.

We cannot live any more with a country that is malign, that is intent on destroying us, Michael Leiter told CNNs Dana Bash.

An Israeli police officer and a woman look at a destroyed building after it was hit by a ballistic missile fired from Iran, leaving over 50 wounded residents on March 22, 2026 in Dimona, Israel (Getty Images)

Leiter went on to accuse the Iranian regime of lying about its capabilities, including the size and range of its ballistic missile weaponry.

He spoke on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday after Iranian attacks across Israels southern region on Saturday left at least 180 people injured as Tehran targeted an Israeli nuclear site. The site, Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center, is long rumored to be the location where Israels government stores its own cache of undeclared nuclear weapons.

Whether Iran was developing a similar program once more after the U.S. and Israel struck three nuclear weapon development sites in 2025 is a topic of fierce debate and comes as the Trump administration has struggled to prove the necessity of its war with Iran, as well as the presidents game plan for the future.

Donald Trump has repeatedly said that his war with Iran is already won (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

In the early days of the war, U.S. and Israeli officials begged Iranian civilians to take to the streets and overthrow the regime that has controlled the country through authoritarian means since 1969, when the U.S.-backed dictator known as the Shah of Iran was overthrown in an Islamic revolution. His successor, the Ayatollah Khomenei, instituted strict cultural laws and a government that tightly controls protests to this day.

When those protests failed to materialize en masse in March, the U.S. government veered away from talk of regime change. But Israels government, which various U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have pointed to as having forced the presidents hand, has shown no signs of committing to an exit strategy without first seeing the total collapse of the Iranian government.

Israels Benjamin Netanyahu has been blamed by some U.S. officials as having goaded or led the U.S. into war with Iran (AP)

"The war is not close to ending," the head of Israels armed forces, Gen. Eyal Zamir, said on Saturday.

His words starkly contrasted those from Trump, posted on Truth Social, the same day: We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran, the U.S. president insisted.

In the U.S., meanwhile, Trumps enemies and allies alike continue to urge him to find an off-ramp. At the same time, a handful of D.C. neoconservatives and older Republicans remain staunchly supportive of his efforts to dislodge a persistent foe of the United States that has thumbed its nose at successive American presidents.

Trumps own first term was punctuated by efforts to deal with Iran, first by exiting the 2015 Obama-era JCPOA agreement, which provided the U.S. and the West oversight over Irans nuclear program, and afterwards with his maximum pressure campaign that by the end of his term had the two countries at their closest point to war in decades. That tension was supercharged by Trumps ordered assassination of Qassem Soleimani, then head of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

His latest military action in Iran has left gas prices surging in the U.S. and elsewhere as Iran has closed off oil shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway.
Joe Tizzard could see his top performers from the Cheltenham Festival head to Merseyside in another bid for Grade One glory.

JPR One looks set for a busy end to the campaign following his fine fourth in the Ryanair Chase which saw him lead for most of the way, with the Melling Chase at Aintree in mind before a potential step across the Irish Sea for the Punchestown Festival.

It was a real solid run, he ran as well as we hoped hed run because he got them all rattled a little bit, said Tizzard.

He will go to Aintree, two and a half (miles) around there should be fine for him, it was only when he was at the second-last that the hill took its toll. Im looking forward to running him at Aintree.

When hes got his ground then he can flick his toe out and he jumped as well as Ive ever seen him jump, so we were pleased with that run.

Two and a half at Aintree and then we might even take him to Punchestown. Hes a nine-year-old who has been consistent all season and he loves this spring ground.

Kripticjim could have one final run over hurdles at the Grand National meeting in the Sefton Novices Hurdle before a transition to fences, which Tizzard believes will see the six-year-old blossom.

He was bang in contention in the Albert Bartlett at the last before fading into sixth.

Kripticjim was a lovely run. First time over three miles he seemed to handle it no problem, he added.

He might go for the three-miler at Aintree, hes certainly come out of the race fine and he will be a lovely chaser next season. I think he will definitely improve for a fence.

Hes a lovely young horse, we looked after him last year and hes just getting better and better.

Hes obviously won over two and a half (miles) and I think on the spring ground hed definitely get three miles, but when we start chasing Ill have no problem on soft ground to drop him back to two and a half.

Alexei came bounding up the hill in the Champion Hurdle only to hit the final flight, which stalled his momentum as he came home in fourth behind the impressive Lossiemouth.

He came out of the race really well, the Venn Farm handler said. The handicapper has jacked him up 10lb so he thought it was a good performance.

Hed have been in the shake-up for second or third if he jumped the last properly so Im really pleased with him and hes come out of it fine.

Im chuffed to bits with the performance and it bodes well for where we go now.

Hes had a cracking season and hes showed that hes good enough to compete in those top races as well.

Ive not had chance to catch up with Garth and Anne (Broom, owners), Im not sure two and a half miles around Aintree will really suit him  hes a speed horse.

Whether or not we talk about Punchestown (we will see), but Ive not properly had the chance to catch up with them with what we will do yet.
Department of Homeland Security officials have claimed that President Donald Trump knew about Kristi Noems $200 million ad campaign, which contributed to her dismissal earlier this month, according to a new report.

The controversial commercials began hitting the airwaves early last year, with one featuring Noem on horseback near Mount Rushmore, warning illegal immigrants to stay away. They ranked among the costliest government advertising blitzes in history, raising eyebrows across the aisle.

When Trump fired Noem from DHS on March 5, an unnamed senior administration official told NBC News that the pricey ad campaign was a key factor  alongside her handling of the Minnesota immigration crackdown and alleged feuds with other agencies.

The president himself said he was unaware of the vast sums that were spent, telling the outlet: I wasnt thrilled with it. I spent less money than that to become president. I didnt know about it.

Noem, however, disputed this account, telling lawmakers during congressional hearings ahead of her firing that the 79-year-old billionaire president was fully briefed on her departments promotional offensive.

Sources close to the administration have claimed that President Donald Trump knew about Kristi Noems $200 million ad campaign  which led to her dismissal earlier this month, according to a new report (DHS)

Now, multiple people have come forward to back up the ousted DHS leader, who has been tapped to serve as the special envoy to the Shield of the Americas, a new initiative focused on hemispheric security.

Unnamed sources close to the administration told The Daily Beast that Trump had been briefed on the DHS ads and was deeply involved in them  directly contradicting his own account.

One said that the president knew about the campaign and wanted it to happen.

The big question we are all asking is where did that money go? a senior DHS official told the outlet.

We would be happy to have a full audit on this tomorrow, going into every single penny of the award, including where it went, the official added. Everyone at DHS is happy to turn over our taxes and bank records  but only the White House can agree to that  will they want to?

Contracts for the campaign were reportedly delivered to a hand-picked cluster of companies with ties to Noem and a top adviser.

One of the firms, Safe America Media, was awarded at least $16 million for the campaign, according to The Associated Press. It was established by Mike McElwain, a GOP operative, just days before the lucrative contract was doled out.

McElwains long-standing business partner, Pat McCarthy, has connections to several of the presidents close aides, The Daily Beast reported.

According to the outlet, the White House, in February 2025, ordered that Safe America Media be considered for the DHS ad campaign  and later approved the firm once selected.

When asked for comment, a White House spokesperson told the outlet: Contracts are awarded by individual agencies. The White House has no involvement in an agencys contract decisions.

During congressional hearings before she was fired, Noem claimed that Trump was fully aware of the DHS ad campaign (REUTERS)

The Independent has reached out to DHS and the White House for comment and attempted to reach Noem.

Noems own messaging on the advertisements has been consistent over time.

In a recently resurfaced interview from February 2025, she claimed the multi-million dollar campaign was Trumps own idea.

Noem said the president told her: I want you to do those [ads] for the border. I want you to do those everywhere, not just in the United States, but I want them around the world.

And I said, Well, sir, do you want to be in those ads? Noem said. He said nope, nope. I want you to do them.

Since her departure from DHS, the former South Dakota governor has not publicly pushed back against the administration. But, an unnamed official told The Daily Caller that she felt thrown under the bus.

Earlier this week, several Democratic lawmakers referred Noem to the Department of Justice for a perjury investigation, claiming that she misled Congress about the ads in a brazen bid to avoid accountability.
Im 50 and have been applying for jobs every day for two years  I might have to move in with my mother

Tina Chummun has applied for jobs every day for the past two years. Some 4,000 applications later, and the 50-year-old finds herself unemployed, thousands of pounds in debt to her mortgage lender, and facing the possibility of having to move in with her mother.

With relentless rejections in her inbox, she says frustration doesnt even begin to describe the struggle, which has completely consumed her life.

Ms Chummun, who holds an undergraduate degree, two master's qualifications in marketing and psychotherapy, and is in her third year of a health and social care doctorate, feels it is her age that is causing the rejections. She said the government must step in to help older people who, like her, are up against a job market they feel they no longer belong in.

After losing her job in April 2024, Ms Chummun has been in part-time work selling her counselling and marketing services, but has been unable to earn enough to cover her bills.

She hopes to work full-time in digital marketing, but has been applying for any role she can. In the last two years, she said she has only received one interview for a marketing job.

After she struggled to pay her bills, her mortgage lender eventually took her to court. Its just one nightmare after another, Ms Chummun told The Independent.

I love working, it gives me a sense of purpose and meaning, I dont want to retire. Its so frustrating and Im trying everything... I want to get up and go to work. I dont want to claim benefits. I cant claim benefits because Im self-employed, but I dont want to.

Tina Chummun, 50, said she has applied for around 4,000 jobs (Supplied)

Her four-bedroom house in Kettering, Northamptonshire, is now up for sale, as she plans to move back to London and rent to improve her chances of finding work.

If she isnt able to get a job after a year in London, she would have to seriously think about moving in with her mother, who is currently supporting her financially.

She is one of many people her age struggling to get work, with government figures showing around 876,000 50- to 64-year-olds would like to be in work but are not.

On Monday, the government unveiled a 1bn youth unemployment scheme, which aims to incentivise employers to hire young people.

Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden announced the new measures, which include offering businesses 3,000 to hire an 18- to 24-year-old who has been unemployed for six months or more.

Ms Chummun believes her chances of getting work are further hurt by employers wanting to hire young people who they can pay lower salaries to. After consistently hearing that she is overqualified or not suitable for roles, she would like to see similar efforts from the government to encourage older people back into the workforce.

Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden has unveiled a new 1bn youth unemployment scheme (PA)

She said digital marketing is a particularly difficult field to get work in for older people, as it is quite a young industry, and also there are lots of stigmas and lots of stereotypes about older people not being digitally savvy.

One charity is now calling on the government to find a similar level of investment to support workers in their fifties and sixties, and address a labour market in crisis at both ends of the scale.

According to the Centre for Ageing Better, just a 1 per cent increase in the number of 50- to 64-year-olds in work could grow the economy by more than 7bn.

Dr Andrea Barry, the charitys deputy director for work, retirement and transitions, said: Government interventions should build on what we have learned works to retain older workers and support older jobseekers back into the labour market.

With nearly half of the population expected to be over 50 years old within 40 years, it is vital that the government invests in older workers, she said.

Dr Andrea Barry has called on the government to help people in their fifties and sixties struggling to find work (Ageing Better)

We need the government to raise its own ambitions for older workers by targeting a significant increase in the employment rates of 50-plus workers to close the gap with other age groups, Dr Barry added. To do that, we need to see employment support services specifically tailored for people in their fifties and sixties, who often have the worst outcomes from these services compared to other age groups.

The highest levels of poverty for any age group over 25 are among the 60- to 64-year-olds who are locked out of the ageist labour market and waiting for their pension.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: Our Get Britain Working reforms will boost employment for people of all ages by overhauling job centres and providing personalised work and skills support.

We provide dedicated support to older workers by delivering midlife reviews to encourage people to evaluate their skills and help to break down barriers to employment, while our menopause employment ambassador is collaborating with employers to enhance workplace support for women experiencing menopause symptoms.
Sir Christian Turner has been charged with rebuilding relationships in the US after Lord Mandelson resigned in disgrace in September - Ben Dance / FCDO

Sir Christian Turner has become used to a familiar, if chaotic, daily rhythm: another flare-up in the Iran war, tremors in the Nato alliance, the sheer demands of Washington and, critically, the need to steady a relationship under strain.

It is not what the 53-year-old expected to be doing in 2026, but the British ambassador to the United States is picking up the pieces left by his predecessor, Lord Mandelson.

Donald Trumps presidency has turned the top job in British diplomacy from a prized career accolade to that of a firefighter.

The showboating style of Lord Mandelson, currently under criminal investigation over his alleged leaking of sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein, has been replaced by damage control.

You dont really need to be flashy in this phase of the relationship; they know who you are, one diplomatic source in Washington said of Sir Christian.

His style is much more targeted. He is very clear about what he wants to come talk to you about. He runs it like you run a board or a chair.

Sir Christian had been set to take up Britains top role at the United Nations before he was appointed

The brief is clear: get out, rebuild access, and focus on the pressure points  defence, trade, intelligence.

From mid-morning onwards, Sir Christian is ferried between the offices of the capitals most influential officials, attending meetings with Susie Wiles, the powerful White House chief of staff, Scott Bessent, the treasury secretary, and Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary.

Sir Christians relationship with Mrs Wiles, in particular, is reportedly markedly smoother than that of his predecessor.

Those links have become the epicentre of the effort to save the special relationship, which has frayed under the pressure of war, and has not been helped by Lord Mandelsons abrupt departure in September.

At the centre of the strain is Britains stance on the US-Israeli campaign against Iran.

The US president told The Telegraph on March 2 that Sir Keir Starmers initial refusal to let US forces use the Chagos Islands base was unlike anything that had happened between our countries before.

Since then, Mr Trump has repeatedly questioned Sir Keirs leadership and has laid the cooling of relations squarely at his door.

Its clear that Trump has decided that Starmer is his latest whipping boy, the fear is that what is underpinning [it is] something serious, a Whitehall source said.

And while the president continues attacking the Prime Minister almost daily, embassy staff and Sir Christian are the ones making amends.

Sir Christian acted as the Prime Ministers international affairs adviser and deputy national security adviser from 2017 to 2019

Insiders say Britains operation in Washington, which still enjoys close access to the White House, has become one of the key levers in managing the fallout.

The other channel runs through Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, and his relationship with Steve Witkoff, Mr Trumps right-hand man on Iran.

Mr Powell has his own sense of Washingtons views on ambassadors: it was he who reportedly fielded calls from Mar-a-Lago in late 2024 urging that Dame Karen Pierce remain in post at the British embassy. The then ambassador was well-liked, capable of handling the theatrics of Mr Trump and had the charm to get on with him. It was an easy relationship.

Sir Christian, in contrast, inherited an embarrassment, with Lord Mandelsons exit leaving the embassy reeling. Staff who kept the operation running through a bruising period spoke of relief at the new arrival five months later, after a stretch steering the ship alone.

As with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the spectacle of Lord Mandelsons association with Epstein while in public office has left a long shadow.

Lord Mandelson is currently under investigation by the Metropolitan Police over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein - Jamie Lorriman

The departed ambassadors portrait has yet to be hung alongside those of predecessors, including Dame Karen and Sir Christopher Meyer.

Even the question of whether Lord Mandelsons name should be inscribed on the embassys foundation stone, which lists the names of past and present envoys, is said to have prompted internal debate.

Sir Christians approach, described by insiders as the third phase in Britains Trump-era strategy, is simple: consolidate the groundwork that Dame Karen and, to some extent, Lord Mandelson started.

Dame Karen sought to identify and cultivate the figures who would shape a second Trump administration. Lord Mandelsons tenure was more assertive, pressing British interests on trade and Ukraine. Sir Christians approach is less about theatrics and more about precision.

On Iran, the flashpoint for the president, the approach matters. The British ambassador is used to wars, having led negotiations across the Middle East portfolio, from Gaza to Ukraine.

If he has one area of extreme foreign policy expertise, its Iran, a Whitehall source said. He knows more about Iran than any other person around here, and thats helpful.

Sir Christian and his family had been preparing for New York, where he was set to take up Britains top role at the United Nations, which Dame Karen held between 2018-2020. The Washington assignment changed his plans.

Sir Christians two children were born in Washingon - Handout

In some ways, however, it is a return home. Sir Christians two children were born in Washington while he and his wife, Claire, worked at the British embassy during the George W Bush administration. They helped build foundational transatlantic networks in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

For now, the work to smooth shaky relations is the central task. Looming over it all is the Kings state visit, a polished display of friendship Mr Trump is looking forward to  and one that Sir Christian must help choreograph without a hiccup.
A map developed by military experts shows the potential range of Iranian missiles.

But for Northern Ireland and the upper reaches of north west Scotland, most of the UK is covered by a near 2,500-mile theoretical red zone.

The concerns come after Tehran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles towards Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands, where there is a joint UK-US military base.

No damage from the missiles was reported after one failed mid-flight, and the other was reportedly shot down by the US, but the range of the strike is what has generated alarm.

The US-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which generated the map, said the attack demonstrated that Iranian missiles can reach beyond the 2,000-kilometre limit that the regime has long claimed to have self-imposed.

NEW: Iran launched two ballistic missiles targeting the US-UK base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean on March 21, marking the furthest ever attempted Iranian missile strike. The attack demonstrated that Iranian missiles can reach beyond the 2,000-kilometer limit that the regime pic.twitter.com/TVzUdjOmSc  Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) March 22, 2026

Diego Garcia is roughly 2,360 miles away, less than the same distance from Iran to the UK.

Israel said that it was the first time Iran had launched a long-range missile since the war began and that it showed it is capable of reaching major European cities such as London.

We have been saying it: The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said.

Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin.

The ISW said in a March 21 report that the attack on Diego Garcia upends some assumptions about the Iranian missile programme and the threat to Europe.

Mojtaba Khamenei (Photo by Hamed JAFARNEJAD / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images)

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the attack on Diego Garcia. She said the UK will provide defensive support to counter reckless Iranian threats but will not be drawn into a wider conflict.

While the UK does have the capability to shoot down ballistic missiles through Sea Viper missiles mounted on Type 45 destroyers like HMS Dragon, it remains difficult.

Maintaining and deploying both Type 45 destroyers and Sea Vipers is costly, while ballistic missiles fly at a high arcing trajectory that makes them hard to shoot down as they return to earth at significant speeds.

Speaking on Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Communities Secretary Steve Reed said the UK has systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe and that will continue to happen.

Former senior military officers, though, have questioned how prepared the UK would be to defend against a missile strike from Iran.

If Tehran is assessed to have missiles that can reach 2,500 miles it would almost certainly trigger a review of Britains defences.

However, one expert has raised questions over Irans overall capabilities.

Decker Eveleth, a nuclear weapons and deterrence analyst at CNA, a US-based research nonprofit, said it was important to note the payload Iranian missiles can carry.

If you lower or raise the weight of the missile's payload, you are shortening and lengthening the range of the missile, he explained in a post on X.

It is not clear what type of missile Iran used in the Diego Garcia attack, but Mr Eveleth said Iran probably used a Khorramshahr. Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said a Khorramshahr had been used in a recent revenge attack following the killing of Ali Larijani, secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, by Israel.

A Khorramshahr is a medium-range ballistic missile that can operate at around 1,200 miles with a 1,800kg warhead.

If you were to lower the weight of the Khorramshahr's payload, you'd get a missile with a much longer range, Mr Eveleth said. That is probably what happened here - Iran launched a Khorramshahr with a small warhead.

If a Khorramshahr was used, then this certainly would not necessarily point to the sudden arrival of an advanced [intercontinental ballistic missile programme].

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) have a range of over 3,400 miles.

Mr Eveleth further said that with a small warhead used to extend the range of a Khorramshahr, the threat is pretty limited.

If you were to lower the weight of the Khorramshahr's payload, you'd get a missile with a much longer range. That is probably what happened here - Iran launched a Khorramshahr with a small warhead.  Decker Eveleth (@dex_eve) March 21, 2026

With a small warhead and Iran's demonstrated long-range missile accuracy, the probability you're killing anything is pretty low at that range, he said.

Despite this, the Government-commissioned 2025 Strategic Defence Review said Iran was developing missile programmes with growing reach.

General Sir Richard Barrons, the retired former Commander of Joint Forces Command, said Iran may have been serially underestimated", the Mail reported.
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Mapped: What countries Iranian missiles could hit after warning they pose global threat

Iran has developed long-range missiles capable of reaching major European cities, Israel has warned, after the targeting of the UK-US base on Diego Garcia.

Iran took aim at the military base on the Chagos Islands before the UK government gave the US permission to strike missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, but it is not clear exactly when the two intermediate-range ballistic missiles were fired.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it was the first time Tehran had launched a long-range missile since the start of the war, and showed it is now capable of reaching cities such as London, Paris or Berlin.

We have been saying it: the Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat, the IDF said in a statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran has the capacity to reach deep into Europe.

He told reporters: Ive been warning all the time. They have now the capacity to reach deep into Europe.

They already have fired on a European country, Cyprus. They are putting everyone in their sights.

The Israeli military claimed the missiles could reach a distance of around 2,400 miles (4,000km), posing a danger to dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.

With Iran recklessly attacking other countries in the Middle East, concerns are now mounting that the UK could become a legitimate target as the war shows no signs of abating.

Diego Garcia is around 2,360 miles away from Iran (AP)

How far can Irans missiles go?

Irans military capabilities are not fully known following the 12-day war last June, which saw Israel and the US target missile bases and launchers.

It had previously been thought by analysts that Irans longest-reaching weapon is the Khorramshahr 4 missile, which can potentially hit targets from 1,200 to 1,900 miles away.

Given that ballistic missiles have succeeded in being launched to the Chagos Islands, it is now feared that Iran is more capable than previously thought.

Sky News military analyst Sean Bell said: All of a sudden, the UK is not far away either, so thats the huge significance. At least Diego Garcia is well protected, London is not. The UK has no effective ballistic missile defence system in place, and therefore, this is a very worrying development for the UK.

Danny Citrinowicz, a researcher at Israels Institute for National Security Studies and a former Iran specialist in Israels military and intelligence services, said that it remains unclear how much missile capacity Iran has rebuilt.

You can see through satellite imagery, attempts to restart manufacturing, he said, adding that government leaks in Israeli media suggest that Israel assumes Iran still retains a substantial number of short-range ballistic missiles.

What has the UK said?

Housing secretary Steve Reed has insisted the UK is safe, despite the warnings that Iran has developed long-range missiles capable of reaching major European cities.

He told Sky Newss Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: We have systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe, and that will continue to happen, but the prime minister has been crystal clear about this war.

We didnt join the war, were not going to be dragged into this war, but we will take necessary defensive action to protect British interests, British people, or our allies across the region.

Mr Reed said the fact that one of the missiles fired at Diego Garcia was intercepted, and the other failed, shows that our defensive capabilities are correct.

What have the experts said?

Before the weekend, when news of the attempted attack on Diego Garcia emerged, experts had said an Iranian attack on Britain was very unlikely, with Irans offensive capabilities not assessed as long-reaching enough.

However, on Saturday, Gen Sir Richard Barrons, former head of the UKs Joint Forces Command, warned that Iran could hit targets much farther away than the international community realised.

He told BBCs Today programme: Previously we thought Irans missiles had a range of 2,000km and Diego [Garcia] is 3,800km (2,360 miles) from Iran.

Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli military intelligence officer who now works for the Tel-Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, told The Times the missiles fired on Diego Garcia could have been a warning to the UK, but cast doubt on whether Tehran would target Europe.

He said: Its not that they think that tomorrow they will attack London or Paris, but I think that for them its another element that enables them to build the deterrence.
Philippe Janicot is banned from entering the county where he has been re-elected as a mayor

A French mayor charged with rape was re-elected after he was barred from entering his own town.

Philippe Janicot was officially appointed mayor of Boisseuil, near Limoges in west-central France, on Saturday, after defeating his rival by 55 votes in a run-off.

He has been under investigation since December for the alleged rapes of four women. He spent 10 days in pretrial detention and was released shortly before the New Year.

Mr Janicot, 57, is banned from entering Haute-Vienne, the 2,100-sq-mile departement (county) where Boisseuil is located, under bail conditions imposed by French police.

One of the mayors alleged victims is an ex-girlfriend who is the mother of his third child, French media reported. He has denied the accusations and called them personal attacks.

Did they think about the victims?

Mr Janicots re-election divided the town of 3,000, with some voters branding it shameful and others saying it was none of their business.

Philippe, a retired resident, said: The people who voted for his re-election, did they think a second about the victims?

Another woman who has lived in the town for three decades defended her candidate of choice, saying: Its of the order of the private sphere. As long as the justice has not done its job, I cannot judge.

Before the election, an open letter signed by 200 female leaders in the community called on voters to reject candidates with abusive records.

The letter read: With the 2026 municipal elections approaching and for future elections, we, women involved in public life, affirm a clear demand: no democracy can thrive by turning a blind eye to sexist and sexual violence.

Mr Janicots opponent Amandine Coiraux said: We managed to elect a mayor who is not there, who is not on the territory.

Indicator of presidential election

Most of Frances almost-35,000 communes  villages, towns and boroughs  elected their leaders last weekend, but run-off votes were needed in about 1,500, including larger urban centres.

The municipal elections are widely seen as a test for Frances presidential race next year, when a successor to Emmanuel Macron will be chosen, with the hard-Right National Rally eyeing potential gains.

Pollsters are watching closely, to gauge the public mood and see if any alliances emerge to help defeat the populist party.

Leftists and centrists have allied in recent elections against the far Right, but the Left has been fractured since the fatal beating last month of a far-Right activist that was blamed on fringe Leftists.
Posters of candidates in the Paris mayoral election, where the centre-left candidate Emmanuel Gregoire topped the first round with 38% of the vote. Photograph: Telmo Pinto/NurPhoto/Shutterstock (Photograph: Telmo Pinto/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

Voting is under way in France in the second round of local elections seen as a bellwether for next years presidential race  with cities including Paris and Marseille in the balance and both the radical left and far right hoping for gains.

Most of Frances 35,000-odd communes elected their councils in the first round last Sunday, but in municipalities where the contest is tighter, including most large urban areas, the second round will be decisive, with electoral alliances playing a key role.

Analysts say that while local elections are often decided at least partly on local issues, they can hold important lessons for national ballots. They create momentum, provide a boost and establish a narrative, said Frederic Dabi of the polling institute Ifop.

Besides indicating voter sentiment before the 2027 vote  which, with Emmanuel Macron due to step down, the far-right National Rally (RN) sees as its best chance yet of seizing power  the local elections can suggest which tactical alliances may be struck nationally.

One of the tightest races is in the French capital, where city hall has been held by the Socialist party (PS) since 2001 and the centre-left candidate Emmanuel Gregoire topped the first round with 38%, ahead of the conservative Rachida Dati on 25.5%.

Three others qualified for the second round. However, a moderate rightwinger, Pierre-Yves Bournazel, has since merged his list with Datis, while the far rights Sarah Knafo has withdrawn  potentially uniting the capitals rightwing vote.

On the left, Gregoire has refused to join forces with Sophia Chikirou of Jean-Luc Melenchons radical-left France Unbowed (LFI), which much of the mainstream left has refused to team up with over claims of extremism, antisemitism and violence.

The centre-left candidate therefore faces a three-way race that, if he wins, will comfort the mainstream lefts reluctance to work with LFI  or if he loses, will be hailed by the right as proof of the potential of a broader rightwing alliance.

The dynamic is very different in Marseille, Frances second-largest city, where the far-right National Rally (RN) candidate, Franck Allisio, finished barely one percentage point behind the outgoing centre-left mayor, Benoit Payan, in the first round.

Like Gregoire in Paris, Payan ruled out an alliance with LFI  but its candidate, Sebastien Delogu, withdrew, saying the RN must be kept out at all costs. And a conservative candidate, despite RN calls for her to stand down, has stayed in the race.

Related: Frances radical left on brink of local election victory in Roubaix

The RN, the largest single party in the French parliament, also has high hopes in Toulon and the Riviera city of Nice, where its ally Eric Ciotti, running as a joint candidate for his own breakaway conservative party and the RN, is the frontrunner.

Bruno Retailleau, the national leader of the main conservative party, Les Republicains (LR), has refused to back the outgoing centre-right mayor of Nice against Ciotti, potentially clearing the way for a conservative and far-right electoral alliance next year.

In some cities, the radical left is seen as the force to resist, with the PS merging its list with Macrons centrists in Strasbourg to fight off an LFI threat, and the Socialists uniting with the Greens in Lille to try to block the radical-left party.

But elsewhere, local alliances between the mainstream and radical left could have successes in cities such as Avignon, Brest, Nantes and Toulouse, Frances fourth-largest city, while LFI could win the northern city of Roubaix under its own steam.

A final key race to watch is in the port city of Le Havre, where the mayor, the former prime minister Edouard Philippe, is well placed to keep his job  and may become a leading presidential contender against the RNs Jordan Bardella or Marine Le Pen.

Polling stations opened at 8am local time and will close in the major cities at 8pm, with results expected in the course of the evening.
The media has unmasked Banksy, again. Art experts reveal what happens next

Years before the rise of Instagram, Banksy figured out that the key to real influence lay in not in being famous, exactly, but in being anonymous.

The mystery of his identity has long been part of the value of his art, which for decades and across continents defied authority from public walls and self-shredded on the auction block. Now, Banksys apparent unmasking by Reuters has generated talk about whether the works themselves retain their cultural and financial value.

It also raises the question: Why pop the red balloon of his mystique in the first place? Many Banksy fans mourned the loss of the mystery and lashed out at the news outlet. One said it was like being told without warning that Santa Claus doesnt exist.

I feel like they are telling me how a magic trick is done, said Thomas Evans, a Denver-based artist on Instagram. Sometimes I just want to enjoy the magic trick.

But some art experts say the murals and the message will survive Banksys naming because his appeal wasn't driven solely by his anonymity. He and his works  mischievous and also dark  stand as witnesses to injustice, oppression and inequality around the world, from the artist's native England to walled-off Bethlehem and war-ravaged Ukraine. Subtract his anonymity, they say, and the work still inspires reflection and discussion.

People buy his works because they absolutely love it, said Acoris Andipa, director of the Andipa gallery in London.

The main feedback that I get is that they really, frankly, dont care if they know who he is.

Naming the ghost  and the backlash  is engagement, too

Banksy, long thought to have been born Robin Gunningham around 1972, grew out of a tradition of street artists who viewed the undercover act of posting their art in public as a subversive form of expression.

The postindustrial landscape of his native Bristol was his canvas and gallery. The walls of London, New York and elsewhere gave him a global stage just before the rise of social media.

Banksy's apparent identity has been an open secret among protective fellow artists and has long been easy to find online for those who wanted to know. The Daily Mail reported in 2008, compelling evidence suggesting" that was the artist's birth name. It has been published by other news outlets, including The Associated Press in 2016, as part of their coverage of the detective work.

A painting by Banksy is seen on a building destroyed by fighting in Borodyanka, Kyiv region, Ukraine (AP)

Reuters reported last week that after The Daily Mail's story, Banksy changed his legal name to David Jones, the second most-popular name in Britain. It's also the given name of another rock star, the late David Bowie, whose Ziggy Stardust avatar inspired a 2012 Banksy painting of Queen Elizabeth II.

Bansky's lawyer didn't respond to a request for comment, and the artist's spokeswoman declined to participate in this story.

Reuters pieced together that a David Jones travelled to Ukraine with a well-known associate of Banksy's in late 2022  just before the artist's work began appearing on buildings that had been bombed by Russia. Banksy later confirmed that he'd created seven murals in the war zone, including one of a child flipping over a grown man who is wearing a black belt. Russian President Vladimir Putin practices judo.

There's evidence that even some in the establishment he was protesting have accepted Banksy. They didn't arrest him, for example, after the Royal Courts of Justice removed a Banksy stencil depicting a judge in a traditional wig and gown beating an unarmed protester with a gavel. Some street artists groused that they might be arrested for creating such graffiti  but when it's a Banksy, it's art.

Robin Gunningham wasn't always so elusive

On September 17, 2000, a Robin Gunningham was arrested for defacing a Marc Jacobs billboard atop a building on Hudson Street in New York.

In a handwritten, signed confession, he described the work on the night in question: I had been out drinking at a nightclub with friends when I decided to make a humorous adjustment to a billboard on top of the property, he wrote in court records unearthed by Reuters and confirmed by the AP.

I painted eyeshadow a new mouth and a speach(sic) bubble on the photo of a male model. He was charged with a misdemeanour.

The artist doesn't need an alleged name to make news. He created multiple works just in London in 2025, and grabbed headlines elsewhere for having his art sold or auctioned for millions. But Banksy has courted a public image centred around morality, justice and guerrilla tactics  he's often likened to Robin Hood or Batman.

A woman takes a picture of artwork that might have been made by Banksy in Borodyanka, Kyiv region, Ukraine (AP)

Banksy woz ere, he wrote with his animal murals at the London Zoo, which were removed in 2024.

Still, along with the sadness, there's ample speculation in the art world and on social media that the artist himself orchestrated this round of naming. He didn't deny the Reuters story.

That would be very much in line with his practice of stunts and satire, observed Madeleine White, the senior sales and acquisitions consultant at London's Hang-Up Gallery, As they say, all publicity is good publicity.

She noted, however, that the backlash is directed at the media, not the artist, or the potency of his work. Reuters says it opted to publish some, but not all, of the information its reporters uncovered about Banksy's identity, because he is a public figure, whatever his name  and he's had an outsized influence on public events and discourse. What's more, much of his work has been done on other people's property.

Banksy's star power is about far more than anonymity

Named or not, Banksy's stardom lives, art experts say.

It endures in the wonder of his ability to erect new art under the noses of authorities well into the age of closed-circuit television and social media. It appeals because his spectacle and wit draw people in and the settings  the hulk of bombed buildings, for example, or Israel's towering wall at the border of the West Bank  invite them to reflect. Now, fans are on the lookout for how and whether he'll respond to the news of Robin Gunningham and David Jones.

People walk past Banksys "Cameraman and Flower" in Park City, Utah (AP)

Joe Syer, a Banksy expert and founder of MyArtBroker, said that the artist has always responded to world events. And thats where the real relevance, and value, sits.

If anything, Banksys anonymity has functioned less as a celebrity device and more as a way to keep the work universally accessible, detached from personality, ego, or biography, he said in an email. It allows the work to sit in public space, politically and culturally, without being anchored to an individual in the way the mainstream press often frames it.

Christopher Banks, founder of the New York-based Objects of Affection Collection, reads Banksy's naming not as a biographical event, but as a structural stress test of the artist's system of managing his absence.

Banksy's best works carry their meaning without the author. He was there, Banks wrote, citing the artist's murals in Ukraine and his solidarity with the war's victims.

"The name matters less than the presence. The presence was always what the work was about.
Supporters of the no campaign march in Rome before Italys referendum on changes to the organisation of the justice system. Photograph: Francesco Fotia/Reuters (Photograph: Francesco Fotia/Reuters)

In the run-up to a referendum in Italy on a government quest to overhaul the judiciary, a campaign flyer circulated online quoting Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, taking aim at judges and feminists. Judges block the deportations of rapists. Where are the feminists? Vote yes  there will not be another opportunity, it read.

The flyer, posted on the Facebook page of Melonis Brothers of Italy, a party with neofascist roots, was subsequently removed. But its tone has defined a campaign dominated by inflammatory rhetoric rather than meaningful debate.

At a demonstration against the proposals, Chiara Antonini, from Rome, said: It is shameful of Meloni to use such threatening language and to intervene on sensitive issues such as the protection of women, especially given the hypocrisy after the government backtracked on a law that would have defined sex without consent as rape. The government just seems to have it in for the judiciary.

After more than three years in power, Meloni is leading one of the most stable governments in the history of the Italian republic and burnishing her image abroad. Now she is putting that hard-won credibility to the test with this high-stakes referendum on Sunday and Monday.

Italys electorate will vote yes or no to approving amendments to the countrys post-fascism constitution that would shake up the organisation of the justice system. But what is in essence a ballot on a technical and complex change has morphed into a de facto confidence vote on Melonis government before a general election in 2027.

Mattia Diletti, a politics professor at Sapienza University in Rome, said: It has become a political referendum and is a power issue for her. It is essentially a choice between Giorgia Meloni or the judges.

A victory for the yes campaign would usher in changes to how judges and prosecutors are recruited and governed, including separating their career paths, establishing two governing councils selected by lottery and creating a court to handle disciplinary matters.

Meloni says the changes are essential for impartiality, in particular to weed out what she calls the leftwing political factions ruling the judiciary. Opponents claim they will weaken the power and independence of judges and prosecutors, making them more vulnerable to government control in a manner akin to Viktor Orbans Hungary.

Opinion polls before the blackout period began pointed to a close race in which the no camp, supported by a significant proportion of the opposition, had gained an edge as the debate intensified.

At the end of the campaign, Meloni upped her messaging by accusing judges of undermining her policies to crack down on crime and irregular immigration. She said rejecting the changes would put public safety at risk because it would mean more immigrants, rapists, paedophiles and drug dealers being freed. Speaking at a theatre in Milan last week, she said if the ballot failed we will find ourselves with even more negligent judges and even more surreal sentences.

Carlo Nordio, the justice minister, caused a furore after referring to the judiciarys supreme council as a para-mafia system. His chief of staff, Giusi Bartolozzi, likened the judiciary to a firing squad that needed to be eliminated.

Justice has long been a thorny issue in Italy, where the spectre of Silvio Berlusconi, the late former prime minister who faced dozens of criminal trials, looms large. Forza Italia, the party founded by Berlusconi, is a partner in Melonis ruling coalition. Marina Berlusconi, his daughter, said: A win for yes wouldnt just be my fathers [victory].

But Luigi Li Gotti, a criminal lawyer, believes the objective is to come down especially hard on public prosecutors, whom Berlusconi depicted as the cancer of our democracy, which could make them more reluctant to investigate high-profile corruption cases and organised crime.

Li Gotti, who served as a justice undersecretary in Romano Prodis centre-left government, came under fire from Meloni last year for filing a legal complaint against her after Italy released and repatriated a Libyan general wanted for alleged war crimes by the international criminal court.

He said the government wanted to change the constitution to weaken prosecutors and indirectly influence investigations. Meloni claimed the changes would make Italys notoriously sluggish justice system more efficient. But the goal has nothing to do with improving efficiency, Li Gotti said.

Antonella Attardo, a civil judge in Milan, said that behind the political vitriol was an important vote on significant changes on which none of us voters have a clue.

The fear is very much about what will come afterwards, she said, citing a law change mooted by Antonio Tajani, Italys deputy prime minister, that would make police forces more accountable to their relevant government ministries, weakening the power prosecutors have to coordinate an investigation.

This would mean that the executive decides which investigations are going to be done and how, Attardo said. The fear is that investigations on corruption or on those close to political or economic power would be silenced.

Micol Parati, a lawyer from Crema in Lombardy who attended a demonstration in Rome in support of the proposals, said: Nowhere is it written that the judiciary would become slaves of the executive if the referendum wins.

Li Gotti expressed concern that success for Meloni would strengthen her resolve to push forward with other controversial constitutional changes, such as a directly elected prime minister.

Meloni is riding high in popularity surveys, which is unusual for Italian leaders this long into an administration. If the referendum goes her way, she will prioritise an electoral law that could give her coalition a comfortable win in the general election, which is due next year.

Diletti said: If she loses, it will be upsetting because it will be much harder for her to prepare for the elections.

In the days before the ballot, Meloni turned to an irreverent podcast hosted by a rapper in an attempt to sway younger voters. The vote is not about Meloni, it is about justice, she said.

Matteo Bruno, a masters student in Rome, was unconvinced. Im going home to Catania specifically to vote because this is a constitutional reform that might have important consequences for the future of our democracy, he said.
Israels warnings about Iran possessing long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching the UK are exaggerated, a senior minister has suggested, as the government played down claims that Tehran could target Britain.

Tel Aviv issued a stark warning on Saturday that Iranian missiles are a threat to European cities  including London, Paris and Berlin  after two ballistic missiles were unsuccessfully fired by Iran towards the UK-US Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands.

But Israel was accused of exaggerating the threat to build support for the war, even as experts suggested Britain would be left vulnerable if Iran did have the capability to hit the UK.

Insisting that the UK is safe from Iranian threats, housing secretary Steve Reed told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: We have systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe, and that will continue to happen.

He repeatedly refused to say how close the missiles had come to Diego Garcia, which is thousands of miles from Iran, but insisted that the fact that one was intercepted and the other failed shows that our defensive capabilities are correct.

Explosions erupt following strikes at Shahran Oil Refinery in Tehran (AFP/Getty)

Asked later if he accepted reports that the UK could be hit by Iranian missiles, he told Times Radio: No. There's no assessment that I'm aware of that says either that the Iranians would target Europe, or even that they could if they wanted to.

It comes as tensions in the region escalated again, with Iran threatening to destroy energy targets across the Middle East after Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or the US would obliterate Iran's power plants.

Iran hit back, saying the key waterway is open to all but Irans enemies and vowed to target energy and oil infrastructures across the Middle East and completely shut the strait if the US president executed his threats.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Mr Trump on Sunday night to discuss the need to reopen the strait in a call described as constructive by Downing Street. A spokesperson said: They agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market.

As concerns continue domestically over energy prices, Sir Keir will chair an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday to produce a plan to help households.

Meanwhile, two Iranian missiles hit the towns of Arad and Dimona in Southern Israel overnight on Saturday, injuring scores of civilians in one of the worst attacks of the war so far on Israeli soil. The Israeli military said later that it was striking Tehran in response.

Hours after Mr Reeds comments, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on his nations warning, saying Iran has the capacity to reach deep into Europe.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Netanyahu said: They fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Diego Garcia  that's 4,000 kilometres. I've been warning all the time. They have now the capacity to reach deep into Europe. They already have fired on a European country, Cyprus. They are putting everyone in their sights.

But Israel has been accused of exaggerating the risk to Britain to build support for the war on Iran, which began when they and the US launched surprise strikes intending to topple the countrys regime last month.

Lord McDonald, the former top civil servant at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said: Frankly, there's no evidence that they have missiles of this capability apart from an Israeli source. And the Israeli agenda is to get Europe more concerned, more involved, more supportive of what they're doing.

He added that even if Iran aimed at Diego Garcia they didn't hit their target. And I think that is an important fact.

Ministers have given the US permission to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz from UK bases, including Diego Garcia (Alamy/PA)

He conceded, however, that it was true the UK could be vulnerable to such a strike as we do not have a comprehensive missile defence system.

Former foreign secretary James Cleverly also said it was not useful to start setting hares running about Irans missile strike capabilities, adding: The Iranian regime are very, very good at disinformation and theyre very good at twisting anything that might go out on broadcast.

On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was the first time Tehran had launched a long-range missile since the start of the war, and showed it was now capable of reaching cities previously thought to be out of reach.

It claimed the missiles could go a distance of around 4,000km, meaning they posed a danger to dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. In a post on X, it said: We have been saying it: The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat. Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin.

Diego Garcia is around 3,800km (2,360 miles) away from Iran. The distance between Iran and the UK is around 4,435km (2,750 miles).

As he refused to say how close Iran's long-range missiles had come to reaching Diego Garcia, Mr Reed insisted that to do so would only help Iran.

He also would not be drawn on whether the government backs Mr Trump's 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was a matter for the US president.

Mr Trumps threat comes barely a day after he talked about "winding down" the war, and as US Marines and heavy landing craft are heading to the region.

Responding to his ultimatum, Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote on X that critical infrastructure and energy facilities in the Middle East could be irreversibly destroyed if Iranian power plants are attacked.

Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards said it would also mean the shipping lane, where a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally transits along Iran's southern coast, would remain shut.

The Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed and will not be opened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt, the IRG said.
Authorities in Missouri were on the hunt for five Barbie dolls that had been sold from a discount store with fentanyl hidden inside the packaging (Independence Police Department)

A Missouri mom has shared her horror after finding fentanyl inside the packaging of a Barbie doll  as police recovered five similar dolls in the area.

Jade Adams purchased one of five Barbie dolls sold at Cargo Largo, a discount store in Independence, about 10 miles east of Kansas City, that authorities say had a suspicious powder hidden inside the packaging.

Adams told WDAF she and her husband were shocked when the powder exploded after they opened the toy in their car.

As he opened the plastic packaging with a knife, it was like poof in the car, she told the outlet. We were like, What is that?

The mom was beside herself, thinking about what could have happened had it been her child who opened the package, telling the outlet that it was terrifying to imagine.

Thats my baby, thats my last baby, thats terrifying, a mom who purchased one of the impacted Barbie units said. (Independence Police Department)

They could have dusted that all over themselves, their house, wherever they opened it, Adams said. Like, its not just me, its really just the kids for me. Thats my baby, thats my last baby, thats terrifying.

Adams said her mom returned to the store to warn workers of the dangerous drug she had found attached to the doll.

She went to Cargo Largo and was like, You need to get these Barbies; you need to get all these Barbies, Adams said. So, they filled a whole cart up of these Barbies and took them to security and were like, You need to check all of these Barbies.

The Independence Police Department took to Facebook on Saturday to warn local shoppers about the impacted Barbies  and alert people that they were on the hunt for five impacted dolls.

After workers at the store were notified about the suspicious powder, they called the police, who determined that the substance was fentanyl.

It was determined that five Barbie dolls with fentanyl inside the packaging had been sold, police said.

However, all of the impacted Barbie dolls were recovered within a matter of hours.

The investigation revealed the Barbie Dolls themselves were not compromised. Fentanyl was discovered taped inside the back packaging of the dolls, police said in an update.

There is no reason to believe compromised units were sent to other retailers and no injuries have been reported, the police added in their update.

The incident remains under investigation by police.
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About one in 10 Americans enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans opted out of health insurance altogether last year after federal subsidies expired and caused price spikes, according to a new survey.

Of those who stuck with their plans, the majority feel theyve been left in the lurch, reporting steep cost increases and fearing theyll have to trim other household expenses just to keep their health coverage.

A survey  released by health nonprofit KFF  paints a sobering picture of the American health care system in the wake of lawmakers decision to let enhanced ACA subsidies lapse at the end of December. ACA enrollees face average premium costs of $1,904 in 2026, more than double the $888 average from last year, KFF previously reported. As of January, about 23 million Americans were enrolled in plans through the ACA down from 24.2 million in 2025.

President Donald Trump has long railed against the ACA, which is also known as Obamacare. Democrats sought to extend the subsidies that often go to providers, while Republicans pushed for payments to Americans to use toward healthcare.

According to the KFF poll, which sampled 1,117 people, 9 percent of enrollees said they are now uninsured. An additional 28 percent said they have switched to a new plan.

Nearly one in 10 people enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans last year dropped their health insurance, following cost spikes, according to a new survey (Getty Images)

Of these individuals, a sizable share said that rising costs drove their decisions.

The prices are simply too high, a 34-year-old man from Texas said. $800/month for the absolute cheapest plan for two people. Our income is $120k, so we dont qualify for subsidies in Texas. I dont think we could afford our mortgage if I had to pay for health insurance.

The end of ACA subsidies caused a huge increase in premiums, the cost of which I could not afford, a 63-year-old man from California added.

In the future, coverage losses  which are already significant  may only increase, Cynthia Cox, a senior vice president at KFF, told The Wall Street Journal.

At the same time, Americans who elected to continue with Obamacare are grappling with severe financial hardship.

The overwhelming majority, 80 percent, said they face higher costs, while about half described premiums as being a lot higher.

Seventy-three percent fear they can't afford emergency care, and 49 percent said they worry they wont be able to foot the bill for routine care. Fifty-five percent are reducing, or will reduce, household expenses to pay for health care, and 17 percent worry about covering premiums year-round.

We need healthcare, a 59-year-old Virginia woman told KFF. And now we will either avoid seeing a [doctor or] go bankrupt.

A number of survey respondents also said that health costs could be a deciding factor for them in the upcoming midterm elections, with 48 percent saying the issue will have a major impact on their decision to vote.

Most respondents to a recent poll said they are reducing, or will reduce, household expenses in order to pay for health care (Getty Images)

The survey comes less than three months after Congress allowed ACA enhanced federal premium subsidies to expire on Jan. 1.

The enhanced financial assistance was enacted in 2021 as part of a Covid-19 relief package signed into law by former President Joe Biden. A sunset clause was built in for the end of 2025.

The legislation led to dramatic upticks in ACA enrollment, especially among low-income Americans, though they also made health insurance more affordable for middle-income enrollees, who didnt previously qualify.

The question of whether or not to extend the subsidies fiercely divided lawmakers on Capitol Hill for months, leading to a 43-day government shutdown. Democrats attempted to rope the subsidies into a bill to fund the government, but they eventually caved, allowing the funding to expire.

Republicans have claimed the subsidies had serious issues. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters in December that an extension of a failed program thats rife with fraud, waste and abuse is not happening.

But Democrats have warned about dire ramifications. Make no mistake, the blame behind the skyrocketing health care costs millions are facing today is squarely at the feet of House Republicans, and the American people know it, said Rep. Suzan DelBene, a Washington Democrat, on New Years Day.

Trumps Big, Beautiful Bill, signed into law in July, also made major administrative and policy changes to ACA marketplaces. The changes, which largely flew under the radar, make it more onerous or more costly for many to sign up for ACA plans, experts told CNBC.
Saturday Night Live UK has kicked off its first show with guest appearances from Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, TV presenter Graham Norton and Canadian actor Michael Cera.

The first episode of the sketch show was hosted by American actress and comedian Tina Fey, who was joined by the surprise celebrity guests during her opening monologue.

The show kicked off with a sketch starring cast member George Fouracres as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dodging a call from US President Donald Trump, before cutting to Feys monologue.

Tina Fey hosted the first episode of the comedy show (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

The 55-year-old introduced herself as the youngest person to ever host the show and said that viewers may know her as the teacher from Mean Girls.

Irish actress Coughlan interrupted the monologue to ask Fey: If its SNL UK then why are you our first host? Shouldnt it be a British icon like David Beckham or Dame Judi Dench or Shrek?

Wait, Shrek is British? Fey asked and Coughlan, 39, elicited a laugh from the crowd with her response as she said: Scotland is in Britain Tina, educate yourself.

Fey then quipped: The way it was explained to me was that for this first episode, anyway, how do I put this politely, none of you f****** would do it. Does that make sense?

Arrested Development star Cera also made a cameo to call out Fey on her swearing, surprised by the fact the British version of the US sketch show can include explicit language.

Michael Cera appeared during the opening monologue of the show (Doug Peters/PA) (Doug Peters)

Norton also appeared to announce that the show was being filmed in the same studio as his popular BBC talk show, The Graham Norton Show, and to quiz Fey on her knowledge of British comedy moments.

Fey is known for previously being the head writer and lead cast member on the sketch shows US version.

During the show, sketches were performed by the inaugural cast: Fouracres, Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy Young.

The 75-minute episode also featured a performance from Isle Of Wight band Wet Leg as the shows first musical guest.

Jonno Johnson is the head writer for the series, joined by 8 Out of 10 Cats Charlie Skelton, who is the head writer for the satirical news segment The Weekend Update.

Other writers on the new sketch show include Stath Lets Flats star Al Roberts, Have I Got News For Yous Bella Hull and comedians Celya AB, Chris Cantrill, Grainne Maguire, Humphrey Ker and James Farmer.

The shows US version has been running since 1975, and is responsible for launching the careers of the likes of Fey, Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy.

Saturday Night Live UK is available to watch on Sky and streaming service Now, with new episodes to air every Saturday.
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Ian Huntley was serving a life sentence for the 2002 murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman (Toby Melville/PA) (PA Archive)

Soham murderer Ian Huntley will have no funeral following his death earlier this month, it has been reported.

Instead, the 52-year-old's remains will be cremated without ceremony before his ashes are handed over to his relatives.

Huntley died in hospital on Saturday, March 7, following a fatal attack at HMP Frankland in County Durham last month.

He was among Britain's most notorious prisoners and was serving a whole life term for the murders of ten-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002.

The double killer's family are understood to have refused the offer of a state-funded funeral service out of respect for his victim's relatives, The Sun reports.

A source told the newspaper: There will be no service, no memorial, no mourners, nothing. It is as it should be.

There will be no funeral. How could there be after what he did? He will simply be cremated and his ashes handed to his family. They have always been utterly appalled by what he did.

It was unforgivable and, for those reasons, they could not in good conscience hold a funeral.

The prison service can provide up to 3,000 of public money for the funeral services of inmates who die in custody, as part of a Ministry of Justice scheme.

There were concerns that Huntley could benefit from the scheme in a twisted turn of events with taxpayers footing the bill, but these fears appear to have been allayed after his family rejected proposals for a service.

Anthony Russell, 43, a convicted triple murderer and rapist, has been charged with Huntley's murder after allegedly launching an attack on the morning of February 26 at a prison workshop.

Russell appeared via video link at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday, March 12, ahead of a pre-trial hearing to be held on April 24 at Newcastle Crown Court.

The court was told that a trial could last up to five days.

The Ministry of Justice has previously stated Huntley's crime "remains one of the most shocking and devastating cases in our nation's history, and our thoughts are with their families".

Huntley was seriously attacked in prison several times over the years before Februarys fatal assault. In 2005, an inmate threw boiling water over him at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire.

Five years later, another prisoner slashed his throat at HMP Frankland, which required 21 stitches.
The Prince of Wales intends to establish a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership - Phil Noble

The Prince of Wales might not be at church every day but believes in his duty to the Church of England.

Prince William, who was confirmed at the age of 14, has a quiet personal faith and intended to establish a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership, an aide told The Sunday Times.

The heir to the throne, 43, addressed his role as the future supreme governor of the Church of England amid questions about his commitment to the Christian faith.

His position on religion differs from that of his father, King Charles, and his late grandmother, Elizabeth II, both of whom took comfort from their faith and frequent church attendance.

Speaking ahead of the Prince attending the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, on Wednesday, the aide said: His feeling is that I might not be at church every day but I believe in it, I want to support it, and this is an important aspect of my role and the next role, and I will take it very seriously, in my own way.

This week is an opportunity to be very clear in peoples minds, when he walks into Canterbury Cathedral, where he stands. For him, it is a drawing of a line in the sand of where hes at, and its really important that it [the question over his commitment to the Church] is cleared up.

Not always fully understood

The source added: The Prince of Waless commitment to the Church of England is sometimes quieter than people expect, and for that reason it is not always fully understood.

Those who know him well recognise that his connection to the Church, and to the sense of duty that comes with it, runs deep and is grounded in something personal and sincere. Faith, service and responsibility are themes that have long shaped the role he will inherit, and they will be things he approaches in his own thoughtful way.

At a time when institutions can be seen simply through a social or cultural lens, he understands that the Churchs role goes beyond this. It is not only part of the nations heritage, but a living expression of faith, rooted in prayer, compassion and a belief in grace and redemption.

The aide said that as William looks ahead to the responsibilities he will one day assume as supreme governor, he is keen to build a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership, one that respects tradition while speaking to a modern Britain, and reflects his broader belief that institutions must continue to remain relevant and connected to the people they serve.

In 2024, the Princess of Wales was said to have become more interested in her own faith since her cancer diagnosis.

The Princess, who has been in remission for more than a year, was described in a royal biography as having begun to differ from her husband on matters of religion and faith since she underwent chemotherapy.
Dame Jenni Murray died aged 75 earlier this month (PA Archive)

A prominent activist for trans rights has sparked controversy online after she recalled a row between her and the late Womans Hour presenter Dame Jenni Murray after her death was announced.

India Willoughby, 60, said Murray had been responsible for spreading terf garbage and that this was the spark that lit the war on trans people in the UK.

Willoughby said that she was a TV Loose Woman and Channel 5 newsreader when she was asked to go on BBC Womans hour in 2017.

She said she was expecting it to be a regular light showbiz interview, but that Murray was snotty as hell and asked her What qualifies YOU to present a show for women? Have you even read Sheila Jeffries? Should women shave their legs?.

India Willoughby on Loose Women (Ken McKay/ITV/Rex)

Willoughby added that Murray was Peering like an owl over the glasses perched on the bottom of her nose during the interview.

She then referred to an article Murray had written in The Times after the interview.

She said: A few days later, she wrote a hit-piece double-page spread in The Times, saying I wasnt a real woman, and all the usual terf garbage we now hear every day.

Really horrible stuff. I complained - and the BBC suspended her for six months. Unthinkable now! Murray was removed from Womans Hour. Big story.

The spark that lit the war on trans people in the UK started when I went on BBC Womans Hour in 2017. At the time I was an ITV Loose Woman and Channel 5 newsreader.

I was invited onto WH for what I was expecting to be a regular light showbiz interview - but straight away, Jenni pic.twitter.com/4MuVIFKWas  India Willoughby (@IndiaWilloughby) March 21, 2026

Murray was banned from talking about trans issues on the BBC after the complaints. She was not suspended.

In 2020, she left Womans Hour after 33 years.

Last year, Murray wrote in the Daily Mail that she wasnt sacked, but had been banned from discussing the debate on air.

She added: More tweets followed with India calling me a nasty cow and far worse.

Amid the backlash to Willoughby were comments defending Murray.

Jenni was a brilliant woman, not worried about speaking the truth, an undoubted champion of women, one person wrote. You were a speck on her amazing career. RIP.

A number of the comments directed at Willoughby insulted her personally.

The Standard has approached her for comment.

Murray joined BBC Radio Bristol in 1973. She later joined Newsnight in 1983 and then moved to Radio 4 for the Today programme.

A statement shared by her family to The Daily Mail confirmed she died on March 12.

Outgoing BBC director-general Tim Davie said Murray created a safe space for her audience thanks to her warmth, intelligence and courage.
Walter Benjamin walks through Zaventem airport, where he was injured in one of the bombings. He lost one leg and had 17 operations to save the other. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters (Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters)

A decade after he suffered life-changing injuries in the terrorist attacks that hit Brussels airport and a metro station, Walter Benjamin has been having sleepless nights. Not only because of the hellish time he lived through on 22 March 2016. Last year, he says, his monthly pension was drastically cut to recoup overpaid survivors compensation.

Benjamin, now 56, was standing three metres away from the second attacker at Zaventem airport when the bomb detonated. Three suicide bombers killed 32 people that day and left more than 320 people with the kinds of injuries doctors usually find in war zones.

Sometimes I can be in the street or anywhere and I have a panic attack. It comes very fast Walter Benjamin

One moment Benjamin was standing in the check-in area preparing to catch a flight to Tel Aviv. The next, he was thrown in the air and found himself lying on the ground in a pool of blood, among the dead and maimed. He lost his right leg and had 17 operations to save the left.

His doctor told him it would take him three or four years to walk again. But three months after the attack, he was standing up and starting exercises, he says, because I didnt want to be a burden on society  I didnt want my daughter [then 16 years old] to have a father she would have to support.

Physically, he is doing OK, he says. He walks 30-40 minutes every day on a treadmill to keep up his strength and morale. But he cannot leave the house without medication: Sometimes I can be in the street or anywhere and I have a panic attack. It comes very fast. He is prone to depression.

Despite all his efforts to rebuild his life, he is also battling administrative problems.

Last July he was informed he had received too much state compensation: his monthly pension, awarded to him as a victim of a terrorist attack, was cut by 70%, he says. According to his calculation, his pension income will fall by a total of 130,000-150,000 (112,000-130,000) over the long term. He describes the shortfall as a debt he fears will fall to his next of kin.

It was a shock, he says. Because I have never hidden anything that I have received. And if I die, the debt is there for my daughter. Its not right. It is a psychological shock. I dont understand why we are being made to live like this.

This is not money I pay to my broker, he says with grim irony, detailing the extra costs he bears, such as more expensive air tickets and taxis to accommodate life with a prosthetic limb; psychological support; and extra help when he cannot walk as a result of injuries caused by the prosthesis.

A spokesperson for the Belgian federal pensions service said any reduction in compensation would be applied to future pension payments and there would never be a debt recovery claim on an individual or their next of kin.

The terrorist victims support group, Life for Brussels, says Benjamin is not alone. Many victims are living in utter despair, it said in a statement last week, published before events this weekend to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attacks. The state is demanding reimbursement of sums paid out over the years, plunging families into unjustifiable hardship.

The situation has arisen because under a Belgian law passed in 2017, victims are not entitled to be compensated twice for their trauma. Survivors of terrorist acts are entitled to receive a pension, which is subject to deductions if they have received other payments, such as social security or insurance payments.

Survivors had the possibility to claim compensation under insurance carried by Brussels airport and the Brussels transport operator, STIB.

Life for Brussels argues that the authorities are making incorrect deductions based on a questionable understanding of the law and failing to respect a principle of non-retroactive deductions.

It was 10 years ago, but with this letter it all came flooding back. Its like this story will never end Aurelie Cardon

Aurelie Cardon, a communications specialist, was on her way to work on 22 March 2016 when she was injured in the attack at Maelbeek metro station in the citys EU quarter. Although she was in the carriage where the bomb went off, I was very lucky, she says. I was sitting down and the blast wave passed above me. She was left with injuries, including back pain and damage to her ear drums. For a long time she experienced fear and panic when on public transport or in other crowded spaces, which have eased with treatment.

She was awarded a lifelong pension of 126 a month  or so she thought. A year ago, she says, her pension was abruptly stopped without explanation. Then, last December, she received a letter saying she owed the government 15,000.

What bothers me most  more than the reimbursement  was that this whole story was behind me, because it was 10 years ago, she says. But with this letter it all came flooding back. Its like this story will never end.

In a statement published on the same day that survivors gave testimony to journalists, the Belgian pensions department issued an apology.

The pensions service pays compensation pensions to approximately 700 victims of terrorism. As these pensions are considered residual compensation, the law requires the pensions service to take into account other compensation payments and deduct them from the compensation pension, it said.

The statement said that in 14 cases, unfortunately money had been incorrectly recovered, while 43 people had received a potentially confusing letter. The department said those people who had been wrongly docked money would be reimbursed, while no retroactive adjustment would be made for the other 43.

It added: The pensions service regrets how events have unfolded and presents its sincere apologies to victims. We are aware that our administrative actions have caused additional suffering.

Benjamin says he has not received a letter. The big scandal is, for 10 years there is no follow-up from the state about what happened to us, he says, arguing for a system where there would be routine checks on survivors health or other problems.

The statement was good news, says Cardon, who confirmed she received a letter last week informing her that the demand for reimbursement was an error. But her fight is not over, she says. She continues to press for the reinstatement of her full pension, without deductions.

Understandably, its a subject she would rather put behind her. To always be talking about the attacks, to be thinking about the attacks, to make the calculations, its not nice  I would like to move forward.
Robert Golob (left) and Janez Jansa take part in a televised debate on Friday. Photograph: Jure Makovec/AFP/Getty Images (Photograph: Jure Makovec/AFP/Getty Images)

Campaigners in Slovenia warned of a surge in anti-Romany rhetoric as the country headed to the polls on Sunday, leaving many bracing for the outcome of a vote that has become, in part, a referendum on how the country treats its most marginalised.

In Sundays vote, the prime minister, Robert Golob, of the centre-left Freedom Movement party, faced off against the rightwing populist and Donald Trump ally Janez Jansa.

Preliminary results on Sunday evening showed liberals and opposition rightwing populists were neck and neck, heralding a period of political uncertainty in the small EU country.

Both Golobs and Jansas parties won a little over 28% of the vote, the state election commission said after counting 97% of the ballots.

In the months leading up to the elections, much of the focus has been on access to public services, including healthcare, and accusations of graft.

Questions of social policy have also threaded through the campaign, with campaigners accusing both Golob and Jansa of scapegoating the countrys Romany minority.

Golobs government was accused last year of treating Romany people as a security threat, while Jansa, athree-time former prime minister, has claimed they benefit from a double standard when it comes to rights and equality.

We Roma are facing two evils here in the election, said Zvonko Golobic, who heads the Association for the Development of the Roma Community in the south-eastern town of Crnomelj. So the question is: who is less evil?

Slovenias population of about 2.1 million includes an estimated 12,000 Roma. Many are singularly vulnerable: in 2020, Amnesty International said that life expectancy for Roma in Slovenia was 22 years lower than the rest of the population, and infant mortality more than four times higher.

Several communities in the country continue to lack access to clean drinking water, electricity and sanitation as well as basic infrastructure and essential services.

The election  and the discourse about Roma that has swirled in previous months  has left many worried that the communitys rights will be further eroded, said Haris Tahirovic, the president of an umbrella group representing Romany communities across the country.

At this moment Roma are really afraid of who will come to power, what the political options will be, and what will happen after the elections, he said.

In November, the government passed a law that, in the view of campaigners, turned some Romany neighbourhoods into security zones by giving police power to enter homes in so-called high-risk areas and conduct raids without a warrant.

The Sutar law was introduced after the death of Ales Sutar, who was killed in an altercation linked to members of the Romany community.

While Golob has said the measures are not aimed at any particular ethnic group but against crime itself, critics including Amnesty International have said they disproportionately affect the Romany community.

Esther Major, Amnestys deputy director for research in Europe, said in a statement last November: While not explicitly aimed at the Roma population, the vitriolic rhetoric used by the government to justify these measures raises serious fears that they would be deployed arbitrarily and discriminatorily against the Roma population.

Coupled with the security crackdown, punitive restrictions on social benefits could further penalise the most marginalised families.

Tahirovic said it was little coincidence that Golob introduced the law in the run-up to the election. He used it to scapegoat Roma because he recognised Roma as the easiest target to attack in order to save his place as prime minister, he said.

Related: New Slovenian law treats entire Romany minority as a security threat

Even so, campaigners said it was likely that Jansa  an ally of Hungarys Viktor Orban, whose previous term in power was marked by attacks on media and migrants  would leave the community worse off.

He would be even more radical, said Golobic, who is standing as a candidate for the newly formed We, Socialists! party, which is expected to receive about 1% of the vote in the election. The stakes are high.

Before Sundays election, Jansa suggested he would push for harsher sentences for Roma and potentially increase the number of areas designated high risk, meaning more Romany settlements could be targeted by security measures.

Jansa has also vowed to cut funding for civil society, a move that could hinder the ability of the Romany community to organise and speak up about issues that affect them. Tahirovic said: Were not asking for anything other than to be an equal part of this society.

The election contest has heated up in recent weeks, after leaked audio and video recordings purporting to expose government corruption were published on an anonymous website. Golob has denied the claims.

This week an investigation alleged that Jansa met individuals in December linked to the Israeli spy company Black Cube, sparking questions as to whether the agency, best known for working with Harvey Weinstein to allegedly quash reporting on allegations of sexual misconduct, was behind the anonymous website. Jansa has denied any wrongdoing.

Commentators have warned that the polarising campaign, pitting the populist Jansa against Golob, the centre-left incumbent, has left the country at a crossroads.

Robert Botteri, an editor at the magazine Mladina, told Reuters: These are  perhaps the most important elections ever in Slovenia because they will decide if Slovenia remains a democratic welfare state or it aligns with illiberal democracies.
Opening-night guest host Tina Fey

To the list of things nobody asked for but which have been foisted upon us nonetheless can be added a British version of the long-running and historically unfunny American comedy institution Saturday Night Live. The original may have been the comic launchpad for everyone from Eddie Murphy to Will Ferrell but it has for years coasted on its reputation and plumbed genuinely terrible depths when mocking the appearance of actress Aimee Lou Wood last year.

Given that patchy track record, there was every reason to suspect Saturday Night Live UK (Sky One) would land dead on arrival. The cast is largely unknown, Skys marketing campaign has reeked of desperation and its producer James Longmans previous contribution to humankind was helping James Corden invent Carpool Karaoke.

The cast of Saturday Night Live UK - Charlotte Rutherford

How shocking, then, that the first of eight episodes in a test-the-waters inaugural season should be competent, untroubled by either annoying American-isms and annoying Americans  and occasionally hilarious. The key word here is occasionally. There was a whiff of hastily written student sketch to a cold open in which George Fouracres impersonated Keir Starmer (described by US website Deadline as the technocratic and frankly rather dull UK Prime Minister in its preview of the show).

But the choppy waters were quickly calmed by opening-night guest host Tina Fey who delivered an assured monologue that featured surprise appearances by Bridgertons Nicola Coughlan, actor Michael Cera and Graham Norton (ironically, none from the UK  though actual Brit Rege-Jean Page did cameo later on).

Graham Norton and Rege-Jean Page made surprise appearances

Having served as head writer on the American SNL before graduating to movie stardom, Fey was effortlessly commanding, her visible ease with the format seeming to have a calming effect both on the jittery audience and the presumably anxious cast. She, along with the other comedians, also enjoyed the opportunity afforded by British broadcasting regulations to swear like a trooper  a perk denied the American SNL owing to the prurience of US rules around expletives on television.

Tina Fey was effortlessly commanding as guest host

The next 70 or so minutes were hit or miss: a sketch about a performatively bashful baby was surreal but not in a good way, while a parody of Hamnet in which Shakespeare went to London and came home massively into Charli XCX did better, even if it was a good five minutes too long. As with the US original it was all done live  which probably explained the occasional expression of sheer terror that flashes across the faces of the cast.

A sketch about a bashful baby was surreal but not in a good way

The real highlight was the Weekend Update section. This was a sort of parody of the evening news presented by Ania Magliano and Paddy Young, who were full of charm as they side-eyed the camera and struggled to keep straight faces. They fired off stinging and completely non-woke gags about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Donald Trump. They then interviewed Captain Birdseye, before he headed off to sort out the Strait of Hormuz.

The real highlight was the Weekend Update section, a parody of the evening news

British sketch comedy had been in a slump in recent years and Sky did well to hire members of the highly regarded sketch troupe Sheeps to oversee their SNL, which also featured two brilliantly searing performances by indie band Wet Leg. It was never going to be perfect and Feys reassuring presence will be missed (future guest hosts include Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed).

But the schadenfreude on social media, which predicted a transatlantic SNL would crash and burn proved wide of the mark. Was it a crime against comedy  as the original Saturday Night Live often is nowadays? No  and by any reasonable measure it was off to a flying start.
In 2016 Joshua Bonehill-Paine, pictured, was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment for abuse directed at a Jewish MP. Photograph: Channel 4 News/Youtube (Photograph: Channel 4 News/Youtube)

The Conservative partys chief whip has been condemned for promoting AI-generated footage created by a notorious far-right figure who was jailed for hate crimes against Jewish people.

Rebecca Harris reposted the latest skit by the Crewkerne Gazette, which depicts Kemi Badenoch and her shadow justice secretary, Nick Timothy, as characters in the gangster film Scarface.

The online satirical account had gained a large online following before its creator was revealed last month to be Joshua Bonehill-Paine, an activist who previously described himself as a nationalist, fascist, theorist and supporter of white rights.

It can now also be revealed that Bonehill-Paine claims to be a fully paid-up member of the Conservative party, despite a history of far-right activism and convictions ranging from assault to racially aggravated harassment against a Jewish Labour MP.

Push it to the limit, sings Timothys AI-generated avatar in the accounts latest skit, which was created after the MP was accused of Islamophobia for claiming that an Islamic prayer event in Trafalgar Square was intimidating and un-British.

Harris, the MP for Castle Point, was appointed in 2024 by Badenoch as the Conservative chief whip, a role that makes her responsible for party discipline.

Asked about her sharing of the content, a Conservative spokesperson said: The Crewkerne Gazette is seen as a fun, satirical X account that makes amusing, topical videos that have been broadcast on all of Britains mainstream TV channels, including the BBC, and hosted on most newspaper websites.

The party has been approached for comment about Bonehill-Paines claim that he is now a member of the party.

The promotion by Harris of the clip was criticised by Alex Barros-Curtis, the Labour MP for Cardiff West who has previously said that Bonehill-Paine was using AI slop to advocate for Nigel Farage and stoke fears about immigration.

This shows a real lack of judgment from Kemi Badenochs close ally, in the week where Tory top brass has peddled vile insults towards Muslims, said Barros-Curtis.

It highlights the astonishing depths to which the Conservatives have sunk. Theyve learned no lessons from their election defeat. They simply cant be trusted to unite communities across this country.

The Crewkerne Gazette account has previously created AI videos depicting politicians such as Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham apparently singing popular songs from artists including Amy Winehouse, Barry Manilow and Elton John with altered, politically themed lyrics.

Bonehill-Paine, who has a prior conviction for assaulting a police officer and burglary of a police station, was convicted in 2014 of malicious communications over an anti-Islam hoax that led to death threats against the owners of a pub in Leicester.

He was jailed in 2015 for more than three years after posting vile antisemitic material online ahead of a planned neo-Nazi rally.

In 2016, he was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment for abuse directed at the then Labour MP Luciana Berger, who is Jewish, which included posting messages to his blog calling Berger a rodent, evil money-grabber His past far-right activity include being the founder and leader of the National British Resistance, a far-right group.

Bonehill-Paine told the Guardian his past was no secret, and politicians of different parties engage with the Crewkerne Gazette which, he said, produced topical satirical content. He said:I bitterly regret and am sorry for my past and the hurt I have caused the Jewish community.

I am indeed a fully paid-up member of the Conservative party, and it was under a Conservative government that my rehabilitation was successfully facilitated, for which I remain grateful, he said.

Asked if he had declared his previous convictions and far-right political associations, he said: There is nowhere to declare previous convictions and former political associations, I am not a candidate nor standing for election. In which case there would of course be vetting done if so, and a declaration of convictions.
Donald Trump has rejected calls for a ceasefire - Win McNamee/Getty Images

Donald Trump is demanding that Iran halt its missile programme for five years in exchange for peace.

It is one of six commitments the US president wants Tehran to make, in a sign that the positions of Washington and Iran are moving further apart.

The White House is also rejecting calls for a ceasefire, while Tehran insists negotiations cannot begin until fighting stops.

After more than three weeks of conflict, both sides are giving mixed signals, indicating an openness to diplomacy while fighting talk demanding a full surrender continues.

Mr Trump has made clear he does not support an immediate halt to fighting, arguing that military pressure must continue to force concessions from Tehran.

I dont want to do a ceasefire  you dont do a ceasefire when youre literally obliterating the other side, he told reporters on Friday.

Earlier in the conflict, the US president suggested the war could end only with the collapse of Irans leadership, saying: At some point there wont be anybody left maybe to say We surrender.

On Sunday, Esmail Baghaei, Irans foreign ministry spokesman, told state news agency IRNA that calling on Iran to exercise restraint makes no sense. He said that the US and Israel, which initiated the hostilities, were responsible for ceasing them.

Mr Trumps administration has pushed for a settlement that would include strict limits on Irans nuclear programme, missile capabilities and regional activities.

Fears about Irans missile capabilities arose on Saturday after Israel warned that Tehran had developed intercontinental ballistic weapons capable of hitting London.

Citing US officials, news website Axios claimed Mr Trumps envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were involved in discussions around potential diplomacy.

An Israeli air strike on the Qasmiyeh Bridge in Lebanon on Sunday - Kawnat Haju/ AFP via Getty Images

However, any deal to end the war would need to include the reopening of critical oil route the Strait of Hormuz, address Irans stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and establish a long-term agreement on Irans nuclear programme, ballistic missiles and support for proxies in the region.

Diplomatic efforts seem to have stalled, with Axios reporting that for several days there has been no direct contact between the US and Iran although Egypt, Qatar and Britain have all passed messages between the two.

Iran, it seems, is only open to negotiations if its terms are adhered to, including a full ceasefire before talks recommence, guarantees there will be no resumption of the war in the future and compensation, something Mr Trump has already called a non-starter.

Our view is weve stunted Irans growth, one US official told Axios, believing the Iranians will be left with no choice but to negotiate. But the US demands look set to irk Tehran, which is unlikely to accept conditions including no missile programme for five years, zero uranium enrichment, and decommissioning the Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow nuclear facilities that the US and Israel bombed in 2025.

The US is also demanding strict outside observation protocols around the creation and use of centrifuges and related machinery that could advance a nuclear weapons programme.

Conditions for a deal also include arms control treaties with regional countries that include a missile cap no higher than 1,000, and an end to Irans financing for proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and Hamas in Gaza.

Iran has repeatedly rejected such demands in the past and maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful, despite enriching enough uranium for multiple bombs.

A lack of trust for Mr Trump has also hampered enthusiasm for Iran to negotiate, in addition to the assassination of military and political leader Ali Larijani, who was Irans lead negotiator, possibly making way for more hardline officials in his wake.

Abbas Araghchi, Irans foreign minister, told his Indian counterpart on Saturday that releasing Irans chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global maritime route, would require both the US and Israel to stop attacking Iran and commit to not resuming the attacks in future, the Iranian foreign ministry said.

Mr Trump has threatened to obliterate Irans power plants within 48 hours, starting with the largest, if Iran does not free up the Strait of Hormuz.

Mohammad Ghalibaf, Irans parliament speaker, warned on Sunday that any attack on Iranian infrastructure would be met with the irreversible destruction of critical energy and oil infrastructure throughout the region, according to the countrys official IRNA news agency.

Two senior Iranian sources told Reuters that Iran would not consider ceasefire talks unless attacks stopped first, despite mediation efforts by regional states.

Irans leadership has also rejected pressure to concede amid the fighting, while on Sunday officials said they would only cease activity after a full surrender.

According to Reuters, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the supreme leader, has ruled out de-escalation proposals, demanding that the US and Israel first be brought to their knees before any peace effort can proceed. The regime also wants the removal of American forces from the region, despite the US sending thousands more amid fighting.

An Iranian senior military spokesman said any US strike on Irans energy infrastructure would trigger retaliation against American-linked targets across the region, including Israels own energy infrastructure.

If you target our infrastructure, we will target yours, an Iranian military official warned on Sunday.

A senior White House official told Reuters the US is not interested in negotiations at this stage and will continue military operations unabated, with thousands of troops being despatched to the region as the US takes the stance that only continued military pressure will force Iran to accept concessions.

Iran remains adamant that continued disruption to the global energy flow will force Washington to concede as backlash and price rises put added pressure on the president, who said on Truth Social that it would take only a simple military manoeuvre to secure lanes with military force.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of Irans national security committee, said the Islamic Republic was charging some vessels $2m (1.5m) to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as the start of a new approach to its control over the waterway. Tehran hopes to turn it into a new revenue stream long after the missiles stop.

Now, because war has costs, naturally we must do this and take transit fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, he said.
President Donald Trump issued a high-stakes, two-day ultimatum to Iran: enable vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz or endure punishing strikes on its power grid.

Unless Tehran fully opens the strait within 48 hours, the U.S. military will obliterate Irans power plants, starting with their largest, the president wrote on Truth Social on Saturday evening from Mar-a-Lago.

In response, Iranian officials quickly telegraphed their willingness to go tit-for-tat. According to state media, Irans military vowed to target U.S. energy and desalination infrastructure in the region if Trump follows through on his threat.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz  a vital trade chokepoint through which 20 percent of the world's oil flows  has all but ground to a halt due to Iran's de facto blockade, put in place after the war broke out last month.

As a result, oil prices have surged past $100-a-barrel multiple times in recent weeks, with diesel prices surpassing $5 a gallon on Tuesday. Experts have warned that skyrocketing fuel costs could soon ripple through the economy, driving up prices for groceries, shipping and construction.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, demanding it reopen the Strait of Hormuz or risk the 'obliteration' of its power infrastructure (Getty Images)

While speaking to reporters on Friday, the 79-year-old president fumed that NATO allies have so far declined to assist in securing the waterway, branding them cowardly. He also declined to comment on reports that he is considering deploying troops to help dismantle the blockade.

At the same time, Trump insisted that the strait is of little strategic importance to the U.S. and claimed that it would eventually open itself.

Hes also dismissed concerns about rising fuel costs, writing on Truth Social earlier this month that short term oil prices are a very small price to pay for global security.

The war  launched jointly by the U.S. and Israel on February 28  has now stretched on for three full weeks, engulfing the broader Middle East region in violence.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a briefing on Thursday that the U.S. had struck more than 7,000 targets inside Iran. Were winning, decisively and on our terms, he said.

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes on nearby nations, including Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia  a response that Trump said surprised him.

To date, more than 1,500 Iranians have died, according to state media, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed, the Pentagon has said.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery of global trade, has all but ground to a halt, leading fuel costs to skyrocket (AFP/Getty)

Trump has not provided a definitive timeline for when the war will end  and his recent statements have done little to clear the air.

Last week, he told Fox News that deadly conflict will wrap up when I feel it in my bones. On Friday, he said hes considering winding down the conflict, while on Saturday, he stated: We are weeks ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in additional funds for the overseas offensive, a senior administration official told The Associated Press this week. And The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that upwards of 2,200 Marines are already en route to the region.

Multiple recent polls have found that a majority of Americans are opposed to the war.

Fifty-three percent of respondents in a March 9 Quinnipiac survey said they are against U.S. military action in Iran, while 40 percent are in favor. And a Reuters poll released on March 2 found that just one in four respondents supports Trumps strikes on the Middle East nation.
President Donald Trump said he was making plans to put officers from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in airports if the congressional standoff continues. Photograph: Jeff Amy/AP (Photograph: Jeff Amy/AP)

Donald Trump threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to US airports on Monday if congressional Democrats do not immediately agree to fund airport safety.

Transportation Security Administration personnel are set to miss a second full paycheck on 27 March amid a partial government shutdown in its 36th day as lawmakers clash over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, the parent agency for TSA and ICE.

I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday, in response to the airport staff shortages which have disrupted travel.

More than 400 TSA workers have quit since the partial shutdown began on 14 February, DHS said. ICE agents are not specifically trained for airport security, which is TSAs domain.

Trump threatens to send ICE to airports on Monday amid DHS funding standoff

TSA officers have called in sick as paychecks have dried up, with the shortage of security agents disrupting travel at major airports. More than 10% of TSA officers called in sick on more than half of the past seven days, DHS said in a statement on Saturday.

Read the full story

Vile Trump condemned for gloating over Robert Mueller death

Donald Trump has been condemned as a vile, disgusting man and a sick human being after gloating over the death of Robert Mueller, a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Read the full story

US counter-terrorism chief who resigned says he fears retaliation but has no regrets

The counter-terrorism official who resigned from Donald Trumps administration over the US and Israels war against Iran, Joe Kent, has said he is bracing for political retribution  but would do it all again anyway.

Read the full story

US lifts sanctions on Iranian oil at sea in bid to ease supply pressures

The Trump administration has waived sanctions on Iranian oil purchases at sea for 30 days to ease surging oil prices driven by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

Catching up? Heres what happened on 20 March 2026.
Donald Trump has shared a comedy sketch mocking Sir Keir Starmer on social media.

The US president posted a clip from the first episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) UK on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, with actors playing the Prime Minister and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary.

In the skit, the Prime Minister panics as he tries to avoid a phone call from the US president and says: Oh golly, what if Donald shouts at me? What do I say, Lammy?

Following advice to just be yourself, Prime Minister, Sir Keir picks up the phone but then immediately hangs up, saying: Oh sod that scary, scary, wonderful president. Why is he so bloody difficult to talk to?

Later in the sketch, Sir Keir, played by George Fouracres, is given advice about how to set boundaries with Mr Trump, before saying: Ill do anything except take a stand.

George Fouracres plays a bumbling Sir Keir Starmer, who is scared to stand up to Donald Trump

Mr Trumps decision to share the video online follows his series of criticisms of Sir Keir since the outbreak of war in Iran.

The president has repeatedly accused the Prime Minister of a lack of support, criticising him for initially blocking US forces from using the Diego Garcia air base for strikes.

Earlier this month, he declared that Sir Keir was not Winston Churchill and claimed he ruins relationships.

Last week, Mr Trump said the special relationship between Britain and the US was the best until the Prime Minister came along.

Sir Keir has criticised Mr Trumps decision to run offensive strikes in Iran, arguing that his plans were not thought through or credible.

However, on Friday, Downing Street said the UK would allow the US to run defensive missions to the Strait of Hormuz from RAF bases. Irans blockade of the Strait has caused a sharp increase in international energy prices, and Mr Trump has called on Nato allies to help reopen it.

Britains response to the blockade was also mocked in the SNL UK skit. The actor Hammed Animashaun, who plays Mr Lammy, says: Sir, just be honest and tell him we cant send any more ships to the Strait of Hormuz?

Sir Keir replies: I just hate conflict so much.

Earlier this week Mr Trump called Nato allies cowards for failing to help him reopen the Strait.

Nations including France, Germany and Japan said on Thursday that they were ready to join appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait.

Mr Trump and the Prime Minister were among notable figures featured in the sketch show, which also included impersonations of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and Sir Winston Churchill.

The US version of Saturday Night Live has been running since 1975, and launched the careers of Tina Fey, Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy.
Long lines at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta. Photograph: Megan Varner/Reuters (Photograph: Megan Varner/Reuters)

Donald Trump threatened on Saturday to deploy federal immigration agents to US airports on Monday if Democrats do not agree to measures aimed at strengthening security and immigration enforcement.

If the Radical Left Democrats dont immediately sign an agreement to let our Country, in particular, our Airports, be FREE and SAFE again, I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports, Trump said in a Truth Social post.

Airport security is currently handled by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), while Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) handles immigration enforcement. Both are under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). ICE has been a pillar of the Trump administrations immigration crackdown, drawing criticism from Democrats, civil liberties advocates and immigration advocacy groups.

Trump added that ICE will do Security like no one has ever seen before, including the immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants who have come into our country, and pointed to a focus on arresting immigrants from Somalia who, he said with no evidence at all have totally destroyed Minnesota. Trump has gone on xenophobic rants about Somali immigrants in the past, calling people from Somalia, including Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar, garbage.

In a subsequent post, Trump said the deployment would begin on Monday if the Democrats do not allow for Just and Proper Security at our Airports, and elsewhere throughout our Country.

The remarks come amid political tensions over immigration policy and a broader debate over federal enforcement powers. Trumps post came hours after Democrats blocked a DHS funding bill  the fifth time since the shutdown of the agency began in mid-February.

On Saturday, the Senate rejected a motion by Democrats to take up legislation to reopen the TSA and pay workers who are now going without paychecks. Republicans argue that they need to fund all parts of the DHS, not just certain ones. A bill to fund the cabinet department failed to advance in the Senate on Friday.

Democrats are demanding changes in immigration enforcement operations, including ICE, after an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis led to clashes that resulted in the deaths of two protesters, Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Democrats are asking for better identification for federal law enforcement officers, a new code of conduct for those agencies and more use of judicial warrants, among other measures.

Trumps threat to put ICE agents at airport security checkpoints comes as a growing number of TSA agents are calling out sick or leaving the agency, many citing financial struggles. TSA workers could miss their second full paycheck next week as Washington lawmakers feud over the resolution to a partial government shutdown.

The DHS has said that at least 366 TSA agents have quit their jobs since the government shutdown began on 14 February.

Placing ICE at airports also comes almost a year after TSA began requiring airline passengers to show federally compliant drivers licenses or passports at security, giving the federal government a clearer idea of air travelers immigration status.

However, its disputed whether ICE or Customs and Border Protection has statutory authority to pick up non-US citizens within the country without a warrant  including at airports.

The relevant code  USC 1357  permits arrests without a warrant within a reasonable distance from any external boundary of the United States, to board and search for aliens any vessel within the territorial waters of the United States and any railway car, aircraft, conveyance, or vehicle, and within a distance of 25 miles from any such external boundary to have access to private lands, but not dwellings, for the purpose of patrolling the border to prevent the illegal entry of aliens into the United States.

There were signs of progress in the Senate, though, with the restarting in recent days of stalled talks between Democrats and the White House. On Saturday, Republican and Democratic senators were set to meet for a third consecutive day with White House officials behind closed doors as the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, spoke of productive conversations.

The Senate majority leader, John Thune, urged the bipartisan group to act quickly. He has said repeatedly that Democrats and the White House need to find compromise as lines at airports have grown.

If that group thats meeting cant come up with a solution really quickly, things are going to get worse and worse, Thune said Saturday.
London is set for a housebuilding boom with two new towns delivering 36,000 homes revealed for the capital.

Up to 21,000 flats and houses are lined up for Crews Hill in Enfield, while a riverside site in Thamesmead, Greenwich will see up to 15,000 alongside the Docklands Light Railway extension, it was announced today.

In total, plans for seven new British towns have been unveiled in what ministers are calling the biggest building push for more than 50 years.

The scheme was unveiled as Labour faces criticism for lagging behind in its promise to build 1.5 million new homes by the end this parliament.

Every new town will aim to have a 40% affordable housing target, with at least half available for social rent, the Government said.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: "People want real homes they can actually afford and infrastructure that really works - this government is making that a reality for communities across the country.

For Greater London, that means up to 36,000 new homes across two landmark sites in Enfield and Thamesmead in Greenwich.

The Docklands Light Railway extension will unlock riverside land in Thamesmead that has long been out of reach and investment in Enfield will help meet the capital's housing need.

Greater London is ready to build, and together with the new National Housing Bank, we're laying the foundations our communities deserve.

The other sites include Tempsford in Bedfordshire where up to 40,000 homes will be built around a new East West Rail station, linking residents to Cambridge Oxford, London and Milton Keynes.

Milton Keynes will also be expanded by around 40,000 homes and get a new city centre transport system.

How the new Barking Riverside development will look (Barking Riverside)

Leeds South Bank in West Yorkshire will see up to 20,000 homes and Manchester Victoria North will get at least 15,000 alongside a new Metrolink stop.

Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc in South Gloucestershire will get up to 40,000 homes under the plans.

It comes after a huge new town in east London was given the green light in east London last week in a bid to tackle the capitals housing crisis.

Barking and Dagenham council signed off plans to expand the Barking Riverside development to 20,000 homes.

Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, said: I welcome the announcement today that Crews Hill in Enfield, and Thamesmead in Greenwich have taken a step forward as proposed locations for the governments New Towns programme.

Both sites represent significant opportunities to support the governments growth mission and to help address London's acute housing needs through the delivery of sustainable, high-quality neighbourhoods.

The names of the new towns have not yet been revealed but Elizabethtown, after Queen Elizabeth II, Pankhurst, after the suffragette Emmeline Pankhurt, and Attleeton, for the former Labour prime minister Clement Attlee, are said to be under consideration.
A woman walks past a dirt barrier recently placed by the Israeli military in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 16, 2026

At least 10 Palestinians were injured Sunday night in attacks in the occupied West Bank by Israeli settlers, who rampaged through nearby villages after holding a funeral for a settler killed in a car crash a night earlier.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the wounded in Deir al-Hatab included a 45-year-old man shot in the foot and a woman suffering from smoke inhalation. Videos obtained by The Associated Press show cars and homes set ablaze as army flares lit up the sky near the village east of Nablus and next to the Israeli settlement of Elon Moreh.

The arson and assaults in four Nablus-area villages on Sunday came a day after the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported simultaneous attacks in at least six communities overnight  the latest spate of violence in the occupied West Bank.

Watch moreThe West Bank, up against the wall: Illegal Palestinian workers face exploitation and danger

Sunday night's rampage came after mourners in the settlement of Elon Moreh held a funeral for Yehuda Sherman, an 18-year-old Israeli settler. Authorities said he was killed in a collision with a Palestinian vehicle in an area north of the villages attacked. Police said they were investigating the settlers claims that the collision was deliberate. Israel's military did not respond to questions about Sunday night's attacks.

The violence came as Israels government presses ahead with new settlements in the occupied West Bank and attacks by settlers  including arsons, shootings and beatings  have intensified as attention shifts to the Iran war.

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the head of Israel's military, last week condemned such attacks and said it was especially unacceptable during wartime for the military to confront a threatening minority from within.

WAFA reported Saturday night's attacks in the villages of Silat al Dahr and Fandaqumiya, both near Jenin; in Jalud and Salfit, both south of Nablus; and in the agricultural regions Masafer Yatta and the Jordan Valley. Homes and cars were set ablaze, Palestinians were pepper-sprayed and at least five people were wounded in the overnight assaults, which took place during the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the agency said.

Watch moreSettler violence surges in the West Bank

Israels military said that late Sunday security forces detained five Israeli civilians and confiscated some weapons as they attempted to restore order. It said security forces came under attack from Israeli civilians and a soldier as well as a number of Palestinian civilians were injured.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported 25 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers and soldiers this year as of March 15.

Also on Sunday, four Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, hospital authorities said.

One strike hit a vehicle in the central Nuseirat refugee camp and killed three police officers, according to the Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. Ten others were wounded, it said. Another Palestinian was killed in Gaza City, according to Shifa Hospital.

The deaths were the latest fatalities among Palestinians in the coastal enclave since an October ceasefire deal attempted to halt a more than 2-year war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

While the heaviest fighting has subsided, the ceasefire has still seen almost daily Israeli fire. Israeli forces have carried out repeated air strikes and frequently fire on Palestinians near military-held zones, killing more than 670 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on Sundays strikes but has previously said Israel will respond to violations of the ceasefire threats to its soldiers.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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Amanda Peet wrote about being diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in August 2025 when both of her parents were receiving end-of-life hospice care (Getty Images)

Amanda Peet has revealed the heartbreaking events that unfolded in the weeks after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The 54-year-old actor, known for roles in The Whole Nine Yards and Your Friends & Neighbors, wrote about being diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in August 2025 when both of her parents were receiving end-of-life hospice care, in a vulnerable essay published in The New Yorker.

In the article, titled My Season of Ativan, Peet explained that she attended a bi-annual check-up to monitor her breasts when her doctor discovered a tumor.

For many years, Ive been told that I have dense and busy breasts  not as a compliment but as a warning that they require extra monitoring, she wrote.

I had been seeing a breast surgeon every six months for checkups. Dr. K. usually chatted me up while she examined me, but this time she went silent.

Amanda Peet was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in August 2025 (Getty Images for AFI)

Peet said that shortly after news of her own diagnosis, she found out that her fathers health was declining rapidly.

My sister called: our father was about to die. Our parents, long divorced, were both in hospice, on opposite coasts. Our mothers had started in June, but our fathers was only a week in, so we hadnt expected him to go first, she wrote.

The Fatal Attraction actress noted that while my mind shouldve been flooded with memories of her father after his death, her mind was consumed with thoughts about her own health.

As soon as my dads corpse was out of sight, I was free to panic about my cancer again, she wrote.

Peet learned shortly after that her cancer was treatable, and that a separate growth found in her other breast was benign.

She decided against sharing news of her diagnosis with her mother, who was in the final stage of Parkinsons disease, because it may have confused her further.

Amanda Peet lost both of her parents in the months after receiving her breast cancer diagnosis (Getty Images)

She still recognized me, and sometimes answered yes or no to my questions, but always reverted to an empty stare, Peet explained.

Peet then recalled that in the weeks after her first clear MRI scan, the hospice nurse informed her that her mother was about to pass away.

I wasnt sure whether my mom knew that she was looking at me or whether I was just a constellation of interesting, disembodied shapes. I said howdy doodle  thats how she often greeted me. But then I realized that she was communing without words, and I followed suit. Time was running out, and, besides, I had already told her everything.

The 2012 actor also discussed revealing her breast cancer diagnosis to her three children, who she shares with her screenwriter husband David Benioff, including daughters Frances, 19, and Molly, 15, and son Henry, 11.

Molly cried, and Frankie  FaceTiming from her college quad  clapped her hand over her mouth and kept it there until she was able to process the excellent portion of the news: that it appeared I was Stage 1 and wasnt going to need chemo, she said.

Both of them were afraid that we were still withholding information or sugarcoating my prognosis," she added. My daughters were on the cusp of adulthood. If we were going to remain close, to know each other deeply over the course of a lifetime, we would have to learn how to have difficult conversations.
Devone Medlock has been accused of physically abusing special needs students while working as a school bus aide in Long Island (Nassau County Police Department)

A school bus aide in New York has been accused ofpushing, slamming, restraining, and sitting on special needs students, police said.

Devone Medlock, 37, was working as an aide on a school bus with special needs students at Grand Avenue School, an elementary school in Baldwin, Long Island, when the alleged physical abuse occurred, the Nassau County Police Department told The Independent.

Police say Medlock, who was employed by First Student bus company, became physically and verbally abusive with multiple children who are special needs students on January 13, 2026.

His violent behavior included pushing, slamming, restraining and sitting on students, police said.

It was not immediately clear whether the children involved in the incident were treated for injuries.

Devone Medlock has been accused of physically abusing special needs students while working as a school bus aide in Long Island (Nassau County Police Department)

Medlock was charged with six counts of third-degree assault, six counts of third-degree menacing and six counts of endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

He was arrested at his Amityville home on Tuesday. He pleaded not guilty to all charges in First District County in Hempstead on Saturday and was released without bail, Newsweek reported.

A spokesperson for First Student told PIX 11 that Medlock no longer works for the company.

At First Student, we take our responsibility to provide a safe environment for students on our school buses very seriously. The behavior captured in the video is unacceptable and is not tolerated, the spokesperson said.

Uniondale School District Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil said the district immediately alerted local law enforcement after learning about the disturbing incident in January.

The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. We are committed to ensuring any individual or individuals responsible for any abusive or harmful behavior towards any of our students are held accountable, Darrisaw-Akil said.
Anthony Edgell was eventually arrested at his sisters house where he was found in possession of drugs - Wales News Service

A drug dealer who tried to hand himself in at a police station was turned away and told not to come back until office hours.

Anthony Edgell, 36, phoned 999 after crashing an Audi A3 on Waterloo Terrace, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, before fleeing the scene.

Edgell confessed to the call handler, saying he had been in possession of cannabis and was not insured to drive.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Edgell then went to the local police station late at night but was turned away.

Dean Pulling, defending, said officers told him the station was closed and he needed to go back there in normal business hours.

Edgell was arrested later after police went to his sisters home in Carmarthen and found heroin and scales belonging to him in a cupboard. He was searched and found to have cannabis and cocaine.

Emily Bennett, prosecuting, said the cannabis seized was worth 5,100, the heroin 1,050 and the cocaine up to 30.

Drug advertising on phone

Messages found on his mobile phone advertised the sale of heroin, cannabis, cocaine, Valium and the painkiller pregabalin.

Mr Pulling said Edgell had a longstanding addiction to drugs.

Edgell, of Carmarthen, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, possession of cocaine, and driving without insurance or a licence. He was jailed for 36 months.

In February 2026, the force apologised after a man was left injured in the road for hours without an emergency response.

Councillor Graham Breeze told Powys County Times: Many calls were made to the services, and no services turned out at all on the evening, and for at least three hours until an ambulance arrived.

Dyfed-Powys Police have been contacted for comment.
Reform UK voters are driving a slump in confidence in the police and criminal justice system, according to a major opinion poll.

Only 30 per cent of the partys voters said they had confidence in the judicial system, compared with 67 per cent of Labour supporters and 63 per cent of Conservatives, a survey by Gallup says.

Fewer than half of Reform voters (47 per cent) said they had confidence in their local police force, compared with 72 per cent for Labour and 74 per cent for Conservatives.

The dissatisfaction amongst Reform voters contributed to the biggest annual drop in confidence in the judicial system on record.

The proportion expressing confidence fell from 69 per cent in 2024 to 57 per cent in 2025, while those voicing a lack of confidence rose from 30 per cent to 43 per cent.

Gallup blamed the record backlogs of crown court cases, which have risen to nearly 80,000, resulting in delays of up to five years for victims and defendants getting to trial.

It was also partly fuelled by rows over so-called two-tier justice, where Conservative and Reform politicians have highlighted apparent disparities in sentencing between people prosecuted for free speech-related offences during the 2024 summer riots and violent criminals and sexual offenders.

The Gallup data showed that the gap in confidence in the judicial system between the Governments opponents and its supporters widened significantly in 2025, reaching its largest in a decade.

The proportion of people who described themselves as approving of the countrys leadership and had confidence in the British judicial system stood at 74 per cent in 2025, on a par with 2024s 75 per cent.

By contrast, the proportion of people who described themselves as disapproving of the countrys leadership and who had confidence in the British judicial system fell from 65 per cent to 48 per cent.

Benedict Vigers, of Gallup, said: With Reform UK riding high in domestic polls and its supporters expressing markedly lower trust in both courts and police, restoring public confidence in the justice system presents a significant challenge for the Government.

Before entering Parliament, Prime Minister Keir Starmer served as director of public prosecutions, one of the countrys most senior legal positions. Whether Starmer can reverse these trends in a sector he once led may become a defining measure of his time at No 10.

Labour has proposed to curb jury trials to speed up justice as part of a package of measures to tackle the backlogs.

Fewer than half of Reform voters said they had confidence in their local police force - Oli Scarff/Getty

Up to half of trials before a jury will be replaced by judge-only courts and magistrates in cases where the defendant is likely to face a prison sentence of up to three years.

However, both Reform and the Tories oppose the jury trial proposals, with ministers also facing a rebellion by as many as 80 backbench Labour MPs unless they offer concessions.

Zia Yusuf, Reforms home affairs spokesman, said: These figures confirm what Reform UK has long argued: confidence in our courts is at rock bottom.

For too long, the public have seen violent criminals and sexual predators given lenient sentences while those prosecuted for speech-related offences are treated like terrorists.

A Reform UK government will put an end to the current two-tier justice system, come down hard on violent and repeat offenders, and restore faith in the rule of law.
Fatal car accidents are a major factor in car insurance rates.

Theres some good news for drivers across America. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), traffic deaths dropped in the first half of 2025, falling more than 8% compared to the same period the previous year.

Its the biggest mid-year drop in fatalities since 2008, and the lowest traffic death rate per mile driven in over a decade (1).

Must Read

But its not all smooth roads, since a handful of states still account for a disproportionate share of deadly crashes. And if you live in one of them, those risks can follow you straight to your car insurance bill.

Heres a closer look at the five states with the most traffic deaths in 2025, and why it matters for your wallet.

California: More drivers, more danger?

California tops the list for total traffic deaths.

The biggest contributors are speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving, especially in urban communities like Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area (2).

Even though California has shared in the nationwide decline in fatalities so far this year, its sheer volume of vehicles keeps it at the top of the list.

That risk shows up in insurance costs, since California drivers pay some of the highest premiums in the country, with average full-coverage policies costing on average $2,848 a year, according to data from Quadrant Information Services reported by Forbes (3).

Read More: Non-millionaires can now invest in this $1B private real estate fund starting at just $10

Read More: 5 essential money moves to make once youve saved $50,000

Florida: Tourists, traffic and trouble

Florida consistently ranks near the top for deadly crashes.

The states roads are typically packed with tourists, retirees and commuters, which means more congestion and higher chances for accidents. With aggressive driving, distracted drivers and one of the highest rates of uninsured motorists in the country, theres a crash every 44 seconds in Florida according to the states DMV (4).

Fatal crash rates in Florida remain among the highest nationwide, even as national numbers improve.

For drivers, that can mean sticker shock at renewal time. Florida auto insurance premiums are among the most expensive in the U.S. at around $3,536 a year  boosted up by high claim volumes, medical costs and litigation tied to accidents (3).

Georgia: Rural road risks

Georgia lands in the top tier because of the dangerous mix of fast-moving highways and busy urban roads.

Outside major cities, long rural stretches contribute to deadly and high-speed crashes. Inside cities like Atlanta, pedestrians are more likely to be the ones impacted (5).

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Georgias fatality count remains high despite safety campaigns and enforcement efforts.

Insurance costs in the state are around $2,410, not too far off from the national average of roughly $2,126, but accident trends along with severe weather and rising repair costs have kept upward pressure on premiums for many drivers (3).

Texas: Unlicensed drivers are risky

Texas has some of the longest highways and fastest speed limits in the country, and those play a role in its traffic death totals (6). But one factor stands out more than most: a high number of crashes involving unlicensed drivers (7).

State data show that some fatal crashes in Texas involve drivers who havent been legally cleared to be behind the wheel. When thats combined with speeding and rapid sprawl in cities like Houston and Dallas, the result is some of the nations deadliest streets.

Texas drivers typically pay slightly more than the national average for car insurance at around $2,226 (3).

North Carolina: Lower rates, growing concerns

North Carolina may not be as large as California or Texas, but it still lands among the states with the most traffic deaths.

Many fatal crashes happen on rural roads, where higher speeds and fewer safety features can turn mistakes into tragedies. Impaired and distracted driving are persistent issues across the state (8).

Right now, North Carolina drivers benefit from lower than average insurance, at around $1,412.

Why traffic deaths can raise your insurance bill

Even with traffic fatalities declining across the country, insurers dont price policies based on national averages. They look at whats happening where you live.

More crashes can typically mean:

More insurance claims

Higher medical and repair costs

Greater risk for insurers

While the national average cost of full-coverage auto insurance dipped in 2025 according to Insurify, drivers in some states are paying more each year (9).

Americas roads are getting safer overall, but depending on where you live, higher crash risks can mean higher insurance costs.

If you live in one of these states, its worth shopping around for insurance regularly, maintaining a clean driving record and staying alert behind the wheel. When accidents pile up, insurance costs usually follow, even when youre doing everything right.

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.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (1); California Office of Traffic Safety (2); Forbes (3); Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (4); Governor's Office of Highway Safety (5); Houstonia Magazie (6); Austin American-Statesman (7); North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (8); Insurify (9)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Jeffrey Pesarik owed taxes on homes he sold in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Selling a home can come with one of the most generous tax breaks in the U.S. tax code  but a recent Tax Court ruling is a sharp reminder that this isnt true in every situation.

In Pesarik v. Commissioner, a real-estate manager sold two properties in 2020 for a combined $743,800 (1)  properties hed originally paid $424,750 for, and on which he believed he owed no tax gains, according to a Wall Street Journal story.

Must Read

Tax Court Chief Judge Patrick Urda ruled otherwise: Jeffrey Pesarik owed taxes on $255,281 of unreported income, plus penalty and interest charges. He had failed to prove one home qualified as his principal residence, and also didnt substantiate much of the claimed improvement basis of the other.

The case shows what can happen when sellers assume they qualify for tax breaks they havent actually earned or documented.

Many sellers assume the IRS wont ask questions, CPA Eric Bronnenkant of Edelman Financial Engines told the Wall Street Journal (2).

What the break is and what it requires

The home-sale exclusion under Section 121 of the tax code lets qualifying sellers exclude up to $250,000 of profit from a home sale if filing single, or up to $500,000 for married couples filing jointly. Its a significant break, but it comes with strict conditions (3).

According to the IRS, to qualify, you must have owned and lived in the home as your primary residence for at least two of the five years immediately before the sale. You can only claim it once every two years. If you own more than one home, the IRS specifies the exclusion applies only to your main residence  not a vacation home, rental, or investment property (4).

While Pesarik satisfied the ownership timeline on his Massachusetts home, the problem was proving it was actually his main home.

The judge noted he had no Massachusetts tax filings or in-state drivers license, and his credit card bills went to a P.O. box in New Hampshire. The drivers license he used for ID was from Arizona. Utility usage didnt establish consistent Massachusetts residency. So, the court denied the exclusion, costing him a taxable gain of over $137,000 on that property alone (2).

Related: How to invest in real estate without being a landlord

What counts as your main home?

This is where many sellers get tripped up. The IRS doesnt simply look at the deed. IRS Publication 523 spells out a facts and circumstances test: The main home is generally where you spend the most time, but other factors count too  like your mailing address, drivers license, voter registration, bank account address and memberships in local organizations.

If you split time between two properties, you need to be able to demonstrate  with real paper trails  which one is your primary residence with consistent records (5).

Read More: Non-millionaires can now invest in this $1B private real estate fund starting at just $10

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Read More: 5 essential money moves to make once youve saved $50,000

A costly tax mistake: Poor record-keeping

Even when the exclusion doesnt apply, or when the gain exceeds the exclusion limit, sellers can reduce taxable gains by raising their adjusted cost basis.

The IRS explains that your adjusted basis starts with your purchase price and rises with qualifying capital improvements, like a new roof, added square footage, a finished basement or upgraded systems (6). Routine repairs and maintenance dont count, only work that adds value, prolongs the homes useful life or adapts it to a new use (7).

Pesarik tried to use this on his New Hampshire property, claiming roughly $82,000 in renovations on a home hed bought for $30,000 and sold for $187,000. That would have substantially reduced his taxable gain. But the court rejected most of it. His records, including credit card statements from home improvement stores and a spreadsheet, werent sufficient to prove what work was done or whether it qualified (2).

The lesson: Every capital improvement should be documented with contracts, permits, invoices and receipts, organized in a dedicated file from day one of ownership.

The penalty on top

Pesariks losses didnt stop at back taxes.

The court imposed a 20% accuracy-related penalty on his underpayment for negligence and substantially understating his tax liability. He argued a medical condition limited his ability to comply, but the court found he failed to show it actually affected his tax obligations (2).

What to do before you sell

The home-sale exclusion is one of the most valuable breaks in the tax code. The Pesarik case shouldnt dissuade you from claiming it if you qualify, but it serves as a reminder to do so correctly, with the records to prove it. Before you sell, be sure to:

Confirm you truly qualify

Does the home youre selling meet the two-out-of-five-year ownership and use test? Can you prove it? If you split time between properties, document your primary residence consistently, not just when a sale is on the horizon.

Know the limits

The exclusion can only be used once every two years, and any gain above the $250,000 or $500,000 cap is taxable. For second homes, rentals and investment properties, the exclusion doesnt apply (4).

Track every qualifying improvement

Your adjusted basis rises with capital improvements, and a higher basis means a lower taxable gain (6). Keep dated receipts, contractor invoices and permit records for every project.

Dont forget selling costs

Commissions, legal fees and other transaction costs can also reduce your taxable gain  but only if youve documented them (5).

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.

Tax Notes (1); The Wall Street Journal (2); IRS (3,4,5,6,7)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Nashville couple who experienced Medicare scam

Doug Leins thought something was off when he opened his Explanation of Benefits (EOB). The west Nashville retiree and his wife had been billed through their Medicare supplemental insurance for genetic testing that neither of them had requested, nor had their doctor.

"We knew for a fact that we had never requested that and that our doctor had never requested that," Leins told WSMV4 (1). "This fraud is just so rampant."

Must Read

Then it got worse. When the couple reviewed both their EOBs, identical charges appeared on each  from two different clinical labs, one in Arizona and one in Utah. When they called both numbers, neither was in service.

And because their supplemental insurance paid out the fraudulent claims, those amounts now count against the couple's annual coverage totals  potentially leaving them with less coverage for legitimate medical needs for the rest of the year.

Leins also faces a potential $1,329 out-of-pocket bill for testing he never received.

The fraud didn't stop there. Unsolicited medical equipment  two knee braces and a back brace  arrived at their door without any order placed. When Leins contacted the shipping company to report it, the response was unsettling: "They said, you know, this happens all the time" (1).

A wider scheme with a possible foreign connection

The Leins are far from alone. In a separate WSMV4 investigation, College Grove retired nurse Penny Vaughan and her husband discovered their quarterly Medicare statements showed more than $11,000 billed for urinary catheters over five months that they didn't need or order (2).

"We did not need, did not buy, did not order," Vaughan said. "Three hundred a month would mean you were catheterizing yourself 10 times a day. Nobody does that (2).

The billing originated from two medical equipment suppliers  one in Florida, one in Texas. The Texas company's managing member, Nika Machutadze, is a Russian citizen living in Austin who has since been federally indicted.

According to the criminal complaint, his company submitted claims to more than 221,000 Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, billing the federal program more than $3 billion.

But how did criminals get Tennessee residents' Medicare information? A letter Vaughan received from a billing service that works with healthcare providers flagged a potential data breach that may have exposed Medicare beneficiary identifiers.

Brandy Bauer of Senior Medicare Patrol told WSMV4 that Medicare simply can't monitor all 68 million of its enrollees in real time: "They're going to sort of take the benefit of the doubt and go ahead and try and pay those claims until you realize, wait a second, I don't need those supplies (2).

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How to protect yourself

Medicare fraud is a federal crime, and Medicare recipients are a primary target. Here's what Medicare advises to keep your coverage and identity protected (3):

Guard your Medicare number like a credit card. Never share your Medicare number, Social Security number or other personal information with anyone who calls you unsolicited. Medicare will never call you to visit or sell you anything and will only ask for personal information in limited, specific circumstances.

Review your statements every quarter. Compare your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits against your own calendar of care (4). Look for services you didn't receive, providers you don't recognize or equipment you never ordered. Errors in dates, diagnoses or billing codes are all red flags.

Never exchange your Medicare number for gifts, money or free services. If anyone offers free medical equipment, testing or telehealth consultations in exchange for your Medicare number, refuse and report it.

Hang up on suspicious callers. If someone calls demanding personal information, threatening to cancel your benefits or pressuring you to act quickly, hang up immediately and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

And if you think you've already been targeted, act quickly by calling 1-800-MEDICARE to report suspected fraud. You can also report it to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or online at tips.oig.hhs.gov (4).

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The IRS is cracking down on tax fraud in the U.S., but relatively few people are found guilty of tax evasion.

One Minnesotan is in big trouble this tax season  accused of underreporting his personal and business income by nearly $2 million and withholding more than $186,000 in unpaid taxes.

Andrew Clayton Freeburg, 45, of Norwood Young America, faces charges of tax evasion and fraud between 2020 and 2024. But its not the first time hes been charged (1).

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Freeburg already pleaded guilty to tax fraud in 2024. The case raises questions about tax crime and enforcement in the U.S.

The Minnesota Department of Revenues charges against Freeburg are extensive. Investigators (2) allege that he filed fraudulent tax returns and in one case failed to file a tax return altogether.

As CBS News (3) reports, investigators add that Freeburg falsely registered his business, E-Motors, in his elderly fathers name and spent business funds on personal things like a gym membership, travel and more.

On top of that, they allege that Freeburg fraudulently collected government benefits  $40,000 worth of medical assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits between 2022 and 2025.

All told, they estimate he owes more than $186,000 in unpaid taxes.

So how common is tax fraud and what is being done about it?

Heres a look at the scale of the problem and how to avoid getting on the wrong side of the law with the taxman.

The scale of tax fraud in the U.S.

Last year, IRS (4) investigators uncovered $4.5 billion in tax fraud  more than 40% of the total $10.59 billion in financial crimes they discovered in 2026.

It should be noted that much of this tax fraud involves scams (5), such as fraudsters posing as IRS representatives, stealing money from vulnerable Americans.

When it comes to Americans committing tax evasion and illegally withholding tax, such cases are rare.

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In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice convicted a total 360 individuals of such offenses across the entire country. Of those, 66% went to prison (6).

The majority of cases involved amounts between $100,000 and $1.5 million  with a medium loss of $491.302.

Still, at a time when the demand for financial accountability is high, federal and state authorities are cracking down.

CBS News reported that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has launched an initiative to crack down on fraud  including tax and SNAP fraud  in the state, appointing Tim OMalley the Director of Program Integrity there.

In 2023, The New York Times (7) reported that the IRS was using artificial intelligence (AI) to root out tax evasion, targeting private equity groups, hedge funds, law firms and real estate investors.

While genuine mistakes can trigger audits and demands for repayment, most Americans can rest easy that slip-ups wont land them in front of a judge.

Still, its good to avoid mistakes. Here are some tips.

How to stay on the right side of the law with your own taxes

In order to make sure your taxes are accurate, the IRS says you should avoid:

Filing too soon, before you have received all your related tax documents in the mail.

Submitting your tax return without carefully reviewing it first.

Misspelling or mistyping names, Social Security numbers and other info.

Submitting a return without signing it, as an unsigned return is invalid.

Completing your return without reading up on new credits and deductions, as this can alter how your income tax is calculated.

As taxes fund everything from roads, schools and programs like Social Security, governments are watching to make sure everyone is paying in.

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Peter Thiel-backed Founders Fund leads the funding round for the agtech startup.

An artificial intelligence startup that makes collars for cows is about to be worth more than $2 billion  and some of the biggest names in venture capital are fighting to get in.

Halter, a New Zealand-based company that builds AI-powered smart collars for cattle, is in talks to raise a new funding round led by billionaire Peter Thiel's Founders Fund that would double its valuation to more than $2 billion, Bloomberg reported (1). The deal is reportedly oversubscribed, with so much investor interest that the final size of the round hasn't been determined yet.

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What Halter actually does

Halter's solar-powered collars use AI to create virtual fences for cattle, eliminating the need for physical barriers. The collars connect to a farmer's phone, allowing ranchers to monitor their herd's location and health indicators through an app  and even move cattle remotely using vibrations and audio cues from the devices.

It's a step beyond the typical livestock monitoring collar, which typically focuses on tracking digestion or breeding cycles. Halter's pitch: full herd management from a smartphone, at $5 to $8 per animal per month.

"The goal was to make pasture farming more sustainable and productive using technology," founder Craig Piggott told Bloomberg in 2024 (1).

The company's last funding round pulled in $100 million at a roughly $1 billion valuation in June, led by BOND. Halter has since set up a Colorado office and said it's prioritizing expansion in the U.S.

Precision agtech outlier in a struggling sector

Halter's momentum is notable because agtech has had a rough few years. A wave of agricultural technology startups has declared bankruptcy, and venture capital firms have largely pulled back from the sector as companies struggle to convince farmers to adopt their products amid high operational costs.

But precision agriculture  the broader push to use technology to manage farms more efficiently and reduce labour needs  remains a fast-growing market. Industry estimates peg the global precision agriculture market at roughly $9.5 billion in 2025, with projections to surpass $17 billion by 2031 (2). More efficient farming could eventually translate to more stable food prices for consumers, though that connection is still playing out.

How everyday investors can get exposure

Halter is private, so you can't buy shares directly. But several publicly traded companies are already deep in the precision agriculture space  and could benefit as the same tailwinds lift the sector.

Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) is the closest thing to a precision ag bellwether on public markets. The company has an entire business segment  Production and Precision Agriculture  dedicated to the space. Its See & Spray technology uses cameras and machine learning to identify and target weeds in real time, reducing non-residual herbicide use by nearly 50% across more than 5 million acres in 2025 (3). Deere is also pushing into autonomous tractors and AI-driven field analytics, making it the most direct large-cap play on the sector.

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Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) is a name you might not associate with cow collars  but the pharmaceutical giant already makes them. Merck's Allflex and SenseHub divisions reached a milestone of 2 million dairy cows monitored globally in November 2025, and the company sells over 500 million animal identification tags per year (4). Merck paid $2.4 billion to acquire this technology through its purchase of the Antelliq Group in 2019 (5). While it's a small slice of Merck's overall business, it's the most direct public comparison to what Halter is building  though Halter's virtual fencing capability is what sets it apart.

For broader exposure to the theme, AGCO Corp. (NYSE: AGCO) manufactures farm equipment and owns Precision Planting, a division focused on planting and application technology for row crops. CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNH) is similarly investing in digital farming tools across its Case IH and New Holland brands. And Corteva (NYSE: CTVA) focuses on crop protection and precision application technologies, including partnerships with satellite imagery and data analytics platforms.

The bottom line

Agtech may be down broadly, but standout companies are still attracting serious capital. Thiel's bet on Halter signals that investors see precision agriculture as more than a niche  even as the sector sorts out which business models actually work. Between a cow collar startup doubling its valuation in under a year and billions flowing into public players like Deere and Merck, it's a space worth watching.

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Bloomberg (1); ResearchAndMarkets (2); John Deere (3); Merck Animal Health (4); Merck (5)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
The Ramsey Show hosts George Kamel Ken Coleman advocate a tough-love approach.

Adulting is a lot more expensive these days. So its not surprising that many millennials are turning to the Bank of Mom and Dad for help.

Jeff, a retired dad from Minneapolis, called into The Ramsey Show for advice on whether he should keep financially supporting his 43-year-old daughter, who got divorced about a year ago. She got the house in the divorce  and was saddled with a mortgage she couldnt afford. So Jeff helped her refinance by co-signing the mortgage.

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She cant afford the payments right now, Jeff said, adding that his daughter is going to school and working part-time while raising his two grandkids.

While his daughter pitches in what she can, Jeff  who has a net worth of about $500,000  cant really afford to keep helping with the $1,700/month mortgage payments, either. And its an open-ended arrangement.

You are a phenomenal dad. But this isnt your burden, co-host Ken Coleman told Jeff.

Once she gets used to you floating two grand a month, why would she go, I dont want to take that anymore, added co-host George Kamel. Maybe shell eventually get on her feet, but that could be years and years from now (1).

We need to face reality here, he said.

Heres why being a phenomenal dad can financially backfire.

More parents are bankrolling their adult children

Jeff is far from alone: More parents are financially supporting their adult children these days amid the high cost of living, especially for housing.

Nearly three-quarters of parents provide some form of financial assistance to children over 18, according to a 2025 survey from AARP. On average, they spend about $7,000 annually on this support.

But this comes at a cost, in more ways than one: 42% of parents report financial stress due to supporting adult children, 35% experience emotional stress, and 9% have chosen to retire early due to the demands of helping adult children (2).

About 59% of men and 56% of women 18 to 24 still live at home, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, while among 25-34 year olds, 19% of men and 14% of women do (3). This can increase the household budget for groceries, utilities and insurance.

While parents may want to help their adult children, as Jeff does, it can also put their retirement security at risk and potentially delay their children from making necessary financial changes.

For example, since Jeff co-signed his daughters mortgage, hes on the hook for those payments if his daughter cant make them.

A 2025 survey from Savings.com found that 62% of parents said they lived a more frugal lifestyle for the sake of their adult children, and 40% said they felt pressured to do so, even if it meant stretching their own financial resources beyond comfort.

The psychological and fiscal impact of such commitment translates directly to parental anxiety, writes Beth Klongpayabal, Savings.coms analytics manager. At a time when many Americans havent set aside enough funds for their later years, 79% of those supporting adult children worry about setting themselves up for a comfortable retirement.

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Indeed, working parents contribute twice as much money to their adult children than they do to their retirement accounts each month, according to Savings.com.

With under 20% of parents telling Savings.com that support could continue indefinitely (4), thats likely to strain their finances and whittle down their nest egg  as in Jeffs case, where his retirement savings are taking a hit while he supports his adult daughter.

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Setting financial boundaries

Financial help without boundaries can harm both generations. In some cases, being a phenomenal parent may mean stepping back  even when it feels uncomfortable  so adult children are forced to regain their financial independence.

You should set aside money for your own retirement first, Carolyn McClanahan, a certified financial planner and founder of Life Planning Partners in Jacksonville, Fla., told CNBC. We are careful to make sure parents dont gift so much to put themselves in peril, she said (5).

If youre going to help, it should be temporary, intentional, and conditional with clear boundaries, Kamel told Jeff on the show. For example, you could give money for six months and, after that, theyre on their own.

And thats not callous, Kamel said. Thats actually good for her, because shes a grown woman and she needs to live her own life and not be propped up by mom and dad (1).

You want this to be a safety net, not a hammock, he said.

What starts out as helping can very quickly turn into enabling. This perpetuates a cycle of dependency, strain/conflict and resentment, writes Jeffrey Bernstein, a child, adolescent and family psychologist, in Psychology Today.

Setting boundaries can help an adult child have better financial and mental health, he wrote. This is not about punishment. Instead, boundaries are guideposts, not walls (6).

For example, Jeff could set a cut-off date for his daughters financial support. She could then sell the house so shed have a decent down payment for a smaller, more affordable home. Or, she could rent for a year or two until she finishes school and starts earning a better salary.

As for Jeffs grandkids? The kids are going to be fine, Coleman said. Its not the house they need. They need her (1).

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
by Gregory

A Lenten initiative from the countrys bishops, with a call to pray that God may grant his peace to the world and to Myanmar, and that there may be mutual understanding and progress in unity. In a country where civil society has been systematically dismantled, the importance of such gestures, which also draw the worlds attention to the suffering of the people of Myanmar.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - In a pastoral letter published during this Lent, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) has invited all the faithful to observe 26 March 2026 as a special day of intense prayer and fasting for peace in Myanmar and throughout the world, a spiritual witness that comes as the country enters its sixth year under the control of a military junta responsible for widespread and systematic human rights abuses.

Signed by Cardinal Charles Bo, president of the CBCM, and Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye, secretary general, the letter opens with a Lenten appeal for penance, conversion of heart and a deeper relationship with God, yet does not shy away from addressing the urgent humanitarian crisis at its core. We need to offer special prayers for peace in the world, especially in the Middle East and Myanmar, the letter states, citing Pope Leo XIVs reminder that peace is built through the concrete practice of love, compassion and mutual understanding.

Cardinal Bo, one of the most authoritative Catholic voices in Asia and a long-standing supporter of the people of Myanmar, has repeatedly described the situation as a catastrophe of human suffering. His willingness to speak from within the country whilst the junta tightens its grip on civil society, the media and religious institutions makes the CBCMs pastoral witness all the more significant.

The letter concludes by invoking the prayer for peace of St Francis of Assisi, an invocation that has become a point of reference for the Catholic community in Myanmar, a country where the Church represents a small but deeply committed minority, particularly amongst the ethnic communities that make up a significant part of the persecuted populations.

In a country where civil society has been systematically dismantled, independent media shut down and the political opposition imprisoned or forced into exile, the Catholic Church, together with other religious institutions, remains one of the few organised voices capable of speaking publicly about the human condition. The CBCMs letters, distributed to parishes throughout Myanmar, reach communities in conflict zones otherwise isolated from the outside world.

The designation of 26 March as a day of prayer and fasting is a moral statement: the suffering of the people of Myanmar demands a response from the faith community. It echoes the Churchs long tradition of using liturgical acts as forms of public witness, especially when other channels of advocacy and representation are closed.

Myanmar has plunged into crisis since the military takeover in February 2021, when the Myanmar armed forces seized power, overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and unleashed one of the most brutal crackdowns in the countrys modern history. What followed has been documented by the United Nations and leading human rights organisations as constituting crimes against humanity.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 3 million people have been internally displaced since the coup, with thousands of civilians killed by airstrikes, artillery bombardments and targeted killings. Churches, schools, hospitals and entire villages have been razed to the ground. Ethnic communities, including the Kachin, Karen, Chin and Kayah peoples, have suffered disproportionately as the army has intensified its campaigns against civilian populations in border regions.

Myanmar is not simply a country in political turmoil. It is a country where the instruments of the state have been turned against its own people in ways that the international community increasingly describes in the language of international criminal law. The conduct of the Myanmar military includes: mass extrajudicial killings; systematic torture and sexual violence used as weapons of war; destruction of civilian infrastructure; the imposition of famine-like conditions through siege warfare; and the mass imprisonment of journalists, religious leaders, lawyers and pro-democracy activists.

The genocide against the Rohingya, whose roots predate the 2021 coup, continues to cast a long shadow. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is examining the case brought by The Gambia under the Genocide Convention, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened investigations into crimes related to the deportation and persecution of the Rohingya. Since the 2021 coup, these crimes have intensified and expanded. Air strikes against civilian markets, schools and churches in Chin State, the Sagaing Region and Karen State have been documented by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The military has deployed drones and incendiary attacks against rural communities. The UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar has described these acts as crimes against humanity and has called for an international arms embargo, a measure repeatedly blocked in the UN Security Council by China and Russia.

Against this backdrop of violence and impunity, the bishops pastoral letter outlines three pillars of action for the faithful during this Lent: prayer, fasting and charity. The faithful are invited to pray that God may grant his peace to the world and to Myanmar, and that there may be mutual understanding and progress in unity; to fast as an act of solidarity with the suffering of Christ and the people of Myanmar; and to practise charity by supporting and helping the poor and the displaced.

For the international Catholic community, the bishops letter is also a call to stand in solidarity, on 26 March, with the Church in Myanmar; to amplify calls for accountability for serious human rights violations; to press governments to impose targeted sanctions on the military junta; and to support humanitarian organisations working to assist the 18 million people in Myanmar who are currently in need of aid.

ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE.
22 March 2026 20:43 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Armenian revanchism cultivated by diaspora groups has not disappeared with the guns falling silent. If anything, it has simply migrated, taking root far from the South Caucasus in shape of networks that continue to promote grievance, resentment and outdated narratives of separatism. At a time when Azerbaijan and Armenia are cautiously navigating a fragile peace process, these external actors are attempting to reopen wounds that both societies can scarcely afford to revisit.

For more than three decades, Armenia has paid a heavy price for its policies during the conflict. The economic and diplomatic consequences have been severe, isolating the country and paralysing regional connectivity. The South Caucasus, once envisioned as a corridor linking Europe and Asia, instead became a zone of stagnation. Nowhere was this more visible than in the blockade of Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, a situation that symbolised the wider breakdown of regional cooperation.

The post conflict period has offered an opportunity to correct this trajectory. The developments following the 2023 anti terror operation in Garabagh have altered the political landscape decisively. Individuals detained and brought to Baku are facing legal proceedings within the framework of international law and human rights standards. However, rather than acknowledging this shift, segments of the Armenian diaspora continue to frame the situation through the language of victimhood, presenting claims that often ignore the broader legal and political context.

The latest episode in Switzerland illustrates the growing disconnect between diaspora activism and political reality. On March 20, the National Council, the lower house of the Swiss parliament, overwhelmingly rejected a cantonal initiative titled Canton of Geneva 24.321: Annexation of "Nagorno Karabakh". Release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan. The vote, 108 to 33, was not merely a procedural outcome. It was a clear signal that attempts to internationalise and politicise the issue in European legislatures are losing traction.

This rejection followed an earlier decision by the upper house, effectively closing the matter. It also reflected a broader sentiment within Swiss political institutions. During previous deliberations, members of the Senates foreign relations structures had already warned against allowing such initiatives to undermine the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The message was unmistakable. External interference dressed as advocacy risks doing more harm than good.

Despite this, diaspora organisations have continued their efforts. A press conference held on March 18 at the Geneva Press Club brought together a range of groups, including entities such as Christian Solidarity International and the Swiss Armenian Association. The event sought to revive familiar accusations, including claims targeting SOCAR and its trading activities. These allegations, suggesting financial complicity in alleged expulsions, are not new. Nor have they gained legal or institutional credibility.

What is striking is not the content of these claims, but their timing. Armenia is entering an election year, and the domestic political landscape remains highly fragmented. In this context, diaspora driven narratives serve a dual purpose. They reinforce hardline positions among certain constituencies while attempting to weaken the current governments most significant political asset, the pursuit of peace.

The absence of Swiss parliamentarians at this latest gathering is telling. Where earlier events may have attracted political attention, this time the response was one of deliberate disengagement. It suggests a growing recognition that such initiatives are less about constructive dialogue and more about sustaining a cycle of grievance that no longer reflects realities on the ground.

The Swiss governments earlier refusal to support a proposed peace forum involving not only Azerbaijan and Armenia but also self styled representatives of Garabagh further underscores this shift. Both Baku and Yerevan declined to participate, favouring direct negotiations supported by international partners such as the United States. The rejection of a symbolic gathering in favour of substantive diplomacy points to a maturing approach on both sides.

This is where the central contradiction becomes most apparent. While political leadership in Armenia has, however cautiously, moved towards recognising new realities and engaging in dialogue, segments of the diaspora remain anchored in a past that no longer exists. Their campaigns, whether in European parliaments or public forums, risk complicating a process that is already fragile.

None of this is to suggest that the path to peace is straightforward. It is not. The legacy of conflict runs deep, and trust between the parties remains limited. Yet, the alternative to engagement is a return to the very dynamics that have hindered Armenias development for decades. Continued isolation, economic stagnation and geopolitical marginalisation are not abstract risks. They are lived experiences from the recent past.

The events in Switzerland may seem minor in isolation, but they are indicative of a broader pattern. In the presence of Karnig Kerkonian, Sarkis Shahinian and Joel Veldkamp, who acted as speakers at the press conference hosted by the Geneva Press Club, the already fragile peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan appeared not merely under strain but deliberately targeted, as their rhetoric and positioning seemed aimed at keeping the South Caucasus locked in a cycle of perpetual tension and denying the region any real prospect of lasting peace. As the region moves, however unevenly, towards normalisation, the space for narratives rooted in confrontation is narrowing. Legislative bodies, international partners and even sections of Armenian society are beginning to recognise that sustainable progress cannot be built on the foundations of revanchism.

Ultimately, the question is not whether such provocations will continue. They almost certainly will. The more important question is whether they will succeed in shaping outcomes. The evidence so far suggests otherwise. The rejection in Switzerland is not just a diplomatic footnote. It is a reflection of a changing international environment in which the politics of perpetual grievance are losing their resonance.

For Armenia, the choice remains stark. It can continue to be influenced by voices that seek to relitigate the past, or it can consolidate a future based on cooperation, connectivity and pragmatic statecraft. The peace process with Azerbaijan, however imperfect, offers a pathway towards that future. Undermining it for short term political gain would be a mistake with long term consequences.
22 March 2026 10:33 (UTC+04:00)

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According to data, the value of these imports amounted to $1,200. Compared to January 2025, electricity imports from Georgia increased significantly, by 14.49 thousand kWh, or 4.7 times in volume terms, and by $940, or 4.6 times in value.

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22 March 2026 14:50 (UTC+04:00)

Led by Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, an Azerbaijani delegation traveled to Tbilisi to attend the funeral of Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II.

As reported by AzerNEWS, the delegation also included Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, and Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov.

During the visit, the Azerbaijani representatives will convey the deep condolences and respect of the Azerbaijani people to the Georgian nation.

Ilia II, who passed away on March 17 at the age of 93, was a revered spiritual leader. Following his death, Georgia declared a period of national mourning.

The farewell ceremony began with a procession from the Holy Trinity Cathedral to the Sioni Cathedral, where the Patriarch will be laid to rest today at 3:00 PM.
22 March 2026 16:23 (UTC+04:00)

An Aeroflot aircraft flying from Moscow to Baku was forced to return to Sheremetyevo Airport after colliding with birds midflight.

As reported by AzerNEWS, the landing was successful, with both engines functioning normally.

After inspection, the plane was directed to its parking stand.

Passengers will continue their journey to Baku aboard a reserve aircraft provided by the airline.
22 March 2026 17:49 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, has offered condolences to Turkiyes Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler and Qatars Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani.

As reported by AzerNEWS, according to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, the condolence message stated:

"I was deeply saddened by the news that a helicopter belonging to the Qatar Armed Forces, conducting a training flight under the Qatar-Turkiye Joint Combined Forces Command, crashed into the sea due to technical failure. As a result of the accident, one serviceman of the Turkish Armed Forces, two technical specialists from ASELSAN, and four servicemen of the Qatar Armed Forces lost their lives.

I pray for mercy upon the deceased, share in the grief of their loved ones, and extend my deepest condolences to their families. May God rest their souls."
22 March 2026 11:40 (UTC+04:00)

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In January 2026, Azerbaijan exported 80.1 million cubic meters of natural gas, in gaseous form, to Greece, valued at $33.7 million.

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22 March 2026 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

An Iranian man and a Romanian woman have been charged for attempting to enter a Royal Navy base where Britains nuclear submarines are based, police said Saturday, AzerNEWS reports, citing Arab News.

The pair were arrested for trying to breach the Faslane base in Scotland on Thursday, which houses the UKs Trident nuclear deterrent  four submarines armed with Trident ballistic missiles.

A 34-year-old Iranian man and a 31-year-old Romanian woman have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident, the Scottish police said in a statement.

They are due to appear in court in the Scottish town of Dumbarton on Monday, it said.

UK police, the domestic MI5 intelligence service and members of parliament have long warned about a growing threat of Iranian espionage in Britain.

There are fears in Britain that the country could be a target over its role in the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Britain has authorized American forces to use two of its bases for some US operations against Iran, which the British government insists are purely defensive.

It said Friday that would now also include allowing the United States to use the bases  Fairford in England and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean  to strike Iranian sites threatening the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.

Britain has also deployed air assets to support Middle Eastern allies targeted by Irans retaliatory campaign.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday of putting British lives in danger by allowing the bases to be used for aggression against Iran.
22 March 2026 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

United States President Donald Trump has warned that Washington is prepared to launch strikes against Irans power infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened to safe maritime traffic within 48 hours.

As reported by AzerNEWS, the statement was published on the American leaders account on Truth Social.

If Iran does not completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours and ensure safe passage, the United States will strike and destroy numerous power plants, Trump stated.

The remarks mark a sharp escalation in rhetoric, underscoring growing concerns over global energy security and the stability of one of the worlds most critical oil transit routes.
22 March 2026 11:19 (UTC+04:00)

A group of 22 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, has issued a joint statement condemning what they described as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.

As reported by AzerNEWS, the statement expresses serious concern over rising tensions in the region and calls on Iran to immediately cease its threats.

Published on official government platforms, the statement reads: We are prepared to contribute to measures ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. We welcome the commitments of countries participating in contingency planning.

The document was signed by a broad coalition of nations, including Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Italy, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia, Finland, Czech Republic, Sweden, Estonia, South Korea, and Japan.

The joint declaration highlights growing international coordination aimed at safeguarding one of the worlds most critical maritime energy corridors, as concerns mount over potential disruptions to global oil and gas supplies.
22 March 2026 19:49 (UTC+04:00)

The Governor of Istanbul, Davut Gul, has issued a statement regarding the collapse of two buildings in the city.

As reported by AzerNEWS, initial assessments suggest the incident was caused by a natural gas explosion. The blast led to the collapse of two adjacent houses, one twostorey and one singlestorey.

Governor Gul reported that nine people were trapped under the debris. Rescue operations began immediately under the coordination of district authorities and emergency services. So far, seven people have been taken to hospital, while one victim has been located under the rubble and is expected to be rescued shortly. Efforts continue to find and save another missing individual.

He emphasized that these are preliminary findings and updates will be shared with the public as new information emerges. Search and rescue teams are working under challenging conditions in a narrow area, which is why access to the site has been restricted.

The governor added that AFAD will conduct necessary evaluations, and any buildings deemed unsafe will be evacuated. Authorities are also ensuring shelter, food, and other needs for affected residents. Importantly, none of the injured are currently in lifethreatening condition.
22 March 2026 19:21 (UTC+04:00)

Sudans army has denied responsibility for a deadly attack on ElDaein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur, which left 64 people dead and nearly 90 wounded on Friday night, AzerNEWS reports.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the victims included 13 children, two nurses, and a doctor. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned the strike, writing: Enough blood has been spilled, and urged both sides to end the conflict.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accused the army of carrying out the attack with a drone, coinciding with the Eid festival.

Sudan has been mired in civil war since April 2023, when a power struggle erupted between the military and the RSF, former allies who seized power in a 2021 coup. The conflict has since claimed over 150,000 lives and displaced 12 million people, nearly a third of the population, in what the United Nations calls the worlds largest humanitarian crisis.
22 March 2026 22:20 (UTC+04:00)

A senior Iranian security official told Al Mayadeen that Tehran has set out six conditions for ending the conflict with the United States and Israel, AzerNEWS reports.

The official said Irans demands include:

Guarantees that the war will not resume

Closure of U.S. military bases in the Middle East

Payment of reparations by the U.S. and Israel

An end to conflicts across the region, including those targeting proIranian militias

Establishment of a new legal regime in the Strait of Hormuz

Transfer of hostile elements in the media to Iranian authorities

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Tehran is seeking a deal, but insisted that he does not want one.
22 March 2026 23:30 (UTC+04:00)

On Saturday, Seouls city center turned purple as landmarks, billboards, and even drone lights over the Han River celebrated the longawaited return of BTS, AzerNEWS reports.

Fans from around the world gathered at Gwanghwamun Square, where the seven members, RM, Jin, Suga, JHope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, appeared before the medieval palace gate to greet their Army after more than three years away due to mandatory military service.

We are back, RM declared, as the group launched into their new album Arirang, blending modern pop with Koreas iconic folk song. The performance opened with Body to Body and was followed by fanfavorites including Butter, MIC Drop, Dynamite, and Mikrokosmos.

The spectacle drew thousands, many dressed in BTSs signature purple, waving light sticks and chanting the members names. Fans described the comeback as emotional, with one noting: BTS never disappoints us.

The event underscored the bands global reach, with international fans flying in to witness the historic return.
22 March 2026 19:33 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

A natural gas explosion in central Istanbul brought down two buildings in the citys Fatih district on Sunday, leaving several people trapped under the rubble, AzerNEWS reports via Turkish media.

Emergency services were dispatched immediately to the scene following the midday blast, with search and rescue teams confirming that nine people had been caught beneath the debris.

Davut Gul, governor of Istanbul, said that seven individuals had been rescued and were receiving treatment in nearby hospitals. According to the state-run broadcaster TRT, an eighth person was later pulled from the rubble and taken to hospital.

Rescue operations are continuing as teams search for the final missing person.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been officially confirmed, although initial reports indicate a natural gas leak may have triggered the blast.
In most countries, the mere fact of being born there does not make one a citizen. The nationality of the parents is a more important factor in most countries. The US follows a minority rule where just being born here makes one a citizen. That is now being cahllenged at the US Supreme Court.

The latest example of how absurd this US citizenship concept of anchor babies has become is to look at who just took over Mexico's most dangerous crime cartel, Jalasco New Generation. There is now a "US citizen" heading Mexico's worst crime cartel. The new leader was born in California to an illegal alien mother.

https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/us-citizen-takes-helm-mexicos-strongest-cartel-putting-birthright-citizenship

This comes shortly after another anchor baby raised eyebrows with her loyalty to her country of ancestry over her country of birth. That was Eileen Gu, switching from representing the US in the Olympics to representing Red China.

The US 14th Amendment has been construed as giving citizenship by birth alone even though the Supreme Court has never ruled on that and the drafters of the 14th amendment specifically said it did not do that.

Meanwhile, a survey by a pro-migration group found that less than 4% of illegal aliens told them that they believed they met the standards for asylum in the United States. Most indicated they came in for economic reasons.

https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2026/03/22/survey-shows-few-biden-migrants-were-asylum-seekers/
In what has been described by the German media as a "debacle" for the left of center Social Democrats who had governed the western German state of Rheinland-Pfaltz for 35 years going into Sunday's state election, they have seen a major loss of votes and seats while parties of the right advanced. The biggest winner was the populist nationalist anti-immigration Alternativ fur Deutschland (AfD) which almost tripled its seats. The Social Democrats were the biggest loser.

Running first was the traditional conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) which won 39 seats, up from 31, in the 105 seat state Landtag, with 31.0% of the vote, a gain in vote share of 3.3 points. In third place was the populist nationalist anti-immigration AfD which won 24 seats, a gain of 15, with 19.5% of the vote, a gain of 11.2 points.

Parties of the right now hold 63 seats to 42 for parties of the left in a state whose outgoing government was a coalition of the Social Democrats and Greens. To put this in perspective, the Social Democrats have run the state government of Rheinland Pfaltz for 35 years. It has been one of their strongholds and now it has fallen.

The Social Democrats won 32 seats, a loss of 7 with a vote share of 25.9%, a loss of 9.8 points since the last election. Their Green Party allies managed to hold on to all 10 of their seats but saw their vote share decline to 7.9%, a loss of 1.4 points.

Two parties that had a few seats in the last Landtag fell below the 5% threshold to be awarded seats and lost all of them. These were the populist nationalist anti-immigration Free Voters who received 4.2% of the vote and the pro-business Free Democrats who tallied only 2.0%. Parties that also ran but failed to win seats were the far left Left Party and the populist anti-immigration party of the left, the BSW.

this result follows similar major gains for AfD in last month's state election in the western German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. AfD is holding a wide lead in the polls over all other parties in the eastern states of Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpompern, which will vote two weeks apart in September.

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/rhineland-afd-doubles-vote-spd-crashes/

________________________________________________________________________________________

ORIGINAL POST:

According to the exit polls, parties of the right have triumphed in Germany's second state election this year, defeating a sitting Social Democrat led government. The biggest winner was the populist nationalist anti-immigration Alternativ fur Deutschland (AfD) which more than doubled its vote share since the last election. The traditional conservative CDU made smaller gains to emerge as the largest party. Meanwhile both parties in the left of center governing coalition, the Social Democrats and the Greens lost vote share, with the losses particularly heavy for the Social Democrats.

AfD won 20.1%, of the vote, up from 8.3% in the last election. The CDU won 30.9%, up from 27.8%. The Social Democrats dropped from 35.7% in the last election to 25.9% this time. Their Green Party allies dropped from 9.3% to 8.1%. The pro-business Free Democrats and populist nationalist right Free Voters failed to cross the 5% threshold and lost all their seats.

https://www.fr.de/politik/2026-erste-ergebnisse-der-landtagswahl-rheinland-pfalz-94228961.html

This follows similar results in the earlier state election in Baden-Wurrtemberg where AfD more than doubled its seats while the CDU also made gains and leftwing parties lost seats.

In both states, a CDU/AfD coalition of the right would have a solid majority but the CDU refuses to work with the AfD, so the likely result will be a CDU led government with the Social Democrats as a partner, neutering anything conservative they may try to accomplish. There is now an organized group within the CDU trying to change this insane policy of Chancellor Merz.

In Rheinland-Pfaltz, this election right of center parties won a combined 55.9% of the vote compared to 38.4% combined for parties of the left.

Three more German states will vote this year, all in eastern Germany, Sacony-Anhalt on September 6, and Mecklenburg-Vorpompern and the capital of Berlin, both on September 20. AfD has a wide lead over all other parties in the first two states, and is poised for a major increase in vote share in Berlin

Meanwhile, Slovenia is also voting today, and polls have shown a surge by the populist nationalist anti-immigration Slovenian Democratic Party putting it in a too close to call race with the governing liberal / globalist Freedom Movement.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
PITTSFIELD  On Saturday, generations of local girls and women toiled to assemble period kits.

It was a part of the Zonta Club of Berkshires County's Period Project, a twice-yearly drive the club organizes that produces hygiene kits for local schools and social service organizations. Vickie Palardy, a 20-year club member and Period Project chair, said the cost of menstrual products  which are generally not covered by SNAP or WIC  has become a growing barrier, which the drive hopes to break down.

Each kit contains tampons, pads, personal wipes and, in some cases, underwear. Volunteers produced about 300 kits on Saturday.

Seven girls from the Rites of Passage and Empowerment program  which brings together middle and high schoolers  helped. For many of them, the work felt personal.

"School can already be stressful," said Cassidy Smith, 16, a student at Miss Hall's. "And then you add on the other layer of just having to deal with your own body."

"And you can't get an excused absence for it or anything either," added Gloria Williams, also 16, who attends Pittsfield High School.

Students described a patchwork of access across Berkshire County schools. At Taconic High School, products are kept at the nurse's office. At Herberg Middle School, a student said dispensers are no longer available in bathrooms.

And at Pittsfield High School, 16-year-old student Anima Gyapong said the Rotary Club, which she and others at the drive are members of, has placed bins stocked with pads and tampons in classrooms, the library and bathrooms  but students refill them on their own, and they empty fast.

"We just notice," said Williams, sitting in a circle with her fellow student volunteers, Yaa Osei, 13, Wendy Agbemenyah, 14, Savannah Smith, 13 and Reina Jara, 16. "And then in our meetings, we'll dedicate time toward refilling."

When products aren't available, students said the fallback is asking a friend, or going without.

"It's a natural process," Cassidy Smith said. "Your body is healthy and doing what it should be. So it's frustrating when there's not stuff to support something that you have no control over."

Zonta Club President Jacqueline Melendez said a lack of access can have profound consequences.

"Girls stay away from school," Melendez said. "They're embarrassed because they don't have the supplies. That's why advocacy and education are so important."

Palardy, who is a member of the club's board of directors and is a past president, said the Period Project's work is straightforward but essential.

Nationally, 2 in 5 people who menstruate struggle to purchase period products, according to the Alliance for Period Supplies. In Massachusetts, 1 in 9 women and girls between the ages of 12 and 44 live below the federal poverty level.

For some families, it comes down to a choice between groceries and hygiene, and girls who can't afford products may skip school rather than face the alternative.

Melendez said she sees the project as more than a supply chain. When she looks around the room at the younger volunteers, she sees something else taking root.

"This is a role modeling example," she said. "When they see the dedication of women doing this, what do you think will happen when they have young daughters? We don't need to forget about men, either."

Melendez, who is in her second year as president, said the girls from R.O.P.E have become a fixture at the event.

"Since I've been involved, her young women are always here," she said. "It's part of their DNA now."

Shirley Edgerton, who leads the R.O.P.E. program, said the partnership with Zonta has been on the calendar for four years running.

"It's important, women serving women," she said. "It provides an opportunity for them to give back."

Palardy said the club is in need of monetary donations year-round to support its efforts to ensure access to period products and has spent $1,000 on products this round, supplemented by donations. The club also maintains an Amazon wish list for product donations closer to packing events.

To donate to the effort, visit zontaberkshire.org and click on "service projects."
Andrew Garfield has said reuniting with Claire Foy for their latest project, The Magic Faraway Tree, was the best and has hailed her as an incredible actor and an incredible person.

Foy, 41, stars in the upcoming fantasy-adventure film, based on the series by author Enid Blyton, which follows the Thompson family, who move to the British countryside where their children discover an enchanted forest.

Garfield, 42, stars as her on-screen husband and they have both praised working with each other again, after last appearing in romantic-drama Breathe (2017).

Claire Foy last appeared in a film with Andrew Garfield almost nine years ago (James Manning/PA)

Speaking to the Press Association ahead of a special screening of the film, Garfield said stepping back into a role alongside Foy was the best.

He said: Shes an incredible actor, and an incredible person. I love her very, very dearly and truly.

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We have a very fortunate dynamic that we can create together and have a good time. So its like the best of both worlds.

Foy told PA that it was just great to work with Garfield again after almost nine years, adding: It was really a different circumstance, a really different story, and it was just great.

He was so carefree and generous with the kids, and we just really created a real family bond all together, which was so amazing. It was just a really, really lovely experience.

(left-right) Andrew Garfield, Nicola Coughlan, Claire Foy and director Ben Gregor (James Manning/PA)

She said that there was nothing not to like about working on the film, adding: I just loved it. A chance to work with Andrew again, a chance with (director Ben Gregor), a chance to work with these incredible actors.

I really wanted to be part of something. I really thought it should be made. I really felt like it should be great, and it is, and so Im just really pleased that they let me do it.

Foy, who is also known for starring in The Crown, wore a beige blazer over a matching wrap dress, with a sheer lace skirt detail layered over it, to the event at the Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square in London.

Her short brown hair was in loose waves, and she accessorised with brown patent boots, simple make-up and gold earrings.

Andrew Garfield opted for a casual look (James Manning/PA)

Garfield joined her on the red carpet and opted for a casual look, wearing a green knit cardigan with two lambs on each side, paired with black trousers and smart shoes.

Irish actress Nicola Coughlan was also among the stars at the event, wearing an off-the-shoulder cream gown, with a ruffle detail at the top and embellished with silver bead details.

The Galway-born star smiled with her co-stars, as well as the films director Gregor, who was wearing a simple black suit with a black shirt.

The Magic Faraway Tree will be available to watch in cinemas from March 27th.
The US and Iran threatened to target critical infrastructure on Sunday as the war in the Middle East, now in its fourth week, puts lives and livelihoods at risk throughout the region.

Iran said the Strait of Hormuz, crucial to oil and other exports, would be completely closed immediately if the US follows up on US President Donald Trumps threat to attack its power plants. Mr Trump set a 48-hour deadline late on Saturday to open the strait.

Israeli leaders visited one of two southern communities near a secretive nuclear research site struck by Iranian missiles late on Saturday, with scores of people wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a miracle no-one was killed. Israel detected more Iranian missiles fired towards the area on Sunday evening.



US President Donald Trump said if Iran did not open the strait, the US would destroy its power plants (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

Mr Netanyahu claimed Israel and the US were well on their way to achieving their war goals. The aims have ranged from weakening Irans nuclear programme, missile programme and support for armed proxies to enabling the Iranian people to overthrow the theocracy.

The developments signalled the war, which the US and Israel launched on February 28, was moving in a dangerous new direction, despite Mr Trumps comment last week that he was considering winding down operations.

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It has killed more than 2,000 people, rattled the global economy and sent oil prices surging.

The Iranian-backed Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an airstrike that killed a man in northern Israel, while Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called Israels targeting of bridges in the south a prelude to a ground invasion.





Iran has practically closed the Strait of Hormuz that connects the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world, while claiming safe passage for vessels from countries other than its enemies.

Roughly one-fifth of global oil supply passes through the strait, but attacks on ships have stopped nearly all tanker traffic.

Mr Trump said if Iran did not open the strait, the US would destroy its various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!

The US has argued that Irans Revolutionary Guard controls much of the countrys infrastructure and uses it to power the war effort.

Under international law, power plants that benefit civilians can be targeted only if the military advantage outweighs the suffering it causes them, legal scholars say.





 If Iran doesnt FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST - President DONALD J. TRUMP pic.twitter.com/htLz1A0Mf7  The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 22, 2026

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf responded on X that if Irans power plants and infrastructure are targeted, then vital infrastructure across the region  including energy and desalination facilities critical for drinking water in Gulf nations  would be considered legitimate targets and irreversibly destroyed.

Mr Qalibaf later added that entities that finance the US military budget are legitimate targets.

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Attacks on power plants would be inherently indiscriminate and clearly disproportionate, Irans UN ambassador wrote to the security council, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

Iran said its strikes in the Negev Desert late on Saturday were in retaliation for an earlier attack on Irans main nuclear enrichment site in Natanz, according to state-run media.

Tehran praised the attack as a show of strength, even as Israels military asserts that Iranian missile launches have gradually decreased in frequency since the war began.



(PA Graphics)

Southern Israels main hospital received at least 175 wounded from Arad and Dimona, its deputy director Roy Kessous told The Associated Press.

Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, although it does not confirm or deny their existence.

Israel denied responsibility for hitting Natanz on Saturday, while the Iranian judiciarys official news agency, Mizan, said there was no leakage. The Pentagon declined to comment on the strike.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the bulk of Irans estimated 972 pounds (441 kilograms) of enriched uranium  the issue at the heart of tensions  is elsewhere, beneath the rubble at its Isfahan facility.

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Iran said strikes hit a hospital in Andimeshk. Its health ministry said patients and doctors were evacuated to another city.



People survey a site struck by an Iranian missile in Dimona, southern Israel, on Sunday (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Irans death toll in the war has surpassed 1,500, state media reported on Saturday, citing the ministry.

In Israel, 15 people have been killed by Iranian strikes.

More than a dozen civilians in the occupied West Bank and Gulf Arab states have been killed in strikes.

A Qatari military helicopter crash on Saturday, blamed on a technical malfunction, killed all seven aboard, Qatari authorities said.

Meanwhile, an Israeli civilian was killed in his car in the northern town of Misgav Am in what Israels military originally said appeared to be a rocket attack.





It later said it was looking into the possibility that the death was caused by Israeli soldiers fire.

Israeli authorities identified him as 61-year-old farmer Ofer Poshko Moskovitz.

Two days ago, Mr Moskovitz told a radio station that living near the Lebanese border was like Russian roulette.

Hezbollah launched strikes on Israel soon after the war began, calling it retaliation for the killing of Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel then targeted Hezbollah in deadly airstrikes and expanded its ground presence in southern Lebanon.

Israel expanded its target list on Sunday to include bridges over the Litani River that defence minister Israel Katz said Hezbollah was using to move fighters and weapons to the south.



Residential buildings were heavily damaged by an Iranian missile strike in Arad, southern Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Israel later struck the Qasmiyeh bridge near Tyre, giving an hours warning.

Destroying bridges further isolates residents from the rest of Lebanon.

Mr Katz also ordered the military to accelerate its destruction of Lebanese homes near the border.

Lebanese authorities say Israels strikes have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than one million.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets into Israel.
President Donald Trump warned the US will obliterate Iranian power plants if it does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

His statement came hours after Iranian missiles struck two communities in southern Israel late on Saturday, leaving buildings shattered and dozens injured in dual attacks not far from Israels main nuclear research centre.

The developments signalled the war was moving in a dangerous new direction at the start of its fourth week.

Mr Trump  who is facing increasing pressure at home to secure the Strait as oil prices soar  issued the ultimatum in a social media post while he spent the weekend at his Florida home.

Mr Trump said he is giving Iran 48 hours to open the vital waterway or face a new round of attacks. He said the US would destroy various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!





 If Iran doesnt FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST - President DONALD J. TRUMP pic.twitter.com/htLz1A0Mf7  The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 22, 2026

Iran warned early on Sunday that any strike on its energy facilities would prompt attacks on US and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets in the region, according to a statement citing an Iranian military spokesperson carried by state media and semi-official outlets.

The Iranian strikes in Israel came after Tehrans main nuclear enrichment site at Natanz was hit earlier in the day.

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Israels military said it was not able to intercept missiles that hit the southern cities of Dimona and Arad, the largest near the centre in Israels sparsely populated Negev desert. It was the first time Iranian missiles penetrated Israels air defence systems in the area around the nuclear site.

If the Israeli regime is unable to intercept missiles in the heavily protected Dimona area, it is, operationally, a sign of entering a new phase of the battle, Irans parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on X before word of the Arad strike spread.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said more emergency crews were being sent to the scene.

This is a very difficult evening, he said.

Rescue workers said the direct hit in Arad caused widespread damage across at least 10 apartment buildings, three of them badly damaged and in danger of collapsing. At least 64 people were taken to hospitals.

Dimona is about 12 miles west of the nuclear research centre and Arad is around 22 miles north.

Israel is believed to be the only Middle East nation with nuclear weapons, though its leaders refuse to confirm or deny their existence. The UN nuclear watchdog said on X it had not received reports of damage to the Israeli centre or abnormal radiation levels.

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The war is not close to ending, Israels army chief, General Eyal Zamir, said earlier in the day.

Iran also targeted the joint UK-US Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean about 2,500 miles away, suggesting that Tehran has missiles that can go farther than previously acknowledged  or that it had used its space program for an improvised launch.

The US and Israel have offered shifting rationales for the war, from hoping to foment an uprising that topples Irans leadership to eliminating its nuclear and missile programs and its support for armed proxies.

There have been no signs of an uprising, while internet restrictions limit information from Iran.



President Donald Trump boards Air Force One (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

The wars effects are felt far beyond the Middle East, raising food and fuel prices.

It is not clear how much damage Iran has sustained in the US and Israeli strikes that began on February 28, or even who is truly in charge.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since being named to the role.

Israel earlier on Saturday denied responsibility for the strike on the Natanz nuclear facility, nearly 135 miles southeast of Tehran.

The Iranian judiciarys official news agency, Mizan, said there was no leakage.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said the bulk of Irans estimated 970 pounds of enriched uranium is elsewhere, beneath the rubble at its Isfahan facility.

It said on X that it was looking into the strike.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the strike on Natanz, which was also hit in the first week of the war and in the 12-day war last June.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said such strikes posed a real risk of catastrophic disaster throughout the Middle East.
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BusinessCompaniesFood & drink Burger chain Grilld plots aggressive expansion despite mounting business costs Jessica Yun March 23, 2026  4:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Grilld is planning to roll out new stores at an aggressive pace, despite the burger chains latest set of accounts showing rising business costs that are climbing faster than burger sales, affecting its bottom line. The restaurant chain recorded an 11 per cent revenue increase to $441.3 million during 2025, but growth in revenue was outpaced by growth in the cost of doing business, such as ingredients, which rose 16.9 per cent to $181.5 million. The fast-food business latest financial report filed to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) showed it posted a loss of nearly $9 million in the 2025 financial year, marking the second annual loss in a row for the business, which made a loss of $1.5 million the year earlier. Grilld on Carltons Lygon Street in Melbourne on May 22, 2016. Arsineh Houspian A spokesperson for the company said the accounts filed with ASIC did not reflect the full picture for the business and denied that the company was loss-making, saying all 175 restaurants, most of which are corporate-owned, were generating profits.

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Grilld is a very profitable business. We operate a number of separate companies, some of which are interrelated, and only one of these meets reporting requirements with ASIC, the spokesperson said in a statement. Related Article Food & drink Not just raw fish: How Aussie sushi became a billion-dollar phenomenon Grilld has been profitable every year of its 22-year history, the spokesperson added, while declining to provide alternative financial figures. Our reporting to ASIC does not reflect an accurate picture of the entire financial performance for the Grilld group of companies. Grilld was founded by director Simon Crowe, who opened the first store in Hawthorn, Melbourne, in 2004, and employs more than 6000 people. He also owns artisan chocolate maker Koko Black. The burger chain has had a turbulent year that included protracted negotiations with the fast-food union, a wages deal that was blocked by the national industrial relations umpire, and a class action.

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In May 2025 the Fair Work Commission rejected an enterprise agreement that set penalty rates as flat dollar amounts and offered annual pay rises of just 1 per cent. Despite 94 per cent of staff supporting the agreement, Fair Work Commission deputy president Bernadette ONeill found that Grilld had not given staff adequate explanations and had painted a rosy picture of the agreement to workers, offering some of them just 77 a week above the minimum award. In October, the commission ultimately approved a deal that requires Grilld to top up pay over the life of the agreement. The company is also facing a class action lawsuit on behalf of past and present employees, filed by Gordon Legal and backed by the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA). The suit claims the burger chain did not give thousands of workers 10-minute rest breaks on shifts of four hours or longer between December 2019 to December 2025. Grilld is defending the case. When the action was launched last year, the company said it took its obligations to staff seriously and pointed to the recently approved enterprise agreement. Grillds expansion plans include adding 10 new stores in the current financial year, 20 new stores next year and 25 stores every year after that. New restaurants and drive-thru sites are notching sales far higher than existing restaurants, and Grilld is planning to hire new franchise partners to expand the national network, the company spokesperson said. We are working hard to further increase sales by 20 to 30 per cent within the next 12 to 18 months by focusing on new lines and products including snacks, drinks, desserts, late-night offerings and our membership program called Relish, the spokesperson said.

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Oscar Piastri is the new face of Grilld, which launched the limited edition OP81 burger featuring a charcoal bun, carrot, and chipotle sauce. Getty Images, Grilld Grilld struck a year-long partnership with Formula 1 star Oscar Piastri that led to two new burgers which are now driving more than 5 per cent of sales, and a range of two-pack branded wagyu patties sold in Coles. The Piastri sponsorship has been and continues to be a huge success. Piastri is an approachable, humble, performance-driven young Australian achieving success on an international stage. These qualities very much reflect the Grilld brand, the company spokesperson said. The financial accounts show the company spent $9.1 million on marketing in 2025, a decrease of 14.7 per cent from the year before. Grillds costs for employee benefits rose 9.4 per cent to $145.8 million. Marketing efficiency has increased, but by decreasing it in the short term, overall sales are slowing, which is messy when you have such a high-growth leasing/depreciation model, said influencer marketing expert Jordan Michaelides. Their gross margin is getting squeezed hard.

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Contributing to the loss in fiscal 2025 were higher depreciation expenses, according to the directors report, included in financial accounts, which might include building and construction costs and equipment. Related Article Mergers & acquisitions We are not selling out: El Jannahs new investor is a $180 billion US giant The accounts showed that earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, another measure of financial performance, were $10.7 million, down from $15.5 million a year earlier. After the 2025 financial year ended, the company moved $15 million to a related entity owned by Crowe, which the spokesperson said was used to fund the opening of four new stores, in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. Our 22 years of experience provides us confidence in the future of our brand, which involves reinvesting profits in new restaurant openings and providing long-term hospitality career paths to our staff in every state across the country, the company said.

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BusinessThe economyAI Opinion How AI could make uni degrees less valuable Clancy Yeates Deputy business editor March 22, 2026  3:45pm

March 22, 2026  3:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Getting a university degree has long been seen as a ticket to a decent-paying job, even if that link has been increasingly questioned in recent years. But what if artificial intelligence fundamentally changes this equation, and degrees become less likely to secure white-collar work? Will more educated workers command a premium in an AI world? Andrew Quilty As companies everywhere rush to exploit AI, one of Labors top economic minds, Dr Andrew Leigh, explored this and some other big economic questions posed by the AI craze in a speech last week. It left me thinking that even if the doomsday jobpocalyse scenarios of mass lay-offs dont come true, we can be pretty sure that AI will have all sorts of other effects on the labour market, particularly for people in white-collar jobs.

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AI-driven job cuts have become all too real lately, as tech giants such as Atlassian, WiseTech and Block have brutally swung the axe. More employers will inevitably follow suit, so its understandable that much of the AI discussion is about whether were heading for a dystopian future where the robots take over humans jobs, causing untold economic and social misery. Related Article Jobs The week AI came for Australian jobs Leigh, assistant minister for productivity competition, charities and treasury, is at the more optimistic end of this debate and believes the jobpocalypse scenario is unlikely, though the truth is that no one really knows. But the main point he made was that AI is already affecting some key economic theories about the world of work and labour markets. First, theres much debate about which workers will be the winners and losers in an AI world.

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Economists have long grappled with questions of how technology can affect peoples pay, and the distribution of income more generally. One popular theory that appeared to explain why some workers make more than others is the idea that big technological changes tend to help people who are more skilled, while hurting people who are less skilled. Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh. Ben Appleton For example, the rise of computers was good for the partner of the law firm because it allowed the business to run more efficiently, but it didnt help people who used to work as typists. In this theory, theres a premium paid to people who are more educated, skilled and able to use the new technology. However, Leigh suggests this dynamic is less clear with AI. Instead, he says, theres some evidence that AI can raise productivity disproportionately for lower-performing workers in the office, such as by helping people deliver better written reports. If the machines start doing more of this sort of work, Leigh suggests the more important distinction in the future might be whether someone can show judgment, as opposed to technical skill.

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Rather [than] the formal skill categories, such as school completion, vocational qualifications and university degrees, the more relevant distinction in the future might be differences in the type of cognition performed, he says. Potentially, the significant distinction might be judgment versus execution, oversight versus production, or conceptual reasoning versus procedural cognition. What might this mean in practical terms? Well, it could mean people in judgment-intensive roles are in high demand, such as the partner who signs the opinion, the surgeon who leads the procedure, the engineer who approves the plan, the judge who authors the decision. Leigh suggests it could also mean that employers look for judgment rather than technical skills  coding would be the most obvious example of a technical skill thats been seriously threatened by AI. How does an employer test if someones got judgment? Perhaps through application tests, or by watching people on the job.

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Another big economic idea thats being challenged by AI is the idea of human capital  a theory that says peoples investment in education and training raise their productivity, thereby lifting future earnings. Related Article Analysis

AI How one CEOs chatbot could cost his company $355 million Measuring human capital precisely isnt really possible, but economists have used proxies such as university degrees, and the grades people get at uni. However, AI systems that can help to write peoples essays for them have clearly changed that equation. Historically, educators could treat student output as evidence of accumulated knowledge. When AI mediates that output, the inference becomes less reliable, Leigh says. A possible consequence of this, once again, is that degrees may become a weaker signal to a prospective employer that a person has studied hard and developed their skills in thinking, analysing or writing.

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Putting all this together, its difficult to avoid the conclusion that AI is going to make it harder for people to get a start in those entry-level jobs that allow you to get a start. After all, the best way to demonstrate sound judgment to an employer is probably by working for them and showing youre competent. Id also add another risk that economists should be thinking about: will AI make the world a more unequal place by diverting more income to the owners of capital, as opposed to people-paid wages? That certainly seems plausible. After all, AI really refers to high-tech machines owned by companies  just like machinery in factories. If AI can do some of the work done by people, businesses inevitably have the incentive to roll out these machines more widely and thereby increase their profits. Importantly, none of this is certain, and history has shown that new technologies eventually create new jobs, as well as destroying some. Another economist in Labors Treasury ministry, Assistant Treasurer Dr Daniel Mulino, last week painted a more optimistic picture. He said that that over the past 150 years, roughly two thirds of GDP has gone to labour and one third has gone to capital, and these shares have been relatively stable. Labour force participation had also increased over this period.

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Whats more, he noted, this had generally happened through all manner of technological upheaval, from the mechanisation of agriculture to the IT revolution of the late 20th century. Related Article Opinion

AI Are bots coming for tech jobs, or is it AI-washing? Colin Kruger Senior business reporter Mulino was also careful not to make any predictions, but he did say these trends suggest that with a bit of regulation and perhaps with a bit of prodding, we might imagine that we can see a plausible benign outcome on at least some fronts from AI, even if it is transformative. Ultimately, we are all in the dark about where precisely AI is taking us. But it seems inevitable that it will have major and sweeping effects for the labour market, and for the skills that employers value. Hang on for the ride. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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CultureTheatreArts Not all kids in special schools had bad experiences  but this writer absolutely did Will Cox March 23, 2026  4:35am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

In an airy rehearsal space upstairs at Arts House, the cast of new play Specials gather. They jump between scenes and time frames  from the harrowing disability royal commission to flashbacks to the neglectful and depressing (and fictional) Shitty River Special School for disabled children. The cast play multiple roles across the two settings, a la Wizard of Oz. Front: Emma J Hawkins and Kath Duncan. Back (L-R): Sonia Marcon, Felise Lyon, Oliver Ayres, Sarah-Jayde Tracey, Tansy Gorman Joe Armao Between scenes, director Tansy Gorman notes the lack of boundaries at the school  the teachers are forever grabbing students, handling them. One gets a student in a headlock. Be as nasty as you want, writer Kath Duncan tells actor Sonia Marcon, playing the headmistress. It scarred me, says Duncan as the cast bring to life her childhood trauma. Sorry to laugh, she adds. But the room is full of laughter. This is a comedy. Theres something cathartic in this frank depiction of state neglect.

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Not all kids in special schools had bad experiences, but Duncan absolutely did. Born a double transverse amputee, she was placed at a special school in Sydney for kids between ages six and nine. Shes been developing the play since 2020, based on experiences and research. After a sold-out development season in 2024, the play is now fully realised. Ive always had this very Dickensian view of my special school, she says. I hated it. It was a torture chamber. As an actor, I want to get out there and play characters without a disability. Sonia Marcon, actor She describes it as a sad and neglectful place where kids with disabilities were shut away and ignored. The fences were ringed with barbed wire. There was no curriculum. And at the end of it all theyd be placed in menial work, such as weaving or assembling radio parts. My favourite potential job was rewinding plastic wrapping material, says Duncan. Specials is driven by this rage  both at the treatment and the low expectations of kids like her. The system has come a long way, but for Duncan its telling that the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, held between 2019 and 2023, was largely overseen by non-disabled people. Its a line that finds its way into the play: Were not even trusted to run our own royal commission.

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The disability education system still exists. Does Duncan still feel the same about it? Burn it down, she says. She walks that back just a bit  she acknowledges that there needs to be something in place, but she hates to think of kids being let down like she and her peers were. Playwright Kath Duncan has written a play, Specials, which will premiere at Arts House this month. Joe Armao Duncan, also an actor, has been typecast over the years. She reels off the kinds of roles she gets offered. An amputee. A shark attack victim. An NDIS client. This was why she was keen to see people with disabilities cast in able-bodied roles in Specials. She jokingly calls it uncripping, or abling up. Things have changed in recent years, however, with Australian disabled performers becoming more prominent, more heard. In 2024, for instance, Geelongs Back To Back Theatre, which draws its cast from the disabled community, won the Golden Lion at the 2024 Venice Biennale. The judges praised the company for challenging the construction of our imaginations and our perception of normalcy.

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Back To Back do great work, says Duncan. But youve got one company... getting a lot of the funding every year  Id like to see it spread around a bit more. Everyone in the room groans when the subject of Melbourne Theatre Companys 2024 production of Martyna Majoks play Cost of Living comes up. The Pulitzer Prize-winning US play was critically acclaimed. But Duncan and her cast mates have a very different view: Written by a carer, and it made us look like losers, she says. The cast of Specials are all disabled, as are a lot of the crew. As an actor, I want to get out there and play characters without a disability, says Marcon. Like, why cant we be Hamlet? adds Oliver Ayres.

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Editor's pick Visual art His father thought he would find gold. Years later, gold is being used to tell his story Ayres recalls being emotional on the first day of rehearsal for this show. Im so used to being the only one in the room, he says. Its ironic  in a play that focuses on disability, this is the time when I dont have to talk about it as much. The cast and crew believe that the work can be done to fix these problems. People ask how we do it, an entire cast and most of the crew with disabilities, says Gorman. You can do it. You just have to work harder. Specials is at Arts House from March 24-29 The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday.
Opinion Financial advice is all over the internet, but can it be trusted? Watch out for these red flags

Real Money, a free weekly newsletter giving expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money, is sent every Sunday. Youre reading an excerpt  sign up to get the whole newsletter in your inbox.

Back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth (the 90s and early 2000s), good money advice was difficult to come by. Your choices were pretty much either to pay for financial advice, work it out yourself or rely on the content in various self-help books or esteemed local newspapers.

Its part of the reason why books such as Scott Papes The Barefoot Investor or Money guru Noel Whittakers Making Money Made Simple became so monumentally popular, as they provided clear, easy to understand financial tips to a population that was desperate for them.

Can you trust the financial advice you read online? Michael Howard

Then the internet came along, which has generally been regarded as a huge mistake. Suddenly, everyone could get financial advice, and  more importantly  everyone could give financial advice, and people with vested interests got a massive platform to spruik their dubious investments.
Police shoot allegedly armed man south of Brisbane

For the third time this month, police in the Queensland's south-east have been forced to draw their weapons, shooting an allegedly armed man in Logan.
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NationalVictoriaPublic transport Paul was punched on a train. Getting help was harder than expected Patrick Hatch March 22, 2026  12:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A man who was assaulted on a Metro train has questioned whether passengers can rely on security systems after discovering that the emergency intercom and CCTV in his carriage were not working when he was attacked. Paul Hughan was travelling from Yarraville to Flinders Street just after 4pm on December 12 when a man acting erratically sat behind him. Hughan said he ignored the man  until he realised he was spitting on him. Paul Hughan says he was let down when another passenger assaulted him on a train in December. Eddie Jim When I realised what was happening, I jumped up and turned around. He looked at me for a moment, then jumped up and punched me in the face, he said. The 56-year-old said the punch had all the power of a wet sock and that he was not injured.

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However, he is more concerned about serious failings in the emergency systems that are there to protect passengers in an emergency, but failed when he needed them. During the train ride, Hughan tried to activate the passenger emergency intercom in his carriage three or four times. Each time, it responded with a recorded message saying the service was currently unavailable. The intercoms are supposed to connect passengers to the driver, who can then ask Metros train control centre to co-ordinate an emergency services response. When Hughan later reported the assault to police, investigators told him they were unable to access footage from inside the train carriage because of a CCTV system fault.

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Related Article Crime Underneath a rail corridor, a mother shares the last words her son heard You assume certain things are working. If I knew it [the CCTV] wasnt working, I would have taken a picture of the guy. Its not just the set-up letting me down, its because you rely on the set-up and it doesnt work, Hughan said. He spat on me, and he punched me in the face. But he was sitting behind me  what if he decided to stab me in the back? Safety on the public transport network is in the spotlight again after four teenagers allegedly stabbed 22-year-old Aidan Becker to death at Mernda station earlier this month. It also comes after the state government announced last year it would re-deploy protective service officers (PSOs) to work longer hours at 32 high-risk train stations, with 120 low-crime rate stations to be served by roving teams, rather than permanent night patrols.

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According to the Crime Statistics Agency, in the year ending September 2025, Victoria Police recorded 381 crimes against the person  including assault, harassment and robbery  on trains, and 1575 at train stations. Metro later told Hughan it discovered a fault in the unit that powered the CCTV and intercom recording device on his train, meaning there was no footage of the incident, and it could not determine why the intercom did not work. The state government has said it will redeploy PSOs to high risk stations. Paul Rovere Metro added that drivers cannot always respond to the intercom if they are busy with driving tasks or are already on a call to the network control centre. Police were eventually able to obtain CCTV of Hughans assailant alighting at Southern Cross Station, but the footage was low-quality.

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Hughan said when he gave up on the intercom, he called Triple Zero and had to wait for a police officer to ring him back. By that time, the offender had gotten off the train. What I hoped for is that someone would meet us at the platform. Instead, there was no presence ... and after the train had left and was almost at Flinders Street, I got a call back, he said. Candles to honour Aidan Becker, who was killed at Mernda station this month. Ruby Alexander All I got was a call back from an officer telling me to report it to the PSOs at Flinders Street. The whole thing seems so uncoordinated. A spokesperson for Metro said emergency intercoms were tested daily, but faults could occur while a train was in service.

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Naked City Where we really need PSOs if we want to free up frontline police We have over 14,000 CCTV cameras across the Metro Trains network as well as authorised officers and station staff all working to keep passengers safe, they said. Metros Security Operations Centre monitors station CCTV 24 hours a day and can watch a live feed of on-train CCTV on newer train models. However, remote monitoring is not possible on the oldest Comeng and XTrapolis trains. Monash University transport researcher Rumana Sarker said CCTV and emergency intercoms played an important role in making passengers feel safe on public transport. We have an impression  that theres someone whos looking at us, watching us if anything happens. But it should be working, she said. However, Sarker said a human presence, such as PSOs, was more effective at making passengers feel comfortable, especially women.

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A Victoria Police spokesperson said police dispatchers triage calls from Triple Zero and can request assistance from both police units and PSOs. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Political strategists have warned that a surge in support for One Nation similar to that seen in the South Australian election could reshape Victorian politics and scramble the result in dozens of seats, as major political parties downplay the threat. After her partys strong showing in South Australia at the weekend, Pauline Hanson set her sights over the border, telling backers in Victoria, We are coming. Pauline Hanson has said One Nations strong performance in the South Australian election is just the beginning. Aresna Villanueva While the South Australian election delivered a decisive win for Labor, the conservative side of politics went through a sharp realignment: the Liberal Partys vote crashed by more than 16 per cent as One Nation picked up 22 per cent of the primary vote off the back of a 19 per cent swing. Although the jump in support for One Nation didnt dent SA Labors grip on government, political analysts say a similar jump in Victoria, where Labor is seeking a fourth term after 12 years and is weighed down by poor polling, could have a more destabilising impact, particularly in outer-suburban seats.

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Political strategists warn that the same dynamic could play out across a swath of outer-suburban and regional seats in Victoria  including Hastings, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Werribee, Bass and Ripon  while also putting Liberal-held electorates such as Eildon, Croydon and Berwick at risk. The Liberals need to win 16 lower house seats to form government. Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson. Wayne Taylor Despite the warnings, Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson sought to downplay the result in South Australia and said it showed that a protest vote away from the major parties had backfired. I get that people right across this country, people here in Victoria, are frustrated with politicians, she said.

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If you want to change the government in November this year, you have to put a No.1 next to the Victorian Liberals or Nationals, she said. Labor is framing the South Australian result as a disaster for the Liberal Party. What has been demonstrated in South Australia is that if Labor governments are focused on the things that matter to the communities that they serve, then the people, in turn, will put their trust in them to lead their states, Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said. While the Victorian election is still eight months away, election analyst Antony Green said the South Australian result should be a warning for the Coalition in Victoria. In South Australia, One Nation did nothing to help the Liberals, Green said.

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One Nation did very well  they set up to destroy the Liberals. Election analyst Antony Green said the South Australian result should be a warning for the Coalition in Victoria. Dominic Lorrimer Privately, Victorian Liberals are split between those who think the result should push their policy agenda further to the right to compete with One Nation, and those who favour directly confronting Hanson while also ensuring her supporters direct their preferences to the Liberals. Speaking on the condition of anonymity so they could discuss party matters, several Liberal MPs said they believed the surge in support for One Nation could be a positive for the Victorian Liberal Party should One Nation act as a feeder party that could ultimately bring the Coalition closer to government. But other Liberal MPs warned that any attempt to sidle up to One Nation would legitimise the conservative rival that is eating into its vote.

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We need to get into a position where we disagree with them robustly, but we get our supporters and their supporters on the same page so that they realise preferencing us is better than re-electing Labor, one MP said. There are people out there wanting us to offer wholesale support to One Nation. A lot of us seem to have lost the art of the argument Other MPs were more dismissive of the threat posed by One Nation. One Nation doesnt have all the answers; at some point people will realise they are not much chop, one Liberal said. People still see Liberal and Labor as the parties of government. Tony Barry, director of bipartisan research and strategy company the Redbridge Group and a former senior Liberal Party staffer, said the central challenge for the Victorian Liberals was to stop the leak of votes to One Nation.

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The message which I see working is by saying to those One Nation-curious voters that the only way to get rid of this government is to vote Liberal. If you vote for One Nation you get four more years of Labor. he said. That message would get some to reconsider. Related Article Exclusive

Victorian election None of the above: Poll reveals Victorian flight from major parties He warned that Victoria faced a massive mood for change and the incredible volatility meant no side could be complacent. Redbridge director Kos Samaras, a former deputy campaign director for Victorian Labor, said the political mood in Victoria made it a fertile ground for Hanson. Victoria is a much unhappier place than South Australia. That means Pauline Hanson is going to have a bloody good day, he said. But Labor is in a much weaker position in Victoria than in South Australia.

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He said the surge in support for One Nation could cut across both the major parties  eroding Labor in outer-suburban and regional seats while also potentially splitting the conservative vote in key Liberal-held electorates. Does One Nation split the Liberal vote so much that Labor wins again? he said. The risk extended to the upper house, where Samaras said One Nation could secure up to five seats, with Labor seats in regional areas particularly under threat. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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TechnologyAI Opinion A smackdown for the ages at the Oscars after-party, and AI was the spark Maureen Dowd New York Times columnist March 22, 2026  12:30pm

March 22, 2026  12:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

For star-struck podcaster Scott Galloway, the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party conjured the most aspirational environment Ive ever been in in my life. I certainly felt aspirational. I aspired to have fun in the beautiful, curvaceous new wing of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art  before my high heels began to hurt. Compared with the boring Oscars ceremony, the party shimmered. Even stars like Al Pacino and Larry David, who often dart away early, were grinning and lingering. And who doesnt like to see Mick Jagger devilishly dancing around with Jon Batiste? Sam Altman, OpenAIs boss, has already warned investors to expect years of heavy losses. Harry Afentoglou In one dimly lit spot, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos were acting as passionately as a couple of teenagers; in another, Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner were holding court across the bar from Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi. A gorgeous Jane Fonda was, naturally, literally getting her feelings off her chest, sporting a BLOCK THE MERGER button on her deep-brown sequin gown  referring to the depressing marriage of Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery. The party had a euphoric vibe. So I was startled when two famous guests had a bristling smackdown.

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On one side of this black-tie duel was Jeremy O. Harris, the 36-year-old playwright who shot to fame when he wrote the Tony-nominated Slave Play while still a student at Yale Universitys drama school. He is not one to bite his tongue. On the other was Sam Altman, the sly chief executive of OpenAI. I was standing nearby as Harris animatedly lit into Altman for 10 or 15 minutes. The 40-year-old tech mogul seemed taken aback but responded calmly, holding his ground. Harris was upset about Altmans new deal with the Pentagon to provide AI for classified use. Some online hailed Harris as a hero. I called him after the party to hear the whole drama  a classic story of art rebuking commerce. Playwright Jeremy O. Harris wants more people to rattle the cages of the Silicon Valley overlords who, in his view, are warping society and hurting democracy. AP I knew that people around us at the party were taking notice but I didnt know that it would become a thing, he said. Harris said he realised long ago, seeing what OpenAI was already doing to the brains of kids, seeing kids killing themselves, that this technology is dangerous. I think wilfully allowing dangerous technology to be onboarded by society is, in and of itself, evil. Even though it was a celebration, he said he could not ignore Altman wilfully allowing his technology to be an agent in global violences. He said he told the powerful AI executive, I dont know how you can comfortably look at yourself in the mirror, knowing you just gave your technology over to a department that called themselves the Department of War, and which just killed 175.

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Last month Anthropics Dario Amodei refused to buckle when frat boy Pete Hegseth had a hissy fit and threatened bogusly to declare Anthropic a supply-chain risk if Amodei didnt allow the Pentagon to use his AI in any way it wanted, as long as it was lawful. (Lawful has lost all meaning in the Trump administration.) Amodei did not want his AI to be used to surveil Americans or run autonomous weapons without human oversight. Now Anthropic is suing the government over its designation as a national security risk  including a new brief filed in California on Friday night  and the case could very well end up in the Supreme Court. Altman swooped into Hegseth and Anthropics fight, offering to help smooth things over. But somehow Sneaky Sam simply got the contract by engaging in safety theatre while bending to the Pentagons demands. In a leaked memo to his staff, Amodei fumed that Altman was spinning, gaslighting and undercutting Anthropic. It may not be such a triumph for Altman, though, because his desire to appease the Pentagon drove some of OpenAIs scientific talent and many users toward Anthropic. Lauren Sanchez Bezos and Jeff Bezos at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. AP Harris said he told Altman, You came out into the world, used our tax dollars in a nonprofit that espoused its goal to save humanity, to be this bright beacon for the future and hope. Now, he told him, he is in bed with bad guys.

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Related Article Middle East at war Americas first AI war: Silicon Valleys bet on military tech is paying off The New York Post ran a story saying that Harris accused Altman of being the Goebbels of the Trump administration. But Harris rebutted, It was late and I had a few too many martinis so I misspoke when I said Goebbels  I shouldve said Friedrich Flick. Flick was the anti-Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who made a fortune working with the Nazis. He was found guilty of war crimes at Nuremberg and sent to prison. Altman did not want to comment to me but his allies were stunned that Harris would compare a prominent Jewish businessperson to a Nazi collaborator, and they said they considered it antisemitic. Harris said he rejected that charge, saying it deadened the meaning of the word to claim that comparing any Jewish person to a Nazi collaborator is antisemitic. Harris wants more people to rattle the cages of the Silicon Valley overlords who, in his view, are warping society and hurting democracy. When the scary nerds show up in Prada and Dior, he said, and want to swan around with the fashionable crowd, they should be shown the exit, not allowed to get cosy in places of culture. I dont think any of them should feel comfortable in that room, he said. I think they should all be really aware of the fact that this is not a room that wants them.

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He was disappointed that more people werent challenging Altman and Bezos at the party. Im left thinking, Is this my Eartha Kitt-Lady Bird Johnson moment? Harris said, referring to the 1968 womens luncheon at the White House when Kitt denounced the Vietnam War to the first lady. Kitt was investigated by the CIA afterwards and blacklisted in show business. I have no idea, Harris said about the ripple effect of his jaccuse defiance. Theres not too much that any of us can try to protect right now because these people are eroding the foundation upon which we stand. The New York Times
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Reviews & adviceTravel tips Opinion The world seems scary right now. Heres why I wont be staying home Ben Groundwater Travel writer March 23, 2026  4:00am

March 23, 2026  4:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Theres turmoil in the world right now, which you may have noticed. Attempt to summarise current global events, and you feel like youre writing a new verse for the Billy Joel song We Didnt Start the Fire. Flights cancelled, airports closed, upheaval in the Middle East. Im toying with taking my family to Mexico later this year. iStock Violence erupted in Mexico after a cartel leader was eliminated. Venezuela has an interim president after the old one was kidnapped. The Russia-Ukraine war rages on and the ceasefire in Gaza is uneasy at best. And youre telling me you want to go travelling? This is the world we face. Its the reality were presented with. Its not nice to talk about, and its fairly depressing when you write it all down like that, but this is what we have to deal with.

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Theres probably a tendency among some travellers to just stay at home, which is a reasonable, and even very good, travel decision. Australia has a huge amount to offer, from ancient culture to modern cuisine to some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet  why wouldnt you take the opportunity to see a little more of it? Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. Theres even a good chance your flight will take off. If, however, youre keen on the idea of overseas adventure, there needs to be another plan. You need to deal with this somehow. I do, too. Ive been tossing up taking my kids to Mexico at the end of this year. My wife is desperate to try the food over there. I love the country, its people, its colour and its culture. And our kids would get a kick out of Mexico City, the buzz, the artwork, the lucha libre wrestling. But this already volatile country has recently experienced an upswing in violence. Tasmania is looking pretty good right now. To travel overseas now is to take on a certain amount of risk. Maybe youre not flying directly into a conflict zone, but if youre going across one, your flight might be diverted or even cancelled, as so many that fly in and out of Middle Eastern hubs have. Your plans on the ground might be scuppered by a lightning-fast turn of events.

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Several platforms and services are required here if you still want to go overseas. You need good travel insurance. You need to know that if you get into trouble, or even if you have hassles with cancellations or flights and other bookings being rescheduled, you wont be too far out of pocket (though be warned, you probably wont be covered if you just change your mind, and almost all insurers exclude force majeure events, which include acts of war). The world can seem intimidating from the far reaches of our own nation, but the reality is often refreshingly normal and welcoming. Smartraveller, the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trades travel advisory, is also crucial. Read up on the places you want to go, understand the risks, monitor changes, and also be aware that anywhere rated do not travel will almost certainly not be covered by travel insurance. You could consider, too, booking through a travel agent for any holidays that are particularly complex. Its always nice in times of difficulty to have a friendly, professional voice on the other end of the phone ready to tap a few keys and get things rescheduled for you. And finally, theres a need to be clear-eyed about the dangers the world presents right now. Because for the most part, theres little thats out of the ordinary. There are a lot  like, a huge amount  of travel destinations out there that remain unchanged, untouched by the feeling of global unrest.

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A 31-YEAR-old man was fined 2,000, but escaped a driving disqualification, after a judge cited his remorse and apology to the court following a collision that left an elderly pedestrian with a broken hip, from which she has never fully recovered.

Zhixian Lu, with an address of Burrin Road, Carlow, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing injury, contrary to section 52 of the Road Traffic Acts at a recent sitting of Carlow District Court.

The court heard that on 21 January 2025, gardai were flagged down by members of the public alerting them to an incident at Castleview, Graiguecullen, Carlow, where an elderly woman had been knocked down by a car and had suffered a suspected broken hip as a result of the incident. The driver of the car remained at the scene following the accident.

Insp Tom Jones told the court that dashcam footage, which was downloaded from the drivers car, showed Mr Lu, who was stopped at a junction outside the Lazy River Cafe, attempting to turn right before striking the pedestrian at approximately 7kph.

An independent witness to the accident said Mr Lu had pulled away slowly from the junction before the accident.

Judge Geraldine Carthy asked Insp Jones would it be a place where a pedestrian would normally cross the road, to which he replied that there is no pedestrian crossing there; however, there is a footpath on both sides of the road.

He added that the woman had just been dropped off by a car but needed to cross to the other side of the road.

Counsel for the defence, Donal Callaghan BL, outlined his clients life circumstances, telling the court that he is a Chinese national and has been living in Ireland for the past five years.

He shares a room in Carlow with another individual and pays 400 a month in rent, said Mr Callaghan.

Mr Callaghan explained that his client has two dependants, namely his elderly parents in China, to whom he sends 1,000 a month home.

Mr Callaghan told the court that Mr Lu had stopped his car immediately after colliding with the victim and helped her to the side of the road. He also attempted to call an ambulance but stopped when a bus driver who witnessed the incident said he had already alerted the emergency services.

I am respectfully asking that my client have the benefit of the Probation Act rather than a fine, said Mr Callaghan.

Mr Callaghan told the court that his client wished to pay 2,000 as a gesture of goodwill to the victim, adding that he is limited in this regard due to working a minimum wage job.

Judge Carthy asked the victim, who was present in court, how she is currently doing, with members of her family who accompanied her saying that she has never recovered fully from the accident and that she requires a carer every day.

Judge Carthy said that while she had been asked to apply the Probation Act, she was satisfied that it was not appropriate to do so in the circumstances. She noted the serious injury suffered by the victim as an aggravating factor, while acknowledging Mr Lus guilty plea, his lack of previous convictions, his demonstrated remorse and his apology to the court as mitigating factors.

Judge Carthy convicted Mr Lu and imposed a fine of 2,000, giving him 120 days to pay. She declined to impose a disqualification from driving, citing his remorse and apology to the court. Mr Lu was further bound to the peace on his own bond of 500.

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A CARLOW woman has been sentenced to 80 hours of community service for allowing over 12,000 of misappropriated funds to be funnelled through her bank account. Dion Timmons (23) Chaffe Street, Graiguecullen Carlow entered a guilty plea for a single count under section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act on 11 November 2025.

The offending took place between 5 and 28 April 2022, when the accused was 19 years old. There were 19 transfers of 350 into Ms Timmonss N26 account during this time and four further transactions arising out of fraud perpetrated on German residents. All monies, a total of 12,374.64, were debited to a Luxembourg bank account on 28 April. Ms Timmonss account was subsequently closed by the bank owing to suspicions over the origin of the funds.

At a sentencing hearing recently, the court was told that Ms Timmons was going through a period of emotional instability when she committed the offence. She did not benefit materially from committing the offences and the court accepted there was a sophisticated network of individuals who set up the account.

At the finalisation of sentencing on 5 March, Judge Mary Morrissey said: It is quite clear Ms Timmons did not play a key role in any (criminal) organisation.

Based on the nature of the offending and the offender, she set a headline sentence for Ms Timmons at 24 months imprisonment. She assessed the moral culpability of the accused as moderate, as when she was approached to set up an account she did so freely, albeit naively.

She reduced this by 25% on account of Ms Timmonss early plea. She also considered her letter of apology, no previous or subsequent offending, her now good family support, history of mental health difficulties, four character references which spoke highly of her character, and a probation report, which categorised her as low risk of reoffending, reducing the sentence to 16 months.

The now 23-year-old student at Carlow College has a part-time job and a long-term goal of becoming an educational psychologist.

Judge Morrissey was satisfied that this was not entrenched criminal behaviour and made the decision to impose a community service order in lieu of a custodial sentence.

Ms Timmons, the very best of luck to you. I hope we never meet again, said Judge Morrissey. The sentence will be finalised on 20 May 2026.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Londen Porter Demarion Langston Weapon found after incident Previous Next

Multiple shots were fired at Coolidge Park on Saturday night, including by one man wielding an AK-47-type weapon.



Two teens were taken into custody, while another gunman got away.



Police said, "Last night around 9:21 p.m., CPD officers responded to reports of gunfire at 150 River St. after multiple people were seen running from the area. Thanks to cooperation from witnesses, residents, and the use of CPD technology, two suspects were quickly located and arrested.



"CPD Real Time Intelligence Center investigators and the Drone Unit had eyes on the scene immediately after shots were fired and played an integral role in quickly identifying one suspect and helping officers track both suspects direction of travel.



"One suspect was detained, while another ran into a nearby neighborhood. With help from witnesses and residents, police set up a perimeter and located the second suspect hiding in a backyard, where he was taken into custody.



"During the investigation, officers and CPD K9 Sully recovered firearms and located shell casings at the scene. Some vehicles in the area were struck by gunfire, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.



"Both suspects, Demarion Langston and Londen Porter, who are 18 years old, were taken to jail. Both are charged with possession of a stolen firearm, felony reckless endangerment, threats of mass violence, and disorderly conduct."

A police report said police responded to a weapon law violations call at 150 River St.

Live police cameras showed several people running for an unknown reason in a scattered type of way. An officer parked nearby said he heard several gunshots coming from the park, sounding as though "there was an active shooter."

The officer, while at the west side of the area under the Market Street Bridge, observed many people scattering in the area screaming, while pointing to the northeast. The officer said he was still actively hearing gunshots.

Several people said the shots were coming from the area of the Carousel.

Police were advised that one gunman was armed with an AK-style weapon with no buttstock and was caught on police video. He was wearing a black hoodie with a blue jacket, black and blue shoes, gray pants and was wearing a face mask.

He was accompanied by two males - the first wearing white shoes and all black clothes, and the other had black and white shoes, gray pants and a black hoodie.

An officer located suspects matching the descriptions at the 345 Frazier Ave. parking garage getting into a Nissan Sentra. He placed them at gunpoint, gave them commands, and they ran from him.

The officer ran after the suspect wearing the blue jacket, while several other officers ran after a male in all black.

Police quickly detained the male in all black, and he was identified as Porter.

The suspect in the blue jacket managed to flee. However, several minutes later, police received several calls, as well as help from bystanders, that he fled near the Oliver Street area, running behind people's houses into the woods, heading east.

Police set up a perimeter and continued to search the area.

During the search police received a call that a male matching the description was in a back yard. Police quickly arrived, observed the defendant, placed him at gunpoint, eventually putting him into custody. He was identified as Langston. He did not have the blue jacket on at this point. When searching the area where he ran, police found a Pioneer Arms Hellpup weapon in the woods. It was loaded when police found it and was possibly missing one round.

While searching the vehicle, police located a Smith & Wesson Sigma handgun as well as a Sig-Sauer handgun. It was determined it had been stolen out of an ATF shipment labeled "missing."



Both gun magazines were half to near empty.

While searching the park for shell casings, police found six casings slightly east under the Walking Bridge.

The Nassan's owner was on scene during the incident and was questioned by the Gun Team investigator.

Both Porter and Langston refused to speak to police.

Several witnesses spoke to police. One said during the incident she saw 2-3 young males in masks running her way, then heard gunshots.

Another said near the Carousel he saw a male in all black jump into the middle of the road and fire 2-4 shots in his general direction with a pistol. One round hit a car.

Another witness said, while trying to drive from the area, she drove under the Walking Bridge and a man in all black pointed a gun at them. She said he shot at them multiple times, hitting their car. After a few shots the witness drove off.

No person at the scene wished to press charges.
Piston-engined fighters ruled the roost for thirty years.

A brutal survival of the fittest ensured a rapid evolution of these characterful machines; the final fighters were over six times faster and around ten times heavier than the first generation.

Whereas the first fighters had only a single rifle-calibre weapon, the Tigercat of 1943 had an awe-inspiring arsenal of four .50 Cals and four 20-mm cannon. The Tigercat also had forty times more horsepower than a World War I fighter. The era of classic fighter planes ended on a high with huge, powerful masterpieces. We look at the zenith of prop fighter design and choose the ten most formidable machines.

10: Focke-Wulf Ta 152H

Faster and possessed of greater range than the Spitfire Mk XIX, the German Focke-Wulf Ta 152H was possibly the finest piston-engined fighter in the world at high altitude. The Ta 152H was an evolution of the Fw 190, which had been the best fighter in the world when it entered service in 1941. Had the war lasted and the high-flying Boeing B-29 Superfortresses of the US been committed to Europe then the Ta 152H would have been its nemesis. The Ta 152Hs 30mm automatic cannon was hugely destructive and backed up with two formidable 20mm autocannons.

10: Focke-Wulf Ta 152H

Key to its remarkable high-altitude performance was the use of the GM-1 nitrous oxide (laughing gas) injection system, this could take it to a breath-taking 472mph. At low level its speed was aided by MW 50 (Methanol-Wasser 50) - a 50-50 mixture of methanol and water sprayed into the supercharger.

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Other features that lent the type its immaculate high altitude performance was a pressurised cockpit (never quite perfected) and a longer span wing than other fighters to help generate more lift in the thin air of high altitude. Luckily for the Allies, the type first flew in January 1945 so was too late to be used to great effect. Only 69 were built.

9: Lavochkin La-11

The ultimate operational Soviet piston-engined fighter and the go-to aircraft for low and medium altitude operations, the La-11 represented the zenith of the superlative Lavochkin series of combat aircraft. The La-11 is one of the few aircraft on this list to have seen a serious amount of use on combat operations.

Last of an illustrious line, it scored a hat-full of Cold War air-to-air kills, including at least two P-51 Mustangs. The La-9 may have been more pleasant to fly, but the La-11 marked the apogee of the Soviet piston-engined fighter.

9: Lavochkin La-11

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With an impressive top speed of 419mph and a three-cannon armament, the La-11 eked performance out of rugged basic design dated back to 1940. This was unlike the agile Yak fighter series, made by the rival Yakovlev bureau, which came to an end with the wartime Yak-3.

The Lavochkin La-11s success came despite the fact it arrived as late as 1947, and was a piston-engined fighter in the jet era.

8: Dornier Do 335 Pfeil

The German Dornier Do 335 was very unorthodox. It featured two tandem engines in the fuselage and a unique push-me/pull-you propeller arrangement with a propeller at the front and one at the rear. The power of a two-engined aircraft combined with the small frontal area of a single-engined aircraft resulted in an insanely fast aeroplane, with the remarkable top speed of 474 mph.

The Do 335 was certainly no slouch, and this was hardly surprising with the two engines delivering a combined total of 3800 horsepower. Though fast, it was not as manoeuvrable as the Spitfire or Ta 152H, with a notably inferior sustained turn rate (the turn rate achievable without loss of speed or altitude).

8: Dornier Do 335 Pfeil

Not just fast, the Do 335 also had a fearsome punch with a formidable arsenal of one 30mm- and two 20mm - automatic cannon. It was a large effective aeroplane, weighing around 10 metric tonnes but, like the Focke-Wulf Ta 152H, it arrived too late to deliver much to Germanys war effort. Fortunately, we will never know what this amazing machine was truly capable of, though the performance of the pre-production aircraft was spectacular.

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A handful served on operations, but little is known of what they achieved. Had the jet engine not burst onto the scene, it is likely that a spate of designs would have aped its revolutionary layout.

7: Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk 24

Were the final Spitfires really Spitfires? With so little left of the Mk I, it is fair to say probably not, but they were formidable beasts in their own right. With a relatively small airframe, twice the power of the original Spitfire and an updated wing, the Spitfire remained a world-class fighter to the end of its development. The 24 was almost identical to the 22, barring small details like cannon barrel length. The marks 21, 22 and 24 were considered by Supermarine a common airframe, but the 24 shall represent the Super Spitfire for our list.

7: Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk 24

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The tight cockpit made escape very tricky, and ejecting in the seated position would have been impossible, so the Martin-Baker company proposed an escape system for the F.21 that involved a spring-loaded arm tossing the pilot out of the aircraft in the standing position, essentially by the scruff of his throat! This was not adopted for the F.21. Very clean, with a modern wing design and decent power and small frontal cross section the late Spitfires were the most elegant solution to ultra high-speed flight on this list.

It was super-efficient, with a modern five-bladed propeller and a neat engine-driven supercharger which was far more compact than the US solution of an exhaust driven turbo supercharger. The Spitfire 24s sustained turn rate, so vital in combat, was the best of its generation.

6: Grumman F7F Tigercat

The Grumman F7F Tigercat was an awe-inspiring machine with over 4000 horsepower, a great range, a superb climb-rate, and a tremendous top speed of 440mph. For a twin-engined aircraft it was also highly manoeuvrable, with a superior sustained turn rate to both the single-engined M.B.5 and F8F. It is therefore surprising to learn that it scored only two kills (and they were slow vulnerable biplanes).

Interestingly the F7F was intended to be named Tomcat but this was deemed to be too aggressive, but the name would later be used by Grumman for the F-14 made famous by the first Top Gun movie.

6: Grumman F7F Tigercat

Power came from two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engines, an impressive powerplant that was also used by Grummans single-engined Hellcat and Bearcat, as well as the Vought F4U Corsair.

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Seasoned US Navy test pilot Captain Fred Trapnell stated, "It's the best darned fighter I've ever flown. and was particularly impressed by the types performance. The Tigercat fought in the Korean War in both the attack and night fighter role. It enjoyed a new life as a water bomber, fighting fires in California in the 1960s and 70s.

5: Martin-Baker M.B.5

Perhaps the greatest Allied might-have-been of the war? The British Martin-Baker M.B.5 drew unanimous praise from those who flew it for its speed, range and outstanding climb-rate. Key to its stupendous performance was its two layered contrarotating propellers which allowed it to better exploit the tremendous power of the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine.

A top speed exceeding 450mph, the best designed cockpit for pilots, and overall ease of maintenance were among the many blessings of this superb fighter. Polish fighter Janusz Zurakowski who displayed the type aerobatically at the Farnborough airshow was utterly impressed by the M.B.5 and considered it superior to even the Spitfire in many ways.

5: Martin-Baker M.B.5

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Whether it would have lived up to its obvious potential will remain unknown, having the misfortune to emerge into a world teeming with inferior but numerous Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Tempests. It could also be fairly argued that the effort required to set up a new aircraft manufacturer was the last thing Britain needed at the time.

The happy end to this story is that Martin-Baker, freed from aircraft production, went on to create excellent ejection seats to enable crew to escape from stricken aircraft, which have saved over 7700 aircrew lives. It's the world leader in the field today.

4: North American P-82 (later F-82) Twin-Mustang

A bizarre machine consisting of (more or less) two lengthened P-51H fuselages joined with a new centre section, the P-82B holds the record for the longest un-refuelled non-stop flight by a propeller-driven fighter, a distance of 5,051 miles that it achieved in 14 hr 32 min. The route for this record was non-stop from Hawaii to New York, at an impressive average speed of 347mph.

The P-82 was created with long range in mind as it was intended as an escort fighter capable of protecting Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers on long-distance bombing missions. It could carry a radar and served as all-weather interceptor.

4: North American P-82 (later F-82) Twin-Mustang

This utterly distinctive 4500-horsepower freak took part in the Korean War, where it claimed the destruction of 20 enemy aircraft, four of which in the air and 16 on the ground. As well as it being long-ranged it was exceptionally fast with a bewildering maximum speed of 482mph.

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Sadly, for the USAF later models of the Twin-Mustang were powered by Allison engines rather than the superlative Merlin fitted to earlier examples (due to increased royalties demanded by Rolls-Royce) and performance was reduced as a result. The F-82 last well into the jet age, being withdrawn in 1953.

3: de Havilland Hornet

Having flown more aircraft types than anyone else, the most qualified pilot to judge a piston-engined fighter was the British test pilot Eric Winkle Brown. He deemed the single-seat Sea Hornet the finest aircraft he ever flew. Complimenting its high speed and power Brown described it as a "Ferrari in the sky".

Thanks to structural techniques developed from the Mosquito, a tiny frontal cross section and fuselage, and buckets of power, it was joyfully overpowered. The Hornet was essentially a modernised, aerodynamically slicker, reboot of the already superlative Mosquito freed from the weight and drag implications of a second crewmember.

3: de Havilland Hornet

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The Hornet (and the Sea Hornet version for aircraft carrier use) was the zenith of the minimalist school of fighter design, which like the earlier Westland Whirlwind mated the minimum possible wetted area (the area of an aircraft that meets the air) with the maximum power. The Hornet was an astonishing masterpiece of aircraft design.

Capable of a scorching 475mph and armed to the teeth with four 20-mm cannon, it also had an excellent range and could fly at great heights. The Hornet was the finest British twin-engined fighter ever flown.

1: Hawker Sea Fury

By our judgement both the Hawker Sea Fury and Grumman F8F Bearcat are equally impressive fighters, and as such tie at number one in this list.

The British Hawker Sea Fury was the pinnacle of Hawkers illustrious prop fighter line. The Sea Fury had everything a great fighter needs: it was tough, well-armed, fast and agile. Despite its enormous size and power (2,480 HP) it had delightful handling qualities; pilots were impressed with how spin-resistant it was, and Sea Fury pilot Dave Eagles gave it top marks for agility. The Sea Fury was sent to war in Korea, where it proved itself an excellent warplane, notably downing a MiG-15 jet fighter in 1952.

1: Grumman F8F Bearcat

One holds the absolute climb rate record for piston-engined aircraft (the Bearcat at 10,000 feet in 94 seconds) and both have held the maximum speed record in modified uprated forms (the Sea Fury at around 517mph for many years and then Bearcat at 528mph). Both appeared as a result of the same problem  it was too difficult to operate a jet fighter from a carrier and thus piston-engined fighter development was allowed to develop to its apogee. They are so closely matched that it is impossible to choose between them.

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The F8F Bearcat was the ultimate example of US company Grummans pantheon of piston-engined naval fighters. The companys earlier Hellcat had been instrumental in defeating Japan, and the Bearcat was even more potent. Compact, with immaculate handling, the F8F was utterly brilliant. The Bearcat is the highest-ranking American entry partly as it actually entered service, but several evolutions of the P-47 Thunderbolt were also superlative fighters and deserve a honourable mention - as does the P-51H (for Britain, the Supermarine Spiteful and Tempest II must be mentioned).

Follow Joe Coles on Substack, Twitter X or Blue Sky. His superb Hush-Kit Book of Warplanes is available here.

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Photo Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en

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The current blockade of the Strait of Hormuz - one of the most important shipping routes for the global oil trade - is becoming an increasing risk for the global economy. A new study by the Supply Chain Intelligence Institute Austria (ASCII), the Complexity Science Hub (CSH) and TU Delft shows that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could have a significant impact on global supply chains and energy markets. The study is the first to systematically examine the extent to which countries and industries worldwide are dependent on the exports of the five Gulf states whose maritime trade runs entirely through Hormuz: Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. In total, these five states export goods worth around 1.2 trillion US dollars per year, with energy products such as crude oil, liquefied natural gas and refined petroleum products accounting for the largest share of the affected trade flows at around 800 billion US dollars.

"The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most critical bottlenecks in the global economy. A prolonged blockade would not only affect energy markets, but also put pressure on numerous global supply chains," explains study author and ASCII Director Peter Klimek.

Duration of the blockade determines economic consequences Using the specially developed shipping model TIDES, various scenarios with 10,000 simulated tankers and 1,315 ports worldwide were examined. The result: short blockades of up to two weeks would only have limited economic consequences. However, if a disruption lasts longer than four weeks, delays can build up along global supply chains. A 56-day blockade would significantly increase delays in global tanker traffic, as missed port windows, congestion in ports and postponed schedules would reinforce each other. In the short term, the researchers anticipate price increases and market volatility rather than immediate supply disruptions and supply bottlenecks. Strategic reserves, stocks and alternative suppliers could cushion short-term bottlenecks. However, long-term blockages could lead to persistently high energy prices, rising production costs and a decline in the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries.

"The longer a disruption lasts, the greater the impact of chain reactions in global supply chains. The economic consequences then increase disproportionately," explains Stefan Thurner, author of the study and President of the Complexity Science Hub (CSH).

Global economy heavily dependent on energy exports from the Gulf region Large Asian economies are the most dependent on exports from the Gulf states. China imports goods worth around 97 billion US dollars annually, followed by India with 74 billion, Japan with 63 billion, South Korea with 30 billion and Thailand with 22 billion US dollars. These countries source large quantities of crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas and refined petroleum products from the region. In addition to energy products, other raw materials also play a role: between 2019 and 2023, around 31% of global urea exports (urea) came from the Gulf region. Together, the five countries surveyed export 8 to 10 % of global fertilizer production worth around USD 13.5 billion annually. Another strategic area is specialty gases for semiconductor production, such as neon, helium and argon. Here, exports from the Gulf states surveyed amount to around 3 billion US dollars per year.

Energy dependency is concentrated in just a few countries across Europe The analysis shows a differentiated picture for Europe. The EU imports around USD 47 billion a year from the five Hormuz-dependent Gulf states, with the risks being heavily concentrated in just a few countries. At USD 9.8 billion per year, Italy is the largest importer within the EU and purchases large quantities of liquid gas from Qatar worth around USD 4.4 billion and propane worth around USD 3.2 billion. Belgium is also heavily exposed: The country imports around USD 5.8 billion worth of Qatari liquefied gas annually, primarily via the LNG terminal in Zeebrugge, while significant diamond trade flows from the United Arab Emirates pass through Antwerp. The United Kingdom even has the highest exposure in Europe at USD 12.9 billion per year, of which around USD 5.9 billion are gas products from Qatar. Germany and France, on the other hand, are more diversified. Germany imports around USD 5.7 billion and France around USD 8.1 billion from the countries concerned.

Germany: direct dependence low, but vulnerable to rising energy prices Germany imports around USD 5.7 billion worth of goods from Gulf states every year and is comparatively diversified in terms of both products and supplier countries. The United Arab Emirates account for the largest share at USD 4.2 billion, mainly through the import of ships, yachts and industrial equipment rather than traditional consumer goods. Qatar contributes USD 0.6 billion, particularly through propane and specialty gases, which also play a strategically important role in semiconductor production and industrial processes. Further shares are attributable to Kuwait (USD 0.4 billion) and Iran (USD 0.3 billion), including carpets and pistachios. Overall, the broader diversification and lower dependence on energy imports that are difficult to replace means that Germany is considered more resilient than countries such as Italy or the UK. Nevertheless, there are indirect risks: rising energy prices, particularly for gas, could place a considerable burden on energy-intensive sectors such as the chemical industry in particular.

"Germany's direct dependency is comparatively low - the real vulnerability lies in the indirect effects. Rising energy prices act as a multiplier along the entire value chain and affect energy-intensive industries in particular. This is precisely where the extent to which geopolitical tensions ultimately affect the real economy is decided," says study author and ASCII Director Peter Klimek.

Study calls for rapid de-escalation The analysis leads to three main conclusions for political decision-makers in Europe: Rapid de-escalation is crucial to keep disruptions in the shipping system short and prevent delays from spreading along global supply chains and triggering major economic consequences. At the same time, the study recommends precautionary planning for longer-lasting disruptions, as the effects can increase disproportionately from around one month onwards and delays along global supply chains can be exacerbated. Finally, clear and transparent communication from authorities also plays an important role in avoiding market uncertainties.
Home News Billy Hallowell investigates angels, demons in apologetics-focused doc: The supernatural is all over the Bible

When people hear about a documentary on angels and demons, they might expect sensationalism or speculation.

But investigative journalist Billy Hallowell says his goal with the new film Investigating the Supernatural: Angels and Demons was the opposite: seeking to carefully examine evidence and expert testimony surrounding claims of the unseen world and help viewers use it as a tool for apologetics.

When you get into these stories, you want proof. I kept going into all these claims thinking, Is this really true? Can I really believe this? Hallowell told The Christian Post.

The documentary, part of a three-film investigative series from CBN, follows Hallowell as he travels across the country interviewing theologians, scientists, doctors and eyewitnesses about experiences involving angelic intervention, demonic encounters and miraculous healings.

Part one of the Investigating the Supernatural series, which focused on miracles, recently won the Aletheia Documentary Award, which recognizes excellence in documentary storytelling, at the 2026 Movieguide Awards.

Like the first installment of the series, rather than relying solely on faith-based claims, Investigating the Supernatural: Angels and Demons includes voices from theological, medical and scientific fields, including Lee Strobel, Hugh Ross, Gregory Boyd, Sam Storms, John Burke and others.

We wanted to unpack not just evidence and what people were saying and try to find proof, Hallowell said. We also wanted to find doctors and scientists, people who actually look at the world through evidence.

One such voice featured in the documentary, written by Jarrod Anderson, is Dr. Richard Gallagher, a psychiatrist known for his work examining alleged cases of demonic possession.

Dr. Richard Gallagher actually wasnt a believer, Hallowell said. He was a skeptic until he started exploring cases of claims of the demonic.

For the 42-year-old New York native, the investigation required him to set aside some of his own assumptions about the supernatural. While he had previously researched demonic activity while writing his 2020 book Playing with Fire,he said he had spent less time thinking about angels and how they operate.

In Scripture, you see angels show up, deliver a message and leave, he said. But I had never really thought about that before this project. Where do they go? If theyre Gods messengers and they serve believers, what does that actually look like?

The investigation also required him to evaluate extraordinary personal testimonies with caution.

There was one story in particular that involved a near-death experience, an angel encounter and a healing, Hallowell said. When I first read about it, I thought, This just seems too much. Is this really true? So a lot of it was putting aside preconceived notions and just looking at the facts.

Still, Hallowell emphasized that the film does not attempt to force viewers toward a predetermined conclusion.

Were not trying to tell you exactly what to think, he said. Were providing the stories, and viewers can decide for themselves.

Despite skepticism in some academic circles, Hallowell argues that belief in the spiritual realm is far more common than many assume. And belief in supernatural forces is far from unique to Christianity.

There are people who want to pretend its weird to believe in angels and demons, he said. But when you actually look at the polling data, the majority of Americans believe in a spiritual realm.

Since the beginning of time, virtually every culture has documented the spiritual realm in some way, Hallowell said. People have experiences, and those experiences shape belief.

Based on his research, Hallowell believes modern Western skepticism often stems from a worldview that prioritizes material explanations above all else.

A lot of material scientists are so focused on the here and now that theyre not willing to look beyond it, he said. But people are still having experiences today. When you ask them, theyll say, I dont know exactly what it is, but theres something more.

Filming the documentary also came with its own emotional and spiritual weight. Hallowell said he and the production team frequently began filming days with prayer, particularly when tackling stories involving spiritual warfare. At times, he said, the team experienced unusual stress during production.

Im not someone who walks around saying theres a demon under every rock, he said. But there were moments where things felt very heavy.

Sometimes youd show up to film, and everybodys kids were sick or something else had gone wrong, he said. You can say thats just life, and sometimes it is, but there were moments where it felt heavier than normal. So we would pray through it.

The documentarys release around Easter was intentional, Hallowell said, because the themes of spiritual conflict and redemption are central to the Christian faith. He pointed to Ephesians 6, describing a struggle not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities.

I think a lot of people read the Bible as though its just a book about the past, he said. But were still part of that story. The battle between good and evil is still unfolding.

While Christians believe Christs death and resurrection secured ultimate victory over sin, Hallowell said believers are still living in the midst of that spiritual struggle.

You cant win a battle you dont know youre in, he said. A lot of people are walking around confused and unaware that there is a spiritual battle happening.

Beyond sparking discussion, Hallowell hopes the documentary can also serve as a tool for discipleship and apologetics. The filmmakers plan to release a Bible study alongside the film to help churches and small groups engage with the topics raised.

These are topics people are inherently interested in, he said. Even people who arent Christians are fascinated by the supernatural.

That cultural fascination, he believes, creates an opportunity for meaningful conversations about faith.

Every October, horror movies about demons and ghosts come out, and people flock to them, he said. Theres natural intrigue.

Hallowell believes that intrigue can be redirected toward deeper spiritual exploration, especially among younger audiences.

I think the supernatural is actually an opportunity for apologetics, he said. These conversations can open doors to talk about faith in ways that resonate with the next generation.

Watch Investigating the Supernatural: Angels and Demons here.
Home News Prompting of the Holy Spirit: Georgia church baptizes 400 in one weekend

A megachurch in Georgia baptized 400 people across its three campuses during worship services held over a single weekend.

Bethlehem Church, a multisite church with an average weekly worship attendance of 7,000, baptized exactly 400 people at its campuses on the weekend of Sunday, March 1.

The mass baptism came amid an eight-week teaching series by Lead Pastor Jason Britt about the Holy Spirit and His power and presence, according to comments emailed to The Christian Post by a Bethlehem Church staff member.

This spontaneous baptism was not planned for months in advance; rather, it was a prompting of the Holy Spirit that was placed on Pastor Jasons heart a few days before, the church spokesperson said.

Seeds had been planted for years, and that weekend was a harvest. What we saw was a culmination of many different points of connection: small groups, lunches and coffees, and meetings with staff members and other believers.

The spokesperson said Britt had been planning to preach a sermon on Acts 2, which describes the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the early Church.

I felt prompted, and I read it with fresh eyes. It says, Repent and be baptized, and I felt like the Holy Spirit pressed that on me, Britt said, as quoted by the spokesperson. A Spirit-filled church is full of Spirit-sensitive people, and Spirit-sensitive people obey.

This is not the first time Bethlehem Church has held what it describes as a spontaneous baptism service. In August 2021, 114 people came forward to be baptized; over the course of last year, the church baptized more than 600 people.

Regarding follow-up, the church staff member told CP that their heart is to always be walking with people through next steps and that we want to disciple them in the weeks moving forward.

We are offering multiple four-week follow-up groups, which many of those baptized have already started attending, with the goal of helping them understand their new identity in Christ, the spokesperson said.

We also regularly offer opportunities for people to meet one-on-one with staff members or volunteers who can walk them through this discipleship journey. Finally, many of our existing small groups are writing letters to people who were baptized to encourage them and point them toward next steps.

The staff member said the churchs desire is for these individuals to be encouraged and empowered to open up their Bibles and see and hear from God, to get comfortable with prayer, and to start daily disciplines that encourage intimacy with Jesus.
Home News Iran executes champion wrestler, 2 others found guilty of waging war against God

Iran executed champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi and two other men after convicting them of waging war against God in connection with the killing of two police officers during protests in January.

Nineteen-year-old Mohammadi and the other two men, identified as Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi, were hanged in Qom, south of Tehran, after being convicted of "moharebeh," or waging war against God, a capital offense under Irans Islamic legal code, according to the non-profit Iran Human Rights.

Irans judiciary said the men were found guilty of involvement in the killing of two officers and of carrying out operational actions in favor of Israel and the United States, sources confirmed to CBS News.

The executions were the first hangings carried out by Iran in connection with nationwide demonstrations that began in late December over the rising cost of living and later turned into anti-government protests.

Rights groups said the three men were executed without a fair trial and after confessions were obtained under torture. There had been particular concern over Mohammadis case because of his age and status as an athlete.

Amnesty International said he was denied an adequate defense and forced to make confessions in fast-tracked proceedings that did not amount to a meaningful trial.

Dadban, an Iranian legal affairs monitor, also said the three men were denied effective access to independent counsel and the right to a defense.

The three men had been accused of using swords and knives to attack police officers attempting to subdue protests on Jan. 8, killing two of them, Washington Examiner reported, citing Iranian state media and other reports.

Mohammadi was arrested on Jan. 15, and Irans Supreme Court had recently upheld the death sentences of the three men, according to the Examiner, which noted that Iranian authorities frequently accuse dissidents of links to the United States and Israel.

The executions came a day after Iran hanged Kouroush Keyvani, a dual Iranian-Swedish national, on charges of spying for Israel. Sweden and the European Union condemned the execution.

CBS said it was the first publicly announced execution of that type since Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and setting off a war that has spread across the Middle East.

Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based group, said it feared a surge in executions during the conflict. The group added that hundreds of people were facing charges linked to the protests that could result in death sentences and warned of the risk of mass executions of protesters and political prisoners in the shadow of war.

Irans hardline judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, has declared there will be no leniency for those convicted of violent acts during the protests.

Iranian authorities blamed the unrest on the United States and Israel. Tehran has acknowledged that more than 3,000 people died in the violence, including members of the security forces and bystanders, and said the deaths were caused by what it described as terrorist acts.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported in February that it recorded more than 7,000 killings, while warning that the real toll could be far higher, along with tens of thousands of arrests.

Two senior officials in Irans Health Ministry told Time that as many as 30,000 people may have been killed on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 alone, though the magazine said it could not independently verify the figure.

Dr. Amir Parasta, a German-Iranian eye surgeon who compiled data from physicians and first responders, told Time that a hospital tally stood at 30,304 deaths as of Friday. He said that figure did not include protest-related deaths recorded at military hospitals or in places the inquiry did not reach.

According to witnesses, millions of people were in the streets when authorities shut down the internet and other communications, and rooftop snipers and trucks mounted with heavy machine guns opened fire. Images of bloodied bodies later reportedly emerged through banned Starlink satellite internet connections.

At least 1,500 people were hanged last year, according to Iran Human Rights.
Home Opinion Why am I still United Methodist?

The short answer: Because the denomination has become irrelevant.

And, as a traditional Wesleyan living in Northern Virginia, as would be true in most large metropolitan areas, there are few alternatives.

For nearly 40 years, starting as a college student, I worked for Evangelical renewal in United Methodism. During 2019-2023, we at IRD encouraged traditional churches to exit under the temporary denominational law allowing withdrawal from the denomination with church property. Nearly 8,000 churches exited or were officially closed, half of them joining the new Global Methodist Church (GMC).

GMC has no major presence in the DC area or in most cities, especially outside the south, otherwise I would have joined the GMC. Almost no churches exited United Methodism in the DC area. I still hope GMC will plant in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia, and in other urban areas.

Other Wesleyan denominations, like the Nazarenes, Free Methodists, Wesleyans, Church of God, and others, do not have a very strong presence in my area. Also, I confess, I prefer traditional worship with old hymns, liturgy, an organ, with minister in clerical robes. I enjoyably attend a United Methodist congregation near my home that has all of these, plus a pastor who preaches a traditional Gospel.

There are probably problems in my local church, as there are everywhere, but Im not looking for them. Reinhold Niebuhr rightly warned against idealizing the church, just as we shouldnt idealize any other human institution.

I am not a fan of the United Methodist Churchs current direction. But in truth, I have not been for my whole life. Yet still I came to and grew in faith in it. The denominational policies are less distressing to me now than 30 years ago because they have become almost inconsequential. And mercifully, I never hear them discussed in my congregation, because very few care about them. Of what importance are they? As my former pastor once admitted, nobody in the congregation under age 60 cares about United Methodism.

Contrary to what critics of Mainline Protestantism think, based on Woke Preacher Clips or other provocative media, local Mainline congregations rarely include political radicalism or drag queens, etc. They typically include mostly traditional people who worship with traditional hymns, liturgy, and sermons. They are more oblivious and indifferent to their denominational bureaucracies than ever before.

Mainline Protestantism is institutionally dying. Many of its denominations, including United Methodism, possibly, even likely, will not functionally exist 10 years from now, except on paper or as endowments. As a young man, I heard old people defiantly declare: I will die a United Methodist! I have not heard that from anybody in many years, about any denomination. Mainline denominations will die or fade into obscurity, but thousands of their congregations will endure, adapting to new realities apart from the old rigid denominational structures.

Decades ago, denominations commanded multidenominational loyalties. People built their lives around them. They attended them, tithed to them, read their publications, attended their camps, joined their mens or womens societies, supported their missions agencies, and sent their children to their colleges. Those days are over. Now, churchgoers look for a congregation that suits them, regardless of denominational ties.

The priest of the Episcopal church near my United Methodist church told me his congregation, when he arrived after the pandemic, had faded away. So, he helped recruit new people, including many families, the vast majority of whom do not care about the Episcopal church. Many of them are former Baptists. They just want a neighborhood church with other young families. The label on the sign is unimportant to them.

Of course, many denominational churches now hide their label, seeing a denominational tie as a hindrance. This is neither good nor bad, just different.

I am still a United Methodist and attend a United Methodist church every Sunday as I have my whole life. But I do not care about the denomination. Even as a lifelong adherent and once a longtime activist, I can no longer name the major officials of my ostensible denomination. I do not follow what its agencies do. The bishops recently made a statement about the Iran War. I did not read it. Why bother? Nobody else does.

If asked what I am religiously, I will say: Methodist. Many will assume that means United Methodist and assume it entails far Left wokery. Few realize that Methodist applies to scores of denominations in the U.S. and around the world that include 80 million or so people. USA United Methodism has only 3.9 million at last count, down from 11 million 57 years ago, and is fast declining. And many, if not most of the remaining USA United Methodists, are traditional or centrist, focused on their local congregations, not the denomination.

Thousands of United Methodist churches will close in the coming years. But thousands will survive. (There are about 20,000 in the U.S., down from over 30,000 just a few years ago.) I hope my congregation will endure. If it continues to preach the Gospel, it likely will.

Ten years ago, if you had told me that, after a denominational schism, I would still be a United Methodist, I would have been shocked. But in our post-denominational age, when denominations mean very little, here I am, by default. I am grateful for my congregation and indifferent to the denomination. It does not merit anger, opposition, or even irritation. Its sunset is now visible. Extinct dinosaurs should not be feared.

As President William McKinley once explained: I am a Methodist and nothing but a Methodist  a Christian and nothing but a Christian. United Methodism was born in 1968 and will expire in the coming years. But Methodism, with its message of divine grace available to all people, will continue.

Originally published at Juicy Ecumenism.
Ban can ang nhap e thuc hien chuc nang nay!
Li Qiang, China's premier, speaks at the China Development Forum in Beijing, China, on Sunday, March 22, 2026. The forum runs through March 23. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged on Sunday to further open the country's economy to foreign firms and pursue more balanced trade with its global partners, after a year marked by trade friction and tariff wars with the United States and European Union in particular.

China will import more high-quality foreign goods and work with all parties to promote optimized and balanced trade development and expand the global trade pie, Li told the China Development Forum in Beijing, according to state media.

The annual two-day forum, which concludes on Monday, allows Beijing to lay out its economic vision and investment opportunities to foreign business leaders, Chinese officials, economists and academics. It comes after the world's second-biggest economy reported a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus for 2025.

Challenges for Beijing are aplenty, including deflecting concerns from an increasing number of global capitals about China's trade practices and overcapacity, as well as their overreliance on key Chinese products.

While Li's speech did not appear to directly mention the surplus, his pledges indicate an awareness that the issue could disrupt international relations at a time when China has reached a temporary truce with the U.S. on trade. U.S. President Donald Trump last week postponed a trip to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping due to the Iran war, delaying an effort to ease tensions between the world's two biggest economies.

In a separate speech at the forum, China's central bank governor Pan Gongsheng also sought to alleviate concerns surrounding the trade surplus.

"Analyzing global economic imbalances requires looking not only at trade in goods but also services, and not only at the current account but also the financial account," Pan said, according to a transcript of his speech published by the People's Bank of China, adding that China is the country with the largest goods surplus but also the largest services deficit.

China has no need and no intention to gain trade competitive advantage through currency depreciation, Pan said.
The AI era is massively reshaping the workforce. As companies deal with a tight labor market, they're looking to enhance productivity with technology. At the same time, workers are looking to boost their skills so that they too can evolve alongside their companies, not only ensuring they keep their jobs but advance in their careers.

"Employers and leaders are being asked to do more with less, and that means you need each person inside of your organization to be the best possible version of themselves, because you need the output and productivity to go up," said Bijal Shah, CEO of education benefits company Guild, which provides a platform for employees to earn degrees and certificates to advance their careers.

Shah, who was named to the 2025 CNBC Changemakers list, said that disruptions like AI that reshape companies and the economy require workforces to be more resilient. That's needed for both workers and their companies to stay competitive. On top of that, Shah said this form of workplace mobility, or the ability of workers to adapt and evolve to fill in-demand jobs, is a crucial indicator of what companies and workers will adapt to these disruptions or fall behind.

"CEOs and their leadership teams are spending a lot of time thinking about, 'How am I going to do more with less?'" Shah said. "Therefore, things like ensuring that your best possible people stick around, those that carry domain expertise and knowledge, is really important."

Key to that, Shah said, is a focus on building out career ladders within organizations: it's those workers who not only can grow into critical talent but are also more likely to stay with their companies.

Paul Marchand, chief human resources officer at Charter Communications , the telecoms company that employs more than 90,000 people, said there is a "virtuous cycle" when it comes to implementing these sorts of talent development programs.

"The more somebody is with us and working hard and growing and developing, the more they're going to be committed to the customer experience, ensuring customers are satisfied and taken care of, which leads to that retentive nature of a customer," Marchand said. "Ultimately, that's our business goal."

In 2023, Charter launched a tuition-free education benefit for employees in conjunction with Guild, providing a structured career progression program. Marchand said that to-date, about 13% of the company's workforce had either enrolled or completed courses, the vast majority of those employees being in frontline, customer-facing roles.

For employees that have taken advantage of the program, they've been promoted at a 20% higher rate than other workers, Charter data showed. Those workers are also 19% more likely to stay with the company, the data showed.

"We're seeing the desire for a career path and a promotable ability, as opposed to, 'yeah this is just a job,'" he said. "Now they feel that they're part of a team, they feel engagement, they feel empowered, and they feel like there's a pathway for them, and that opens up all these conversations."

Shah said in this workforce environment where companies are looking for highly productive workers, making sure these sorts of programs are available and that workers are aware of those types of pathways is critical.

"People who are willing to invest in themselves, people who are willing to stick around at their employer, and people who are willing to evolve their competencies and become better at their job are all becoming increasingly more important," she said. "You're starting to see employers grapple with this, and then ask themselves, 'What can I do to help my workforce keep up with what's required?'"
Investors may catch their breath next week as earnings season winds down and only a few meaningful economic reports are released. The Iran war will remain front and center. Stock selling accelerated Friday into the close after Reuters reported that Iraq had declared force majeure on all oil fields operated by foreign companies. Oil prices spiked on the news, with Brent crude topping $112 a barrel and WTI oil trading over $98 a barrel. As we noted recently, oil is the lifeblood of the global economy. It's a large, unavoidable input cost for Main Street and Wall Street, so when its price rises, the price of most things goes up. As a result, active investors should regularly monitor oil prices every minute the market is open; they dictate how Wall Street views market value because commodity prices move inversely to corporate earnings potential. 1. How is the jobs market? Investors are still trying to get a handle on that question, and will look to the weekly initial claims report on Thursday and the productivity and costs report on Tuesday. These aren't the most important gauges of employment  the monthly nonfarm payroll report is king  but given how little data is coming out amid rising fears of stagnation, market watchers will pay more attention than usual. Expect more talk of stagnation  a prolonged period of slow or no economic growth, characterized by high unemployment and stagnant wages  given higher oil prices, rising concerns about the Middle East conflict, and corporate adoption of AI. Those fears are starting to make their way into the market. Look no further than the change in fed funds futures. One month ago, the odds of an April rate cut were 17%, while there was a 94% chance of at least one cut by the end of this year, and a 75% chance of more than one cut, according to the CME's FedWatch tool , which calculates probabilities using 30-day fed funds futures contracts. Odds of an April cut are now at 10%, and there is a 73% chance of no cuts this year. 2. Consumer sentiment is crucial because spending accounts for roughly two-thirds of the U.S. economy. That makes the University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers, out Friday, especially important, since half of the data from the last one was collected before the war in Iran. This one will give a fuller reading on how the conflict is impacting sentiment. A handful of earnings  Winnebago , Designer Brands , and Carnival  should provide some more clues about spending. 3. S & P Global's CERAWeek , from Monday through Friday, is one of the biggest events for the energy complex , bringing together government officials and industry experts with a focus on energy, the climate, and geopolitics. Two key topics will be the war in Iran and the surging demand for energy driven by AI data center infrastructure initiatives. 4. KB Home is the key earnings release of the week. As one of the largest home builders in the U.S., the company's results should provide insight into the supply and demand dynamics of the housing market. It will be particularly interesting to hear what the team has to say about customer conversations in the wake of the war in Iran. It's difficult to imagine housing activity improving as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and energy prices remain elevated. Week ahead Monday, March 23 10 a.m. ET: Construction Spending Tuesday, March 24 8:30 a.m. ET: Productivity and Unit Labor Costs report 9:45 a.m. ET: S & P Global Services and Manufacturing PMI reports Before the bell: Core & Main (CNM), Concentrix (CNXC), Smithfield Foods (SFD) After the bell: KB Home (KBH), GameStop (GME), AAR Corp (AIR) Wednesday, March 25 8:30 a.m. ET: Import/Export Price Index Before the bell: Chewy (CHWY), Pinduoduo (PDD), Baozun (BZUN), Cintas (CTAS), Paychex (PAYX), Winnebago (WGO) After the bell: Beyond Meat (BYND), Jefferies Financial (JEF), MillerKnoll (MLKN) Thursday, March 26 8:30 a.m. ET: Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index 8:30 a.m. ET: Initial Jobless Claims Before the bell: Commercial Metals Company (CMC), Designer Brands (DBI) Friday, March 27 10 a.m. ET: Michigan Consumer Sentiment Before the bell: Carnival (CCL) (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) 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 an aerial view, Marathon Petroleum Corp's Los Angeles Refinery, one of the largest oil refineries in the North America, operates as gas prices rocket upward due to worldwide oil supply disruptions caused by the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran, on March 10, 2026 in Carson, California.

Oil prices were little changed on Monday as investors weighed U.S. and Iranian threats to target energy facilities that could escalate the war against the release of millions of barrels of Iranian oil at sea to global markets after Washington lifted sanctions.

Benchmark Brent crude dropped 8 cents to $112.11 a barrel by 7:30 p.m. ET after settling at the highest since July 2022 on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $98.17 a barrel, down 6 cents, after a 2.27% gain in the previous session. The spread between Brent and WTI has exceeded $14 a barrel, the widest in years.

Michael McCarthy, CEO of online trading platform Moomoo Australia, said oil prices were falling temporarily due to low liquidity and traders taking profit in the short term.

"Momentum clearly favors further upside, and a test of the recent highs near $120 is a realistic scenario this week," he added.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, a significant escalation barely a day after he talked about "winding down" the war, now in its fourth week.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote on X that critical infrastructure and energy facilities in the Middle East could be "irreversibly destroyed" should Iranian power plants be attacked.

"It clearly means more escalation, which means higher oil prices. Some are incorrectly thinking, however, that Iran may cave," said Amrita Sen, founder of Energy Aspects. "Trump is trying to show he can out-escalate and that way ends in scorched earth for Gulf infrastructure."

The war has damaged major energy facilities in the Gulf and brought shipping through the Strait of Hormuz  which handles about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows  close to a halt. Analysts estimated a loss of 7 million to 10 million barrels per day of oil production in the Middle East.

Iraq has declared force majeure on all oilfields developed by foreign oil companies, three energy officials said. Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani said in a ministry statement that crude production at Basra Oil Company has been cut to 900,000 bpd from 3.3 million bpd.

To alleviate the supply crunch, Washington temporarily removed sanctions on Iranian oil at sea.

Indian refiners plan to resume buying Iranian oil while refiners elsewhere in Asia are examining such a move, traders said on Saturday. 

WATCH: Brent crude could surpass $130 a barrel if Strait of Hormuz remains closed
The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) or Chagos Islands (formerly the Oil Islands) is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Africa and Indonesia. The largest island is Diego Garcia (area 44 km squared), the site of a joint military facility of the United Kingdom and the United States. (Photo by: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Pictures From History | Universal Images Group | Getty Images

Iran fired two missiles at the joint British-American Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean but they failed to reach their target, a U.K. minister said Sunday, confirming earlier reports of the number of projectiles. "Our assessment is that the Iranians certainly targeted Diego Garcia. As we understand it, one missile fell short, failed. The other was intercepted and prevented," U.K. Housing Secretary Steve Reed told BBC television. Reed declined to say how far short the missiles fell. "There is no specific assessment that the Iranians are targeting the U.K. or even could if they wanted to," Reed added. Iran targeted Diego Garcia with a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile, Israel's military said Saturday. This refers to missiles with at least two rocket engines, one allowing the missile to reach space, and the other propels it to its target, at a range of up to 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles). "These missiles are not intended to strike Israel. Their range extends to the capitals of Europe  Berlin, Paris, and Rome are all within direct threat range," Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said.

Infographic with map locating the Chagos Islands and the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia (Graphic by Lise KIENNEMANN and Valentina BRESCHI / AFP via Getty Images) Lise Kiennemann | Afp Infographics | Getty Images

The Wall Street Journal first reported the attack on Friday, citing multiple U.S. officials. The reported attack marked Iran's first operational use of intermediate-range ballistic missiles and a significant attempt to reach far beyond the Middle East and threaten U.S. interests, the Wall Street Journal said. "Iran's reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies," the U.K.'s Ministry of Defence said in a statement sent to CNBC on Saturday. "[Royal Air Force] jets and other U.K. military assets are continuing to defend our people and personnel in the region." The MoD said Iran's unsuccessful targeting of the base happened before the U.K. approved, a day earlier, the use of its bases by U.S. forces for defensive operations. The U.K. has given the U.S. permission to use its bases at RAF Fairford in England and at Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands for "specific and limited defensive operations," the MoD said. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said Friday that ministers had approved U.S. forces' use of British bases to defend the region, including "U.S. defensive operations to degrade missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz." Reuters quoted Iran's representative to the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization, Ali Mousavi, as saying on Sunday the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all shipping except vessels linked to "Iran's enemies."

Targeting Iran's power plants

U.S. President Donald Trump late Saturday threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, as the war escalated in a dangerous new direction at the start of its fourth week. "If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social. The dramatic reversal came barely a day after Trump talked about "winding down" the war. In a Truth Social post on Friday, the president claimed that the U.S. is "getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East."

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Trump had also told reporters that he is not interested in a ceasefire with Iran. "We could have dialogue, but I don't want to do a ceasefire," Trump said from the White House South Lawn before departing for Florida. "You know you don't do a ceasefire when you're literally obliterating the other side." "They don't have a navy. They don't have an air force. They don't have any equipment," Trump continued. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf promised on Sunday to target regional energy facilities if his country's power plants are hit. "Immediately after the power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, the critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and oil facilities throughout the region will be considered legitimate targets and will be destroyed in an irreversible manner, and the price of oil will remain high for a long time," Ghalibaf said in a post on X. Hours after Trump's remarks, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz countered that Israeli attacks against Iran will "increase significantly" in the coming week. Trump issued his stark warning as Iran and Israel traded strikes targeting nuclear facilities. Dozens of people were injured after Iran struck two communities near Israel's main nuclear research site. The Israeli military said its defenses were not able to intercept missiles that hit the southern cities of Dimona and Arad. Initial footage from the scene in Arad showed a bus with its windows blown out and heavy damage to several buildings, and dozens of firefighters and police responding to two separate impact sites. Israel's rescue services said four people were seriously injured, including a 4-year-old girl, and 29 were lightly injured. Authorities are still looking for several people who are unaccounted for. It marked the first time in the war that Israel's nuclear research center was targeted. Israel's secretive nuclear reactor is about 13 kilometers southeast of Dimona. Both cities lie near several military sites, including Nevatim Air Base, one of the country's largest.

U.S. allows sale of Iran oil at sea
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Europe's Ariane 6 rocket takes off, in Kourou, French Guiana, July 9, 2024. European Space Agency ESA | Via Reuters

A new layer of critical infrastructure is emerging above our heads. Low Earth Orbit (LEO)  which NASA defines as the stretch of space at an altitude of 2,000 km or less  is rapidly evolving from a niche technical domain into one of the most strategically important environments of the 21st century. It underpins global navigation, telecommunications, defense and worldwide connectivity and is seeing a flood of investment. LEO satellites, with their relative proximity to Earth, deliver quicker responses, reduced launch costs and faster communication speeds. Unlike satellites in more elevated orbits, they do not stay above a fixed spot on Earth and often work in constellations to maximize global coverage. Higher trajectories, such as Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO), host longestablished satellite infrastructure, but they are subject to more rigid operational constraints. More than $45 billion worth of investment in the sector was recorded in 2025, up sharply from just under $25 billion in 2024, according to Space IQ, a report tracking startup activity and investment trends in the space economy. "Orbital access is becoming a strategic asset much like ports, cables, or energy grids on Earth," Carlos Moreira, CEO of Swiss cybersecurity and semiconductor firm Wisekey, told CNBC.

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The most visible example of this shift is Elon Musk's rapidly expanding satellite network. His rocket company, SpaceX, already operates the Starlink constellation, which currently has more than 9,500 satellites flying. The company plans to expand this network by adding thousands more satellites. SpaceX has also proposed an even larger project, a solar-powered orbital data-center system, that could eventually involve up to one million satellites. But SpaceX is not alone. Just this week tech darling Nvidia unveiled a new platform aimed at bringing AI computing into orbit. The system is designed to support orbital data centers, geospatial intelligence and autonomous space operations. "Space computing, the final frontier, has arrived," said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the company's GTC conference 2026 in San Jose. This approach could transform orbital data centers into instruments of discovery and spacecraft into self-navigating systems, he said. Amazon LEO  formerly known as Project Kuiper  plans to deploy more than 3,000 satellites into Low Earth Orbit. Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a further 4,500 satellites for future deployment. Meanwhile, Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, is expected to launch more than 5,000 satellites by late 2027. In Europe, Eutelsat 's OneWeb LEO satellite network currently consists of more than 600 satellites. While currently operating on a much smaller scale, France is hoping the company will eventually rival Musk's Starlink and has committed 1.35 billion euros ($1.58 billion) in investment in Eutelsat, making it the company's biggest shareholder with a roughly 30% stake. China has also filed plans for more than 200,000 satellites across 14 constellations. The scale of these planned deployments represents a fundamental shift in how space will be used, governed, and commercialized.

A new investment moment

More than $400 billion has been invested in the space economy since 2009, with the U.S. contributing over half of that investment, followed by China, according to Space Capital. Space Capital CEO Chad Anderson said the industry remains in the "early innings of a multi-decade infrastructure cycle." He noted that while the sector is still in early stages of evolution, it has matured enough to offer meaningful public market opportunities. Around a dozen space companies are already publicly listed, with more expected over the coming year, including the highly anticipated SpaceX IPO , which Anderson said could mark the space sector's "Netscape moment"  a pivotal event that reshapes investor expectations and draws broader capital into the market.



Yet as momentum builds and commercial activity accelerates, Wisekey's Moreira cautioned that this expansion must be "managed with the same level of seriousness as digital sovereignty on Earth." He argued that space should remain a domain that benefits humanity  supporting connectivity, scientific discovery and economic growth  rather than becoming a place of uncontrolled competition and systemic risk.

Regulations risks

A key challenge for market growth is the fragmented governance of Leo and its multi-layered system of operation. At the international level, the Outer Space Treaty establishes that states are responsible for all space activities carried out under their jurisdiction, while the UN's space debris mitigation guidelines provide nonbinding sustainability principles. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) manages global spectrum allocation, helping prevent interference and maintain reliable operation across communications networks. Alongside these formal mechanisms, industry groups such as the Space Safety Coalition promote voluntary bestpractice standards. National authorities then provide operational oversight. In the United States, for example, the FCC licenses satellite constellations and spectrum use, and the FAA oversees launch and reentry activities.
A giant inflatable Labubu toy floats on the water at Victoria Harbour on October 25, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images

28-year-old Rebecca Zhou, born in China's Sichuan province, owns an assortment of Moomin merchandise  bags, mugs, and figurines featuring the white hippo-looking cartoon character from Finland  that she has accumulated over the years. By her own admission, many of these purchases may seem "childish", but "it is [just] nice to treat yourself to something fun, even if it is not the most value-for-money," Zhou said. Zhou is not alone. Data from analysts and official sources show that Chinese consumers are increasingly spending on goods and experiences chosen for their emotional resonance over practical value  everything from theme parks to jewelry. But what may once have been a fairly unsurprising consumer impulse is now being taken seriously by China's business leaders and policymakers.

'A sense of connection'

China's "emotional economy" first entered into public discourse in 2024, after a craze over Pop Mart 's Labubu figurines appeared to signal shifts in Chinese consumer behavior, where a consumer group once characterized by norms of frugality and pragmatism appeared just as willing to splurge on self-indulgence. "People are not just buying things," said Ashley Dudarenok, founder of digital consultancy ChoZan told CNBC in a phone call. "They're buying feelings, they're buying identity, they're buying a sense of connection."

Over the recent Chinese New Year holiday, data from ChoZan shows that consumers spent significantly less on traditional staples like festive food gifts (known as nian huo), and more on unconventional expenses, like travel experiences and cosmetics compared to the same period in 2023. "What people used to buy back in the day, like liquor and bulk nuts ... were all about social obligations and tradition. Right now, people buy gift boxes, they buy designer toys ... and people don't frown upon that," Dudarenok said. This shift from obligatory to more discretionary spending over China's largest holiday exemplified broader shifts in consumer norms, according to Dudarenok, with Chinese consumers increasingly looking to satisfy desires for personal fulfillment, over more "rational" purchases. Beyond the Chinese New Year season, a February report from DaXue Consulting also highlighted tangible goods like aromatherapy candles and cosmetics, as growing segments in China's emotional economy. One estimate from the iiMedia Research Center projected China's emotional economy to exceed a valuation of 4.5 trillion yuan ($655 billion) by 2029  almost double its value in 2024  as Chinese consumers seek ever-increasing "emotional relief and spiritual satisfaction".

More stressed or just more comfortable?

But while many commentators have noted a growth in China's emotion-driven spending, analysts are divided on what exactly is fueling this growth. The most common explanations see emotion-driven spending as a sort of stress response. Traditional paths to happiness in China  buying a house and car, all while settling down and starting a family  have "grown increasingly expensive to follow," Allison Malmsten, strategy consultant from DaXue Consulting, said by email. In step with China's ailing housing market  predicted to worsen in 2026, consumer inflation has also risen to a three-year high in February, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics. China's rising costs of living have also dovetailed with record low birth rates in 2025, adding to a growing sense of loneliness among many in the country. Compounded, these pressures have instilled in the average Chinese consumer "a sense of crisis," Dudarenok said, pushing many to redirect spending toward things that "bring [them] joy." But for Bo Chen, senior research fellow from the National University of Singapore's East Asian Institute, this sense of melancholy forms only part of the story. For Chen, the structural legacy of China's One-Child policy often concentrated familial resources from two parents (and four grandparents) on a generation of mostly single children. This concentration of familial wealth  sometimes termed the "six pockets" effect  produced a younger cohort of Chinese consumers materially cushioned by their families in ways that previous generations were not, which gave them greater latitude to finance their material desires. In a 2021 study, intergenerational income persistence  a measure of how the socioeconomic well-being of parents influenced those of their children  in China was found to have increased since 1979, particularly among China's urban population. Another study on homebuyers in Shanghai found that even those with considerable personal savings relied heavily on parental support to fund their purchases.



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Such studies lend credence to Chen's claims that, on average, younger Chinese consumers  one of the largest groups in China's emotional economy  are increasingly buffered from the financial pressures of their forebears. "This generation ... they don't need to worry about their lives that much," Chen said in a call with CNBC. Other macroeconomic trends, like the increased quality of China's manufactured goods, has meant that nondiscretionary products and big-ticket items have longer replacement cycles for the average Chinese consumer, freeing up capital for other expenses. With China's thriving entertainment sector, Chinese consumers also have incentives to spend on entertainment like "Ne Zha 2"  the second installment of a Chinese movie franchise which broke records last year after coming in as the world's highest-grossing animated film, Chen said.

Capitalizing on the emotional economy
News / National

by Staff reporter

The reopening of passport offices in Masvingo has been delayed, with government confirming that the existing facilities are too small to support the electronic passport system.Responding in Parliament, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Amon Murwira said the current offices at the Masvingo Provincial Registry cannot accommodate the infrastructure required for the Zimbabwe e-passport programme.As a result, authorities have opted to construct a new, purpose-built facility before services can resume. The government has engaged its private partner, Garsu Pasaulis, to assist with building a modern registry office similar to the one recently commissioned in Mutare.Murwira indicated that the rollout of e-passport services in Masvingo will only begin once the new infrastructure is completed, with engagements on construction still underway.The delay means residents in the province will continue to face challenges accessing passport services. Currently, many are forced to travel to other provinces such as Harare and Midlands, incurring additional costs and inconvenience. Although there is an operational centre in Mwenezi District, it remains largely inaccessible for most people across the province.Zimbabwe introduced the e-passport system in January 2022 as part of efforts to modernise travel documentation and improve security. Since then, nearly 1.8 million electronic passports have been issued nationwide, but gaps in infrastructure continue to limit equitable access in some regions.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe is confronting a deepening crisis as counterfeit and substandard goods flood the market, raising alarm among regulators and consumer protection bodies over risks to public safety and the integrity of the economy.The scale of the problem came into sharp focus during this year's World Consumer Rights Day commemorations in Masvingo, where key institutionsincluding the Consumer Protection Commission, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, and the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authoritywarned that the proliferation of fake products has reached critical levels.Officials described counterfeit goods as a "national emergency," with Kudakwashe Mudereri noting that the issue now cuts across nearly every sector of the economy. Fake and substandard products have infiltrated food supplies, pharmaceuticals, fuel, electrical goods and telecommunications equipment, exposing consumers to serious health and safety risks.In the food sector, expired or low-quality products are reportedly being repackaged and resold, while counterfeit medicines pose life-threatening dangers by failing to provide effective treatment. In the energy sector, contaminated fuel is damaging vehicles and industrial machinery, compounding economic losses.Consumer advocates say the crisis is being fuelled by a mix of structural weaknesses and evolving market dynamics. Porous borders, weak enforcement capacity and the dominance of informal trading networks have created entry points for illicit goods. At the same time, the rapid growth of e-commerce and social media marketplaces has made it easier for counterfeit products to reach unsuspecting buyers.Rosemary Mpofu warned that digital platforms, while improving access to goods, have also reduced accountability, leaving consumers vulnerable to deception. Many buyers, she said, lack the tools or awareness to distinguish genuine products from fakes.Government officials, including Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, acknowledged the severity of the threat, particularly in sectors affecting health and safety. Authorities have pledged to tighten enforcement, strengthen quality control systems and improve coordination among regulatory bodies.Stakeholders emphasised that reversing the trend will require a coordinated national response involving regulators, law enforcement, industry players and consumers. Calls have also been made for tougher penalties against offenders and stronger border controls to stem the inflow of counterfeit goods.At the same time, public education is emerging as a key pillar of the response. Consumer protection agencies are intensifying awareness campaigns to equip citizens with the knowledge needed to identify fake products and report suspicious activity.As the crisis deepens, regulators warn that restoring trust in the marketplace will depend not only on enforcement, but on sustained collaboration and vigilance across all sectors of society.
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

Aussie shoppers can get their hands on a viral beauty buy from Japan's number one skincare brand for just $5 this week.

The award-winning Moisturising Facial Sheet Mask by Hada Labo is a global bestseller praised for its deeply hydrating, plumping formula that delivers an instant glow.

Each mask is drenched in an entire 20ml bottle of the brand's Super Hyaluronic Acid serum, offering customers a self-care ritual that delivers the coveted 'glass skin' glow without spending half your salary.

Adore Beauty has marked the cult product down by 25 per cent to just $5.20 in the retailer's early Afterpay Day sale.

The Sheet Mask can be used as an ultra hydrating step in your skincare routine one to three times a week, or as a priming prep ahead of make up to deliver a flawless, plump base and lit-from-within glow for special events.

Safe for sensitive skin, the soothing formula features a unique blend of three different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid for multi-layered hydration.

The mask works in just 15 minutes, leaving the skin hydrated, plump and glowy. Any remaining serum in the packet can be applied to the neck and decolletage.

Aussie shoppers can get their hands on the viral Moisturising Facial Sheet Mask by Japan's number one skincare brand, Hada Labo, for just $5 this week

One recent purchaser, Casey, said that the Hada Labo mask offered 'great value for the price. Loaded with serum and my skin feels refreshed afterwards.

'Very cooling and good for sensitive skin types, I have rosacea and find it really soothing,' Casey added, 'would and do repurchase.'

Another shopper, Cindy, added: 'Deeply hydrates the skin, after a few minutes I feel that it makes me look younger as it makes the skin so firm and glowy.'

Safe for sensitive skin, the soothing formula features a unique blend of three different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid for multi-layered hydration, leaving the skin plump and glowy after just 15 minutes

Hada Labo has amassed tens of millions of social media mentions, with 'J-Beauty' skincare routines a popular topic amongst influential 'skinfluencers'.

The entire Hada Labo range is discounted by 25 per cent in Adore Beauty's Afterpay Day event, including the brand's bestselling Lotion No.1 Super Hydrator and the well-reviewed Intense Hydrating Skin-Plumping Gel.

The huge shopping event will see discounts of up to 40 per cent across all of Adore Beauty's beauty categories, including haircare, fragrance, makeup and wellness products.

UP TO 40% OFF MAKEUP Huda Beautys Easy Bake Loose Powder is a viral beauty staple praised for blurring pores and locking makeup in place. Shoppers can also save on Benefits Benetint Lip & Cheek Tint, the iconic rose-tinted stain that has been a makeup bag staple for decades. Another beauty icon, Giorgio Armanis Luminous Silk Foundation, is a consistent global bestseller loved for its lightweight, radiant finish.

UP TO 25% OFF WELLNESS

Ingestible beauty products such as the bestselling Vida Glow Pro Collagen+ and Sodii Everyday Hydration Salts are included in the promotion. Sexual Wellness products such as the viral LBDO Essensual Vibe also have 20 per cent off, so its the perfect time to enjoy some self care.
Five-year-old April Jones vanished while playing on her bike just yards from her home in the quiet Welsh town of Machynlleth.

What followed was one of the biggest child search operations the UK has ever seen - thousands of volunteers, sniffer dogs, helicopters and a nation holding its breath.

But hope soon turned to heartbreak. April had been abducted and murdered. Her body has never been found.

Almost 14 years on, her older sister Hazel Jones, now 31, is speaking about the tragedy that tore her family apart to say Mark Bridger the man who killed her should be made to 'suffer' as he serves his life sentence.

Last year, Bridger was attacked in prison, for a second time. Hazel said: 'He deserves everything hes getting. He literally deserves it all.'

She also supports proposals to chemically castrate sex offenders.

Hazel said: 'Chemically castrating paedophiles is 100 per cent right. Im so backing that.

'I read a lot of the comments on news articles about sex offenders and people are saying it should be the death penalty. But I dont think so.

'They should be made to suffer. The death penalty is an easy way out. He didnt give April an easy way out did he?

'Make him suffer, make him live every day because hes not coming out. Make him live in fear.'

Hazel Louise Jones with her daughter Amelia-Louise Roxanne Davies and son Ethan-Daniel Richard Davies at April's grave in Machynlleth cemetery in Wales

Hazel and April Jones (seen left before she vanished) and Hazel and her own daughter Amelia when she was five - the same age as April when she vanished

Hazel, who was 18 and heavily pregnant at the time of April's disappearance, says the trauma has shaped her life - and cast a long shadow over her own childrens future.

'I have never spoken out once,' she said.

'Only because I was mourning the loss of my sister and the actual ordeal of what happened.

I will remember her evil smile for the rest of my life

I'm Tom Rawstorne, and nearly 30 years ago a 12-year-old murderer, with a gold crucifix hanging round her neck, gave me a moment I'll never forget. Sharon Carr is to this day Britains's youngestever female murderer, having killed an 18-year-old hairdresser in an unprovoked act of gruesome violence. I watched her up close in court for three weeks and it's something I'l never forget. I've written about it in The Crime Desk newsletter sign up to read it for free.

'I felt like I was just in a nightmare, ready to wake up. And you just dont wake up from it.'

April was taken on the evening of October 1, 2012.

She had been playing on her pink bicycle with her friends at the Bryn-y-Gog housing estate near her home when she got into a Land Rover owned by local man Bridger.

He was later convicted of her abduction and murder, and sentenced to life in prison where he will die behind bars.

Despite an enormous search effort, Aprils body was never found. Only fragments of her remains were found in Bridgers cottage.

Hazel, who shares a father with April, remembers the exact moment she was told her half-sister was missing.

'I was at my own home in Aberaeron with my mother and my mum came up to me and says "Aprils missing". And I was just like what?

'And she says it again, "Hazel, Aprils missing." And it just took a couple of seconds that felt like bloody minutes to actually process what the hell she was saying.

'I was just in shock.'

Fondly recalling her last moments with April, only days earlier, Hazel said: 'She was in the kitchen, she was with my dad and they were making hot chocolate, and laughing. She was wearing army pyjamas.

'I dont know why I remember these little details but I do.

'But that was the last time I ever saw her. But I wish I knew that was the last time.

'I wish I knew that was going to be my last ever time having a normal life.'

Hazel and her father Paul Jones. He died in May last year from a brain disease having never discovered where his daughter was buried by Mark Bridger

After hearing the news, Hazel raced to Machynlleth to be with her dad, Paul, and the rest of the family.

'We couldnt really help with the search but we were there with the police and the family. It was a bit of a blur.

'It was an absolute whirlwind, I remember coming home in the early hours of the morning, trying to have a kip and then going back up to be with my Dad and the family.'

It wasnt until the next day that the horror began to sink in.

Hazel said: 'The next day came and then I think it fully sunk in that oh my god shes actually really missing isnt she?

'Shes not just gone for a little wander, shes actually really missing.

'It was so overwhelming the actual thought of it.

'Because at the time it was a young girl that got into a van and its like surely not. This doesnt happen does it?

Mark Bridger was found guilty in 2013 of the murder of April Jones and has never revealed where he put her bidy

'I just thought this doesnt happen around here and it wouldn't happen to us of all people. Like what the hell?

'And it did, and it was us, and it did happen.'

In the days that followed, Hazel says she tried to shield herself from the media frenzy, focusing instead on her pregnancy and clinging to the hope that April would be found.

She said: 'The media attention was really bloody horrible, especially those first few months.

'I would wake up and there would just be press outside my door. I was being followed, messaged, and called 24/7.

'I would wake up, open the curtains and there would be people outside my door wanting to talk to me. I never did. I chose not to.

'I never spoke out because at the end of the day that was our sister who had not only passed away but had been brutally murdered and kidnapped so what a process to have to go through.'

When Hazel found out the news of what truly happened to April, she was 'petrified'.

'I was so scared because I was carrying my daughter at the time and I was so scared to bring her into this world knowing that there was people like that on our doorstep,' Hazel added.

'It really puts it into perspective that you cant trust anyone. I just couldnt get over how this could have happened.

'I was just so devastated, and devastated for my Dad, Coral [Aprils mother] and the family.

'We had all just lost a five-year-old little girl.

'She had a rough start in life. She was born early with cerebral palsy too. I was so taken aback I couldn't process it.

'She was just so, so young.'

An aerial image of the small eerie village of Ceinws, also known as Esgairgeiliog, is where Mark Bridger lived in a rented cottage and where parts of April's skull and blood were found by police

Aerial images of the Bryn-Y-Gog estate in the quiet Welsh town of Machynlleth, where five-year-old April Jones vanished while playing on her bike on October 1, 2012

Only a few weeks later, Hazel gave birth to her daughter Amelia - a moment that should have been filled with joy, but was instead tangled in grief and disbelief.

She said: 'It was surreal because when Dad and Coral came to see her in the hospital when she was first born, they were just shocked because she looked like April.

'It was so difficult because I had just lost my sister and just given birth. I was trying to mourn my sister but also love my new daughter.'

Now a mother of three - with Amelia 12, Ethan, 9, and Hefin, six, Hazel says the anxiety has never fully gone away.

'My daughter is coming to the age of 13, shell be going into year eight this year and she wants to go and do stuff with her friends,' she said.

'I dont know how Im meant to let her grow up. Because I am quite scared of who is even around, who can you actually trust?

'Is there anyone watching you? Is there anyone following you? And its scary. The world we live in is literally so scary.

'After April Im petrified to let my kids go out and grow up and start having their own lives.

'When my daughter was younger, when she was at the age of five, I was like oh my god this is the age April was when she went.'

Hazel added that April had a striking resemblance to her daughter at that age - something that made the grief even harder to bear.

'She had only been on this earth for five years and I remember looking at her thinking you have not even experienced life yet, and that was taken away from April,' Hazel said.

'I do want my daughter to see the world and have everything that April couldnt.'

Shes been honest with her children about what happened to April, keeping a box of memories and newspaper clippings they can look at when theyre ready.

Hazel Louise Jones with her daughter Amelia-Louise Roxanne Davies and son Ethan-Daniel Richard Davies at April's grave

Hazel said: 'I have never hid it away from my kids and I won't hide it away.

'At the end of the day its real life, it has happened and I want them to be wary of their own selves.'

Earlier this year, the family suffered another loss. Hazels father, Paul died on May 14, without ever knowing where April was.

Paul Jones was diagnosed with a brain disease in 2018, six years after the death of his little girl.

'My dad was never right after April,' Hazel said.

'Once April went, a part of him went completely and he never came back from that.

'All I think is that he is now back with April and back to a peaceful life. Him passing was just like a part of me went too. I fought for him for so long.'

The tragedy also left deep scars on the wider family.

In the years that followed, relationships fractured and today, some relatives no longer speak - a reflection of how such a tragedy can tear a family apart.

Even now, more than a decade later, she says what happened to her sister still doesnt feel real.

Hazel said: 'Its been 13 years now and its still not actually sunk in.

'I still dont believe it. I dont know whether I dont want to believe it but I just dont believe it happened to us.

'Im still waiting to wake up from this nightmare.'
When Brittanee Drexel's mom discovered her 17-year-old daughter had snuck off on a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, she faced every parent's worst nightmare.

Brittanee was last seen in security video footage leaving Blue Water Resort on April 25, 2009, before being kidnapped, raped and murdered.

It would be a further 13 years before her remains were found in May 2022 and her killer Raymond Moody was finally brought to justice later that year.

But for Brittanee's mother, Dawn Conley Pleckan, the nightmare is far from over. Having watched Moody be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, she then filed a lawsuit in January 2023 accusing Moody and the resort where Brittanee stayed of wrongful conduct that led to her death.

Last year a jury declared that Moody intentionally caused Brittanee's family emotional distress, records showed.

The upstate New York family was awarded $200 million in actual damages and $500 million in punitive damages.

But Dawn has now filed a petition saying that the money remains unpaid and that Moody has assets that he has not turned over.

Dawn's lawyer, Lawrence Hershon, at the Hershon Law Firm, believes Moody has properties he has not disclosed including a mobile home.

Brittanee Drexel, 17, disappeared while on spring break in South Carolina's Myrtle Beach in April 2009

Drexel's mother, Dawn Pleckan, spoke directly to her daughter's killer in court and said: 'You will forever carry the scars of what my daughter did to you, and I hope you are haunted by what you did to her'

'So instead of that being real estate, thats personal property, we have to go through a separate process to get recovery of that personal property that belonged to Mr Moody,' Hershon told WHEC.

'So whats set up right now is were looking to get possession of that mobile home or have it sold so that we can then have complete control of the real estate that weve already acquired.'

Brittanee was declared dead by the FBI in 2016. The family did not discover what had really happened to her until 2022, when Moody issued a full confession to police and even led them to Drexel's remains.

'I'm at a loss for words.' Moody said at a hearing four years ago.

'I just have so much regret. I've realized it doesn't matter how sincere I am about how I feel about things I've done. It's just not enough.'

He confessed to the court that he offered marijuana to Brittanee and then raped and killed her at his campsite.

Brittanee had snuck out of her home in Chili, New York, to go on a spring break trip without her parents' knowledge.

'She asked me if she could go and I told her no,' her mother told ABC News in 2022.

Surveillance footage on April 25, 2009, caught Drexel leaving the Blue Water Resort

Bar Harbor Resort on Myrtle Beach, where Drexel was staying at the time of her disappearance

'And she asked me why. I said, because I don't know the kids you're going with. I don't - there's no parental supervision and something's going to happen.'

Moody's ex-girlfriend, Angel Cooper Vause, is serving 18 years in federal prison for lying to the FBI during the investigation.

Vause, 57, was driving up and down Myrtle Beach's main drag when she spotted Brittanee walking alone.

Moody revealed to FBI agents that Vause was attracted to him because of his criminal past.

He was previously convicted of kidnapping and raping a nine-year-old girl in California.

Before the trip, Moody texted Vause: 'So you want to go hunting with me, huh?', to which she replied: 'Yeah.'

'I had my eye on her and thought she was the one,' Moody said.

Moody recalled how Vause got out of the car to speak with Brittanee. He said they believed that since Vause was a woman, she would 'trust us'.

Brittanee's remains were found in Myrtle Beach in 2022 after Raymond Moody confessed to her killing and led cops to her remains

Angel Cooper Vause was sentenced after lying to the FBI during their investigation

Vause told prosecutors that Drexel 'voluntarily joined' the couple to 'consume marijuana and cocaine.'

They pretended to be tourists like Brittanee and offered her a lift to her hotel.

Brittanee accepted, and once inside the car, Moody pretended to get lost and Vause took over the driving.

It was at this point that Moody handcuffed Brittanee, telling her he was a kidnapper while demanding $5,000 in ransom fees.

Vause drove them to a tent beside the Santee River, and got out of the car with Brittanee. Moody left them momentarily to drive to his apartment, where he retrieved a briefcase full of 'sex toys.'

He then raped and sodomized Brittanee before strangling her to death with a rope. He stabbed her with an ice pick to ensure she would die.

Vause was not involved in the rape or murder, but she sat inside the tent watching before Moody buried the teenager's body in a shallow grave at a construction site.

Brittanee's boyfriend, who stayed home in Rochester, New York, became concerned when she stopped answering texts, prompting an investigation.

A break in the case came in May 2022 when Raymond Moody was arrested on an obstruction of justice charge. According to police, that's when he admitted to raping and killing Brittanee

In the years since Brittanee's murder, Dawn has been persistent about seeking justice for her daughter.

She frequently books speaking engagements telling her daughter's story and is vigilant in ensuring Moody and Vause never forget what they did.

Still, she said, 'the system failed her.'

'Brittanee you have sparked a fire in me to fight with and for the families of the missing so they can have a resolution and justice that their missing loved one deserves,' she wrote on the anniversary of Brittanee's disappearance.

'I have seen with my own eyes what happens in most cases. God has a new path for me to do his work. Changes need to be made, more training, empathy, communication and accountability.'
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe's political tensions have escalated following the detention of former Finance Minister Tendai Biti, who was arrested alongside several activists while reportedly organising a rally in Mutare.Biti's civic organisation, the Constitution Defenders Forum, said he was engaged in mobilisation efforts when he was picked up by police. Authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the arrest, and his whereabouts remain unclear, raising concern among supporters and rights groups.The arrest comes against the backdrop of a contentious push by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ruling party, ZANU-PF, to amend the constitution. The proposed changes would extend presidential terms from five to seven years and shift the election of the president from a public vote to a parliamentary processmoves that could allow Mnangagwa to remain in power until 2030.Opposition figures and civic groups, including Biti, have strongly resisted the proposals, arguing they undermine democratic principles and constitutional safeguards. Critics also maintain that such amendments would require a national referendum and should not apply to a sitting president.Bulawayo mayor David Coltart publicly condemned Biti's detention, suggesting it was linked to his vocal opposition to the reforms. He questioned the government's approach, characterising it as heavy-handed and indicative of broader concerns about political intolerance.Reports from activists indicate that individuals campaigning against the constitutional changes have faced intimidation and, in some cases, violence, further heightening fears about shrinking political space.The developments signal a deepening standoff between the government and its critics, with potential legal battles looming as stakeholders prepare to challenge the proposed constitutional amendments in court.
The Bachelor has always been my guilty pleasure. I would lust over the leading man every single season. The doctor, pilot, pro athlete it didn't really matter what they did, as long as they ticked the two most important boxes: over six feet and able to pull off a tux.

Ever since I worked on The Bachelor Australia, however, I haven't been able to watch a full episode. Not one.

And it's not because of the current controversy happening with The Bachelorette star Taylor Frankie Paul, whose season has been canceled amid an ongoing domestic violence investigation.

Well, as they say, never meet your idols - and never work on your favorite reality show either. The joy has been completely sucked out of it.

What goes on behind the scenes is not just a little manufactured, it's a full-blown, carefully orchestrated machine  which is far less romantic, but, frankly, far more fascinating.

Before I completely ruin the illusion for you, let me explain how I ended up there in the first place. The production team stumbled across my blog, High Heels and Hangovers, while casting their leading man and asked if I'd be interested in helping.

And just like that, I was paid to approach good-looking men in bars, sporting matches and even on their lunch breaks to ask if they were single and open to finding love on national television.

It was as fun as it sounds, and occasionally chaotic. Girlfriends glared at me (and one formidable woman literally pushed me), rejected applicants would demand feedback and one man took things so far that I quickly learned the importance of having a separate work phone.

Ever since I worked on The Bachelor Australia, however, I haven't been able to watch a full episode since

What goes on behind the scenes is not just a little manufactured, it's a full-blown, carefully orchestrated machine  which is far less romantic, but, frankly, far more fascinating

I loved it and became weirdly competitive about it. Though I wanted to find the next Bachelor - and good lord did I give it a go - I didn't succeed, though I must have done enough right because they offered me the role of date producer.

At the time, it felt like I'd won the lottery. In hindsight, it was the beginning of the end of my love affair with reality television.

Creating the dates was, on the surface, a dream job. Start with something relatively simple, like a romantic horse ride along the beach. Within minutes, you'd be told to 'go bigger.' And bigger we went, because this was a dating show built on every girl's fantasy.

That horse ride would quickly evolve into a private jet trip, where camels would be waiting on arrival to ride along the beach to a perfectly styled fireside, complete with marshmallows, a musician softly playing and more candles and roses than any normal human would ever encounter in one place.

One time, I built an entire carnival from scratch in a polo field. A Ferris wheel, a petting zoo, even a fortune teller - all dropped into the middle of nowhere, so it looked like this magical, once-in-a-lifetime experience created just for them.

It was ridiculously extravagant and incredibly effective at drumming up the perfect amount of romance. But somewhere between the camels and candlelight, I realized something that completely shifted how I saw the show.

The dates weren't actually the point.

The spectacle was just the set-up. The real work happened back at the mansion, in the long, unstructured stretches between filming... of which there were a lot.

If you want to manufacture emotion, you need three things: boredom, isolation and a group of women with absolutely nothing to do but think about the same man.

We had all three in abundance.

The women had no phones or social media to keep them entertained and were completely shut out from the outside world. All they had was each other, some old magazines and books that had already been read cover to cover and a well-stocked kitchen.

Boredom, it turns out, is extremely caloric.

With days of downtime between shoots, the girls started stress-baking on an industrial scale  and eating it. The weight crept on quickly, and an emergency meeting was held. Shortly after, a full gym setup arrived.

While the women were in the mansion, the Bachelor was holed up in his own private pad, living with a producer whose job was essentially to babysit him, making sure he didn't sneak out, didn't contact any ghosts of girlfriends past and stayed completely off the grid.

That left him with only one outlet for all that pent-up energy: the private gym.

He was a gym buff to begin with. Within a week of his isolation, he had taken it so far that he was starting to look like an actual beefcake  and not in a good way.

And so, another emergency meeting was held. Could he maybe ease up on the weights? The Bachelor sheepishly agreed.

Meanwhile, back at the mansion, a new problem was brewing.

The spectacle was just the set-up. The real work happened back at the mansion, in the long, unstructured stretches between filming... of which there were a lot

Creating the dates would begin with something relatively simple, but within minutes, you'd be told to 'go bigger.' That horse ride would quickly evolve into a private jet trip, where camels would be waiting on arrival

The girls had gotten into fake tans and statement lashes. Rose ceremonies, with film-set grade lighting rigs, were notoriously unforgiving, making the orange self-tans practically luminous on camera.

So, another quiet word was had. Lashes: pulled back. Tans: henceforth provided by a professional spray tan artist weekly, for what production diplomatically called 'a more natural glow.'

Once you've managed a group of bored, isolated women through a fake-tan intervention, you start to understand the real machinery of this show.

Cut off from everyone they knew, with nothing to distract them, all they had to fixate on was the man they were all there for.

Feelings that would normally take months to build accelerated at an alarming rate. They dissected every glance, every conversation, every interaction they had with the Bachelor.

When someone returned from a date, the atmosphere in the house shifted. It was almost like a walk of shame, with all eyes on them and the inevitable question that cut through the room: 'Did you kiss him?'

Because a kiss wasn't just a kiss. It was competition and felt like betrayal - even though they all got the memo that they would all be dating him.

And we, as producers, knew exactly how to use that to our advantage.

Producers would spend hours with contestants, build genuine trust and then exploit it. They knew which buttons to press, which rivalries to stoke, which insecurities to poke at until something cracked open on camera.

When the tears came, there was a quiet, almost imperceptible ripple of satisfaction through the crew.

Because tears mean great television. On rose ceremony nights, there would sometimes be an audible cheer in the control room when someone broke down on screen.

The Bachelor, for his part, would sit with a producer ahead of the rose ceremonies to go through contestants: who was causing drama, good for the story or had to stay regardless of whether he was into her. If there was a 'villain' delivering great television, a quiet word would be had to make sure she survived another week, even if he couldn't stand her.

Then there was the exhaustion factor.

Rose ceremonies could stretch until four or five in the morning, with contestants running on no sleep and pure adrenaline. Tired people cry more easily, fight more readily and say things they'd never say on a full night's sleep.

On rose ceremony nights, there would sometimes be an audible cheer in the control room when someone broke down on screen

We were told not to form friendships with contestants, but I became genuinely close with some of the women, especially when I was a house producer. (Pictured: Jana Hocking, second from right, with two contests, both on left, of The Bachelor Australia franchise)

They also fall in love - or something that feels a lot like it - much faster.

The emotional stakes, though, were very real. These weren't casual feelings. They had been amplified through isolation, fast-tracked by outrageously romantic dates and turbo-charged by producer encouragement to 'tell him how you feel, don't hold back.'

There was one contestant who fell so deeply that, when it became clear she wouldn't be receiving a rose, production made the decision to have a psychologist on standby. The moment she was eliminated, she was quietly taken into another room to process what had happened.

Meanwhile, as producers, our job was to make great TV, not play favorites or have an empathetic point of view. We were told not to form friendships with contestants, and that there was to be absolutely no flirting with the Bachelor (which was tough, considering the man knew how to charm the pants off a hat stand).

I, however, became genuinely close with some of the women, especially when I was a house producer, staying with them when we weren't filming. I did such a bad job of keeping the girls at arm's length that years later, I was invited to the Bachelor and his lucky lady's wedding in Italy. We're still friends to this day.

But one moment that really stayed with me was when we got down to the final two.

By that point, everyone behind the scenes already knew who he was going to pick. The decision had been made long before the final rose ceremony. In truth, he'd chosen her on the very first night.

Speaking to other Bachelor producers, that seemed to be a fairly consistent theme. What played out on screen was, in many ways, a continuation of a story that had already reached its conclusion.

I was sent to supervise one of the final overnight dates on a boat with the runner-up. My role was to make sure things didn't cross a certain line (sex was strictly off the table for our season).

When I arrived, the Bachelor and the soon-to-be-eliminated contestant were below deck. I went down, expecting to find them chatting, maybe sipping champagne.

They were very much not chatting. They were completely lost in the moment, and I had to interrupt before things went any further.

I suddenly became very aware of how bizarre my job was. There I was, effectively playing chaperone, while knowing that he'd been openly talking about how strong his feelings were for the other woman.

It created this strange tension, even though technically he wasn't doing anything wrong. He was simply playing his role in the story.

Safe to say, I only lasted one season.

Because the truth is, to do that job well, you have to see emotion as content, not as something to protect. I couldn't quite do that. My damn empathy got in the way, which, in that environment, makes you surprisingly bad at your job.

Now, when I see those perfectly lit ceremonies, over-the-top love confessions and the Bachelor's on-screen torment about who to send home, the magic is gone.

Because I've come to realize there was never really magic there to begin with.
Hours before President Donald Trump's deadline for Iran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz to global tanker traffic, US forces struck more than 50 targets on Kharg Island, the control center for more than 90 percent of Iran's oil exports.

Although the US did not target Kharg's oil infrastructure, its latest round of strikes sends a strident warning to Tehran that no corner of Iran  including its petroleum industry  is beyond the reach of American forces.

Roughly 16 miles off of the Iranian mainland, Kharg Island lies in waters up to 100 feet deep, ideal for large tankers too massive to traverse the mainland's shallow shoreline. Despite repeat US strikes, Kharg remains under Iranian control. But should the US gain dominance over Kharg, Iran's oil industry would be crippled, prompting Tehran, the US hopes, to reopen the Straits of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil normally flows.

But taking Kharg is easier said than done.

Marine Expeditionary Units, now being deployed to the region, are trained to be deployed swiftly in a crisis. The units are ideal for raids, evacuations and limited seizures. But just because US forces are capable of landing on Kharg does not guarantee they would be able to hold it.

American ground forces on Kharg would be vulnerable to attack from the Iranian mainland from missiles or drones. Amphibious American forces would also have to be escorted by air support to ensure they're not attacked on the way to the target.

What opposition would a US landing face? It would not necessarily be a dramatic beach massacre straight out of an old war film. But some 8,000 people live on Kharg, and it's likely that some military units are still functioning there.

US troops could certainly expect sabotage of key facilities, mortar and small arms attacks, but these would be manageable. The greater danger is a dirty, layered counterattack.

US control of Kharg would cripple Iran's oil industry, prompting Tehran, the US hopes, to reopen the Straits of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil normally flows

The island lies in waters up to 100 feet deep, ideal for large tankers too massive to traverse the mainland's shallow shoreline

US Marine Corps Chemical and Biological Immediate Response Force conducts a training exercise at Camp Lejeune in 2021

Iran entered the war with the Middle East's largest ballistic missile stockpile  estimated 2,500 to 6,000 missiles-strong. Iran's Fateh and Shahab short-range ballistic missiles have a range of 750km, and the newer Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles are designed to evade advanced air defense systems.

That's on top of a sizable drone arsenal and multiple underground facilities  along with vast number of small boats and submarines capable of disrupting shipping across the Gulf.

There's also the threat of a chemical weapons attack against US forces. Iran has deployed chemical weapons before  and might do so again if backed into a corner. Tehran's battlefield chemical weapon capabilities, which they deployed during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, have been developed into a sophisticated arsenal.

Indeed, as of 2024, Israeli officials reported with 'high confidence' that Tehran has supplied weaponized pharmaceutical-based agents to proxies in Iraq and Syria.

Whilst all of these capabilities are now heavily degraded, the threat remains.

Ultimately, however, the nearby mainland coastline is the real threat. The region near Kharg is a mountainous hard-to-target network of potential bunkers and underground facilities, while coastal towns like Bushehr provide a multitude of short-range firing points.

Would a blockade make more sense? In narrow military terms, probably yes.

A blockade pressures Iran by exerting control over Kharg's ports and the strait without leaving a Marine battalion exposed on a conspicuous target within Iranian range.

Speaking with reporters last week, Trump called Kharg Island Iran's 'crown jewel,' and said the US was 'locked and loaded' to destroy the oil hub - though, he added, 'we chose not to do it'

US-led Combined Joint Task Force decontaminate themselves during a field training exercise at Kuwait's Mubarak Airbase in 2003

Taking Kharg would require a Marine Expeditionary Unit  a self-sufficient force of about 2,200 Marines and sailors

Iran possesses thousands of drones and missiles, including these Shahab short-range ballistic missiles, which have a range of 500 miles

It is hardly clean or safe, but it is easier to envisage than a long-term occupation of an island under constant pressure from the mainland.

Regardless, there are no easy answers here - and almost certainly no swift journey home for US forces.

Iran has warned that any attack on its oil and energy infrastructure would provoke retaliatory strikes against oil infrastructure and military partners in the region. The US can also expect increased pressure on shipping lanes, more retaliation by proxy groups and heightened global market anxiety.

Capturing Kharg is not, in itself, an end to the war. It risks escalating the conflict with unpredictable consequences.

Yes, US Marines could likely secure the small island. But the real challenge is whether America could maintain control of it and easily resupply the force  all while mitigating Iranian retaliation from the mainland.

Andrew Fox is a Senior Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society and former British Army officer with service in the Parachute Regiment.
We have never seen anything quite like this before.

There have been wars in the Persian Gulf  at least two of them in living memory. There have been oil price shocks  most famously in the 1970s and 1980s. There have been cost of living crises triggered by war  as we all know, having faced the aftershocks of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

But this latest war is holding a knife against the very throat of the economy.

The Strait of Hormuz is the most consequential stretch of water anywhere in the world. Think of the global economy as a giant organism: like all big animals, it needs to be constantly fed.

We stick raw materials  from metals and fuels to minerals and foods  in one end. Out of the other come all that we take for granted, from computers and phones to the power, heat and chemicals that keep us all alive.

And few of those inputs are more important than oil and gas.

Many people assume that, in 2026, we have eliminated, or at least are close to eliminating, our dependence on these messy, polluting substances. They are wrong.

Like it or not, the world still needs oceans of oil, not merely to fuel cars, planes and ships, but also to make pharmaceuticals, plastics and a million other goods.

The events of the past few weeks are unnerving, bordering on terrifying, writes Ed Conway

We need gas not just to heat our homes, but to help produce the nitrogen-based fertilisers that grow our foods. No fertilisers, which is to say fossil fuels  and half the worlds population  would be dead.

And heres the reason this moment is so dangerous. Nowhere has such a concentrated supply of oil and gas as the Persian Gulf.

Yes, there is a wealth of gas in Russia. There is oil aplenty in the layers of shale rock beneath Texas. But even today, after a century or more of intensive drilling, nowhere else can remotely compete with the bountiful oil and gas under the ground in the Gulf.

All of which is why the events of the past few weeks are unnerving, bordering on terrifying.

Consider what just happened to Ras Laffan. Most folks havent heard of Ras Laffan  an obscure city of steel pipes and chrome canisters in the deserts north of Qatar City.

But make no mistake, this place is arguably the most important energy production site anywhere on the planet. And last week parts of it were bombed to smithereens by Iranian missiles.

The damage will, according to the bosses there, take years to be repaired. Shipments of gas booked in by Europeans may have to be cancelled all the way through to the next decade. But even that is assuming everything else returns to normal. And right now theres little sign of that happening.

A hundred or so miles north of Ras Laffan is another critical site with a similarly obscure name, Ras Tanura. Its where Saudi Arabia loads oil on to tankers to be transported around the world.

But Ras Tanura has been effectively shut down. This isnt just because of the ever-present risk of Iranian attack  its because the oil has nowhere to go.

Motorists queue for petrol during the 1973 oil crisis, also caused by events in the Middle East

In normal times the vast majority of oil and gas from these two hugely important plants left the region in tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz.

The reason this chokepoint matters so much  even more than the handful of other narrow waterways around the world  is that there is no good alternative.

If ships want to avoid the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, the southern entry-point to the Red Sea  as they have been for some years in the face of attacks from Houthi rebels  they can just take the long route around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.

But there is no easy way to circumvent the Strait of Hormuz.

The world should hardly be surprised that, faced with an existential threat, Iran has weaponised the economy  attacking ships and effectively closing the Strait to most vessels.

Let me return to my notion of the world economy as a sort of massive organism.

In order to function, it needs about 100 million barrels of oil per day. This is the lifeblood flowing through its system, enabling planes to fly and trade to flow.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz means that, all of a sudden, we are short of 15 million barrels of oil per day  20 million if you include the oil transported out of the Gulf in the form of petrol, kerosene or other refined products.

Britons are feeling the effects of the crisis in the price of oil at the pump

An oil rig in the north sea, which has vast reserves of oil and gas which the UK could tap into

The chokepoint is beginning to, well, choke the planet. That is why petrol prices are rising, along with the cost of flights, the cost of heating oil and anything else that begins its life as crude oil.

It is why some countries, from India to Vietnam, are beginning to ration fuel, urging their citizens to work from home and conserve

petrol. It is why anyone who spends any time thinking seriously about the foundations of the global economy is beginning to fret.

For episodes such as this are extremely rare, and this one might soon be the worst ever.

Consider those 15 million barrels of oil we are short of. That deficit is more than four times bigger than anything the world faced in the 1970s or 1980s. It is more than six times the volume of oil lost when Russia invaded Ukraine. It is economic starvation on a scale the world has never seen before.

In the face of this wide gap between the oil the world needs to function and the oil it is actually getting, there are two immediate questions. What happens next? And what can be done to fill the gap?

In terms of what happens next, that depends nearly entirely on whether the Strait is reopened rapidly.

The fact that Donald Trump urged his allies last weekend to send in ships to help rather underlines that despite the Presidents early confidence this would be short lived, with little impact on the global economy, he is starting to entertain severe doubts.

It is very hard to envisage a return to normal shipping volumes until Iran and its proxies stop attacking ships in the Strait, and there is little guessing right now how long that will be.

On the one hand, the US military has overwhelming superiority in firepower. On the other hand, this is a scenario the Iranian regime has been war-gaming for decades, and, as it happens, it doesnt take all that much firepower to disrupt shipping. This is something the Houthis have been demonstrating in the Red Sea for years.

If, for whatever reason, the attacks cease and ships resume passage into and out of the Gulf, the economic impact could be short-lived. Yes, this episode will leave a scar: it will take months to get oil and gas production in the Gulf back to normal. But in the medium term, prices should calm down by next year.

If the Strait remains closed, oil prices will ratchet even higher, perhaps to record levels

But if weeks of closure stretch into months and, God forbid, years, then the consequences will be grisly for all of us.

Oil prices will ratchet even higher, perhaps to record levels. Starved of energy, global economic activity would slump. Pretty much everyone, save for the oil and gas companies outside the Gulf still pumping hydrocarbons, will get poorer.

This would turn into an energy-price shock far worse than the one experienced by Europe in 2022  except this time spread across most of the world, especially Asia. It would, in short, be catastrophic.

So to that second question: what, if anything, can be done while the Strait of Hormuz stays closed?

The main objective is to fill that 15 million barrel gap. There are some pipelines in the Gulf that can get oil out without having to go via the Strait: in particular the East-West Pipeline that traverses Saudi Arabia. But even in a best-case scenario, this could only carry another five million barrels or so per day.

Rich countries have promised to release 400 million barrels of oil from their stockpiles  supplies of crude stashed away in salt caverns and steel tanks dotted around the world.

This sounds massive, and is indeed the biggest emergency stockpile release in history. The problem is, they can only pump out so much at a time. This might add only another four or five million barrels of oil per day to the global system.

We are still short of five million barrels, which might not sound like much, but is double the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

And this is assuming everything goes about as well as it could.

You probably get the picture. There is no easy way out of this.

And while this all seems a long way away from Britain, if anything we are more vulnerable to this crisis than most other developed economies.

For one thing, we already have the highest power prices in the developed world, a function in part of the high cost of building out an ambitious wind-power system and in part of our dependence on gas as the main back-up for our grid.

The North Sea, once one of the worlds most productive basins, is now a shadow of its former self, providing a little less than half of the oil we need in this country, and even less of our gas.

The upshot is that this country is a net energy importer, dependent on the very LNG that is no longer being produced in Qatar, vulnerable to the sharp rises in prices across global markets.

These are the consequences of decisions taken years, in some cases decades, ago. Successive governments, especially the current one, have imposed so many taxes and regulations on oil companies that many no longer see much point in exploring the deeper reaches of British waters.

For some green campaigners, this is a mark of success.

They see the decommissioning of the North Sea as an inevitable step on the route towards Net Zero, where the country no longer contributes anything to global carbon emissions.

The problem with this vision is that even in 2050  the much vaunted year of Net Zero  if everything goes completely to plan, Britain will still be reliant on gas as a backstop for nuclear and intermittent wind and solar energy. This is according to the Governments own plans.

Unless things change, most of our gas will continue to be imported, some from Norway, some from countries like Qatar and the US.

But squint a bit and there is an alternative scenario, where Britain gets most of its gas from its own North Sea resources. And since the gas comes from closer at hand, it would have even lower emissions than the LNG shipped in from abroad.

However, that would take a sea change in the attitude to oil and gas, both in Britain and further afield.

Until recently, the International Energy Agency was insisting no new oil and gas exploration was needed in the coming decades. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is planning to write such a stipulation into law. In the intervening years, however, much has changed.

Back in the pre-2022 world, one could reasonably order a barrel of oil or a therm of gas from the other side of the world, so it made sense to yoke Britains energy system to countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Today, with the world in an economic chokehold, the logic has been turned on its head.

If that wasnt already obvious, it will become all too clear in the coming months, as we deal with the consequences of a war whose economic fallout has barely begun to be felt.

We must all keep our fingers crossed that this nightmare ends soon, that the Iranians release their hold on the chokepoint in the Persian Gulf. If not, we all face a painful reckoning.

Ed Conway is Economics Editor of Sky News and author of Material World.
IVF has helped millions of families have children who otherwise might never have existed  a medical breakthrough that has transformed modern parenthood.

The treatment, known as in vitro fertilisation, involves combining eggs and sperm in a laboratory before transferring the resulting embryo into the womb.

But behind the success stories lies a far more unsettling reality: when the system fails, it can do so in the most catastrophic way imaginable.

In rare but deeply disturbing cases, embryos are mixed up, identities are lost and families are left raising children who are not biologically theirs  sometimes for months, sometimes for decades.

In a remarkable case reported by the Daily Mail last week, Australian twins Sasha Szafranski and her sister only uncovered the truth about their origins as they approached their 30th birthdays.

What began as a casual Ancestry DNA test instead revealed a bombshell: they were not biologically related to the parents who raised them.

Instead of confirming their father's Polish roots, the results pointed to Ireland and England  and to a stranger living in the same town who appeared to be their biological aunt.

Further investigation revealed that in 1995, at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, that during the IVF treatment that helped concieve them, the wrong embryo had been implanted into their mother, Penny.

After welcoming a baby girl in 2025, Tiffany Score and Steven Mills became concerned when the child did not genetically resemble either parent

DNA tests later confirmed the devastating truth: the twins were the biological children of another couple undergoing treatment at the same clinic.

'I gave birth to them they were my girls. There was no thought that they weren't,' Penny said of her daughters.

'The mistake that happened 30 years ago we just have to go on with it somehow and it's awful. It shouldn't have happened.'

It is only the second known case of its kind in Australia  and it follows another recent scandal that exposed just how easily things can go wrong.

In Brisbane, a woman gave birth to a stranger's baby after being implanted with the wrong embryo at a Monash IVF clinic in what the company later admitted was 'human error'.

The mistake was only uncovered months after the birth, when the biological parents asked to transfer their remaining embryos and an unexpected extra embryo was discovered in storage.

Both families were left devastated, with the clinic issuing a public apology and insisting the incident was an isolated failure despite strict safety protocols.

But embryo swaps are not the only way IVF can go catastrophically wrong.

In another Australian case, a white couple gave birth to a biracial baby after a sperm mix-up at a Brisbane fertility clinic.

The embryos had been created using donor sperm imported from the US, with the couple selecting a donor who matched the father's appearance  fair hair and blue eyes.

Instead, the sperm sample had been incorrectly labelled at the source, with semen from two different donors mixed up.

The error only became clear after the baby was born.

'I love my beautiful baby more than life itself but has anyone ever found out their IVF baby wasn't theirs?' the mother, who has not been named, wrote at the time as she awaited DNA test results.

An investigation later found the US sperm bank had not been using a key identity check known as double-witnessing when the sample was collected  a safeguard designed to prevent exactly this type of mistake.

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The couple eventually reached a settlement, but the case only came to light more than a decade later.

Similar cases have emerged around the world.

In Florida, a new mother is suing a fertility clinic after giving birth to a baby she believes is not biologically hers.

The couple, both described in court documents as white, became suspicious when their newborn appeared to be of a different racial background.

'Tragically, while both Jane Doe and John Doe are racially Caucasian, Baby Doe displayed the physical appearance of a racially non-Caucasian child,' the lawsuit states.

Despite the shock, the parents say they have formed an 'intensely strong emotional bond' with the child  even as they face the possibility that their own biological baby could be being raised by strangers.

A separate Florida case echoes the same nightmare.

Tiffany Score and Steven Mills say they were overjoyed to welcome a baby girl after IVF treatment  only to discover through genetic testing that she is not biologically theirs.

Now, they are demanding answers from the clinic, fearing that one of their own embryos may have been implanted into another family.

'They have fallen in love with this child,' their lawyer said, but remain haunted by the possibility she could be taken from them.

Some families have faced an even more unthinkable decision.

In California in 2019, two couples discovered they had been raising each other's biological daughters after an IVF mix-up.

Alexander and Daphna Cardinale had welcomed a baby girl, May, and raised her for months before DNA tests revealed neither of them was biologically related to her.

At the same time, another couple  Annie and her husband  were raising the Cardinales' biological daughter, Zoe.

After meeting, the couples made the extraordinary decision to swap the babies back.

The transition was gradual, moving from visits to overnight stays before the girls returned to their genetic parents  but the emotional fallout was profound.

'I carried this child. I birthed her. She felt so familiar to me that it didn't even occur to me that she couldn't be ours,' Daphna said.

Even after the swap, both families remained closely intertwined  spending holidays together and raising the girls as part of a blended extended family.

'There's no person to give you advice,' Alexander said. 'So we ended up just sort of huddling together and it's a blessing that we all are on the same page.'

In New York, another couple gave birth to twin boys who were not biologically theirs, leading to a legal battle before the children were returned to their genetic parents.

And in the UK, one of the most infamous cases occurred at Leeds General Infirmary in the early 2000s, when a sperm mix-up led to a white couple having mixed-race twins.

An official investigation blamed human error and poor labelling, prompting sweeping changes to safety procedures that still shape fertility regulation today.

Even now, the legal and ethical consequences remain murky.

In Australia, experts say the law tends to prioritise the woman who gives birth  meaning biological parents may have little claim, even in cases of proven error.

That reality has already played out in Brisbane, where the birth mother is likely to retain parental rights, despite the child not being genetically hers.

Cases like these remain exceptionally rare  but not impossible.

A 2018 US study estimated major IVF errors occur roughly once in every 2,000 cycles, with less serious mistakes happening far more frequently.

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In the UK, there have been no cases of embryos being implanted into the wrong patient in recent years, according to fertility regulator figures  but hundreds of other incidents and near misses are still recorded.

Modern clinics rely on barcode tracking, strict lab protocols and double-witnessing systems designed to prevent exactly these kinds of mistakes.

But IVF, for all its technological sophistication, still depends on human handling at every stage.

And as these cases show, when something goes wrong, the consequences are not just clinical  they are lifelong.
When 25-year-old Rob James noticed his hair starting to thin, he feared he was heading for the same fate as his older brothers: going bald.

The social media content creator first spotted the change at the crown after a stressful year spent jumping between jobs.

He tried everything he could think of  thickening shampoos, supplements, miracle hair growth products  but nothing made a difference. The shedding continued.

It really knocked my confidence, especially as Im on camera a lot, says Rob, from Nottingham. I was scared to even run my hands through my hair in case more came out.

As the thinning worsened, he turned to hair fibres  a coloured powder shaken onto the scalp to disguise bald patches. I never left the house without them, he says. If it rained, if I went swimming, even if someone touched my hair  Id panic theyd notice.

Now, however, that anxiety has gone  replaced by a thick, healthy head of hair.

The turnaround, he says, came down to a simple at-home routine that has exploded in popularity online: a combination of prescription medication and microneedling.

After seeing others share dramatic results, Rob began using a topical treatment containing minoxidil and finasteride  two clinically proven drugs that tackle hair loss. Minoxidil boosts blood flow to hair follicles, helping to stimulate growth while finasteride blocks the hormone DHT, which shrinks follicles and drives baldness.

25-year-old Rob James's thinning hair and, right, the end result of medication and dermarolling

Alongside this, he used a dermaroller  a handheld device covered in tiny needles that is rolled across the scalp to create microscopic punctures in the skin.

The process, known as microneedling, is thought to increase blood flow and improve the absorption of medication. Rob used the dermaroller once a week, alongside daily application of the treatment. He says: It felt like the dermarolling supercharged everything.

He says despite it being a brush of needles, the procedure only prickled and it wasnt painful.

By around six months, he began to notice regrowth in areas that had been thinning for years. By month 11, the change was enough for him to ditch the hair fibres.

The biggest moment was when my barber asked if Id had a transplant, he says. Thats when I realised how much it had worked.

Dermarolling, which some experts say can enhance the effects of topical hair loss treatments, isnt new.

Developed in the 1990s, it was once largely confined to specialist clinics. But with home-use devices now available for as little as 10, the trend has found a new audience on social media.

Also known as microneedling, these handheld gadgets come in two main forms  rollers and stamps. The rotating heads contain hundreds of tiny needles.

When Rob's hair started to thin, he thought he was going bald like his older brothers

Typically ranging from 0.2mm to 2.5mm in length, the needles create controlled micro-injuries in the scalp. These trigger the bodys wound-healing response.

As the skin repairs itself, a cascade of processes is thought to stimulate hair growth  including increased activity in hair follicles and the production of proteins involved in the hair-growth cycle.

Microneedling may also increase blood flow to the scalp, delivering more oxygen and nutrients, and help treatments penetrate.

The drugs are already used by millions of men to slow hair loss and, in some cases, regrow hair.

Studies suggest more than four in five men taking finasteride stop losing their hair while nearly three in five see regrowth, often within months. However, in tablet form, the drugs can cause side effects, including erectile dysfunction and, in rare cases, mood changes.

As a result, many specialists now favour topical versions applied directly to the scalp. Research suggests the combination approach may be more effective.

For the approach to be effective, experts say patients need to follow key safety rules.

Hannah Gaboardi, a London-based trichologist, says: The safest needle depth for at-home use is around 0.5mm. Longer needles can cause bleeding, increase the risk of infection and potentially damage hair follicles, which can actually hinder growth.

Experts also recommend using a dermaroller no more than once a week and stopping if it causes significant pain.
Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway and Margot Robbie are all beautiful women with very different face shapes  angular, round and square respectively.

But when they stepped out on the red carpet at Sunday's Oscars, their faces all looked incredibly similar because of one distinctive feature.

These A-list actresses and many of their cohorts, including Cara Delevingne, Lily Collins and Victoria Beckham, all appear to have the exact same nose.

The new enviable shape is the upturned or 'celestial' nose, characterised by a slight slope and lifted tip  and it's even possible to get the look in time for a big red carpet event where you want to look your best in photos.

Gone are the days when reshaping your nose meant going under the knife and enduring a lengthy recovery.

With liquid rhinoplasty, people can refine their nose in just minutes using dermal filler  and demand for a perfect profile is also on the up away from the red carpet.

The upturned nose is proving to be one of the most popular facial features these days, with many famous faces, including Margot Robbie, having one

Actress Nicole Kidman is seen on the red carpet at the 98th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles

Rhinoplasty procedures in the UK increased by 25 per cent last year, while social media is awash with videos of women showcasing their transformations and recovery journeys.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dr Ross Perry, medical director at Cosmedics, explained that the rise is rooted in society's growing obsession with subtle 'tweakments'.

He said: 'There's definitely a noticeable convergence when it comes to nasal aesthetics in Hollywood, and this is veering towards subtle refinement rather than a dramatic change.

'The most in-demand look at the moment is what we'd describe as a "natural, balanced" nose. This is typically characterised by a straight dorsum, a refined but not overly narrow bridge, and a softly defined tip that complements the individual's facial proportions.'

According to Dr Perry, the rise rhinoplasty procedures is rooted in the desire to look good on camera, regardless of the angle.

Anne Hathaway is seen on the same red carpet event as Nicole Kidman this week  with a very similar nose shape

Cara Delevingne pictured at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Victoria Beckham at the premiere of her Netflix documentary in October 2025

He said: 'The goal now is harmony rather than perfection, and noses that photograph well from all angles, particularly in the age of high-definition cameras and social media scrutiny.

'We're also seeing a rise in our non-surgical rhinoplasty, where dermal fillers are used to smooth out irregularities and create the illusion of a straighter profile without surgery.'

Non-surgical rhinoplasty  or the 'liquid nose job'  is quickly becoming the go-to choice for those looking for a speedy, minimally invasive alternative to traditional nose surgery.

Despite many striving for the same look, Dr Ross added that a sense of individuality should always take priority.

'I would add that while trends do influence requests, the best results come from tailoring the nose to the individual's unique features, rather than replicating a one-size-fits-all celebrity look.'
Investment fund managers are famously paid a lot of money for their expertise. Investors pick up the tab for their bumper wages and bonuses by paying fees on their funds and can rightly expect that, in return, their manager will deliver strong returns  and beat the market.

Yet, you may be surprised to discover just how few of these well-paid experts consistently deliver better returns than the cheaper alternative of an index tracker fund, which just follows an entire market.

The sad reality is most active funds fail to deliver  and have done for a long time. Over the past ten years, only 16 per cent of global equity funds have beaten MSCI World index trackers, according to analysis by investment platform AJ Bell. And just 6 per cent of US-focussed funds offered to UK investors have beaten America's S&P 500 index over ten years, according to Bestinvest.

That means most investors would have been better off putting their money in a cheap fund that tracks entire markets, known as a passive fund. Investors pay a premium for a fund manager to pick winning stocks. The typical charge on a global active fund is 0.8 per cent versus 0.1 per cent for a global index tracker.

Of course, there are some 'active' funds that are delivering market-beating returns. But when funds that track the global market, like Fidelity Index World, return 76.2 per cent over the past five years, it can be difficult to justify paying more for a human manager.

So, are there markets where active stock picking consistently outperforms and how do you know when it's time to ditch an underperforming fund manager?

Calling time: How do you know when it's time to ditch an underperforming fund manager?

How to know when it's the right time to sell

It may be tempting to cash out of an investment that has performed poorly. But if you are thinking of scrapping your fund manager, the first step is to try to understand why your active investment has disappointed.

Find out if the entire market has had a hard time or if it's just your fund that has performed poorly. You can do this by looking at the fund's benchmark and see how it has fared compared to the average manager in its sector.

You should be able to see this on the monthly fund fact sheet, which provides a snapshot of an investment fund's performance, holdings, risk, and strategy.

Dan Coatsworth, of AJ Bell, says: 'No fund manager can be expected to do well every single year. You need to have more patience than you might think. Sometimes their style of investing will go out of favour but it doesn't mean they won't every do well again.'

For example, if a 'value' manager, who invests in stocks that are deemed to be priced at less than their intrinsic worth, is lagging the benchmark but behaving in line with their 'value' peers, that isn't usually cause to panic, says Kamal Warraich of Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management.

Instead, it may simply mean that the fund's style is out of favour at that point in time, he says.

However, Coatsworth warns: 'If the manager's style is doing well and the rest of the market is, but they are still not performing, after two years it's reasonable to reconsider your investment.'

Then it's time to do a deep dive into what the root cause is, Coatsworth adds. The investment process may have been changed or is it a case of bad stock picking? Another major signal to look out for is if the fund manager leaves or a new one is appointed to run the fund. Managers are paid to take an active role in choosing where the fund is invested so their personal approach will have a direct impact on your returns.

When a new manager is appointed, look into who they are and where they have come from. Coatsworth says: 'They may have been involved with the fund before and recently promoted. That's encouraging people they will know the process but it doesn't mean just anyone can slot into the job.'

If the new manager has joined from another company, investigate how their funds performed and whether they ran a similar type of fund  if not, then this will be a red flag.

Seeing a fund manager's name popping up in the press regularly can also be a worrying signal  whether it's good or bad news.

A handful of fund managers have been mired in controversy in recent years. Coatsworth says: 'If you have controversy around an individual, you have to question if you want this person making all your investment decisions.'

But even when a fund manager is praised regularly, it may not be the good news it appears to be.

He adds: 'These managers are in the news because they've been doing well. But like with the hype around a meme, stock that everyone you know  even non-investors  are talking about, may be a sign that it's time to diversify.

'You have to question whether a person can continue to be absolutely amazing for ever.'

Famous manager Terry Smith, who manages his flagship Fundsmith Equity fund, has struggled to deliver in recent years. His fund has lost 5.7 per cent over the past year, while the global stock market is up 14.2 per cent. The picture isn't much better over three years  the fund has returned just 8.5 per cent, compared to global equities' 38.9 per cent.

Coatsworth says: 'Terry Smith is known because of how well he has picked investments in the past. But he's had a run of bad luck and consistent underperformance. Lots of people's patience has run out but it doesn't mean everything he does now is going to be bad.'

Where managers struggle the most

When it comes to funds investing in the US stock market, Andrius Makin, a portfolio manager at wealth manager Killik & Co, says the dominance of the 'Magnificent Seven' stocks have made it very difficult for US and global active funds to beat index trackers. These seven giant stocks, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla, make up close to 33 per cent of the S&P 500. Meanwhile, a staggering 70 per cent of the MSCI World global stock market index is in US shares, with the Magnificent Seven accounting for 23 per cent of it.

Makin says: 'Nearly a quarter of the MSCI World is in a handful of stocks, so unless you are holding those stocks it is extremely unlikely that you are going to perform better than the index.'

At a time when investors are wary of over-excitement surrounding AI and the high valuations put on these tech giants, this leaves fund managers in a tricky spot. By making the call that some may not be worth holding, they run the risk of falling behind the index if the tech giants' share prices keep rising. But by holding them they leave themselves unprotected if they suddenly fall.

Where can fund managers shine?

It isn't all bad news for fund managers though. There are areas where they have beaten trackers over time. These include bonds, smaller companies, Asian stock markets and emerging markets, like Brazil and India. Here professional investors, who can put in the time and effort to research companies that are not well-followed by analysts and other investors, can reap rewards.

Over the past ten years, 47 per cent of UK small cap funds have beaten passive rivals, according to Bestinvest's data. Here, the Fidelity UK Smaller Companies and JPM UK Smaller Companies funds are among the top performers.

Is there still a place for active funds?

Ennion believes active funds still have an important place. He says there are fund managers with strong track records who have shown time and time again they can stick to their process.

These managers will inevitably rise to the top, he says, citing Alex Wright, manager of Fidelity Special Situations as a case in point. Over five years the fund has returned 79.3 per cent compared to its benchmark's 37.1 per cent.

Makin agrees. He suggests holding index funds as the core of your portfolio and then adding active funds, which offer you something you can't achieve with trackers. However, Eugene Gorbatikov, an analyst at investment data firm Morningstar, is less convinced. He says: 'Unless you have strong conviction in an active manager, a passive approach is more prudent.'
Two of Britain's best-known high street retailers have sounded the alarm over Labour's new workers' rights laws as youth unemployment soars.

After figures showing joblessness among the young at an 11-year high, the boss of hi-fi and TV chain Richer Sounds said the legislation could have a further negative impact on their prospects.

And electricals retailer Currys urged the government to ensure the Employment Right Act 'doesn't threaten the very jobs it's designed to protect'.

The intervention comes after stark official figures last week showed unemployment among 18-24 year-olds at 14.5 per cent.

That prompted the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to warn of a 'jobless generation' of young people - who appear to be bearing the strain in the rise in joblessness across the economy.

Bosses fear the new rules  which include workers being offered a certain number of guaranteed hours  are not fit for industries reliant on seasonal and temporary work, and will pile further strain on a sector already struggling with rising costs.

Sounding the alarm: Richer Sounds employs more than 500 staff in the UK

Writing for dailymail.co.uk, Richer Sounds boss Julie Abraham  whose business has 51 stores and employs more than 500 staff in the UK  said shops will decide not to hire if the reforms are botched.

She said some aspects of the bill 'raise concerns', adding: 'If reforms unintentionally make it harder for businesses to offer part-time roles, the very opportunities that help young people enter the workforce could begin to shrink.'

And 'unclear' rules or 'ambiguous' wording could also cause many businesses to put hiring plans on ice, which would be 'to the detriment of the millions of people currently searching for work,' she said.

Abraham noted that the jobs market is 'already under strain', adding: 'Worryingly, the very industry offering that vital first step into work is under immense pressure.'

She said the retail sector is facing 'significant cost pressures', with Labour's policies from the last two Budgets piling more than 5bn in extra employment costs on last year.

That has forced many retailers to already take 'difficult decisions about hiring, hours and investment,' Abraham said.

'When margins are tight, policies that add further cost or complexity to employing people inevitably make it harder to create new roles,' she added.

Currys chief people officer, Paula Coughlan, told the Mail: 'The Government says it believes in retail. Now it needs to show it - by ensuring the Employment Rights Act doesn't threaten the very jobs it's designed to protect.

'Retail is the overlooked engine room of the UK economy, creating well-paid, flexible jobs in some of our most deprived communities, and giving millions of young people their first pay cheque and the skills to build a career.'

Retailers support fair work - but employment reform must work in practice

By Julie Abraham, CEO of Richer Sounds

A business is only as good as the people who work there. At Richer Sounds, our success over the past four decades has been built on the dedication, expertise, and loyalty of our fantastic colleagues. Many of our teams have spent years with us, passionate about what we sell, building up an extraordinary depth of product knowledge and developing trusted relationships with our customers and suppliers.

That experience matters. This is a big part of what makes Richer Sounds different. And this is why the future of employment reform matters so much to businesses like us. Retail supports the ambition behind the Employment Rights Act to strengthen worker protections and improve job security. Responsible businesses want fair workplaces and good conditions for their staff - principles that have long been part of our culture.

At Richer Sounds, for example, we do not use zero-hours contracts and have never considered fire and rehire. We believe in stable employment relationships and investing in people for the long term, because that is the foundation upon which strong teams and strong businesses are built.

It is therefore welcome that ministers have listened to employers on some aspects of the legislation. The Government is introducing some huge changes to employment law, such as Day One rights for workers, yet they have made the wise decision to couple this with properly managed probation periods.

Probation periods are a normal part of hiring, giving both employers and employees the chance to ensure a role is the right fit before committing for the long term. It means businesses are more likely to take a chance on young people, many of whom apply with little or no prior experience. Retail has long played a vital role in helping young people take their first step into employment. Around one in five UK adults say their first job was in retail, often on a shop floor learning teamwork, customer service and responsibility - myself included! Those early opportunities matter enormously in building confidence and experience.

At the same time, retailers are already under significant cost pressures. In the last year alone, the industry has seen more than 5bn in additional employment costs, forcing many businesses to make difficult decisions about hiring, hours and investment. When margins are tight, policies that add further cost or complexity to employing people inevitably make it harder to create new roles.

That matters because the labour market is already under strain. Youth unemployment now stands at around 16 per cent among 16-24 year-olds - the highest level in more than a decade. Worryingly, the very industry offering that vital first step into work is under immense pressure. The latest ONS figures show retail jobs down 68,000 on the previous year and nearly 400,000 lower than a decade ago - the lowest level on record.

This is why some aspects of the Employment Rights Act raise concerns. If reforms unintentionally make it harder for businesses to offer part-time roles, the very opportunities that help young people enter the workforce could begin to shrink. Similarly, if the rules are unclear or the language of the legislation ambiguous, then many businesses will take a cautious approach to hiring  to the detriment of the millions of people currently searching for work.

As the government develops the secondary legislation that will underpin the Employment Rights Act, continued engagement with employers will be essential. Responsible businesses are not asking for weaker protections. What we need is clarity and a framework that will actually work in practice. If we get that balance right, employment reform can strengthen worker protections while supporting the businesses that create job opportunities across the country.

That would be a result worth striving for.
The boss of troubled lender Close Brothers has hit back over car finance rip-off claims saying customers knew what they were paying and 'got value throughout this'.

Mike Morgan's comments came as the City watchdog prepares to reveal details of a multi-billion-pound compensation scheme for those mis-sold vehicle loans.

Close Brothers has estimated it faces a 300 million hit but last week a short-seller said it may be liable for four times the sum.

The scandal centres on commission paid by lenders to car dealers to sell loans to buyers  in some cases giving them juicier payouts for flogging pricier finance deals.

Juicy payouts: The scandal centres on commission paid by lenders to car dealers to sell loans to buyers

But Morgan told The Mail on Sunday: 'I would contend you knew what you were paying for this car and you got the car.'

He said it was 'quite different' to the scandal of mis-selling of payment protection insurance from the mid-1990s to 2010, which cost banks 50 billion, adding: 'The customer got value throughout this.'

Under a proposed compensation scheme set up by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) 14 million car finance deals arranged between 2007 and 2024 could be subject to payouts worth an average 700 each. The total cost has been estimated at 11 billion.

Morgan, whose firm axed a quarter of its staff  600 jobs  on Tuesday to cut costs criticised the current shape of the scheme.

'The way it's structured at the moment doesn't reflect the loss that customers have suffered and is disproportionate,' he said. But some MPs last week said 'drivers risk being short-changed', arguing motorists should typically receive 1,200 each.

Last week short-seller Viceroy Research  famous for exposing German payment giant Wirecard and social housing landlord Home Reit  said Close Brothers had 'substantially misrepresented' its exposure to the FCA compensation scheme, and that even in a best-case scenario, the money set aside would have to rise to 572 million, hitting 1.23 billion in a 'bear scenario'.

The lender, whose shares fell 14 per cent on Monday, strongly rejects the claim.
Two more incinerators run by Aviva's investment arm have run into financial trouble after racking up huge losses in the insurer's botched bet on renewable energy.

It comes after The Mail on Sunday revealed earlier this month that a Jersey-regulated 'green' infrastructure fund run by Aviva since 2015 had lost 500 million when three of its other biomass plants went bust.

The controversial projects aimed to generate energy from household waste that would otherwise go to landfill, and were sold to investors, including local authority pension funds, looking for low-risk returns.

But the sites have been dogged by high running costs, technical issues and rows over planning permission.

Blanc cheque: Investors in the fund had previously written off millions on a trio of plants

Investors in the fund have written off 368 million for the trio of plants in Hull, Boston in Lincolnshire, and Barry in South Wales, which collapsed into administration in 2024.

Creditors led by Aviva Investors, who claim it is owed 480 million, are set to recoup less than a penny in the pound.

Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal that one of the fund's other sites, in Plymouth, has been mothballed while another, Hooton Bio near Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, has lost 145 million since 2018.

This includes a 43 million shortfall and debts of 270 million in 2024 - the latest year for which accounts are available. Auditors Ernst & Young only signed off Hooton Bio's accounts on a going concern basis after Aviva Investors said it would not seek loan repayments from the company for a year.

The Aviva director in charge of both the Hooton Bio and Plymouth sites was replaced earlier this month, according to documents filed at Companies House.

Aviva has come under pressure to liquidate its two remaining energy-from-waste plants.

All five facilities are or were majority-owned by an Aviva Investors' open-ended infrastructure fund that is in the process of being wound down and selling its assets, which also included investments in wind and solar energy.

Aviva, run by Amanda Blanc, said the Plymouth biomass facility was being sold to a third party, while there were 'no plans to close' the Hooton site on the Wirral, which the fund bought in 2023. Performance has improved since then with the plant generating enough power to heat about 30,000 homes, Aviva added.

'The fund has generated positive returns for investors since its inception,' a spokesperson said.

'There has been no impact to Aviva shareholders, nor have they suffered a loss.'
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has condemned the arrest of Constitution Defenders Forum member Tendai Biti, who was reportedly detained in Mutare for speaking out against Constitutional Amendment No. 3.Coltart said he was deeply disturbed by the arrest of his longtime colleague."I condemn the arrest and detention this afternoon in Mutare of my longstanding friend, fellow lawyer and former Cabinet Minister Tendai Biti," he said."His crime? Speaking out against Constitutional Amendment Bill 3! Why is Zanu PF so paranoid about pushing these amendments through using such illegal, authoritarian and unconstitutional means?"Coltart said the ruling party's actions show that it is aware it does not enjoy the support of the majority of Zimbabweans.
Ministers are under mounting pressure to ensure British steel is used to build nuclear reactors after a Czech firm pushed for the parts to be made in Europe, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Ed Miliband's Department for Energy and Net Zero is spending billions on small modular reactors (SMRs), which can be assembled far more quickly than traditional plants. Rolls-Royce was chosen to build the three SMRs on Anglesey last year in a major win for UK industry.

But the Government is now on a collision course with senior Labour Party figures, as Rolls' partner company in the project CEZ, owned by the Czech state, is pushing for the parts to be made in the Czech Republic rather than at the Forgemasters steelworks in Sheffield, which is owned by the Ministry of Defence.

Under the Government's deal with Rolls, 70 per cent of material used for the SMRs must be British-made, but officials have not specified which materials.

Looking ahead: How one of Rolls-Royce's small modular reactors will look in situ

It has sparked fears that Britain's steel sector will be deprived of much-needed orders, despite Forgemasters steelworks investing 1.3 billion in a new forging press to make reactor parts.

Sheffield Labour MP Clive Betts and ex-MP Richard Caborn are calling on ministers to reconsider, saying if Forgemasters makes the reactors, it could create a boom for the steelworks and wider suppliers, benefiting the UK taxpayer.

A final deal has yet to be signed, so Betts and Caborn are calling on ministers to change their requirements so that the taxpayer-funded steelworks get the business.

Caborn said the lack of stipulation about which materials are sourced from Britain means 'it could end up being the concrete'.

The controversy comes despite the Government's steel strategy, launched by Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle on Wednesday, pushing domestic manufacturing. Under the strategy, a 'new Steel Public Procurement Notice has been published to mandate the consideration of UK-made steel in all public contracts'.

Betts has spoken of his fear that thousands of tons of cheap foreign structural steel could be used for the structures housing the reactors. Others, including Sir Andrew Cook, whose firm William Cook Holdings makes ultra high-integrity components for the nuclear sector, are also lobbying for the SMRs to be made in the city.

Betts said: 'Those high-quality, precision-made pieces of engineering must be made at Sheffield Forgemasters. We have a publicly-owned business that has the capacity. The idea of producing those parts in the Czech Republic is barmy. We need to change that.'

Caborn added: 'We are pushing for British manufacturing to get into pole position for what is a brand-new global market.'

A Rolls-Royce SMR spokesperson said the company is 'yet to procure heavy vessels and the associated reactor components for its small modular reactors (SMRs)'.

The spokesperson added: 'Conversations with potential suppliers are ongoing and commercially confidential. Rolls-Royce SMR will procure over 40million components for each SMR and we remain committed to maximising UK content for our first project, alongside Great British Energy  Nuclear, where competitive capability exists.'

A DESNZ spokesperson said: 'Great British Energy  Nuclear has set out its ambition for 70pc of all supply chain products across the Small Modular Reactor fleet to be British built.'

The department made no further comment about whether stipulations would be added to covet reactor parts and structural steel from UK sources.
The quiet gentility of Spencer House, with a splendid 18th-Century facade overlooking London's Green Park, feels far removed from the skyscrapers of the City and Manhattan. Filled with Old Master paintings and family treasures, it is not the kind of place one would expect to be the headquarters of a fund manager, let alone a shrewd investor in Elon Musk's SpaceX, which is limbering up for the biggest stock market float in history.

But then there is nothing usual about RIT Capital Partners, formerly known as the Rothschild Investment Trust.

It was founded by the late, great fourth Lord Jacob Rothschild in 1971 after a family schism which saw the titular head of the British arm of the financial dynasty break with investment bankers NM Rothschild.

Some 55 years on, the fund, which down the decades has delivered rich rewards for shareholders, is run by highly focused, cerebral Canadian Maggie Fanari, with her keen eye for getting in on the ground floor with private technological and artificial intelligence pioneers.

At a moment in history when other investment trusts are under siege from American activist shareholder Boaz Weinstein of Saba Capital, the trust, which produced a stellar total shareholder return of 16.9 per cent in 2025, recognised it had to lift its game.

'We have undergone a complete transformation,' Fanari says.

RIT large: Maggie Fanari leads the ex-Rothschild Investment Trust

This involves getting information to investors more quickly and upgrading the website and disclosures in an annual report which now runs to 137 pages.

'We have specifically designed our website to inform shareholders, both existing and prospective, around our private portfolio,' Fanari says of unquoted shares.

The fund boss regards openness as essential and makes a point of engaging with investors using podcasts. She is acutely aware that 25 per cent of RIT investors (including this writer) are smaller shareholders and thus will be anxious to be kept informed during a period of extraordinary political and economic turbulence.

The trust may yet fall into Saba's crosshairs as its stock market value of just under 3 billion remains at a big discount to the 4.4 billion of assets in its portfolio. Discounts are a key bugbear of Weinstein, who often uses them as a key justification in his campaigns against investment trusts.

But Fanari is undeterred, saying: 'We've been looking to tackle the discount through performance. We have a high conviction about the portfolio and bought back 3 per cent of the market cap last year.'

Investors will also doubtless be reassured that RIT (unlike the Bank of England) has always maintained a substantial position in gold, which has soared by nearly 50 per cent in value over the past year.

Skyward focus: SpaceX's Elon Musk

'We ended the year with 5.3 per cent of our portfolio in gold  it acts as a diversifier,' Fanari says.

Aside from gold and its SpaceX stake, unusual jewels in RIT's portfolio include Spencer House, a Grade I-listed house and one of London's most prized corporate and social venues.

Even for the combative Weinstein, RIT would be a hard nut to crack. It started out as the family investment vehicle for the Rothschild family in Britain and that remains the case.

Jacob Rothschild's favoured heir Hannah Rothschild, who sits as a non-executive director, holds 10.3 per cent of the business, the Rothschild Foundation (which funds charities) has a further 11.16 per cent. And Five Arrows, the asset management arm of Rothschild & Co, owns 4.9 per cent.

Unpicking all of that would be tricky for an activist investor.

That is unless, in the manner of the Schroder family, who recently sold up, the Rothschilds decided enough was enough.

The journey of the 46-year-old Fanari to the top job at Britain's most elite fund manager began at the 153 billion Ontario Teachers' Pension Fund, a substantial investor in Britain.

She felt an intimate involvement with the fund, as her father, a high school teacher in Canada with a keen interest in politics and markets, is a beneficiary.

Fanari first came to know Jacob Rothschild 15 years ago when she found that RIT was often a co-investor in the innovative private companies which the Ontario fund was backing. She was invited to join the RIT board as an independent director in 2019 before taking over as chief executive in 2024.

The portfolio Fanari runs seeks 'to capture market upside, while minimising the downside'. So far, it appears to be working. She says: 'We've managed to possess 70 per cent of the upside since inception.'

This has been done by investing in a variety of assets including private firms. A 10,000 sum invested at the fund's inception would be worth 410,000 today.

Since taking the helm Fanari has been building up the stake in SpaceX, noting that she already had 'a long history' with the rocketry group through her time at the Ontario fund. She says: 'It is the largest position in our private book and in the top 10 positions in our overall portfolio.'

Her focus is now turning towards the boom in artificial intelligence, with RIT having sold holdings in established software firms such as South Korea's e-commerce platform Coupang, Microsoft and website creation firm GoDaddy to instead focus on predicted winners from the AI revolution such as Anthropic and Databricks.

Keeping up with the latest technology requires Fanari to fly regularly. Her focus recently has been on New York and San Francisco, where she makes six trips a year, while also trying to find time to drop in on her family in Ontario, a connection that continues to inform the way she does business.

In her work at the Ontario fund, Fanari says she felt as if she was 'working on behalf of family members'. But now at RIT, it is instead the cash of one of the most esteemed financial dynasties in the world that is in her hands.
Elon Musk defrauded investors in Twitter by talking down the company as he tried to renegotiate his 33 billion offer to buy it in 2022, a US court has ruled.

A California jury backed a group of investors who argued that Musk had made 'misleading statements' during his takeover of the social media giant  now known as X.

The claim centred around a series of posts he made on Twitter in April 2022 during the process when he said his offer for the firm had been put 'temporarily on hold' and that the takeover 'cannot move forward' until the website's bosses provided proof that less than 5 per cent of its users were 'fake'. The tirade prompted Twitter's share price at the time to dive to around $30 from the deal price of $54.20.

Ruling: Elon Musk defrauded investors in Twitter by talking down the company as he tried to renegotiate his 33 billion offer to buy it in 2022

In a class action lawsuit, the investors claimed they had sold their shares at the lower price and had thus lost out when the deal finally closed later that year. They also argued that as Musk had signed a binding agreement to buy Twitter, his statement that the takeover was 'on hold' was false because the firm had not agreed to defer the deal.

The verdict means Musk may be forced to pay substantial damages to the investors that could be worth billions. The final amount is due to be determined at a later date.
Natural gas could fuel UK steel furnaces despite global prices soaring.

The plan, contained in No.10's steel strategy, which was finally published last week, is designed to help the industry 'to achieve net zero and remain competitive in global green steel markets'.

In it ministers signalled the end for Britain's last two coal-fired blast furnaces, which cost 1.3 million a day to subsidise, replacing them with electric arc furnaces.

An arc furnace set to produce 3 million tons of steel a year is being built at Port Talbot, South Wales, and the two blast furnaces at Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, may be replaced with arc furnaces too.

Idea: Natural gas could fuel UK steel furnaces despite global prices soaring

But these furnaces only recycle scrap steel and the Government still wants to retain the ability to produce stronger, virgin steel. The strategy proposes to do this through gas-fired plants, which could later be switched to use green hydrogen once supplies are available.

This means the UK steel sector would be even more exposed to volatile gas prices on global markets, which have soared due to the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Andrew Griffith, Shadow Business Secretary, said: 'Only this energy-illiterate Government could advocate a switch from stable coal to volatile gas in the middle of an energy price spike.'
When I arrived in London, phone theft was something I thought of as urban folklore - the kind of grim anecdote you hear, shake your head at and file away under 'thankfully not me'.

It never occurred to me that I would be telling one of those stories myself.

Yet on a Saturday night in Stockwell, that illusion didn't last long.

While at The Swan pub with friends, my phone was stolen in under five minutes - one more case among the half a million reported across the city since 2019.

It happened quickly. Quietly. Without force or confrontation.

A man approached me inside the multi-storey club. He was neatly dressed and self-assured, the kind of person who blends easily into a crowded bar. Nothing about him immediately signalled danger.

He was the exact opposite of my vision of London's stereotypical phone thieves, who I pictured speeding down Oxford Street on a scooter, face half-covered by a balaclava, dressed head-to-toe in dark, forgettable clothing - as anonymous as humanly possible.

In fact, this man entirely contradicted this idea, clad in chinos and a shirt. That, I now understand, was the point.

The Swan in Stockwell (pictured), where my phone was stolen by the most unlikely of suspects

Within the space of minutes, my iPhone was snatched from my pocket at the Swan pub in Stockwell, and never seen again

'You are so pretty,' he said, smiling. 'Let me take you on a date?'

Not quite the usual opening line from a phone thief, is it?

It was an unwanted praise, but not unusual for a young woman to receive. I accepted the compliment, declined politely and thought nothing more about it, returning to my friends.

I will remember her evil smile for the rest of my life

I'm Tom Rawstorne, and nearly 30 years ago a 12-year-old murderer, with a gold crucifix hanging round her neck, gave me a moment I'll never forget. Sharon Carr is to this day Britain's youngest-ever female murderer, having killed an 18-year-old hairdresser in an unprovoked act of gruesome violence. I watched her up close in court for three weeks and it is something I'l never forget. I've written about it in The Crime Desk newsletter - sign up to read it for free.

But much to my surprise, this did not put him off. Instead, he lingered - hovering close enough to command attention, but not aggressive enough to cause a scene.

Then, he introduced someone else - the second character in what became a two-man coordinated theft.

'Let me grab my cousin - you stay right here,' he said.

Baffled by the request given I had rebuffed his propositions; I stayed close to my friends, thinking he would vanish and that would be the end of it.

Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of the steep downhill turn my night was about to take.

Minutes later, he returned with another man  the so-called cousin - scanning for my face in the crowd.

The second man stayed mostly silent upon introductions, positioned slightly behind me and to the side. He did not engage directly. He did not need to.

The first man resumed talking - asking rapid-fire questions about where I was from, what I did for a living, how long I had lived in London. The conversation required attention. When I tried to disengage, he persisted. At one point, he gripped my arm to keep me focused on him.

It was a coordinated distraction.

While my attention was deliberately occupied, the second man moved in. Without bumping into me, without drawing attention, without me feeling a thing - he removed my phone from my pocket.

By the time I realised it was missing only seconds later, it was too late. Both men had disappeared into the cover of darkness.

There was no dramatic chase. No shouting. Just the sudden, disorienting awareness that something important was gone - and that it had been taken intentionally.

Within a flash, I became one of London's thousands of phone theft victims.

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Statistics released by the Met Police on the crime paint a harrowing picture of the crime.

In 2019, 91,481 phone thefts were reported to the police, before numbers fell to 55,820 in 2020 during pandemic restrictions.

However, cases then climbed to 63,777 in 2021 and 90,810 in 2022, rising further to 115,261 in 2023 and a peak of 117,211 in 2024.

And in the first three months of 2025 alone, a further 27,167 phones were reported stolen - indicating the trend remains high.

A spokesman for the Met Police said that while the force has seen welcome reductions in violent crime, they are aware that 'volume crime such as theft, shoplifting and burglary remains a concern'.

They said: 'We are making progress, through targeted operations, weeks of intense action, as well as increased patrols in hotspots areas, and neighbourhood crime is down 14 per cent.'

Back at The Swan, my panic set in almost immediately.

Borrowing a friend's phone, we booked an Uber home and watched in despair as my mobile disappeared into thin air on my pal's Find My iPhone app.

On the night of the theft, the phone could be tracked to Plaistow (pictured) - approximately nine miles from the Swan

The day following the theft, the mobile was brought to a location in Elephant and Castle (pictured)

At my flat in the early hours of the morning, I logged onto my MacBook and activated Lost Mode.

Shortly after, a location ping appeared.

Plaistow - the other side of London where my phone apparently now called home. I watched the small dot sit on the map, helpless to do anything more. I went to bed - astonished at what had occurred.

Yet the following day brought another shock.

When I regained access to my banking app, I saw attempted transfers: money moved internally between my accounts within half an hour of the theft, followed by attempts to move funds elsewhere.

The speed was chilling. This wasn't only opportunistic; it was organised.

Thankfully, my bank intervened before any money left my account - but that did not mitigate my horror that such a swift transfer of funds could possibly occur.

And my phone did not stay still. In the days since, the location has updated again.

Now, it is in Elephant and Castle - stationary inside what appears to be an unknown building. Not moving through the streets. A fixed location.

Seeing it there, reduced to a blinking dot inside a building I cannot access, is a strange kind of confirmation. The device is no longer mine in any meaningful sense. It has entered a system.

Indeed, phone theft is not just about losing an object.

It is also about access - to banking, photos, contacts, authentication codes, fragments of your life stored behind a screen. And in a matter of minutes, strangers attempted to penetrate into my daily existence.

What lingers most is not embarrassment - it is the clarity of how calculated the encounter was.

Two people. Clear roles. One distracts. One steals. Both disappear.

It happened in a busy pub, surrounded by people, in what felt like an ordinary social setting. There was no reckless behaviour  and certainly no suggestion two people so seemingly normal-looking would do such a thing. Just a brief, engineered window of vulnerability.

And it worked.

Unfortunately, I am far from alone. This type of theft is happening across London with alarming and continued regularity. The act is subtle, rehearsed and designed to be over before you even realise what has happened.

The lesson? Don't trust appearances. An all-black outfit doesn't make a thief - and neither does dressing smartly make a gentleman.

Five minutes at the Swan was all it took. And somewhere in Elephant and Castle, my phone is still blinking - idle - on a map.

A spokesperson for The Swan said: 'Please be assured that we continue to monitor our premises closely to prevent thefts, and we are proactive in our approach to ensure incidents of this nature are avoided.

'Thankfully, events like this are not common at The Swan, and we are committed to keeping it that way.'
Wokery has eroded faith in Britain's once-revered justice system, critics claimed today.

A poll found just 57 per cent of adults are now confident in the courts, down from 69 per cent in 2024, the biggest year-on-year fall since records began.

It comes on the back of a dispute over Britain's supposed 'two-tier' system, which emerged in the wake of riots fuelled by the Southport murders.

Zia Yusuf, Reform's shadow home secretary, told the Daily Mail: 'These figures confirm what Reform UK has long argued: Confidence in our courts is at rock bottom.

'For too long the public have seen violent criminals and sexual predators given lenient sentences while those prosecuted for speech-related offences are treated like terrorists.

'A Reform UK government will put an end to the current two-tier justice system, come down hard on violent and repeat offenders, and restore faith in the rule of law.'

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The data, gathered by respected pollster Gallup, suggested that the loss of trust could be partly down to the 'two-tier' justice system.

Both the Tories and Reform held up Lucy Connolly  a mother jailed in October 2024 for 31 months for inciting racial hatred in an X post  as evidence of harsh sentencing.

Incensed by misinformation that killer Axel Rudakubana was in the country illegally, she said that people should 'set fire to all the f*****g hotels full of the b*****ds for all I care'.

A month earlier, shamed BBC newsreader Huw Edwards dodged jail when sentenced in September 2024 after pleading guilty to possessing indecent images of children, including one of a child as young as seven.

Only 30 per cent of Reform UK voters trust the justice system, in comparison with 67 per cent of Labour and 63 per cent of Conservative voters, the Gallup poll found.

The justice system is the only national institution that the public trusts less than pre-Covid. Faith in the NHS, military and government have all proved much steadier in the eyes of the public.

The case of Lucy Connolly caused controversy after she was jailed for two years and seven months after posting a tweet on social media in the wake of the Southport riots

Jim McConalogue, chief executive of the Civitas think-tank, said the loss of trust was partly down to 'the perception of preferential treatment between groups'.

He told the Daily Mail: 'From disorderly activism on Palestine or climate to an absence of effective responses to problems such as illegal immigration, there is a notable difference in how the justice system deals with these problems.

'The public has been able to observe for themselves that the law applied to them is not being applied equally to all others, because some privileged groups are favoured for their special identity or characteristics.

'With the growth of identity politics and implausible victimhood narratives encouraged across many of our public institutions, it has been permitted that some groups have been unjustly favoured under the law, which needs to be addressed.

'But it also clearly goes beyond identity politics itself because there has also been poor public leadership, faulty interpretations of human rights law, the 15-year-old Equality Act, soft non-custodial sentencing, early release schemes and the pandemic court backlog.'

People sprayed a freed inmate with champagne after he walked out of HMP Nottingham in September 2024

One former prisoner was met by friends in a Lamborghini outside Pentonville jail in London

Another issue in the justice system is the perception of creeping power of unelected and politically biased judges, who often use European Human Rights law to make controversial decisions.

For example, an upper immigration tribunal judge blocked the deportation of an Albanian burglar with nearly 50 convictions because his crimes were reportedly not extreme enough to 'revolt' the public.

The Home Office said it would appeal the case at the time.

Reform's now shadow chancellor Robert Jenrick, still a member of the Tory party at the time, claimed the judge had previously called Conservative plans to deter illegal migration 'inhuman'.

In a speech to the Conservative Party Conference last autumn, before he defected, Mr Jenrick set out a major reform of how British judges are appointed, returning to politicians the power to appoint them.

He said there were many who had 'spent their entire careers fighting to keep illegal immigrants in the country' as he declared war on 'activist' judges.

Meanwhile, more than 64 crown courtrooms sit unused every day despite a record backlog of 80,000 cases, analysis revealed last month.

Current projections show crown caseloads will reach 100,000 by 2028  meaning a suspect charged with an offence today might not appear before a jury until 2030.

In an effort to reduce the backlog, Labour is planning on scrapping jury trials for some cases, instead relying on a judge sitting alone.

But this has further caused backlash against the justice system, from both the legal professionals who work within it and the public, who have expressed alarm at the change to a cornerstone of the constitution dating back more than 800 years.

Keir Starmer's policy of letting convicted criminals out of prison early to free up space was also extremely controversial with the public.

Sickening scenes from 2024 showed freed inmates celebrate by soaking themselves in champagne, getting picked up in a Lamborghini and boasting they were now a 'lifelong Labour voter'.

Victims and their families warned at the time that the decision left them feeling 'sick to the stomach'.

As well as releasing prisoners early on purpose, there has also been a rise in the accidental early release of prisoners.

Figures show that 262 prisoners were mistakenly freed from prisons in England and Wales between April 2024 and March 2025  the single highest one-year tally on record.

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The most infamous example was the accidental release of the asylum seeker who sexually assaulted a teenage girl in Epping, Hadush Kebatu, which later led to protests.

The Government argues that a total of 7billion will be invested between 2024-25 and 2029-30 to deliver 14,000 new prison places, with the aim of doing so by 2031.

It said it has already opened more than 3,000 prison places since July 2024. This follows a period where just 500 net places were added to the estate between May 2010 and July 2024, despite a rapidly rising prison population.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'This government inherited a justice system on the brink of collapse with overflowing prisons and a record court backlog that left victims facing unacceptable delays.

'We are fixing this by delivering the most ambitious prison-building programme in over a century and pressing ahead with plans to cut the time victims are waiting for a crown court hearing, alongside modernising the justice system for the 21st century with record investment.'
A professor who sent his PhD student a string of romantic messages and a photo of himself in his boxer shorts has secured another victory after being sacked.

The University of Melbourne terminated Professor of Geotechnical Engineering Stephan Matthai's employment in December 2024.

Prof Matthai, now 63, was axed after it emerged he had sent a female PhD student romantic texts and a suggestive photo of himself back in 2017.

However, the Fair Work Commission ruled that his termination was unreasonable, given the university had known about the inappropriate conduct for years.

Deputy President Alan Colman found the university's decision to fire Prof Matthai seven years after the fact was excessive.

The university was granted permission to appeal that decision on the basis that it served the public interest.

Lawyers acting for the university set out numerous grounds of appeal challenging the deputy president's findings on harshness, reinstatement and the professor's 'insight' into whether his interactions breached the university's Appropriate Workplace Behaviour policy.

But this week the bench rejected them all, concluding that Deputy President Colman, in weighing harshness, had not strayed 'outside the range of reasonable discretionary decisions'.

Professor of Geotechnical Engineering Stephan Matthai continues to be backed by authorities

The University of Melbourne is recognised as one of the nation's top universities

'A different decision-maker may have come to a different conclusion as to whether, in all the circumstances, the dismissal of [the professor] was harsh and therefore unfair,' it stated.

'As the deputy president acknowledged, the misconduct was serious, particularly having regard to the nature of the relationship between a senior academic and a PhD student, and at least aspects of his conduct were "highly inappropriate".'

But the bench agreed with the weight Deputy President Colman put on the professor's clean professional record following the incident.

'If he had been dismissed at the time the misconduct occurred, when he was 55, he may have had more opportunities for re-employment,' Mr Colman said.

The matter traces back to 2017, when an unnamed PhD student who had received a scholarship to study in Melbourne started working under Prof Matthai's supervision.

Their exchanges began as professional, but quickly became romantic.

In a string of heartfelt messages, Prof Matthai opened up about his recent break-up and responded to a poem from the student with one of his own.

'We are like the dry soil soaking up the autumn rain after a long hot summer. It is very beautiful and caresses our souls, but it should not give you pain. You know that I am barely coping with the separation from [omitted],' he wrote.

Their exchanges moved to personal email and private video chats, with Prof Matthai deliberately avoiding university channels to dodge detection from those he described as 'UoM internet security people'.

'It is our very own private conversation... and yes, we have the pleasure of getting a glimpse of this together and it is really a beautiful reawakening,' he wrote.

'We share this on a deep intuitive level.'

The pair messaged back and forth for two months, with Prof Matthai sending the student a picture of himself in his boxer shorts.

The tribunal deemed the messages to be 'inappropriate and unprofessional' but not grounds for dismissal.

Despite the university being informed of the messages in 2017, Prof Matthai was allowed to continue in his role until his sudden dismissal in late 2024.

The tribunal took particular issue with the university's delay in acting, stating that it had effectively condoned his continued employment.

No further concerns arose during the following years.

Professor Stephan Matthai was struggling with a break-up when he sent the messages

Prof Matthai argued that during that period, he was struggling with a difficult break-up, which impacted his judgment.

He said he tried to manage the student's expectations after realising she had developed feelings for him.

In 2018, the student told the universitys HR department that Prof Matthai did not have appropriate boundaries and that some of his comments made her feel uncomfortable, but she did not want to make a formal complaint as she was worried it could jeopardise her PhD, The Age reported at the time.

Years later, in January 2024, the student made a formal complaint about Prof Matthai to HR.

Among other things, she alleged Prof Matthai had 'sexually and mentally abused her' for 14 months.

The university hired an external investigator, who analysed 141 texts and emails, which included declarations of love by the student for Prof Matthai.

Sexual harassment was not part of the investigation, and Prof Matthai denied any abuse.

The professor's legal win saw him reinstated to his $226,000 position.
My girls, Brailey and Olivia, spent Christmas 2024 with me in Utah.

Their mother and I had divorced about four years earlier so, sadly, I didn't see the girls as much as I wanted. I knew I wanted full custody, but I soaked up every happy moment before the battle I knew was ahead.

We visited a local butterfly conservatory they loved. At the end of a long day having fun, they'd sometimes fall asleep together at home. Brailey always draped her arm protectively across her little sister.

When I took them back to their mother Tranyelle, in Wyoming, where they lived with their stepsisters and stepdad, on January 5, Brailey hesitated to get out of the car.

'Daddy, I don't want to go,' she said tearfully.

I knew if the handover was late there'd be consequences. Tranyelle had a short fuse.

'It's okay, sweetheart,' I forced a smile. 'I'll Facetime tomorrow and see you soon.' It was heartbreaking.

On February 9, I Facetimed the girls as promised. They seemed fine. The next day I got a phone call that made my world stop. It was Tranyelle's father. 'Quinn, Tranyelle's done something terrible,' he said. 'Brailey's dead. Olivia may not make it.'

Quinn Blackmer with his girls, Brailey (left) and Olivia (right). They spent Christmas 2024 together in Utah

Tranyelle Harsman (pictured) - her father called Quinn on Feburary 10, 2025 and told him, 'Tranyelle's done something terrible'

Tranyelle and her new husband, Cliff Harshman, had two girls of their own  Jordan, aged 2, and Brooke, who was turning 3  she had killed them too, he told me, then shot herself. She was 32.

I couldn't breathe. This can't be real. What kind of mother shoots her children?

I couldn't think straight. I still can't.

There were some signs along the way.

Early on, Tranyelle, whom I met through church friends, mentioned having bipolar disorder.

'I never agreed with the diagnosis,' she added.

Her moods shifted quickly, but nothing concerned me.

We married in 2014. When she fell pregnant, I was overjoyed. A big kid myself, I'd always dreamed of being a father and having a large family.

Brailey was born in November 2015. Tranyelle was a good mother to her and we were both thrilled when, two years later, Olivia arrived.

I fondly recall a moment years later where Brailey and Olivia, scrambled across the carport roof, collecting toy rockets they'd fired up there.

Brailey, then 7, shuffled cautiously towards me on her bottom. 'Dad, help me get down,' she said. I did and then Olivia, 5, yelled, 'Dad, catch me!' and threw herself off the roof without warning.

That summed up my girls.

Olivia was fearless, with electric-blue eyes sparkling as she threw herself into every challenge. Brailey was the typical responsible big sister. Both girls were fiery redheads, smart and kind.

Brailey's teachers chose her as a role model for struggling kids. Like me though, she was silly and a joker.

I loved being their dad but Tranyelle was unhappy.

I thought we had both wanted a big family but suddenly she announced she had changed her mind. 'Two is enough,' she said, 'I'm done.'

I was disappointed. There were other issues.

She had a short fuse. Arguments escalated fast. 'You're not pulling your weight,' she snapped if I couldn't settle Olivia. If I cooked dinner and it wasn't ready on time, she'd explode. If I was assembling furniture and took too long, she'd snap, 'I'll do it,' and take over.

When Olivia was a few months old, Tranyelle suddenly told me, 'We're moving in with my mom.' There was no discussion.

We stayed with her mother until I got two jobs to support us and our own apartment.

Now, Tranyelle spent weekends away visiting friends, leaving me with the girls.

Olivia was fearless, with electric-blue eyes sparkling as she threw herself into every challenge. Brailey was the typical responsible big sister. Both girls were fiery redheads, smart and kind

A big kid myself, I'd always dreamed of being a father and having a large family

One day, after Brailey finished playing with Tranyelle's old phone, I picked it up and saw a message from a man. 'Send me pics of you in that new bra and panties.' She was having an affair.

'You need to lose weight. You could be a better husband and father,' she snapped when I confronted her. I tried to move past it for the girls' sake.

We moved again and went to counselling. My well-paid oil industry job meant that I worked 20 days in the field, then had the next ten back home in Montana.

I thought we'd have family time together on my breaks, but within an hour of me returning, Tranyelle would disappear for days visiting family and friends in Wyoming. Or so she said.

Eventually she confessed what I suspected. She'd met someone else, Cliff Harshman. We were separated - though still married and living together - but her affair ultimately marked the end of our marriage.

She agreed to divorce if I took responsibility for over $9,000 of her debts. Wanting to move on, I agreed.

We divorced in 2020 and a few months later in July, she married Cliff. I met my now-wife Katelynn online and moved to be with her in Utah.

To minimize disruption for the girls, I let Tranyelle and Cliff take the lease on my apartment. I was trying to keep things civil and thought we'd soon work out a fair custody arrangement.

But when I asked for two weeks over Christmas, Tranyelle snapped, 'That's not happening. Me and Cliff want our first Christmas as a family.'

I got eight days in January. Eventually, I went to court and mediation.

I was granted six weeks over summer, increasing to eight, every other Christmas and every spring break.

I could also visit the girls whenever I wanted, with notice, and Facetime them five days a week. But Tranyelle often had objections to my visits.

In February 2022, she and Cliff had a daughter, Brooke.

When Katelynn and I were planning our wedding, I wanted Brailey and Olivia as flower girls. It was a midweek wedding, and the school approved time off. I was so excited. But Tranyelle was furious. 'You should have told me first,' she screamed. 'You're trying to kidnap the girls!'

Ultimately, the girls didn't attend.

In January 2023, Tranyelle and Cliff had another daughter, Jordan. Soon after, Tranyelle was diagnosed with post-partum depression.

In early 2023, when my grandfather was dying of cancer, I asked her if the girls could see him one last time. She refused  I was heartbroken for both my girls and for him.

In February 2024, there was joy in our lives as Katelynn and I welcomed a son, Hudson.

One day, after Brailey finished playing with Tranyelle's old phone, I picked it up and saw a message from a man. She was having an affair

I met my now-wife Katelynn (pictured with Brailey and Olivia) on-line and moved to be with her in Utah

But by then, I was increasingly worried about the girls.

Our scheduled Facetime calls usually happened in mall car parks, all four girls alone in the car while Tranyelle was in the stores. Brailey often ended up soothing her baby sisters. Tranyelle didn't make the girls wear seat belts either.

When I asked for more time with my daughters, suddenly child support became an issue. The court ordered me to pay more, plus back payments, despite already having paid Tranyelle's debts. 'I was too trusting,' I admitted to Katelynn.

That summer, Katelynn's family planned a big nine-day camping reunion. I was taking the girls but two weeks before, Tranyelle refused. 'I don't feel good about it,' she said by way of explanation.

By the end of 2024, I had reached my breaking point. I decided I wanted full custody. Katelynn vowed to support me.

I thought I would be spending more of my life with my girls  I looked forward to it and steeled myself for the battle I knew it would take. I relished our time over that last Christmas, completely oblivious to just how little time I had left with them.

It's been over a year since Tranyelle murdered my daughters, along with Jordan and Brooke.

Brailey was killed immediately but Olivia clung to life. She was transferred from Wyoming to hospital in Utah and Katelynn and I rushed to her side.

Olivia had been shot in the head and a dressing covered the wound. The surgeons said they would do an exploratory operation to clean it out and patch up the entry and exit.

I held her hand before surgery and told her I loved her.

Though she was in a coma, I knew my little girl was still there. 'I have to be strong, for her,' I choked to Katelynn.

The surgery was successful and we were optimistic. But Olivia's brain swelled. Drugs controlled it temporarily. I never left my baby's bedside, singing to her and praying.

As the days went by Olivia's condition worsened. 'Your daughter is very sick. She needs a miracle,' the surgeon told me.

Hoping it might help, doctors gradually brought Olivia out of her coma. She had massive brain seizures. There was no hope. I knew it was time to let her go.

I cradled Olivia like a baby as life support was withdrawn. Her breathing slowed, then stopped.

I said a quiet prayer: 'Lord, let her be with her sister.' It was February 15th.

Knowing my girls were together gave me some peace, though physically they were still apart. Brailey was in a funeral home hundreds of miles away, where her mother lived. It took six days for Brailey's body to be transported to our local one.

Seeing her was like being punched in the face. Makeup covered the damage, but she was badly bruised.

My girls had been inseparable in life, so I chose for them to be in one casket.

Before the funeral, Katelynn dressed them in white, painted their nails pink and purple, and added butterfly stickers.

Olivia was laid in the casket first. When Brailey was placed beside her, her arm fell across her sister, just like when they slept.

'Leave them like that,' I choked.

At the graveside, we pressed our palm prints onto the casket and released hundreds of pink and purple balloons.

In February 2022, Tranyelle and Cliff had a daughter, Brooke

In February 2024, there was joy in our lives as Katelynn and I welcomed a son, Hudson

Since then I've learned so much about which I was in the dark at the time. A friend of Tranyelle's told me that she had been on new medication to treat her depression and she didn't like it.

I spoke to the police who said Tranyelle had been on ketamine, a tranquilizer used for horses, and which was sometimes prescribed to treat depression.

She had called the police after shooting the girls, saying she was about to kill herself and ranting about 'people trying to take my kids away.'

Tests showed an anti-anxiety drug and excessive amounts of ketamine in her system.

Brailey, Brooke and Jordan had been drugged, too. It wasn't clear if Olivia was because she'd been treated with drugs in hospital, but it seemed likely.

I don't know what lies behind Tranyelle's actions. Mental illness, drugs and spite could all have played a role, but in what proportion I don't know.

Friends and family said she was a wonderful mother driven to her awful act by stress and depression.

I wasn't aware that Tranyelle was on ketamine and believe that if one parent is on such a powerful drug, the other should have temporary custody. I believe the system failed my daughters.

I miss my silly Brailey and my fearless Olivia so badly.

Hug your children tight. Let them stay up late. Spend money and make memories.

Because sometimes memories are all you have left.
Harrowing footage compiled by the Daily Mail has revealed the sadistic treatment Putins soldiers are enduring on the frontlines in Ukraine.

Graphic videos show commanders beating and electrocuting their own troops, denying them food, forcing them to crawl through mud, tying them naked to trees in sub-zero temperatures and even making them fight to the death.

Other footage shows injured soldiers on crutches being sent back to the frontline. In separate clips, troops sheltering in Ukrainian dugouts film themselves surviving on stolen potatoes because their own army has not supplied them with food.

Commanders are sending their men into so-called meat storm battles, likened to suicide missions, where troops are thrown at Ukrainian positions until they run out of ammunition.

Those who flee or refuse orders face brutal punishment.

One video shows two naked men lying in a pit as their commander screams at them and fires bullets into the ground nearby. Lay there for a few more days until you understand how to follow orders, the commander shouts.

Another shows two men forced to crawl through mud while commanders kick dirt at them and strike them in the head. The commander is heard yelling are you still going to be sick? while beating him.

In a Telegram message seen by the Daily Mail alongside the footage, an anonymous soldier wrote: The 132nd brigade is a force to be reckoned with. They are completely off the rails. This is what they do to servicemen who undergo medical treatment. It is nothing but humiliation, beatings and abuse.

The footage emerged as Russia faced its deadliest day in the war this year on Tuesday, with 1,700 killed or wounded in 24 hours, according to Ukraine's general staff.

One video shows two naked men lying in a pit as their commander screams at them and fires bullets into the ground nearby

In one video two men reportedly undergoing medical treatment are forced to crawl through mud while commanders kick dirt at them and strike them in the head

One clip shows a middle-aged soldier chained by the neck inside a box while his commander taunts him with food

Another video shows half-naked men chained to a tree before being forced to bark like dogs

One clip shows a middle-aged soldier chained by the neck inside a box while his commander taunts him with food.

Are you hungry? the commander asks, before flinging a plate of meat and bread at his head and pouring water over him.

Eat, you dog. Youre going to die there, you know, the commander jeers while hitting the man.

Another video shows half-naked men chained to a tree. 'These are our dogs who ran away from us,' a commander is heard saying, 'but we caught them'. He then forces the two soldiers to bark like dogs before urinating on them.

In another clip, reportedly from the 132nd Brigade, two terrified soldiers are duct-taped to a tree. One has a bucket placed over his head, which a commander repeatedly kicks.

The commander shouts why did you refuse orders,' while repeatedly hitting the man. He then turns to the other man, an elderly soldier, and says youre going to be shot, before urinating on the younger man.

One video shows a middle-aged soldier being beaten while accused of theft. Commanders write Im a thief across his chest in black marker and force him, dressed like a clown, to dance as they jeer.

In a different disturbing clip, a man screams and writhes on the floor as he is repeatedly electrocuted by laughing soldiers.

The abuse is both physical and psychological. Anonymous photos sent on one Telegram channel seen by the Mail show a Russian army booklet titled 'Branding of personnel'.

Inside the booklet are photographs of Russian army recruits with what appear to be Nazi-style number tattoos on their chests, stripping the men of their identities.

A message from an anonymous source alongside the photos claims the men belong to the 60th brigade of the Russian Ground Forces.

Russian military expert Keir Giles said these displays of abuse demonstrate deeper systemic issues within the country.

The Russian army reflects the society from which its drawn. And thats a society in which violence, extortion, and corruption are endemic, he told the Daily Mail.

We shouldnt be surprised when these behaviours are carried forward and displayed, whether its against the people that the Russian army conquers, or to their own people, because the social structure within Russia has always been built upon anybody that has even a tiny amount of power exploiting it to the greatest extent possible.

When explaining this to Nato forces, we often say: you have no difficulty imagining that North Koreans or the Taliban behave differently from European militaries. That is the category to place the Russian armed forces in.

Giles explained that in the earlier part of this century, the Russian army attempted to modernise and get rid of dedovshchina, which is an extreme form of hazing and abusing recruits.

They tried to abolish the system whereby the reign of terror of the senior conscripts over the juniors led to a significant number of fatalities and general misery. They never really succeeded, he said.

Over the past four years, Putins forces have seen more than 1.25million soldiers killed or injured on the frontlines, more than the total sustained by the United States during the whole of the Second World War.

And Russia is losing more troops than it can replace, with forces suffering nearly 40,000 casualties each month, according to Western officials.

Despite this, recruitment reaches only around 35,000 troops monthly, with army commanders turning to brutal methods to force men into service.

Reports suggest poverty-stricken men are being taken from small towns and deprived regions and forced into service, including homeless people, ethnic minorities and prisoners being sent into deadly combat.

Exiled news outlet Vyorstka reported last year that Russian police officers are being offered between 98 and 975 per detainee they recruit to fight in Ukraine.

Methods of torture such as beating and electrical shocks are reportedly used to coerce men to sign.

These are people that come from the poorest levels of Russian society, the undiluted, unvarnished, unchanged Russia that in many respects hasnt moved on, said Giles.

There are people coming into the armed forces who are seeing a toothbrush and a toilet for the first time in their lives.

Meanwhile, wealthier Russians in major cities such as Moscow can avoid conscription through bribes or medical exemptions.

Giles said: If you look at the proportion of people serving from remote villages, ethnic minorities, and the periphery compared to Moscow, the difference is stark.

'Putin does not want to mobilise large numbers from cities, where people can exchange information and understand the real cost of the war. If casualties are concentrated in rural areas, that vulnerability is reduced.'

'People get shanghaied into the army, whether its people from Russia or people who are duped into coming to Russia with the promise of work, whether from the subcontinent or Africa, and find themselves thrown into the front line. Its an insatiable consumer of human bodies and needs to be fed.

In a disturbing clip, a man screams and writhes on the floor as he is repeatedly electrocuted by laughing soldiers

A clip, reportedly from the 132nd Brigade, shows two terrified soldiers duct-taped to a tree

Another video shows a middle-aged soldier being beaten while accused of theft as commanders write Im a thief across his chest in black marker

In November, Kyiv said it had identified 1,426 fighters from 36 African countries serving in the Russian army, warning the true number could be higher.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha claimed they were being used as cannon fodder.

Videos circulating on social media also appear to show Russian troops using racist language, joking about African deaths, and forcing one recruit to blow himself up to destroy a Ukrainian bunker.

For many poor Russians, enlistment comes with the promise of life-changing payments of up to 40,000, which can lift entire regions out of poverty and incentivise recruitment.

However, many later find the conditions and risk of death are not worth the money.

Telegram messages and videos seen by the Daily Mail show police hunting down AWOL soldiers who have fled due to fear or psychological trauma, beating them and returning them to commanders.

Clips show bloodied men forced to state their regiment and explain their arrest. In one video, a man with an eye injury admits he failed to return to duty after hospital treatment. In another, a soldier begs his battalion for forgiveness under apparent duress.

Even those seriously injured are repeatedly sent back into combat. Footage shows men on crutches being issued weapons and sent to the frontline into a 'meat storm', including in a video reportedly from the 20th Army.

In one clip, a soldier says: I fought five times, two severe injuries and a severe brain injury.

He explains that he had been declared fit only for unarmed service.

Now they hang guns on me and take me to the frontline without any problems, he added.

In another video a soldier secretly films himself and his comrades, who all have severe injuries including broken legs and missing toes. At least one of the men is in his 60s.

'They are sending us out on an assault straight from hospital. I don't know what our "psycho" commander is thinking. We are being sent like meat to slaughter.'

'We'll have to make it through, I hope we make it out alive. And I hope they send "psycho" right out after us,' the soldier says.

Another soldier who previously served in the 132nd brigade alleged in a Telegram video that he suffered multiple injuries but the army refused to treat him, leading him to spend his own money on treatment.

The man says he was given a Category V classification by doctors, meaning he was unfit for combat. Yet he was continuously sent back to the battlefield.

'There are men without eyes being sent to fight. Men with broken arms, legs and ruptured intestines,' he said in the video.

His infamous commander, Major General Sergey Naimushin, who was awarded the Star of Hero of Russia, was reportedly the one giving the order.

'Naimushin would tell us "you will all die here". He gave direct orders to send injured troops out to be killed,' the soldier claims in the video.

The man, who escaped service and was AWOL at the time of the video, added: 'I want nothing to do with this country anymore. To all the organisations out there, please help.'

Giles says the Russian army operates through a system in which men are treated as disposable, adding: If your only purpose is to be a bullet sponge, it doesnt matter if youre walking, on crutches, or already injured, youll still fulfil your purpose.

If you treat a human life as less valuable than the mine its going to blow up, then this is how it works. It is a consistent Russian pattern.'

Meanwhile, Russias military capability is under strain. By late 2026, the country is expected to face a critical shortage of usable Soviet-era armoured vehicles and weapons, according to the Royal United Services Institute, forcing greater reliance on limited new production.

Soldiers on the frontline are already bearing the brunt of these shortages, often being sent into battle unarmed or forced to improvise weapons.

In one video seen by the Daily Mail, soldiers from Russias 31st Regiment of the 25th Army shelter in a Ukrainian dugout in the dead of winter without adequate food or equipment.

This is how we live, one soldier says. We found some rotten [coca] cola, and some potatoes that were lying right next to a corpse. Our guys sent us two cans of porridge and two packs of nuts. Thats it.

Were drinking water straight from a puddle. Thank God theres Ukrainian coffee. Everything we have weve looted from [them].

'Everyone is starving. We have absolutely no strength left. There are no shifts, no rotations, Ive been here a month. I cant even wash myself.

The footage, reportedly from November 2025, continues with soldiers describing how the wounded are dragged along without evacuation.

One man says of his comrade: His arm is swollen. Hes running a fever. Give it a little longer, and sepsis will set in.

He says that they are being sent into battle without adequate weapons, adding: 'We dont say a word, we just go along with it like mindless sheep. We even had to find our own gear.'

'We improvised a demolition charge  explosives. We found Ukrainian blasting caps and detonators. They were semi-homemade, rigged with extra pins for dropping, or for God knows what else just to ensure theyd explode.'

The soldiers plea to their commanders: We keep pushing forward, we keep fighting. And were going to keep on fighting. But you b***** need to supply us! Supply us with food! With ammo! With everything we need! And evacuate the wounded!

Footage shows men on crutches being issued weapons and sent to the frontline

In one video, soldiers from Russias 31st Regiment of the 25th Army shelter in a Ukrainian dugout in the dead of winter without adequate food or equipment

One graphic video shows two shirtless soldiers in a pit forced to fight to the death

In a BBC documentary released last month, several ex-Russian army soldiers revealed that commanders were executing their own troops.

One former soldier said he saw the bodies of 20 men lying in a pit after being shot, also known as being 'zeroed' in military slang.

'Twenty lads were brought to us. They just took their bank cards and killed them,' the former medic said in BBC documentary The Zero Line: Inside Russia's War.

'It's not a problem to write off someone. You just make up a report.'

Another soldier said he witnessed four soldiers executed by a commander after they fled the front line.

He said: 'The saddest thing is that I knew them. I remember one of them screaming "Don't shoot, I'll do anything!" but he [the commander] zeroed them anyway.'

One anonymous Telegram message sent by a soldier on the front alleges that commanders will deliberately send men to die in assaults as 'punishment'.

He wrote: 'In the absence of proper disciplinary practice and functioning laws, the main punishment at the front is being sent into "storm assaults". Literally for everything.'

'Caught with a smartphone  sent to assault, dead in three days. Detained by military police without a combat order  sent to assault, dead within a day. Didnt extend your contract  assault. Didnt sign a contract  assault.'

There are also disturbing reports of soldiers being forced to fight to the death by their sadistic commanders.

One graphic video seen by the Mail shows two shirtless soldiers in a pit as a commander is heard saying: 'Here's the deal. Whoever kills the other first gets to leave the pit.'

The terrified men begin to fight in the two-minute-long video, which ends when one appears to strangle the other to death.

A message alongside the video sent anonymously over Telegram claims the footage was taken of members of the 114th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade

To avoid being 'zeroed' or tortured, soldiers are in many cases forced to pay bribes to their superiors.

A New York Times report from June 2025 revealed that countless men were asked to pay money to avoid being sent on 'meat storm' missions.

In one video seen by the NYT, an 18-year-old soldier explained that  on the orders of his commander  he had collected 1.15million rubles (11,000) in bribes from his comrades who were trying to avoid being sent on the next suicide mission.

However, the commander decided to send the soldier, named Said Murtazaliev, on the assault himself, he says in the video.

An investigation by independent Russian broadcaster Dozhd revealed commanders had ordered the teen to be executed as the only witness to the scheme.

High-level corruption is rampant, with officers exploiting the war for financial gain at the cost of countless soldiers lives.

There are also reports of commanders stealing mobile phones and bank cards off deceased soldiers, and transferring themselves huge sums of cash.

In a September Telegram message, a group calling themselves 'the concerned mothers, sisters, and wives' of Unit 46317 (242nd Regiment) pleaded for help locating their missing men.

Alongside 18 photos of the soldiers, the post read: 'We've been searching for three months now. We started investigating and discovered that there are dozens of missing persons in the same area.'

'These guys are being sent into assaults without proper training... armed with only an automatic rifle and two grenades, and then abandoned to die.'

The post alleges that a commander known as Altai kills wounded men, extorts money and transfers it to himself, gaining access to the soldier's phones.

'Everyone's phones are immediately confiscated, as are their bank cards,' it says.

In an interview with CNN released in February of this year, one African fighter said a Russian soldier forced him to hand over his bank card and pin at gunpoint.

The man said around 11,000 had been withdrawn, leaving his account bare.

One soldier, speaking to Independent Russian outlet Important Stories, said he was forced to hand over 100,000 rubles and his bank card upon arrival at his post in Donetsk.

When he told the soldiers he had no more money, he was threatened with execution.

'One of the soldiers immediately started beating me, another stood nearby with a shovel, just watching. The commander was screwing a suppressor onto his rifle. He put the barrel to my head and said theyd "zero me out" if I didnt hand over the money,' he said.

Thousands of complaints have been lodged against Russian commanders for the severe torture and unlawful treatment of their own troops.

However, the allegations go largely ignored  and in some cases the complainants face punishment for speaking out.
More than half a century has passed since Richard Campion and the other children at the church home were starved, locked in cupboards, beaten with belts and straps, and whipped until they bled.

Tragically, their misery did not end with these brutal beatings at the hands of their so-called Anglican 'protectors' in rural Australia.

At sunset, the home's sadistic matron would let in priests from the neighbouring church, who selected children for touching, grooming, indecent assault and rape

It's now more than 20 years since Campion, known to his mates as Tommy, started to fight back and finally thought he had won, with the Church of England stripping priest Pat Comben of his holy orders for a second time.

Campion first achieved that a decade ago, but Comben was quietly reinstated.

More recently, Campion believed that Comben was 'about to be banished from the Anglican Church forever'. However, just as were were about to publish a story about his victory, Campion received notice that Comben was appealing his expulsion yet again, which even sources in the Anglican Church of Australia found unbelievable.

'I don't think he's got any chance,' Campion told the Mail. 'But what arrogance'.

Comben was not one of the priests who abused Campion and other children in the 1950s and '60s at the Church of England's North Coast Children's Home in Lismore.

Richard 'Tommy' Campion has been fighting the Anglican Church for decades over the Lismore children's home where he and others were beaten, starved, whipped and raped

Anglican priest Pat Comben was stripped of his holy orders for a second time this month, but has now launched an eleventh-hour appeal against his banishment from the church

Campion (circled, right) and the other kids with the diabolical and now dead Matron Ada Martin (circled, top right) who whipped the children raw and let in the priests to rape them at the hellhole Lismore home

But he acted with former Bishop Keith Slater, who has also been defrocked, to deny victims seeking acknowledgement and compensation.

Campion wrote thousands of letters and campaigned on behalf of about 100 former home kids, testifying at the NSW Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse about the Anglican Church's anti-victim offensive.

'They lied to stop victims from seeking compensation, they bleated that the Anglican Church had nothing to do with the children's home,' Campion said.

'They schemed and threatened victims in their quest to save money for the church.'

The Royal Commission heard that over two years of negotiating with victims, Comben misled them on the true financial state of the overseeing Diocese of Grafton.

Commission testimony included the fact that Comben and other senior Anglican clerics jokingly referred to the official directory of serving priests as a 'stud book', and that directory included convicted paedophiles.

In July 2015, when Comben was first defrocked, he publicly admitted wrongdoing, saying 'God had let' him down and he 'is no longer sure he calls himself a Christian'.

When the church's Professional Standards Board of the Anglican Church stripped Comben of his holy orders, it issued a statement that 'under church law, there is no avenue of appeal'.

Tommy Campion said the North Coast Children's Home in Lismore was 'hell'

Former Anglican Bishop Keith Slater, twice stripped of his holy orders, admitted deceiving victims, failing to report abuse claims, and putting church finances before survivor welfare

Tommy Campion (pictured at the home) was stranded at the house of horrors due to family tragedy and spent 14 years being beaten and raped, but has taken on the might and money of the Anglican Church to seek justice for himself and the other children

That was untrue. Comben, also a former Labor MP, successfully appealed his expulsion and was again able to use his title of 'reverend'.

Slater admitted deceiving victims, failing to report abuse claims and prioritising church finances over survivors. He was defrocked but later reinstated as a bishop.

Campion garnered his strength to fight them both for a second time. An award-winning photographer, he is known in media circles as kind and funny, with an outwardly sunny disposition.

He admits it sometimes masks dark memories and trauma, but is determined to pursue justice for the Lismore home kids.

'That home was hell - full of abuse and hatred,' he said, and the act of reinstating Comben and Slater was 'obscene... and has served to inflict fresh hurt, re-traumatising victims all over again'.

After years of further battling the Anglican Church, and an eventual hearing in Grafton last December, Campion finally got an answer.

This month, he received the documentation stating that Comben was officially defrocked and that 'Patrick Comben may not: officiate or act in any manner as a priest or deacon of this Church; or hold any office in this Church capable of being held only by a person in Holy Orders.

'[He] ceases to have any right, privilege or advantage attached to the office of priest or deacon; shall not hold himself out to be a member of the clergy.'

Tommy Campion with his files on the cases of abuse at Lismore Anglican children's home where he grew up from the age of two to 16, when he made his escape via a photographer's job and moved into a boarding house

When children soiled their beds in the home (above), they had their faces rubbed in their faeces and urine and were told to wash their sheets, even if they were so small they couldn't reach the tub

Pat Comben leaves the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2013 after testifying on the Anglican Church's response about claims of child sexual abuse at the North Coast Children's Home

Campion described Comben's act on Wednesday of launching an eleventh-hour bid for another appeal as 'stalling'.

'This time he will have to get a senior barrister, a KC, and this time he'll have to pay half, about $5,000,' Campion said.

The now ex-Bishop Slater had also appealed his defrocking, but failed to attend the hearing and remains banished.

'He was just a big sook, he's finished,' Campion said.

Campion was a resident of the Lismore home from the age of two to 16, between 1949 and 1962, after he and his sister had been abandoned in the hellhole when their family disintegrated.

Until he escaped as a teenager, he was regarded as the 'dirty home kid' at his primary and secondary schools, where 'children were ordered not to touch me'.

'There was a stigma attached to living in a home, so most children avoided me like the plague,' he said.

The history of the North Coast Children's Home in Lismore (above) is a dark stain on the Anglican Church - but when victims came forward, they were fobbed off by religious officials

An award-winning photographer, 'Tommy' Campion (above, taking home the 1989 Gold Coast Best Photo of the Year award) is known in media circles as kind and funny with an outwardly sunny disposition, which he admits, masks dark memories and trauma

His clothes were rags, he suffered from 'nits, ringworm and boils', and he had to scavenge through playground rubbish bins for food scraps.

He was bullied at school, but when he wagged it to avoid the cruelty, was beaten back at the home by Matron Ada Martin and her cohorts.

'I was punched and abused nearly every day at school. I was pushed into muddy puddles, cow poo, thorn bushes and thrown over fences,' he said.

'I spent much time lying in the gutter licking my wounds.'

The reverend, who the since deceased Matron Martin called in to flog the children, would rant until purple in the face, then take the belt off his cassock and lash them, screaming 'you will go to hell'.

'They were a terrible pair. She [was] a violent drunk who would grab me by the scruff of my neck and flog me with a belt,' he said. He would then be left alone, bleeding on the floor in the rags which were his only pyjamas.

Once when he was nine or 10, Matron Martin made Campion recite a verse from the Bible which he couldn't remember.

'She pushed me and I gave her a bit of lip,' he said, 'so she turned on me, grabbed me by the shoulder and she flogged me with a pony whip until I fell to the floor and blood was coming out of my back'.

Tommy Campion's letter to then Bishop Keith Slater lists the letters among thousands he wrote to him and other church officials about the abuse of children at the Lismore Anglican children's home

The evil and cruel Matron Martin (right) receiving a charity cheque for the kids' home from donors in 1953, at which time Tommy Campion was a six-year-old 'inmate' at the facility

'She only stopped because she was exhausted. When children soiled their beds, they had their faces rubbed in their faeces and urine and were told to go and wash their sheets. Some of them were so small they couldn't reach the tub.'

At the age of 16, Campion made his escape, successfully applying for a job as a photographer on the Northern Star newspaper in Lismore and moving into a boarding house.

He carved out a career snapping models, celebrities, rock stars and news events for decades, a gentle man and a jokester wearing brightly-coloured clothes, making people laugh and taking cracking photographs.

Campion said that the Anglican Church would now have to review the latest decision that saw 75-year-old Comben struck off.

He was informed that the Anglican Bishop of Grafton, Dr Murray Harvey, had 'stayed' the decision to remove Comben from holy orders.

'I am annoyed,' Campion said, 'but I'm not giving up. My daughter said to me, 'you've managed to get a bishop and a minister defrocked twice, that's no mean feat'.'
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Professor Welshman Ncube has strongly condemned the arrest of Constitutional Defenders Forum (CDF) convener Tendai Biti and several other democracy activists in Mutare."We are deeply alarmed by the detention of Hon. Biti, alongside journalist Fanuel Chinowaita, Hon. Morgan Ncube, and lawyer Nyasha Gerald, while they were peacefully conducting a meetthepeople campaign opposing Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3. Their arrest represents a blatant assault on constitutional freedoms, particularly the rights to freedom of expression, association, and political participation," Ncube said.He said the arrests expose a disturbing pattern of selective application of the law."While citizens and civic actors are being criminalised for engaging communities on matters of national importance, the ruling party, ZANUPF, is openly conducting nationwide mobilisation campaigns in support of the same Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3," he said.Ncube raised particular concern over the fact that the ruling party's "consultations" are being led by ZANUPF Secretary for Administration Jacob Mudenda, who is also the Speaker of Parliament.He said this dual role presents a clear conflict of interest, as Mudenda is constitutionally required to preside over parliamentary debate on the same Bill."Such conduct fundamentally undermines the principles of impartiality, fairness and institutional integrity," Ncube said.He added that it is unacceptable for ZANUPF to hold meetings in every ward across the country while dissenting voices are arrested, beaten, harassed and silenced."What happened to Prof Madhuku is a case in point. This is not democracy - it is statesponsored repression and victimisation," he said.Ncube said the shrinking of democratic space through intimidation, arbitrary arrests and suppression of alternative voices violates the Constitution and betrays the liberation values on which Zimbabwe was founded.He said the same Constitution that ZANUPF seeks to amend without a referendum must be protected."We therefore demand the immediate and unconditional release of Hon. Tendai Biti and all those arrested; an end to the selective and partisan application of the law; the restoration of a free and open democratic space; and the upholding of constitutionalism, particularly in processes relating to constitutional amendments, which must be inclusive, transparent and impartial," he said."Zimbabwe belongs to all its citizens - not to a single party or political elite. The attempt to silence dissent will not succeed. The people of Zimbabwe have a constitutional right to speak, organise and defend their democracy."
Iran's barbaric regime has long used sexual violence as a sickening tool to crush dissent.

Known for their brutality, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) slaughtered thousands of protesters who dared to take to the streets in anti-government protests in January.

But despite their fearsome reputation, the sadistic sexual punishments meted out by the ayatollah's violent henchmen in recent months have still shocked observers.

Last month a report from Amnesty International found that thousands of Iranians are at risk of sexual violence, with children as young as 14 being sexually assaulted by IRGC gangs in January.

In the same month, two Iranian nurses were gang-raped and relentlessly tortured by the Islamic Republic's security agents because they treated wounded protesters during anti-regime demonstrations.

The nurses, from Tehrans Rajaei Cardiovascular, Medical and Research Centre, have had their uteruses removed, so violent were the assaults.

One victim, 33, is so traumatised she begged surgeons to let her die and she is currently tied to the hospital bed to stop her from harming herself as she remains under the supervision of IRGC security forces.

It follows a long pattern of sexual intimidation used by IRGC enforcers to strike fear into protesters.

One nurse, 33, was held in detention and repeatedly gang-raped by three IRGC agents at a time for three days, according to Iran International. (Pictured: IRGC guards drag an emaciated prisoner, at Evin prison in Tehran)

Girls as young as 12 have been raped in attempts to 'inflict lasting physical and psychological damage on protesters', according to an Amnesty.

UN human rights investigators found Iran uses 'sexual violence' alongside torture, arbitrary killings, arrests and forced confessions.

In one shocking case, IRGC agents stormed the house of Amirhossein Ghaderzadeh, a 19-year-old protester who took to the streets in January.

They stripped him and his two sisters, one who was aged just 14, to inspect them for metal pellets to 'prove' their participation in demonstrations before subjecting them to sexual violence and sentencing Amirhossein to death.

Authorities have since refused to disclose his fate or whereabouts.

IRGC forces used sexual violence to crush anti-government protests in 2022, sparked by the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was arrested by Iran's morality police for not wearing a hijab in Tehran.

At least 45 survivors, including 26 men, 12 women and seven children told Amnesty they were subjected to rape, gang rape and other forms of sexual violence during those protests.

The organisation reported that 'Iran's intelligence and security forces have been committing horrific acts of torture, including beatings, flogging, electric shocks, rape and other sexual violence against child protestors as young as 12 to quell their involvement in nationwide protests.'

One victim, Farzad, said he was gang-raped in a van belonging to the Special Forces of the police.

He said: 'Plainclothes agents made us face the walls of the vehicle and gave electric shocks to our legs. They tortured me through beatings... resulting in my nose and teeth being broken.

'They pulled down my trousers and raped me. I was really being ripped apart. I was throwing up a lot and bleeding from my rectum.

Maryam, who was gang-raped in a Revolutionary Guard detention centre, recounted that her rapists told her: 'You are all addicted to penis, so we showed you a good time. Isnt this what you seek from liberation?'

In 2024, Iranian authorities whipped a woman 74 times for 'violating public morals' and fined her for refusing to wear a hijab while walking through the streets of Tehran

Iran was gripped by nationwide protests against the government in January, which broke out over the collapse of the currency's value and resulted in the deaths of thousands of protesters

Other victims were so traumatised they said they were considering suicide.

Speaking in 2023, Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director, said Iran's 'violence against children exposes deliberate strategy to crush the vibrant spirit of the country's youth and stop them from demanding freedom and human rights'.

She claimed that Amnesty had obtained testimonies from the victims and their families detailing the extent of the horrific torture endured against scores of children.

A report published by the organisation read: 'A former detainee told Amnesty that, in one province, Basij agents forced several boys to stand with their legs apart in a line alongside adult detainees and administered electric shocks to their genital area with stun guns.'

The organisation also reported that state agents had used rape and other sexual violence as a weapon against child detainees to break their spirit, humiliate and punish them, and to extract confessions.

A mother told of how state agents raped her son with a hosepipe when he was detained.

Other torture methods included floggings, shocks and holding children's heads under water, it was reported.

One boy said: 'They gave us electric shocks, hit me in my face with the back of a gun, gave electric shocks to my back and beat me on my feet, back and hands with batons.

'They threatened that if we told anyone, they would [detain us again], do even worse and deliver our corpses to our families.'

Families and residents gather at the Kahrizak Coroner's Office confronting rows of body bags as they search for relatives killed during the regime's violent crackdown on protests in January

In the latest grim example of retribution inflicted on their citizens, IRGC officers massacred thousands of protesters before killing and sexually abusing medics who helped the injured.

The sexual assaults were so severe a doctor had to remove one nurse's intestine and her uterus may have to be taken out. She also has to live with a colostomy bag.

Iran International reported the nurse was forced to sign a document saying she married one of the IRGC agents and her family had to pay him a large fee to secure her release.

She also had to sign a statement which blamed her rape and abuse on 'rioters', sources told the outlet.

The nurse had provided medical treatment to injured demonstrators who took part in nationwide protests against the cruel regime in January.

The hospital, based in the Vali-Asr area of the capital, received waves of injured protesters, including those shot by IRGC forces, on the evening of January 8.

IRGC agents warned hospital staff against helping the wounded. But this was ignored by 14 of 27 nurses.

Two male nurses were among those arrested after expressing sympathy with the wounded.

As nurses helped the injured, IRGC forces entered the hospital and fired at patients, according to Iran International.

Two nurses who tried to treat the wounded were killed, while others were beaten and arrested.

Staff were then warned not to touch the bodies of the dead, leaving corpses to rot.

The bodies of the two dead nurses were later found in Kahrizak, where rows of body bags were piled as the government massacred thousands for protesting.

Two girls, aged 15 and 17, were also reportedly raped by soldiers while being held in detention during the January protests.

The Islamic Republic's ruthless jailers have long used extreme violence to spread fear among those who dare stand up to the regime.

Amnesty has documented cases in which detainees were suspended by their hands and feet from a pole in a painful position referred to by interrogators as 'chicken kebab', forcing the body into extreme stress for prolonged periods.

Other reported methods include waterboarding, mock executions by hanging or firing squad, sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme temperatures, sensory overload using light or noise, and the forcible removal of fingernails or toenails.

The organisation says such torture is routinely used to extract 'confessions' before any legal proceedings have taken place, with the Iranian state broadcaster airing footage of detainees making televised admissions that rights groups say are coerced.

Amnesty has documented cases in which detainees were suspended by their hands and feet from a pole in a painful position referred to by interrogators as 'chicken kebab', forcing the body into extreme stress for prolonged periods

Sexual violence has also been documented as a method of abuse. A Kurdish woman told Human Rights Watch that in November 2022 two men from the security forces raped her while a female agent held her down and facilitated the assault.

A 24-year-old Kurdish man from West Azerbaijan province said he was tortured and raped with a baton by intelligence forces in a secret detention centre.

And a 30-year-old man from East Azerbaijan province said he was blindfolded, beaten and gang-raped by security officers inside a van.

Another detainee said that when he told interrogators he was not affiliated with any political party and would no longer protest, officers tore his clothes apart and raped him until he lost consciousness.
A tent city in Chicago was torn down this week as the metropolis' homelessness crisis intensifies.

Police emptied tents stationed in Legion Park, forcing their residents into below-freezing temperatures as protesters gathered nearby.

Advocates, including Heartland Alliance Health Street Outreach Supervisor Ryan Spangler, said this was just the latest move in a never-ending game of 'whack-a-mole' by officials in the Windy City.

'They close one and then folks just move to a different place,' he told Block Club Chicago.

'It's just pushing the problem elsewhere, instead of dealing with the root causes of what an encampment is, which is a failure of our systems, not of people experiencing homelessness.'

According to the city's annual count released last July, Chicago is home to 7,452 unhoused people. That's the second-highest number for the city in more than a decade.

Roughly 20 of those individuals were living in the public park until law enforcement swept the area.

The Department of Family and Support Services has connected 16 of the residents with long-term affordable housing, and two more are working with providers.

Chicago's latest homelessness count racked up to approximately 7,452 people. A file photo of homeless people outside a Chicago police station in 2023

The city saw the second highest number of homeless people last year, statistics for the last decade revealed

Advocates have said forcibly removing homeless individuals from their encampments can be damaging

But, residents may not be able to move in for another month.

While they have been offered places in the shelter system in the meantime, a representative for Parks for All said much of Chicago's homeless population does not feel safe there.

The city has a shortage of more than 126,000 affordable rentals for the lowest-income residents, data from Housing Action Illinois showed.

Many landlords who offer affordable housing are located on the South and West sides of Chicago.

All Chicago, a social services organization, told CBS, potential residents wait an average of four years before they are set up with long-term housing.

Forcing homeless individuals to relocate away from their support system can be disruptive and unnecessarily traumatic.

'We lose track of folks. Folks lose their belongings, lose their documents. They're put through displacement and trauma, which causes them to further disengage from the process and lose trust in our systems,' Spangler said.

Heartland Alliance Health Street outreach supervisor Ryan Spangler called the city's approach a game of 'whack-a-mole'

'So it's the exact opposite of what we should be doing.'

Despite the turmoil, many neighbors near Legion Park supported the closure after fires in the area in November and February stemming from open flames at the campsite.

The Hollywood-North Park Community Association said it supported the Legion Park shutout.

'The conditions that make this encampment dangerous are specific to this location and do not apply to all parks,' they said in a statement.

'Closing the encampment in Legion Park acknowledges these risks without criminalizing homelessness elsewhere in the City. This is not a precedent; it is an exception.'

Parks for All worked to create a counter-proposal after the city evicted residents from the makeshift camp.

The proposal would have required residents to set up their tents at least 50ft away from nearby business and residential property lines.

One advocate argued that homeless people 'need public spaces to survive'

On scathing petition even said officers who booted homeless individuals from public areas were doing 'Trump's work for him'. Pictured is an encampment in the city in 2024

Mary Tarullo, the director of public policy at the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, said Legion Park is necessary for residents' survival.

'Until there are accessible housing options for everyone experiencing homelessness across the whole city, people need public spaces in order to survive,' she said.

Parks for All started a petition in support of allowing homeless Chicagoans to set up camp in Legion Park.

'Do not do Trump's work for him by destroying encampments,' read the petition.

'There are other ways to maintain our parks and protect unhoused people than to forcibly displace them.'
The super rich of the Hamptons are eyeing a new type of private members club - their very own space where they can store their supercars.

A luxury design company has come up with a unique way for Long Island's uber-wealthy to park their high-end vehicles.

The Hangar Group has already built and sold out two high-security garage developments in Palm Beach, Florida, that feature 'garage condos' which each have a clubhouse of their own.

And now a similar complex featuring 62 units is in the approval process near the airport in Westhampton, New York.

CEO Scott Cunningham told the Daily Mail the concept is much more refined than a regular garage.

Its not just a place for you to go and look at your car it's much more cultured and cultivated than that,' he said.

He came up with the concept while hanging out in a friend's airplane hangar. Not only did the space serve as storage, but it was a comfortable hideaway in which to lounge and enjoy.

While imagery of the luxury cars surrounded by pool tables and bars have led some to liken each garage condo to a tricked-out man cave, the Hangar Group said it has aimed to be much more elevated and inclusive.

CEO Scott Cunningham conceptualized the idea while visiting a friend's airplane hangar

The Hangar Group develops luxury garage communities in which people can display their collections

Combination garage and condo spaces accommodate cars, art, vintage items and even wine in uniquely designed spaces

The company's CEO told the Daily Mail that the garages are designed to be spaces in which people can hang out and invite guests

While owners don't tend to live in their garages, hosting is popular and members of the community often convene with one another

Cunningham was inspired by his friends with airplane hangars that incorporated lounge spots into the space

Cunningham said there were 'no rules' when it came to the design of the hangar spaces

'Man cave feels sort of secondary or down market...' Cunningham said. 'The difference between telling me that I'm staying at a motel versus a hotel or a resort.

Cunningham's concept, which he has worked on with his wife Christy, includes not only luxury garage designs, but a community concept he likened to an exclusive social club.

'You're meeting people you wouldn't meet anywhere else,' Cunningham said.

According to the website, The Hangar Group is focused on helping wealthy people 'celebrate [their] collections.'

'Personalize your space to store your gear, showcase your passion, and enjoy the freedom of a hangar built for play, performance and possibility,' it read.

The high-security gated hangar communities host events, trips and invite each owner to share their spaces with others.

The groundbreaking for the Westhampton location is anticipated in the fall of 2026, with completion aimed for the end of 2027.

Cunningham's vision for the Hamptons location is that owners can fly in and out from the adjacent Francis S Gabreski Airport.

Cunningham credited his wife, Christy, with helping him develop and create the Hangar Group

Cunningham emphasized that may people chose to open their doors and meet their neighbors

Some people have installed pool tables and bars and host events

Cunningham himself stores his motorcycles and cars in a Hangar space. Inside one of the units his firm developed is pictured

While airplanes flying overhead could be a nuisance for residents, luxury buyers won't live in their garages, at least not full-time.

Owners at hangars in Florida came to Cunningham saying, 'We need something like this in the Hamptons.'

'It made a lot of sense because there is a lot of crossover,' he said. 'There is literally nothing like this on Long Island or in the Hamptons.'

The island attracts flocks of wealthy people from New York City and beyond each summer.

According to Data USA, Westhampton holds a median property value of $1.12 million as of 2024.

He said word of the one-of-a-kind addition to the Hamptons has made its way around the island even before approval is signed.

'We go where theres a very affluent concentration of residents, the top percentage of income earners who want the Four Seasons instead of the Holiday Inn,' Cunningham has said.

Cunningham said there is already a lot of interest, even from members who already own condo garages in Florida.

The community offers an exclusive club which hosts trips and events for members regardless of which location they own at

The hangar advertises itself as a 'collector's space' with an exclusive country club vibe

The new Hamptons location is set to be situated near a Hamptons airport for ease of access

Cunningham said the interior design is entirely different from space to space

'Weve not begun presales because we have to get to a certain point of approvals, which we are very close to,' he said.

Florida condos spanned between 170 and 347 sqm per unit, and started at $799,000, according to the Robb Report.

After spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on the space, owners went above and beyond hiring designers to make it their own.

Its really anything that you can imagine,' Cunningham said. What I envision in my space is completely different than what my next-door neighbor might envision.

'You can create things people havent been able to create anywhere else,' he added.
A veteran science teacher is out of a job after asking students a series of disturbing questions, including: 'How long would you wait to have sex with a dead girl?'

Jason Robert Morgan is no longer employed by Chanel College in Gladstone, central Queensland, after the school discovered earlier this month that he was censured over the highly inappropriate comments in New Zealand.

The comments were made when Morgan was a science teacher and boarding house assistant at a New Zealand school in March and April 2023, according to a decision by the New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal.

Boarders were asked sexual questions during 'thought of the day' discussions, which were supposed to be calming conversations to settle students before bedtime.

Questions included, 'Would you have regular sex with a seven out of 10 or have a one-night stand with a nine out of 10?', 'Would you sleep with an absolute 10 out of 10 if she was crazy as?', and 'How long would you have sex with a three?'

According to the tribunal, Morgan apologised to one student after he said, 'I'll cum on your mum's back' in front of his classmates.

In another instance, Morgan was speaking to students about hunting when the conversation turned to bestiality: 'Be careful, you Gissy boys don't f*** them [goats]'.

An investigation was launched when two Year 10 students reported the comments to the boarding school director in April 2023.

Jason Robert Morgan (pictured) lost his job after school bosses discovered he had asked students a series of disturbing questions

Morgan voluntarily resigned following the investigation, accepted that he had brought the teaching profession into disrepute, and moved to Australia to start afresh.

He was working at St Patrick's College in northern Brisbane when the New Zealand tribunal handed down its decision, before later joining Chanel College.

Chanel College and the Catholic Education Diocese of Rockhampton (CEDR) suspended him on March 11 and contacted the Queensland College of Teachers when they became aware of the inappropriate comments.

According to the published decision, Morgan provided evidence to prove he had been upfront about his behaviour with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT).

The QCT told the Daily Mail it could not comment on 'individual's teacher registration or matters of professional conduct'.

Morgan appeared at the hearing in 2023 by video to outline his circumstances at the time the comments were made, and steps he had taken to understand why he behaved that way.

He acknowledged his 'destructive' personal traits that led to the misconduct, and felt that he could now identify triggers for that type of behaviour.

As an example of his growth, he told the tribunal how he had once needed to contact a student and used his personal mobile phone to call the student's home phone.

Jason Morgan (pictured) told a tribunal he had reflected on his behaviour and was working to ensure it wouldn't happen again

He then realised he should have maintained appropriate boundaries by using online messaging app Teams rather than his personal mobile phone.

Morgan also said he had been going out walking and reflecting on what happened, telling the tribunal he had lost a 'significant amount of weight' and he had changed as a person.

'He noted that teachers in Australia undertake regular behavioural training and he felt that has been beneficial for him,' the tribunal decision read.

'It had assisted him to understand and modify his behaviour.

'He said he thought in the past he was being helpful but realises now that his behaviour was doing the opposite.'

It found Morgan was genuinely sorry for his behaviour and was committed to making positive changes in his life, but it also found his behaviour adversely reflected on his fitness to teach.

The tribunal was particularly troubled by the comments because they were repeated, rather than spur of the moment, and found his behaviour constituted as serious misconduct.

He was censured, which was the only realistic penalty because he was teaching in Queensland. Morgan was also ordered to pay 40 per cent of complaints assessment committee costs, amounting to $1,496.

Morgan is no longer employed by Chanel College in Gladstone (pictured) after he was stood down earlier this month when school chiefs found out about his previous misconduct

A spokesperson for CEDR told the Daily Mail that Chanel College and diocese were not aware of the information in the tribunal decision prior to his employment.

'CEDR confirms that Mr Morgan is no longer an employee of Chanel College, Gladstone or Catholic Education, Diocese of Rockhampton,' the spokesperson said.

'At the time of his employment, Mr Morgan held current registration with the Queensland College of Teachers, the statutory authority responsible for regulating the teaching profession in Queensland.

'Chanel College, Gladstone and Catholic Education  Diocese of Rockhampton reaffirm that the safety and protection of students is their highest priority.'

Chanel College has been contacted for comment.

Morgan is still registered as a teacher with Queensland College of Teachers, according to their website, with his registration due to expire on February 28, 2029.
A British fitness instructor is fighting for her life in a Saudi intensive care unit as bombs rain down on Riyadh.

Laura Storr, 35, from Shenfield, Essex, moved to the desert kingdom in 2020 to help open a boutique gym - only to be struck down two years years later by a rare and incurable lung disease.

The condition, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD), is rare, rapidly progressive and has no cure - leaving a lung transplant as her only option.

The Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge has agreed to take her on but her condition is now too critical for a commercial flight home.

Bedbound, permanently tethered to an oxygen tank and coughing up blood, she can only listen as explosions ring out beyond the hospital window.

And with the Middle East conflict sending the cost of her medvac flight soaring to more than 100,000 - as firms price the danger of flying through an active war zone - her family are in a desperate race against time to bring her home.

Her distraught sister, Emily, told the Daily Mail she may only have weeks to evacuate in time for her transplant and has launched a GoFundMe to help pay the eye-watering bill.

'It just feels like we're really on a time limit and it's just horrible. It's just a really horrible feeling. I feel on edge every single day.'

Laura Storr, 35, (right) has been left trapped in the Middle East awaiting urgent medical evacuation to the UK for a lung transplant

The British fitness instructor moved to the Saudi Arabian city of Riyadh in late 2020 to help open a new franchise of the boutique gym chain she works for

The 32-year-old said her sister, who is normally 'always the life and soul' of an event, has been left 'so unsettled'.

She said: 'Your mind has a lot to play with your body, doesn't it? So, she is just trying to be as calm as possible so her heart stays at one pace.

'But it's just so hard to just try and tell somebody to relax when you hear bombs outside the window. It's just really, really hard, awful.'

Their parents, John Storr, 75, and Freda Storr, 62, rushed to Riyadh two months ago to be at their daughter's bedside but are now struggling with their own health issues the longer they are in Saudi Arabia.

Mrs Storr delayed a gallbladder operation back home to be with her daughter and Mr Storr is now running out of the arthritis and blood pressure medication he takes.

The couple are spending most nights sleeping on a futon or chair in their daughter's hospital room, with their food and transport costs spiralling all the while.

Emily, a yoga instructor and studio manager, said one night this week her family heard explosions right by the hospital and were told to come away from the windows.

'It's been very scary,' she said. 'My mum is just so scared.'

Ms Storr's parents flew out to Riyadh two months ago to be with daughter Laura (left) and spending most nights sleeping on a futon or chair in their daughter's hospital room

The US embassy in Riyadh was hit by drones earlier this month, as Tehran undertakes retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region.

Witnesses heard a loud blast and saw flames and smoke rising early in the morning on March 3, with the building set on fire and damaged.

Emily said her sister, who has 'one of the kindest hearts', first moved to Furjiarh in the Middle East in 2019, and then Riyadh the year after, having previously worked as a spin cycle instructor in the UK for a company called 1Rebel.

She added that Laura had planned to move back to Britain after a few years but was delayed by a life-changing diagnosis two years later.

'My sister's very much into her nature and things like that so she never saw herself living in the Middle East forever,' Ms Storr said.

But in 2022, she was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), which sees blood vessels in the lungs tighten, forcing the heart to work harder to pump oxygen around the body.

'Everything from there has just been playing by ear - focusing on her health to get better, to then come back to the UK,' Emily said.

She said Laura tried to make the best of it: 'It's chronic but you can live with it.

'For example, she went through a stage where she'd be on certain medication for the heart, because the lungs weaken the heart.

'She'd do her day and then she'd go home and have a big dose of oxygen.'

At one point, in her determination to keep working, Laura even led classes while on an oxygen tank before her condition deteriorated.

Ms Storr's condition has deteriorated rapidly over the last year, forcing her to leave work, constantly use an oxygen supply and, in recent months, enter intensive care (pictured on the left with her sister Emily)

It turned out she had a rare form of PAH called PVOD, which is notoriously hard to diagnose - but rapidly progressive.

'It is is just going to keep getting worse unless she gets the care, the potential lung transplant, or there's this new injection that's just come out as well that sends proteins into the body, which they're trialling on patients with PVOD,' Emily said.

'But obviously, she just needs to get back to the UK to get settled and to start the next stage.'

Her sister, however, took 'a really bad turn' three months ago, Emily said.

She is now almost completely bedbound in hospital, having spent most of that time in intensive care and on an oxygen tank, leaving her unable to fly home commercially, despite clinicians' recommendations to do so.

'Her toilet chair is right next to the bed. The only thing she does is walk to the chair and back to the bed,' Emily explained.

'She kept hoping that they'd get her into a stable place where she could quickly get on a flight.

'Now, she's at a place where they know it's not going to get any better, she needs to stay in the hospital.

'But there's nothing else that Saudi can do for her.'

The family were told Laura would need to receive a royal pardon for a lung transplant, which would not likely be given to an expat.

A protein injection for the condition is also being trialled on a patient in the UK, where Laura could access it privately.

The fitness instructor is now also battling an infection that is weakening her lungs and heart even further, with doctors desperately trying to drain her body from fluid as she coughs up blood.

Emily said: 'There may come a certain time where she can't fly. So, it has to happen within this week or next week.'

As an expat not 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, Ms Storr had to fight to obtain NHS care for the transplant she needs, which she was granted last week.

The Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge has said it would accept her as a patient - but it is now just a matter of getting her there, with the family's own money.

They been quoted an eye-watering 108,600 for a medevac flight - a price one firm have warned could rise even more and which the family cannot currently pay.

'I think it would have been a lot less but then obviously, because of the conflict and the risk, they're charging us this much. But they are finding routes,' Ms Storr said.

Their loved ones have been so 'beautifully generous', she added: 'My family are trying, we're not a well-off family so everybody's just trying to chip in.'

But efforts to move the process forward have been agonisingly slow, Ms Storr explained, with the ongoing war making matters even harder.

'The embassy has done absolutely nothing the whole time,' she said. 'Just keep turning them away, they've given them no information.'

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told the Daily Mail: 'We are providing support to a British national in Riyadh and are in contact with their family.'
A British recruitment consultant held in Dubai on alleged drugs charges has flown home to Britain after a year-long nightmare.

Isabella Daggett, 22, was locked up in a hell-hole prison in the puritanical Gulf state last March accused of possessing drugs.

The young woman was arrested just weeks after relocating from Leeds, West Yorkshire, after landing a new job as a recruitment consultant.

Her desperate family insisted she was detained simply for being 'in the wrong place at the wrong time' and being in the 'wrong company'.

The Daily Mail can reveal that Ms Daggett flew back to the UK last Friday - almost a year to the day of her incarceration.

It is understood that charges against her were eventually dropped in January, with Ms Daggett instead ordered to pay a fine of around 3,000 for overstaying her visa.

A family friend said of the emotional homecoming: 'She's only just been released - it's been a whole year of hell.

'Everyone thought she would be straight on a plane home as soon as the charges were dropped in January, because that should have been the end of it.

Isabella Daggett, 22, a British recruitment consultant, has finally flown back to the UK after being held in Dubai on alleged drug charges

The young woman was arrested just weeks after relocating from Leeds, West Yorkshire, after landing a new job as a recruitment consultant

'But then came this 3,000 visa overstay fine, which absolutely stunk.

'It felt like one last kick in the teeth after everything she'd already been through.

'There's just huge relief now. They've got her back. That's all they wanted.'

Ms Daggett, a self-employed beautician who jointly ran a family-owned modelling agency, moved to Dubai after being offered the chance of a well-paid recruitment job in the tax-free haven.

However, she was arrested in a drugs raid soon after her arrival and placed in one of the state's notorious detention centres, facing the prospect of years in jail if convicted.

Drug offences in Dubai are treated with extreme severity, and even possession of tiny amounts for personal use can lead to sentences of up to four years.

It is understood that Ms Daggett was arrested alongside a man she had been staying with at the time.

Her family have always insisted she was innocent, with grandmother Heather Smith previously saying: 'Bella has been locked up because she was in the wrong company.

'Wrong place, wrong time. Wrong boyfriend.

'She was arrested with a lad that was not her boyfriend, who she was staying with because things had fallen through with another house.'

Exactly what charges Ms Daggett had faced were not made public by UAE authorities and her family were long left in the dark as to precisely what she was alleged to have done.

It is also unclear whether the timing of her release is related to the war raging in the Middle East.

Speaking in May last year, Mrs Smith said: 'All I know is that she rang me a week before all this happened and said that she wasn't happy and she knew something wasn't right.

'She was going to move out and come home to Leeds. And then this happened.

'But she is innocent because they have done all the tests and there was nothing in her system.'

Ms Daggett was placed in one of the Dubai state's most notorious detention centres, facing the prospect of years in jail if convicted. Her family said she was in the wrong place, at the wrong time

At the height of the family's panic last year, relatives described in grim detail the conditions they said Ms Daggett was facing in prison.

Ms Smith added: 'Women get treated far worse than male prisoners, who get to go outside, they get sports, a PlayStation and a television - Bella has nothing.

'She hasn't had a shower for a month, she hasn't had a change of clothes for three months. She has had nothing.

'She can speak to me and her mum every day though, which is good. But we have been in bits.'

Since returning to Britain, Ms Daggett has been making up for lost time with her loved ones.

She posted pictures on Instagram showing her smiling beside her mother during a day out in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, including a boating trip and picnic.

Meanwhile, she wrote on TikTok: 'Life is short. Love who loves you. Be at peace.'

In another recent post, she talks about looking forward to spending a 'hot gal summer' in Ibiza.

Ms Daggett, who has always maintained her innocence, is understood to remain fearful of speaking out about her ordeal despite being back home.

The United Arab Emirates' strict laws criminalising criticism of the state means she still remains deeply wary about saying anything that could place her at risk.

Mrs Smith said the family had given the young women a stern warning about the pitfalls of life behind Dubai's glamorous facade.

Speaking previously, she said: 'We told Bella before she went to Dubai "you know the rules in Dubai, play by the rules, don't flaunt this, don't do that".

'But there was a whole sequence of events that led up to her, inadvertently, being in this bloke's house, where she didn't want to be. She didn't really like him that much.

'He may be guilty of something, but she isn't.'

Ms Daggett's mother, Lucinda Smith, 45, raised almost 1,500 through a GoFundMe page to 'help Bella get home'.

Ms Daggett has been back in the UK a week and has been trying to put her Dubai nightmare behind her with some paddleboarding in Knaresborough and catching up with family

She wrote: 'My daughter Isabella has been wrongfully detained in Dubai, and we are doing everything we can to prove her innocence and bring her back home.

'We have proof she was not involved in these charges and are determined to fight for her freedom. The hideous conditions she is living in is enough to break any mother's heart.

'The legal and travel expenses are overwhelming, and we need your support. Any contribution, no matter how small, will help us cover the costs of legal fees, travel, and other necessary expenses.'
The press reported - over and over, well into their marriage - that when John F Kennedy Jr asked Carolyn Bessette to marry him, she didn't immediately say yes, as if there were strife in their relationship.

But that's not at all what happened.

I was John's chief of staff at his politics-meets-pop culture magazine George and oversaw his public relations and philanthropic causes until his death in 1999. I was also a close friend of Carolyn, and when she called me on Monday morning after the Fourth of July weekend of 1995, she sounded like a little kid with an incredible secret.

'Rosie, are you ready for this?' she asked.

They had been at his house on Martha's Vineyard for the long weekend, just hanging out, when John suggested they go fishing.

'I wanted to go fishing like I wanted to cut off my right arm,' she said, laughing. But Carolyn agreed; she was always a good sport when it came to John's activities - kayaking, scuba diving, ice climbing, she was game.

'He asked me to marry him out on the water, on the boat,' she said. 'It was so sweet. He told me, 'Fishing is so much better with a partner.'

'That's amazing!' I said.

When Carolyn called Terenzio to tell her about the proposal, she sounded like a little kid with an incredible secret

From the start, Carolyn was worried that when their engagement went public, the media would tear into her - saying she wasn't good enough for John

'Yeah, but I've been a nervous wreck ever since I got off that boat. We had people up for the weekend, and I had to pretend like nothing happened. I just don't want anyone to know yet,' she said.

In her voice, I could hear the jitters stemming from her excitement and also from her nervousness over how people would react when they found out.

From the start, Carolyn was worried that when their engagement went public, the media would tear into her - saying she wasn't good enough for John. And she was right to worry, because that's exactly what happened.

I stopped by their apartment later that night and she showed me the ring, a platinum band surrounded by diamonds and sapphires. As soon as I saw it, I realized: That's the secret package I picked up for John!

A couple of months earlier, he had casually asked me to pick something up at Maurice Tempelsman's office. I assumed it was a gift for Carolyn, and I knew it had to be jewelry, because Maurice, who was Jackie Onassis's longtime companion until she died, was a diamond dealer.

But John was so nonchalant, it didn't occur to me that I was picking up an engagement ring.

On the way out of Maurice's office, I put the box into a plastic Duane Reade bag so as not to draw attention to it, then hopped in a cab back to the office. I certainly wasn't getting on the subway carrying an expensive diamond something-or-other.

As soon as I got back to the office, I handed the Duane Reade bag to John, who put it in a drawer, where it remained for almost a week. I regularly went into his desk drawers, and it drove me nuts to see that plastic bag just sitting there. I imagined him throwing away the bag by mistake and saying: 'It was in that bag?'

I was relieved the ring had made it safely onto Carolyn's finger. A replica of an emerald and sapphire Schlumberger ring John's mother had owned, it was not a typical engagement ring. But it was simple and beautiful.

Terenzio was JFK Jr's chief of staff at his politics-meets-pop culture magazine George

John proposed to Carolyn on a fishing trip in Martha's Vineyard

Carolyn was always a good sport when it came to John's activities - kayaking, scuba diving, ice climbing

Carolyn was ecstatic. But she worried marriage would change everything. She understood that the formality meant something, especially to John and his lifestyle; he was pretty old-fashioned, and given his place in the world, he couldn't be single forever.

But she could have stayed engaged to and living with him indefinitely.

Marriage came with obligations - familial, societal, even work-related - that had nothing to do with their relationship. As John's girlfriend, she could skip a benefit or advertiser dinner without her absence being considered an insult. Once she was his wife, everything would have to be more carefully considered and planned. And she still felt too young to deal with all that pressure.

She wanted to enjoy the bubble of privacy surrounding her engagement, however long it might last. That's why, in the beginning, she was nervous about going out in public with her ring. It had nothing to do with hesitancy over getting married and everything to do with privacy.

But as time went on, she loosened up, wearing it on her right ring finger and saying it was simply a gift from John.

The bubble burst the Friday before Labor Day, when Carolyn called me early in the morning at my apartment after the New York Post ran a story about their engagement.

The image of Carolyn had an inset blowup of her left hand, with the diamond and sapphire band circled for maximum effect.

The story had an anonymous 'good friend' confirming that they were getting married. I knew John and Carolyn had told only their closest confidants, and one of them had opened their mouth.

'What do you think we should do?' Carolyn asked.

'Nothing.'

'Really?'

'No comment, as usual,' I said.

But when I got into the office later that morning, it was anything but business as usual. Behind the closed door to John's office, I could hear Michael [Berman - Kennedy's co-founder at George] freaking out.

'This is going to take the thunder away from George.'

The official launch of George, with a massive press conference, was less than a week away. Michael was very concerned that the news about John's engagement would eclipse their new magazine. Every single question would be about John's getting married, while George would be a footnote buried at the end of the story.

There was no other way around it: the rumor had to be addressed before the press conference, and the only way to do that without setting off a firestorm of unwanted attention was to deny the engagement.

Nobody was happy about the situation. John was completely unused to addressing his personal life in public, and both he and Michael were uncomfortable about lying to the media. It was a gamble, but Michael saw it as their best option.

Kennedy's co-founder at George, Michael Berman, feared news of the engagement would steal the magazine's thunder

Carolyn understood that marriage to John came with obligations - familial, societal, even work-related - that had nothing to do with their relationship

They finally opened John's office door, and Michael emerged holding a draft of the denial.

'If we are doing this, it can't come from me,' he said. The person who issues a press release is often just as important as the contents of the release. It would have been weird for Michael, George's publisher, to issue a statement about his business partner's personal life.

Having it come from John was out of the question. And he didn't want the denial to come from anyone in PR, worrying that it would give the false impression that he retained a personal publicist.

Michael, standing in John's doorway, looked at me and said: 'Maybe we should just have Rose do it.'

I quickly made myself busy at my desk. I didn't know if he was serious, but I was nervous; my mind raced with the implications of issuing a statement to the press on John's behalf.

On one hand, speaking publicly for John was a tremendous responsibility. On the other, if bombarded with questions and calls, would I get flustered and say something I shouldn't?

One thing I knew for sure: if I f***** up, it would be a big blunder.

Michael and John stood for a moment considering the idea.

As soon as they were out of earshot, I picked up the phone and called Carolyn.

'Now what's going on?' she asked.

'I don't know. I think Michael wants me to issue the denial,' I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

I felt doleful calling her with these details. She wasn't psyched about John publicly refuting their engagement, and going ahead with the charade would inevitably create a weird split between their real identity as a couple and their public image.

The person who Carolyn woke up to every morning now had to say to the world that he wasn't marrying her. Such an announcement would undoubtedly taint what should have been an extraordinary phase of their relationship.

'I want it to come from you,' Carolyn said. 'If anyone is going to make a statement about my personal life, it should be you. You're the only one I f****** trust.'

Knowing I had Carolyn's blessing kept me from passing out when John and Michael gave me simple instructions to fax the statement to the Associated Press that afternoon.

'I was relieved the ring had made it safely onto Carolyn's finger,' writes Terenzio. It was a replica of an emerald and sapphire ring John's mother had owned

Carolyn wanted to enjoy the bubble of privacy surrounding her engagement, however long it might last

The staff had emptied out of George early in anticipation of the holiday weekend, leaving for fun in the Hamptons, Connecticut - anywhere but here.

Michael was the last to leave the office, stopping by my desk to wish me a good weekend and good luck. Shortly after, I checked the release for typos and hit send.

'Once again, John Kennedy seems to be bearing the brunt of a slow news day. The stories circulating regarding an engagement are untrue. He is not engaged. While it is not our habit to comment on John's personal life, this story seems to have taken on a life of its own, and we feel it necessary to respond.'

Then the phone started ringing. At least a dozen calls came through within the first 15 minutes once the barrage began.

In addition, after having kept my job secret for so long, everybody in the world now knew I worked for John.

Soon everybody was calling, even girls I hadn't spoken to since high school.

'Hi, this is Joanna. Remember me from your math class?'

Carolyn told RoseMarie Terenzio she wanted her to issue the denial: 'You're the only one I f****** trust'

When I wondered how she'd found my number, Joanna answered: 'Oh, your mom's giving it out.'

I could deal with the mass media barraging me, but not my own family. My sister even asked if John would speak at my nine-year-old niece's school during career day.

Finally I gave up and let the answering machine pick up all the incoming calls. The adrenaline began to wane, and a gloomy feeling took its place.

The job could be lonely sometimes. Worse than John's empty office, the long string of vacated cubicles, or the silence of my studio, I was isolated by having to carry around confidential information.

Everyone was so excited about the statement. Meanwhile, I knew it wasn't even true. Secrets became burdens, even if they were good ones. The only people I could talk to in depth about John and Carolyn were John and Carolyn - and that got boring after a while.

The red light on my answering machine blinked madly, as if it were a symbol of my inner turmoil. I had to get out of my own head. On the next ring, I threw caution to the wind and picked up the phone without screening. Big mistake.

'Hi, Rose, I saw the thing on the news,' said a woman I knew casually. 'Oh my God.'

'Yeah, I know, it's been kind of crazy. It's nice to hear from you. Sorry it's been a while, but I kind of have to go '

'Listen, the reason I'm calling is, I need one more person in my wedding party. Rose, would you be in my wedding?'

I couldn't even speak. Be in her wedding? I hadn't seen this person in over a year.

'And maybe you could bring John as your date,' she added.

If I thought people were crazy before, now that the secret of what I did for a living was finally out, I realized they were totally insane.

Excerpted from FAIRY TALE INTERRUPTED: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Loss by RoseMarie Terenzio. Copyright  2012. Reprinted by permission of GALLERY BOOKS, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.
When Marius Kamna first arrived in Britain from his native Cameroon it was on a temporary visa to attend a UN climate change conference.

The 35-year-old's fellow international delegates were no doubt surprised when, instead of contributing insight into environmental issues in central Africa, he instead abruptly claimed asylum in Britain on the basis that he was secretly gay.

And those 2021 UN Glasgow conference colleagues would have been even more surprised to learn that in seeking to start a new life in Britain he was leaving behind in Africa a wife and child.

The existence of a heterosexual partner back home was not put before the panel who eventually decided to grant Mr Kamna asylum in Britain.

And with 1,377 asylum seekers - 2 per cent of the total claiming asylum - using their sexual orientation as the basis for them to remain in the UK, some suggest that a number of them are gaming the system by claiming they needed to avoid persecution in their home nation for being gay when they it could be strongly suspected they actually aren't.

So at first glance the discovery that Mr Kamna has a secret wife might appear to put him in this category - but, he told the Daily Mail, it is his straight marriage that he has been disingenuous about rather than his gay sexuality.

Mr Kamna explained that he has always been gay - and that he only got married and conceived a child in a deliberate attempt to get away from the homophobia that is widespread in his home country.

And certainly Cameroon does aggressively prosecute members of what in the UK we call the wider LGBTQ+ community. Wherever they fall on that spectrum those who identify in the group face discrimination, stigmatization and even formal legal censure.

Marius Kamna obtained a temporary visa to visit Britain from Cameroon to attend a UN climate change conference. But when he arrived, he claimed asylum saying he could not return home because he would be persecuted there for his homosexuality

When the Daily Mail heard of Mr Kamna's case and approached him at the garage where he works on the outskirts of Cardiff, he initially explained the apparent anomaly in his background by saying he was bisexual.

But he soon corrected himself saying: 'No, that's not true, I am gay. That is the way I've been since I was 15 or 16.'

Explaining that he had initially misled the Daily Mail out of habit, having lied about his true identity for years, Mr Kamna went on: 'I had so many secrets, I was persecuted.'

He said his Cameroonian marriage had been particularly aimed at winning back his parents, who had previously disowned him when they learned the truth about his sexuality.

Mr Kamna said: 'I got chased out of the house by my parents and to earn back their respect a marriage was arranged.

'I pretended I was changing.

'An official was bribed, I signed some documents and I asked for forgiveness from my family.'

Despite his homosexuality, Mr Kamna says he did consummate his marriage to his wife Segning - which resulted in the birth of his son, Emanuel, who is now seven.

But Mr Kamna said that he struggled to maintain 'living a lie' - and when he was asked to attend that conference in Glasgow five years ago he saw the chance to finally come out, even if it meant abandoning his wife and child.

The former photography student admits that as a result of his asylum claim he hasn't seen his son since he was born, but insists that he speaks to him regularly on the phone and sends money to his mother for his upbringing.

Mr Kamna is now officially listed as having refugee status granted by the UK Government and is in full-time employment as a heavy goods vehicle mechanic.

But in a strange twist to the tale, he now says he has been unfairly targeted by a whispering campaign among the migrant community in the area around Cardiff - with false claims that he also has a wife and child in the UK.

And so intense has this whispering campaign become that he has even felt forced to move out of Cardiff to get away from it, he says.

But Mr Kamna insists that he and the woman, accompanied by a young boy, who has been regularly visiting him at his home in the village of Wick in the Vale of Glamorgan are 'just good friends'.

And he says that those gossips who say he lied about being gay are simply spreading mischief.

He said: 'She is a married lady from Cameroon who lives in Birmingham and comes to see me with a lot of other people from my country.

'She is called Aurelle, she is not my wife and her boy is not my son.

'She has helped me a lot since I've been here, she helps lots of people from Cameroon who have come to the UK. I like her a lot, she is my closest friend here.'

Mr Kamna says a group of up to eight people have visited him and there have been accusations that he has allowed them to stay overnight, breaking his tenancy agreement.

He admitted police have been called over disputes with his neighbours in the House in Multiple Occupation where he lived, but which he has now left.

Mr Kamna said: 'There are some very wicked people around.

'So you can't have visitors without someone making up stories [that] they are your wife and child?

'I am glad to leave that house, the people were unkind.'

What Mr Kamna failed to tell the panel considering his case was that in Cameroon he had a secret wife and child. Mr Kamna, who works as a mechanic in Cardiff, said the marriage was a sham and that he had been living a lie about his sexuality since he was 15 or 16

Mr Kamna has moved to a different HMO in nearby Newport where, he says, he can be closer to his true partner. also a gay man from Africa.

Jonathan, an asylum seeker from Sierra Leone, is completing his Diploma in Heavy Vehicle Maintenance and Repair while working at a commercial vehicle garage like Mr Kamna.

He is also hoping to get leave to remain like his boyfriend, Mr Kamna.

Mr Kamna added: 'I am so happy here. When you come here (to the UK) you have to do everything right because you don't want to go back.'
A pub owner has completely banned children from his boozer - just months after taking aim at entitled parents with disruptive kids.

Egil Johansen will no longer permit under-18s in the trendy Kenton Arms in Hackney, East London, leading to divided opinions online.

The child-free pub, which does not serve food, was previously met with a number of negative reviews on Google over unruly children.

Mr Johansen previously restricted the hours youngsters could visit with parents to 5pm over problems with hipster parents failing to keep order.

But the popular boozer has now ruled out entry, stating that the issue is not down to children themselves.

A statement read: After careful consideration, we've made the decision that The Kenton will now be an over-18s pub at all times.

We want to be clear that this isn't about children themselves, it's about the level of supervision needed in what can be a very crowded, busy space.

Ultimately, we're not able to take on responsibility of other people's children. Despite clear signage and reminders from staff, the problem has persisted.

Egil Johansen previously restricted the hours youngsters could visit with parents to 5pm over problems with hipster parents failing to keep order. But the popular boozer has now ruled out entry, stating that the issue is not down to children themselves

The trendy Kenton Arms in Hackney, East London will no longer permit under-18s dividing opinions online

As a small, drinks-led pub, our focus is on serving good pints and maintaining a relaxed atmosphere for everyone.

This wasn't a decision we took lightly, but it's the most practical way for us to run the pub safely and support our staff.

Thanks as always for your understanding and support.

The pub shared a photo of its supervise your children signs in the bin yesterday, leading to a number of pubgoers sharing their views.

Reacting to the decision, Ross Kerslake wrote online: Perfect reasonable. Someone's unsupervised kids almost put me in hospital when I was carrying a tray of drinks.

Agreeing with the move, Martin Hughes added: Totally agree with the decision, we never had an issue with our son because we always made sure he behaved.

It's sad that others have to suffer because of lazy parenting.

But other visitors were not impressed with the changes.

Rose Stout wrote: That is a shame. We used to live on Queen Anne rd and come and visit friends often and would call in.

We love your pub and have a very well behaved four-year-old.

Matt O'Leary added: Obviously the decision hasn't been taken lightly but it's a massive shame that the actions (or inactions?) of a few parents when it comes to controlling their kids' behaviour has led to this.

Some critical Google reviews had mentioned badly behaved kids, babies crying constantly, and buggies blocking walkways.

Children are generally allowed in pubs, provided they are with an adult, typically until around 7 pm9 pm - but this is at the discretion of the management and licensing conditions

The pub shared a photo of its supervise your children signs in the bin yesterday, leading to a number of pubgoers sharing their views

But most drinkers had a good time at the pub.

Mr Johansen, who is from Norway, previously said a sense of entitlement among some parents in pubs had led to children running riot.

They needed to reminded it is a pub and not a playground.

Children are generally allowed in pubs, provided they are with an adult, typically until around 7 pm9 pm - but this is at the discretion of the management and licensing conditions.

While many pubs are family-friendly, offering food and highchairs, some may restrict kids entirely or after specific hours to maintain a quiet atmosphere or comply with local rules.

However licensing authorities can impose conditions that prohibit or restrict children from specific premises.

The Kenton Arms was contacted for comment.

The pub previously said in a statement: Lately, a few have mistaken The Kenton for a creche.

We've had kids running around unsupervised, a couple of accidents, and parents blaming the pub instead of keeping an eye on their little ones.

This is a pub, not a playground. Some parents even try to argue with us when we explain that we have a curfew for kids in the pub.

Our policy is simple and well advertised: kids are welcome until 5pm, provided they're under control. After that, it's adults only.

We're reviewing this policy thanks to a few repeat offenders, and we'd rather not have to go fully child-free  but we will if needed.

So please, respect the rules and don't ruin it for everyone else.
A group of female ESB employees have told the Irish Mail on Sunday they do not feel safe after the State company refused to reverse a transgender changing room policy that allows staff to use the facilities for the gender they identify as.

The womens concerns were raised internally with management and trade unions but bosses at the semi-State firm have declined to alter the access arrangements  and have yet to act on a second commitment that they made more than 12 months ago to provide universal private facilities.

One of the women told the Irish Mail on Sunday: We were stonewalled. We tried to get up as far as the chief executive, Paddy Hayes. He referred it back to HR. Theyre basically saying, "This is what we want, we dont care."'

However, the ESB has moved to compromise the wording of a related policy that had made the use of preferred pronouns mandatory for all employees.

Both of the inclusion measures were introduced in May 2024, when the ESB implemented its first-ever Gender Identity and Expression Policy.

The policy was developed by the companys Diversity, Equality and Inclusion team.

Aside from its Northern Ireland Electricity Networks arm, the policy applies to the entire ESB group and its 9,600 employees in Ireland, the UK and Bahrain.

The policy reads: All managers and team members must support the right of all employees to access toilet, shower, and changing facilities which match their gender identity, where such facilities are available.

The respect and dignity of all employees will be upheld. Employees with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact their HR Business Partner.

After the new policy was introduced, a group of women in the company attempted to raise the matter with HR.

They formed a group called the Safe and Sound Adaptive Challenge Group to raise concerns about the implications of the new rules.

The group consists of female employees of long standing within the ESB.

These women, who occupy senior positions, say they represent many other younger women who fear their careers would be affected if they spoke out.

The groups main concern is that anyone who identifies as a woman can now use the female bathroom and changing room facilities, regardless of their biological sex.

However, they are also concerned about their right to be gender-critical. Being gender-critical is defined as believing that biological sex cannot be changed and is distinct from any gender identity someone may legally adopt.

A frequent flashpoint between those who are gender-critical and those who are not involves access to toilets and changing facilities.

In head office, our womens changing room is in the basement, one gender-critical woman told the MoS.

Its through three locked doors and long corridors to get in there. So youre in a locked room, through three swiped doors in the basement with your clothes off...

There are women that have been in all sorts of traumatic situations being put in that position and theyre just not using facilities. And I suppose thats the problem.

The semi-State body's headquarters on Fitzwilliam St in Dublin - their gender-identity policy applies to the entire ESB group and its 9,600 employees across Ireland, the UK and Bahrain

A second female employee said she has now stopped using the changing rooms at HQ in Dublins Fitzwilliam Street.

Origin of single-sex bathrooms dilemma The issue of single-sex bathroom spaces is one of the dilemmas that has now arisen as a result of Irelands 2015 Gender Recognition Act, which allows any individual to self-determine their gender. Since the introduction of the legislation, around 1,500 people have applied for gender recognition certificates. Although the legislation is a decade old, the ironing-out of its implications is far from over. Meanwhile, the debate  and the law  is ever-changing internationally. Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been among the many voices calling for compassion and a sensible approach to the matter. I understand that the issue of males in womens spaces has an added dimension of safety, he wrote in a Sunday Times column late last year. Males are stronger than females. Womens concerns should not be dismissed. I do not see an easy solution. In April 2025, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the term sex refers to a persons original biological gender. The ruling has subsequently led to a reversal of previous policies. It remains unclear how the ESBs group-wide policy is being implemented in its UK operations in light of the ruling. And just last week, the EU Court of Justice ruled that EU member states cannot refuse legal gender recognition to trans citizens who have exercised their right to free movement.

Since a refurbishment in recent years, the building is designed to accommodate as many as 2,000 employees.

I used to use them in the mornings, she told the MoS. They were busy with lots of different women. Youd meet the same women time and time again.

If I were to go down there now, early in the morning, the same time, there might be one woman there, or two women there.

Both women also spoke about being approached by employees of different cultures and faiths.

There are men and women from over 50 different countries working, particularly in head office.

'So they are of all the faiths, all the religions, all the cultures, as well as you know, middle-aged and older Irish women.

They say its about respect and dignity for everybody. Were saying what about the respect and dignity of the women who dont want to be in that position?

To raise their concerns the group tried to speak with management and unions but they feel their concerns were not taken sufficiently on board.

In one briefing document prepared for their trade union in early 2025, the group pointed out that the ESBs policy on single sex spaces is at odds with the recommendations of Reem Alsalem, the UNs Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls.

Ms Alsalem is a renowned figurehead frequently cited by women concerned about the protection of female-only spaces.

Her view is that these spaces are crucial for the privacy, safety and dignity of women and girls.

She has also warned that the legal redefinition of gender can undermine these protections, potentially increasing the risk of voyeurism, sexual harassment and physical attacks.

Ms Alsalem has also said that women should be able to discuss issues about sex and gender identity freely, without fear of recrimination.

Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, is a renowned figurehead often cited by women concerned about the protection of female-only spaces

In their union briefing document, the group claimed there had been no meaningful engagement with employees prior to the introduction of the new policy.

In addition to objecting to the facilities and bathrooms policy change, the group said the ESB has failed to protect the legal rights of employees with gender-critical beliefs.

It also sought to raise their concerns in a short speech to a National Safety Committee meeting of the ESB in January 2025, attended by Nicholas Tarrant, the managing director of ESB Networks.

The ESB has refused to pause the policy until a respectful and dignified solution for all employees is determined, the speech reads.

The introduction of this policy has seriously damaged trust between women across every business unit in ESB and the company.

Since then, the ESB appears to have begun to move towards addressing the concerns raised.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and chief executive of the ESB Group Paddy Hayes taking part in a Business Roundtable this week in Cork

The second version of the companys Gender Identity and Expression Policy, published in February 2025, contained a new provision.

Employees who have a need or desire for increased privacy, regardless of the underlying reason, will be provided access to universal private facilities if available, should they choose to use them, the policy reads.

Across its locations, ESB has a mix of private and shared facilities. ESB commits to providing more universal, private facilities when the opportunity arises.

While this commitment could offer a solution, no such private facilities have yet been put in place in the year since the promise was made. This remains the case even after a September 2025 risk assessment also recommended private facilities.

According to the risk assessment, the likelihood that a transgender person accessing bathroom and changing facilities matching their gender identity will be the victim or perpetrator of verbal or physical aggression is very low.

It adds: There is no evidence nationally or internationally of elevated risk. ESBs policy is in line with national legislation and IBEC guidelines.

The document concludes that it would require a freak combination of factors for a situation of aggression to occur.

But it acknowledges: It is conceivable that should an incident arise, it would have serious impact on the victim. This applies to both the physical and psychosocial harm.

As a result, the assessment recommends the ESB invest in additional universal (individually segregated and lockable) toilet, shower and changing facilities over time, so that employees and visitors with concerns related to dignity and privacy will have facilities options to support them.

An ESB spokeswoman told the MoS: ESB is a supportive employer that continually strives to deliver an inclusive environment for all our colleagues.

ESB introduced its Gender Identity and Expression Policy following consultations to ensure a respectful, inclusive workplace for all, drawing on industry guidance and established public sector practice.

Our Head Office at Fitzwilliam 27 is a modern building which has facilities to safely cater for all of our people.

ESB remains committed to continual engagement with employees through our many feedback channels to maintain a workplace that is safe, healthy, and inclusive for everyone.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

South African opposition politician Mmusi Maimane says South Africa must stop "paying for the sins of Zanu PF", arguing that Zimbabwe's ongoing political and economic crisis continues to fuel migration into the neighbouring country.Maimane said defending Zimbabwe's Constitution is essential to preventing a regional catastrophe."As South Africa, we must be aware that the longer there is a brutal dictatorship in Zimbabwe, the longer we will not be able to deal with the immigration crisis in South Africa," he said."We pay the price for the sins of Zanu PF. We pay in healthcare costs, policing costs and in social tensions."He said South Africans did not choose this burden, but the ANC government had forced the country into a longterm political alliance with Zanu PF."We did not choose this. Unfortunately, the ANC has forced us to pay this hefty multigenerational bill by giving family status to one of the worst political parties in Africa. We cannot be forever yena' with Zanu PF."Maimane said South Africa should cut all ties with Zanu PF."We can't endorse forever presidents and family dynasties - be it Museveni, Mugabe or Mnangagwa," he said. "They are all the same version of unscrupulous tyrants decimating Africa. 'iAfrica mayibuye' was not a call for some families to rule in perpetuity. It was for inclusive and fair democratic forms of selfdetermination."He added that if Zanu PF were to fall, many undocumented Zimbabwean migrants would return home - just as Mozambicans would return if Frelimo were removed from power."We must not encourage or endorse any actions which worsen democracy in SADC and in Africa. Especially when we will pay the price," he said.
Angela Rayner's demand for the Government to scrap tougher immigration rules could lead to the resignation of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, it has been claimed.

In a speech widely seen as firing the starting gun for a leadership bid, Ms Rayner said last week that plans to double the time which most migrants must wait to secure a permanent right to remain in the UK were 'un-British' and a 'breach of trust'.

Ms Mahmood had announced the policy in an attempt to stem the haemorrhage of support from Labour to Nigel Farage's party, Reform UK, in working-class Red Wall seats.

But Ms Rayner  with an eye on MPs on the Labour Left  complained that the plans had led migrants to 'fear for their future' due to the prospect of the Government 'moving the goalposts', and showed that the public now regarded Labour as representing 'the establishment'.

Last night, close allies of the Home Secretary claimed that she could not accept 'meddling' with her far-reaching reforms, with one claiming that Ms Mahmood had told the Prime Minister that 'if I can't do my job, I won't do my job'.

Both the Home Office and No10 denied that Ms Mahmood had warned Sir Keir Starmer last week that she would quit if her reforms were watered down.

But Ms Mahmood's ally insisted to The Mail on Sunday that she had told the PM that 'if there was any meddling' with her plans she would resign.

The ally also accused former Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner of picking a fight with the Home Secretary because she saw her as a future Labour leadership rival.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood could hand in her notice following Angela Rayner's demand for the Government to scrap tougher immigration rules

People thought to be migrants arrived in Gravelines, France, onboard a small boat last November

Ms Mahmood is understood to feel increasingly exposed and isolated since last month's departure of No 10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who had placed the immigration crackdown at the centre of his attempt to turn around Sir Keir's fortunes.

One hundred Labour rebel MPs have also condemned the plans to double the time which most migrants must spend in the UK before qualifying for permanent residence from five to ten years and are now pushing to force a Commons vote on the issue.

Labour rebel leader Tony Vaughan, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, has claimed the reforms will end up costing the Treasury 'billions' by deterring skilled migration to the UK.

Ms Mahmood has staked her political reputation on toughening immigration rules in the face of opposition from both within her own party and from liberal critics.

In a defence of the proposals, she told the Commons last year that she knew how divisive migration was because she herself was regularly called 'a f***ing P*** and told to go back home'.

She urged MPs to back her reforms, saying that 'to the British public, who foot the bill, the [immigration] system feels out of control and unfair'.

Labour MPs in the party's Northern heartlands insist that more Labour MPs back Ms Mahmood on the issue than Ms Rayner.

One of those MPs took aim at Ms Rayner's 'un-British' remark to say: 'What the hell is un-British about doing what you promise in politics, which is controlling our borders and establishing a fair and managed migration system that is run in the national interest?'

And in a veiled jibe at the Prime Minister to show more backbone, the MP added: 'This Government has got to learn how to take close votes into Parliament, and that's part of governing this country.'

Speaking about Mr McSweeney's departure, one Ms Mahmood supporter said: 'She was the centrepiece of the McSweeney project. So now she is sailing alone, going on the path where she thinks that we should go.'
A Trans activist has sparked fury after taking aim at former Womans Hour presenter Dame Jenni Murray less than 24 hours after the much-loved broadcasters death was announced.

Writing on the social media platform X, India Willoughby accused Dame Jenni of spreading Terf garbage and for helping to create an anti-trans atmosphere in the UK.

The 60-year-old transwoman recalled an appearance on Womans Hour in 2017 to talk about her own roles as a newsreader on Channel 5 and a columnist on the ITV programme Loose Women.

She wrote: I was invited onto WH for what I was expecting to be a regular light showbiz interview  but straight away, Jenni Murray was snotty as hell  asking What qualifies you to present a show for women?

Willoughby also referred to an article which Dame Jenni subsequently wrote for The Times.

She recalled: A few days later, she wrote a hit-piece double-page spread in The Times, saying I wasnt a real woman, and all the usual Terf garbage we now hear every day. Really horrible stuff. I complained  and the BBC suspended her for six months.

Dame Jenni was banned by the BBC from discussing trans issues on air following the complaint, and although she was not suspended, she left the show in October 2020 after 33 years.

The Daily Mail columnist, who died at the age of 75, wrote in the newspaper last year: I wasnt sacked but I was banned from discussing the debate on air. More tweets followed with India calling me a nasty cow and far worse.

Dame Jenni Murray, a Daily Mail columnist who hosted BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour for more than three decades, died at the age of 75 on March 12 this year

Broadcaster India Willoughby accused Dame Jenni of spreading Terf garbage and helping to create an anti-trans atmosphere in the UK

Yesterday, Willoughby was criticised on social media for her remarks about Dame Jenni. One wrote: How did we know youd make this all about you? Jenni was absolutely right. Youre not a woman.

There was also support for the line of questioning taken by Dame Jenni in 2017.

One wrote: It was a fair question. What qualifies a man to host a show for women? That women lose or are suspended from their jobs if they question a man, is peak patriarchy.

Another said Willoughbys criticism of Dame Jenni would not detract from her career as a brilliant broadcaster.

They wrote: Jenni was a brilliant woman, not worried about speaking the truth, an undoubted champion of women. You were a speck on her amazing career. RIP.

During yesterdays edition of the Today programme, presenter Nick Robinson alluded to the fact that Dame Jenni felt shunned by the BBC and others because of her participation in the trans debate.

He made the point in an interview with Harriet Harman, a former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, who is herself a trans supporter.

Ms Harman told the programme that Dame Jennis involvement in the trans debate shouldnt detract from her wider contribution to the feminist movement.

Maya Forstater, CEO of the campaign group Sex Matters, said: It was an absolute insult for the BBC to have Harriet Harman on the Today Programme where she insinuated that Jenni Murrays principled stand detracted from her feminism rather than forming an integral part of it.

Ms Willoughby last night declined to comment.
Britain would be forced to rely on American missile defence systems stationed in Europe if Iran launched a rocket attack on the UK similar to the one attempted on Diego Garcia this weekend.

The warning came after Tehran fired two ballistic missiles on Friday night towards the base in the Indian Ocean, which is jointly operated by the US and the UK.

The island lies 2,360 miles from Iran, well beyond the 1,240 miles which was thought to be the outer limit of the regimes reach.

It potentially puts Paris, 2,609 miles away, and even London  2,750 miles  within Irans range if, as some strategists fear, the country uses its Simorgh space launch technology to extend its missile range. RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus is just 1,000 miles from Tehran.

And Israel warned last night that that Iran's new missile can hit Europe.

IDF chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, in a video released on Saturday night. said: 'Iran launched a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 4,000km towards an American target on the island of Diego Garcia.

'The missiles were not intended to hit Israel. Their range reaches the capitals of Europe. Berlin, Paris and Rome are all within direct threat range.' The IDF later added that London is also in range.

Steve Prest, a retired Royal Navy commodore, said: Ballistic missiles are space rockets. They launch, they go really high up and they come down really fast. If youve got a space programme, youve got a ballistic missile programme.

In a ballistic attack, defence experts say Britain would be forced to rely on American SM-3 defence systems stationed across Eastern Europe, or the Patriot missiles used by the Germans, to intercept rockets.

The attempted strike on Diego Garcia came as Sir Keir Starmer extended permission for the US to use British bases to launch attacks on the Strait of Hormuz to protect shipping from Iranian assaults.

Neither of the missiles fired at Diego Garcia hit their target, with one believed to have been shot down by a US warships SM-3 interceptor and the other failing in flight.

An aerial view of Diego Garcia, which faced an attempted rocket attack this weekend

A Khorramshahr-4 missile is launched at an undisclosed location in Iran

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of covering up the attempted attack on Diego Garcia, saying the Prime Minister needed to come clean over the details of the launch.

Government sources confirmed the attack happened before an official statement later said it had allowed the US military to launch strikes on Iran from the island base to help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This came as:

The US used bunker buster bombs in a reported attack on Irans Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. The munition was designed to be dropped from B-2 stealth bombers to destroy targets up to 200ft underground;

The American military claimed that Tehrans ability to threaten ships passing through the Straits of Hormuz had been degraded;

The UAE released a joint statement from 22 countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Bahrain and Australia, demanding that Tehran reopen the Straits of Hormuz to shipping;

Prices of vegetables in supermarkets could rise within weeks as the war in Iran makes the cost of fertiliser and energy soar;

Holidaymakers were scrambling to book flights and switch destinations to avoid the threat of spiralling fares and disruption caused by the war;

Motorists could face a 1970s-style 50mph speed limit in an attempt to save fuel under emergency plans;

Sir Keir promised Cyprus that the British airbase on the island will not be used by the Americans to strike Iran.

The Prime Minister spoke to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and made a commitment that RAF Akrotiri would not be involved in his agreement with Mr Trump on the use of British bases in the war.

Bunker busters strike nuclear plant

US warplanes dropped bunker-buster bombs on an underground Iranian nuclear facility on Saturday. Irans atomic agency said the Natanz uranium enrichment complex had been targeted in an attack. President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted one of his key war objectives is to destroy Irans nuclear capabilities. Natanz, 135 miles south-east of Tehran, is integral to Irans nuclear programme and was extensively bombed during US strikes last June. Israeli media reported that Saturday's strike used bunker-buster bombs, which are designed to penetrate well-protected targets up to 262ft underground. Natanz is believed to be up to 350ft deep, leading to doubts as to whether the deepest part of the complex was destroyed. The Iranian atomic agency said no radioactive material had leaked and claimed the strike violated international law. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran informed it of the attack and called for military restraint to avoid nuclear accidents.

This comes after Mr Christodoulides warned last week that when the war finishes, he will demand negotiations about the future of Britains colonial military bases on the island.

General Sir Richard Barrons, a former Commander in Chief of British forces, said on Saturday that Irans power may have been serially underestimated.

General Sir Richard, who headed the UKs Joint Forces Command between 2013 and 2016, said it was previously thought that Irans missiles had a range of only 2,000 kilometres [1,240 miles] and Diego Garcia is 3,800 kilometres [2,360 miles] away from Iran.

He was responding to questions over whether Mr Trump was right to say Britain had done too little and too late or whether opponents of the war were correct that the UK had been sucked into an American war.

Meanwhile, vegetable prices could rise within weeks as the cost of fertiliser and energy surges, said National Farmers Union president Tom Bradshaw.

He said Britain no longer had the ability to make fertiliser domestically and was absolutely at the mercy of world markets.

The Middle East is a key supplier of ingredients used to make fertiliser. Most of these pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran, causing prices to spiral as farmers scramble to buy limited supplies as spring planting season looming.

Prices of imported goods are likely to rise immediately because of higher transport costs, said Mr Bradshaw, adding that increases for other foods would begin to appear in coming weeks.

He added: For vegetables grown in heated greenhouses, such as cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes, it will be over the next month to six weeks that we will see those cost increases coming through to the retailer.

Stampede for flights before prices soar

By Calum Mairhead

Holidaymakers are scrambling to book flights and switch destinations to avoid spiralling fares and disruption caused by the war.

Travel agents report strong interest in European and Caribbean destinations after the reputation of Dubai and other Gulf cities as safe, sun-drenched getaways was shattered by Iranian missiles and drones.

Industry experts say the huge surge in demand is being fuelled by people who would normally wait for last-minute deals but are now rushing to lock in bookings ahead of further price rises.

Graeme Buck, of travel industry body ABTA, said: The Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to many countries in the area due to the conflict.

So in the short term, people need to review what this means for their holiday plans.

Consumer travel expert Martyn James added: Those trips to Malaga are going to be an awful lot busier than usual.

With the chances of fares going up the longer the situation in the Middle East goes on, fewer people will want to take the risk of booking last-minute trips so they will be looking to lock in now to avoid a nasty shock later on.

Signs of a bookings stampede emerged last week when some of the biggest US carriers including Delta and American Airlines upgraded their sales forecasts for March.

Easyjet boss Kenton Jarvis has advised travellers to book their flights now to avoid higher fares, saying that while the airline was currently protected from higher fuel costs this would not last beyond the summer, so price rises were more likely.

Holidaymakers are scrambling to book flights and switch destinations to avoid spiralling fares and disruption caused by the war (file photo)

Motorists face speed limits to save fuel

By Calum Mairhead

Motorists could be facing a 1970s-style 50mph speed limit in a bid to save fuel, under emergency plans being drawn up as the war causes a global oil supply crunch.

Speed limits are among options reportedly being considered.

Others are thought to include:

A cap on how much fuel drivers are allowed to buy at the pumps;

Designating petrol stations for use only by emergency services;

Limiting their open hours and closing them overnight;

Restricting sales of diesel to commercial vehicles involved in key areas such as food production and medical supply chains.

While fuel stocks are not yet low enough for drastic measures, the Government could be forced to use emergency powers under the Energy Act, which allows officials to control the supply of fuel if there is a risk of shortages.

Emergency measures were last used in 2000, when a blockade of fuel depots by hauliers sparked nationwide shortages of petrol.

Speed limits to save fuel have not been in place since 1973, when traffic on all roads was restricted to 50mph after the UK and other nations were cut off from Middle Eastern oil exports during the Yom Kippur war between Israel and a coalition of Arab states.

The UK currently has less than 900,000 tons of petrol in storage  enough to meet normal levels of demand for 26 days.

The crisis has piled pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to provide support for motorists, including by scrapping a planned 5p rise in fuel duty in September.
Nancy Guthrie's family has issued a desperate plea 50 days after she vanished from her home, begging the public for 'renewed attention' to their mom's chilling chase.

The family released a heartbreaking statement during local Arizona news station, KVOA's special broadcast on Saturday, titled 'Bring Her Home - The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.'

The family thanked the people of Tucson for the support during the hunt for Nancy, telling their community - 'We are all family now.'

'We continue to believe it is Tucsonans, and the greater southern Arizona community, that hold the key to finding resolution in this case,' the family said.

'Someone knows something. Its possible a member of this community has information that they do not even realize is significant.'

The family asked Tucson residents to 'search their memories,' focusing on the night of January 31 and the early morning hours of February 1, when investigators believe Nancy was taken from her home.

They asked the community for 'renewed attention' on their mom's case and to search for anything significant, including camera footage, journal notes, text messages, and observations.

'We miss our mom with every breath and we cannot be in peace until she is home. We cannot grieve; we can only ache and wonder. Our focus is solely on finding her and bringing her home,' the statement continued.

Nancy Guthrie's family urged Tucson residents to look back into their memories for any relevant information in their mom's case. Nancy is pictured above with her daughter, Savannah, on the Today Show in 2023

Savannah visited the Today show studios at Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan on March 5, 2026. Her colleagues, many of them teary-eyed, gave her a warm welcome

Savannah Guthrie reposted a clip from the Friday edition of the Today show. Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin stood outside the Today show studios and talked to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities ahead of World Down Syndrome Day on Saturday

'We want to celebrate her beautiful and courageous life. But we cannot do that until she is brought to a final place of rest.'

The KVOA special comes as Today show host Savannah Guthrie, 54, shared her first Instagram story in nearly three weeks.

She reposted a clip from Friday's Today broadcast showing her colleagues interacting with participants in the non-profit Best Buddies International, which supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Volunteers with the organization are paired with individuals with IDD, serving as mentors and friends as they navigate daily life.

Savannah is a longtime ambassador with the charity and has been 'Best Buddies' with a person named Tara, who has Down Syndrome, for about 10 years.

The clip Savannah reposted showed Tara standing outside the Today show studio behind Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin while holding a sign saying: 'We love you Savannah.'

The show, which took place just outside the Today show studios at 10 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, commemorated World Down Syndrome Day.

'Tomorrow's World Down Syndrome Day and we're marking it early with some friends from Best Buddies,' Kotb said.

Savannah added three yellow heart emojis over the clip.

Nancy Guthrie, Savannah's 84-year-old mother, was last seen on January 31 after being dropped off by a family member at her home near Tucson, Arizona

Residents of Tucson have consistently left signs, messages of encouragement and flowers in front of Nancy Guthrie's home since her disappearance

Nancy's family issued a statement during a local news broadcast, breaking down the case on Friday. Pictured above is Annie Guthrie, Nancy's daughter, and her husband, Tommaso Cioni

Savannah has been away from work since her mother disappeared in late January. Kotb and other anchors, including Sheinelle Jones, have been covering for Savannah in her absence.

Since February 6, Kotb has been co-hosting Today with Melvin. The Daily Mail reported earlier this week that NBC has been preparing for Savannah's eventual return.

So far, Savannah has not indicated when she will come back to the air, but NBC has confirmed that she does not plan to stay away permanently. She visited the studio on March 5 and got a warm welcome from her colleagues.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31 after being dropped off by a family member at her home near Tucson, Arizona.

Police believe the 84-year-old was taken against her will during the early hours of February 1. After she failed to show up at a friend's home that day, her family reported her missing.

Nancy's home surveillance footage showed a masked man at her door the night she went missing. Authorities have not been able to identify the man, nor have they zeroed in on a possible suspect.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who is leading the investigation, told NBC News on March 12 that he believes he knows the motive behind Nancy's kidnapping but did not share any more details.

On March 16, Brian Entin of NewsNation reported that investigators asked Nancy's neighbors for any surveillance footage they can provide for Sunday, January 11 and Saturday, January 24. It's not clear why these dates are significant.

Nancy's home surveillance footage showed a masked man at her door the night she went missing. No suspect or person of interest has been identified by authorities

Nanos and the Pima County Sheriff's Department have been roundly criticized for supposedly making significant errors early on in the search.

The Daily Mail reported in February that the sheriff's department failed to deploy its fixed-wing Cessna aircraft to search the area around Nancy's home immediately after she was reported missing.

The aircraft, equipped with high-resolution thermal imaging cameras capable of scanning vast swaths of desert terrain, remained on the tarmac for roughly half a day, sources close to the sheriff's department told the Daily Mail.

There was a staffing shortage that left the department without qualified pilots to fly the plane  a shortage people familiar with the situation blamed directly on Nanos.

Nanos has also acknowledged that crime scene tape around Nancy's house was put up and taken down on numerous occasions.

When asked about potential crime scene contamination issues this could have caused, Nanos said: 'I'll let the court worry about it. We follow the rules of law.'

The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for any information that leads to Nancy's whereabouts or an arrest of anyone responsible.

Savannah and her family are also offering a $1 million reward. They donated $500,000 to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
A Washington man with a lengthy history of abusing his girlfriend is now accused of her gruesome murder and dumping her body in a river.

Juan Delgado, 42, was charged with second-degree murder on Thursday for the killing of 37-year-old Krista Hunt in January, according to the Skagit County Sheriff's Office.

Hunt was reported missing by her mother, Pamela Hunt, on February 1. A missing persons flyer said she had last been seen around Concrete, a town about 100 miles north of Seattle.

Authorities searched for Hunt for weeks before finding her body. Delgado was arrested after the woman's remains were identified and investigators discovered clumps of her hair and her blood in the boyfriend's vehicle.

Pamela told KING5 that her daughter was last seen on January 25 with Delgado in his truck. He said they had run out of gas, and that Hunt left the vehicle to walk away. She has not been seen since.

The mother also told the outlet that Delgado would abuse her daughter, and she recounted taking Hunt to the hospital just weeks before she went missing.

'She did in fact have a broken leg,' Pamela told KING5. 'She said he had boot-stomped her leg and her chest.

'She said one time he set a timer and told her he was going to hit her every 15 minutes.'

Juan Delgado, 42, has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly killing his girlfriend and dumping her body in a river. He is pictured hearing his charge in court

Delgado's alleged victim is 37-year-old Krista Hunt. It took several weeks for authorities to find her body and charge Delgado with her murder

Hunt was reported missing by her mother on February 1. Her remains were identified on March 18. Hunt's missing person poster is pictured

And in a GoFundMe set up by Pamela while the search for her daughter was ongoing, the mother said that when she took Hunt to the hospital, she 'was covered in bruises, both new and old, had been strangled, had two black eyes, and a broken leg.

'Doctors warned that if she was strangled again, she might not survive.'

According to an affidavit reviewed by KING5, when police reached out to Delgado on February 1, the day of the missing person report, he told them he had not heard from Hunt in five days and wanted to return her two dogs.

He also reportedly said that they had problems in their relationship but that he believed 'they were currently on good terms.'

Police said that two days later, Delgado shot himself at a bar in Concrete but survived and told authorities he 'missed Krista.'

Weeks later, a body was discovered in the Skagit River, which runs by the small Washington town.

On March 18, the Skagit County Coroner confirmed the identity of the remains as Hunt, and Delgado was arrested the next day.

The announcement that Hunt had been identified said that the cause of death was still under investigation, but the coroner's report detailed injuries including a broken neck, broken jaw and broken ribs, according to KING5.

Delgado told police that there were issues in his relationship with Hunt but that they were 'on good terms' and he wanted to return her two dogs. Hunt is pictured with one of her pups

Delgado had a history of abusing Hunt, according to her mother, who said she took her daughter to the hospital for broken bones and bruises just weeks before she went missing

According to the Skagit County Sheriff's Office, at the time Delgado was charged with second-degree murder, he was already in custody 'on un-related charges.'

Skagit County arrest records indicate that the alleged killer had previously been arrested on February 5.

He was being held at the Skagit County Jail on two counts of possession of an explosive device, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and a DUI charge.

Records show he was being held on a $100,000 bond, but authorities declined to pursue the explosive device charges.

It is unclear when that decision was made or whether it was due to the more serious murder charge Delgado faced shortly afterward.

The alleged killer remains in custody at Skagit County Jail, and his bond has been raised to $1 million following the murder charge.

In an interview with KING5, Hunt's brother said: 'I can't imagine the pain my mom is going through right now. I know the pain I'm going through, and it's hard  He stole 60 years of my relationship with Krista.'

After Hunt's remains were identified, her loved ones shared their grief on social media.

When Delgado was issued the murder charge, he was already in police custody on charges of possession of an explosive device. He is pictured in 2019

Hunt's mother, Pamela, called her daughter 'one of a kind' and thanked people for their support on Facebook

Her cousin, Holly Luja, wrote on Facebook: 'I have no words. There is such a hole in my life now that my beloved cousin Krista filled.'

Her mother, Pamela, wrote: 'So much love and support from so many different directions. It's a bit overwhelming in a beautiful way.

'It feels so good to know how much love Krista shared with so many people from all walks of life. She was definitely one of a kind!'
A millionaire tech mogul has launched an unlikely bid for Nancy Pelosi's coveted congressional seat, but the stacked primary has proved challenging as he reportedly struggles to resonate with constituents.

Saikat Chakrabarti, 40, initially threw his hat in the ring against the former Speaker of the House, until Pelosi announced last November that she would not seek re-election.

Now Chakrabarti faces two challengers for the open seat, both of whom have fostered careers in local San Francisco politics.

Meanwhile, Chakrabarti has ruffled some feathers after he received the endorsement of famous drag queen Peaches earlier this week.

The two shared a video on Thursday, announcing a joint Get Out the Vote and drag show event called Drag Me to Vote on April 4.

In another video, Peaches explained why she endorsed Chakrabarti, writing on Instagram: 'San Francisco has a rare opportunity right now.

'This congressional race will decide whether we keep accepting business as usual or whether we send someone to Washington willing to actually challenge the systems that created the crises were living through.'

The endorsement received some backlash online, with commenters accusing Chakrabarti of not focusing on the issues at hand affecting locals in the Bay Area.

Saikat Chakrabarti, 40, faces three primary challengers for Nancy Pelosi's vacant congressional seat. He's pictured above at a candidate forum in January

Chakrabarti recently received the endorsement of famous drag queen Peaches Christ, which received criticism online. The two are pictured in a video announcing a campaign event above

Chakrabarti is facing off against two local politicians, State Senator Scott Wiener (middle), and Supervisor Connie Chan (right)

'Dude what is this? no one is forcing you to do this? just focus on affordability please,' one commented.

'Nothing like being dragged to back a billionaire when there is another option who is not a billionaire or a billionaire's bro. Vote Connie Chan. Also, why aren't y'all supporting the woman of color whose running who is also backed by labor? What is your class analysis here?' another wrote.

'The guy has zero track record in San Francisco. Bad choice, Peaches,' a third added.

Chakrabarti has faced criticism in his campaign for his wealth, lack of political experience and time spent in San Francisco.

The San Francisco Chronicle observed Chakrabarti and his challengers, City Supervisor Connie Chan and State Senator Scott Wiener, last week.

The Chronicle noted that both Chan and Chakrabarti frequently came across voters who brought up Wiener.

'You got tough competition in this neighborhood. Scott Wiener is pretty well liked and was responsive as a supervisor,' one voter reportedly told Chakrabarti.

'Chakrabarti may be chummy with the nations leading progressives, but relatively few San Francisco voters know him,' the Chronicle observed.

Chakrabarti is pictured here at another drag event

Chakrabarti has a unique resume. He worked in technology before pivoting to politics and becoming the chief of staff to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The two are pictured above in 2018

'So when Chakrabarti knocked on a voters door to ask for their support on a Saturday afternoon in January, he started by name-checking people they might have heard of before.'

The Chronicle also noted that Chakrabarti encountered several voters who said they would vote for Wiener because they knew him personally.

Another voter said they appreciated Chakrabarti's experience but were 'uncomfortable' voting for him since he spent time away from San Francisco.

Unlike his challengers, Chakrabarti lacks political experience in the city he is running to represent.

He became a tech millionaire for his work as a software engineer at the payment processing company, Stripe.

Chakrabarti then pivoted from technology to politics, working on Senator Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign and serving as chief of staff to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Wiener capitalized on Chakrabarti's wealth and inexperience in San Francisco, launching an attack ad criticizing him for using his money to fund his campaign while touting that he does not take corporate funds.

'My opponent is using his vast personal wealth to try to buy a seat in Congress. Im not worth hundreds of millions like he is, but what I do have is decades of real experience delivering for San Francisco,' Wiener wrote on social media earlier this month.

'Being hyper-rich can buy you a lot of things, but it shouldnt be able to buy you an election.'

Chakrabarti has faced backlash from locals for his excessive wealth and lack of political experience in San Francisco. He's pictured above in 2018

San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan is also running for the congressional seat. She's pictured above at a candidate forum in 2026

State Senator Scott Wiener is a longtime politician in San Francisco. He is a familiar face in the city and has slammed Chakrabarti for attempting to buy the Congressional seat with his wealth. Wiener is pictured above at a speaking event in February

Chakrabarti has used his unique experience as a selling point in his campaign, claiming he will bring a new voice to Congress, one not beholden to years of political influence.

Some young progressives have championed his campaign, with one writing on Peaches' endorsement video: 'Thank you. Just because we all know Scott doesnt mean we want to send him to Congress on our behalf.'

'Agree peaches! Saikat isnt a billionaires puppet like some of the other contenders running for the seat,' another added.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Chakrabarti's campaign for comment.
A newly opened Denver bookstore has been thrown into upheaval after cutting ties with its high-profile co-founder, as a wave of backlash over his past record erupted online and forced a dramatic leadership shake-up just weeks after its launch.

Kwame Spearman is no longer involved with the Denver Book Society, the store confirmed on Friday, in a sudden split that underscores how quickly controversy surrounding his past reignited and threatened to overshadow the business itself.

'It became clear that a change in leadership was needed,' the store said in a statement, just weeks after opening its doors.

Owner Rich Garvin made clear the break was decisive.

'Kwame is passionate about preserving independent bookstores and I'm appreciative of his early contributions,' Garvin said. 'However, his continued involvement in Denver Book Society is not serving the mission of this bookstore.'

Garvin will now take full control as the sole leader of the shop.

The split follows a social media firestorm that erupted shortly after the bookstore opened. Spearman - who once ran for city mayor - allegedly posted about his own personal views on ICE on the store's public Instagram account.

Garvin tried to reassure the community: 'We didnt approve of how he approached this messaging, or how he engaged with our community in the comments of that post. Please rest assured that DBS remains firmly in support of immigrant rights.'

Kwame Spearman has parted ways with the Denver Book Society just weeks after it opened

Critics revived Spearman's past comments about cooperation with ICE during the 2023 Denver mayoral race

But critics also brought up longstanding grievances tied to Spearman's tenure at Denver's iconic Tattered Cover - and his brief, controversial foray into politics.

Online posts on Reddit and Instagram accused Spearman of supporting cooperation with federal immigration authorities during his 2023 mayoral campaign - a position that clashed sharply with Denver's sanctuary city identity.

At the time, Spearman had suggested there were 'opportunities for that cooperation between the suburban cities and the counties with the federal government,' in remarks reported during the race. The comments drew a fierce backlash from fellow Democrats.

Spearman later pushed back, insisting the characterization of his remarks was wrong.

'I don't support ICE,' he wrote in response to critics. 'Never have.' But the controversy did not stop there.

Former colleagues also renewed allegations about his management style at the Tattered Cover, with one of his closest former associates delivering a blistering assessment.

'Kwame badly mistreated the extremely dedicated and loyal Tattered Cover staff,' said David Back, the Denverite reported.

'He's a bully who makes himself feel big by making others feel small. Kwame thought he was the captain of the Titanic, but actually, he was the iceberg.'

Kwame Spearman, the former worker at the Tattered Cover bookstore chain based in Denver is seen campaigning for Mayor in a March 2023

Owner Rich Garvin will now serve as the store's sole leader. Garvin said Spearman's 'continued involvement is not serving the mission of this bookstore'

The resurfacing of such criticisms, combined with the political controversy from 2023 quickly snowballed into a reputational crisis for the bookstore, with some critics pledging to boycott the new venture altogether.

Garvin acknowledged the damage and his own role in it.

'This is my greatest passion project; I'm sorry that personnel choices alienated the Denver community and that I failed to recognize these issues in advance,' he said.

He emphasized that the Denver Book Society would continue to position itself as an inclusive 'third place' for community dialogue, with programming and donations supporting immigrant rights organizations.

At the center of the dispute is also a disagreement over how Spearman's role was publicly portrayed.

'While Kwame presented himself publicly as a partner in Denver Book Society, I have always been the sole financial investor and owner of the store,' Garvin said, clarifying that Spearman had been brought in as a consultant to help shape operations and programming.

But Spearman insists his departure was always part of the plan.

'From the very beginning, the plan was that once we reached this point, I would transition out of my role in the business and the bookstore would move forward under Rich's sole leadership,' he wrote in an explanation published on Friday.

'This transition is not a change in direction. It is the completion of the original plan.'

Spearman said his stepping aside from the bookshop was a transition and 'is not a change in direction' but the completion of an original plan

Aside from running for Denver mayor, Spearman later ran for a school board, but was unsuccessful in both races

In a separate note Spearman added: 'Bookstores should be places of quiet discovery, not headlines.'

Spearman had attempted to reintroduce himself to Denver through the new bookstore after a turbulent few years that included a failed effort to save the Tattered Cover, an aborted mayoral campaign, and a subsequent unsuccessful run for the Denver school board.

He had openly acknowledged past mistakes, telling Denverite: 'When you come in and you're a Tasmanian devil, you stress the staff, you stress your finances, and you stress the business.'

Spearman has been contacted for comment.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz is calling for federal immigration enforcement to be split from the rest of Homeland Security's funding as airport chaos spirals and travelers face hours-long delays.

Cruz's proposal is part of a dramatic new plan to break a bitter Washington standoff and is gaining traction among Republicans.

It would carve out funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to and pass it separately - a move Cruz says is necessary because Democrats have become 'so extreme and unreasonable' that a broader deal may be impossible.

'What I've suggested is that the Democrats have gotten so extreme and unreasonable that I don't know that they will ever be willing to fund Department of Homeland Security,' Cruz told The Hill on Saturday.

He added that Republicans could bypass Democratic opposition entirely by using a procedural maneuver requiring only a simple majority.

'If that's where the Democrats are, I've suggested let's fund ICE and CBP through reconciliation. That Republicans can do with just 50 votes, we can do that relatively quickly and the Democrat lunacy on open borders can be put to an end.'

Reconciliation would mean getting ICE funded through a congressional fast-track process with a simple majority vote, rather than being blocked by the Democrats.

The high-stakes proposal comes as the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security stretches on with its consequences are being felt most visibly at the nation's airports.

Across the country, security lines have lengthened into multi-hour ordeals, with some travelers missing flights altogether as staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) worsen.

Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz has proposed splitting ICE and CBP funding from the broader Homeland Security bill to break the shutdown impasse

Travelers across the US are facing airport security wait times of two to four hours due to staffing shortages

'Millions of Americans right now are facing two-, three-, four-hour waits at airports. They're missing their planes for spring break because the Democrats refuse to pay TSA,' Cruz said.

'TSA agents have now missed two paychecks in a row. Over 300 of them have resigned. They had to go get another job because they have to pay their rent and feed their kids.'

The strain is already visible on the ground. At major hubs like Houston's airports where wait times have stretched beyond three hours as growing numbers of TSA workers call out sick during the funding lapse.

The political deadlock has also triggered an extraordinary escalation from Trump, who warned he is prepared to deploy ICE agents directly into airports if Congress fails to act.

'ICE is ready to go on Monday,' Trump wrote on social media, adding: 'I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, 'GET READY.' NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!'

The plan would mark a dramatic expansion of immigration enforcement into airport security with Trump saying agents would arrest 'all Illegal Immigrants', specifically referencing individuals from Somalia in his posts.

But even as Republicans rally around more aggressive tactics, the strategy inside the Senate is evolving.

Senator Thom Tillis confirmed Cruz had approached him about splitting the funding bill and said he was open to it.

Join the discussion How should America prioritize border security versus keeping airports running smoothly for travelers?

The political deadlock has triggered an extraordinary escalation from President Donald Trump, who warned he is prepared to deploy ICE agents directly into airports if Congress fails to act

Senator Patty Murray has attempted to pass a targeted funding bill excluding ICE and CBP but was blocked

President Donald Trump said ICE agents could be deployed to airports if the funding standoff continues

Wait times at Houston's major airports have exceeded three hours as more TSA staff call out sick. Pictured, the long line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Friday

Sen. Thom Tillis said he is open to splitting DHS funding if it helps break the impasse, adding he would support 'anything' that moves negotiations forward

'Anything that we have to do, even incrementally, to get some of this impasse done, I'd be open to,' Tillis said, adding that lawmakers should not leave Washington until a resolution is reached.

Senator John Kennedy outlined a similar approach in a televised interview, suggesting Republicans fund the bulk of Homeland Security immediately and then pass ICE funding separately through reconciliation, bypassing a Democratic filibuster.

'Let's open up everything but ICE, OK? Let's open it up  but I can tell you what's going to happen next. The Republicans are going to put a reconciliation bill on the floor that requires Republican votes to fund ICE, and the Democrats don't have the vote to stop us,' Kennedy said on C-SPAN.

Democrats, however, have taken a sharply different approach - pushing to fund key agencies like TSA, FEMA and the Coast Guard separately while demanding sweeping reforms to immigration enforcement policies.

Senator John Kennedy proposed funding DHS without ICE and then passing ICE funding through reconciliation

Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned that airport disruptions will worsen if a deal is not reached quickly

Earlier this month, Democratic Senator Patty Murray sought unanimous consent to pass a targeted funding measure excluding ICE and CBP, but Republicans blocked the effort, accusing Democrats of playing 'political games.'

With absentee rates rising among TSA workers and airport disruptions worsening by the day, pressure is mounting on both sides to find a way out of the impasse.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged the growing urgency, warning that the situation could deteriorate rapidly without a breakthrough.

'If that group that's meeting can't come up with a solution really quickly, things are going to get worse and worse,' Thune said.
A prestigious private school with locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island may be forced to close after its founder allegedly hid $13million of debt for years.

Scott Given, 45, founded the $35,490-per-year Croft School in Providence in 2017 before expanding to Boston in 2020.

But the founder, who lives in a $2.7million house in the highly affluent Wellesley Hills suburb of Boston, revealed earlier this month that he had been concealing millions of dollars of debt, according to a letter sent to the school community on March 15.

The letter alleged that on March 6, Given called a member of the school's board to say that he had been hiding debt by misrepresenting expenses and costs by keeping two separate books.

The board said that it had only gotten access to detailed financial records after the call and that it discovered a total of $13million of debt.

The board insisted that it was unaware of any doctored financial records, and the letter to the school community also said that Given had been suspended without pay.

A spokesperson for the school told CBS News that classes will continue to operate as normal until the coming Friday, March 27, but that its doors could close after that.

Parents shared their concern and outrage with the outlet, wondering what they are going to do and where their children are going to finish the remaining two months of the school year.

Scott Given, 45, founder of the Croft School, revealed that he was hiding $13million of debt and was suspended without pay, according to the school's board

Given lives in this $2.7million home in the highly affluent Wellesley Hills suburb of Boston

Croft School parent Nicky Bandera asked: 'Where are these kids gonna go?'

Despite already paying north of $30,000 annually for their children's education, parents have been asked to fundraise for the school to keep it open until the end of the year.

The board estimated that it would cost $5million to keep everyone at the school on payroll until then.

Some parents, determined to keep their children in a stable learning environment, are supportive of the initiative.

But if the fundraising effort fails and the for-profit private school is forced to shut down, Boston Public Schools has said it is prepared to absorb the student body.

The school system released a public statement that said: 'Boston Public Schools (BPS) has a legal and moral obligation to provide children living in the City of Boston with a high-quality, free, and public education.'

The revelation of the Croft School's enormous debt came just one month after it announced that it had scrapped plans to expand its footprint in Boston's South End neighborhood.

The private school had said it was going to move into a building currently occupied by an independent grocery store called Foodie's Market, which is slated to close in June.

The Croft School was founded in Providence, Rhode Island, in 2017 before expanding into Boston in 2020, but it may now be forced to close due to the alleged revealed debt. One of the school's locations in Boston is pictured

The school backed out of the expansion in early February, citing backlash from the local community over the disappearance and lack of replacement of an affordable and walkable grocery store.

At the time, the school released a statement that said: 'While we were excited about this opportunity, we believe it is more important to respond with care to what we have heard and to avoid further contributing to division at a time of real loss for the neighborhood.'

Now, with the revelation of the debt, the owners of the building currently being leased by Foodie's Market are suing Given and the Croft School.

The owners have accused the private school's founder of forging a $500,000 letter of credit from Leader Bank which bounced when they tried to transfer funds.

The attempted transfer led Leader Bank to spot the document as fraudulent and call the police, according to the civil complaint.

According to the letter sent to the school community, Given admitted to board members that he had forged the letter of credit.

The lawsuit is asking for $10million in damages for a breach of the Foodie's Market location lease agreement and an additional $4.3million in damages for the community backlash around the grocery store's closure, which they say devalued the property.

Given's lawyers told Axios that their client has 'never used any school funds for his own personal benefit.'

Given and the Croft School are being sued for millions of dollars by the owners of this building, who accuse them of breaching a lease for the space currently occupied by Foodie's Market

'Scott Given founded The Croft Schools with a vision to provide outstanding educational opportunities to the children of hundreds of city-based families,' the statement continued.

'At all times, he has used school funds solely for appropriate school-related purposes. The well-being of The Croft School community has been and will remain one of Scott's top priorities in life.'

A spokesperson for the Croft School told the Daily Mail: 'We have shared all the information that we can with our families and will continue to update them as we learn more.

'We are cooperating with authorities in their investigations into the actions of our former Executive Director.'

The Daily Mail has also reached out to Given for additional comment.
Professors at Boston University are rebelling against the school administration after finding their LGBT pride flags were removed from their offices.

Nathan Phillips, a physiological ecology professor at Boston University (BU), said he entered his office on Monday after returning from spring break and found that his pride flag had been taken down without his knowledge.

The flag was folded on his chair, and school officials had left a note warning him that it was his second offense violating the university's policy.

BU's signage policy states that 'no unattended placards, banners, or other signs will be permitted, unless they are affixed securely to a location that has been approved,' according to the school's website.

'I put up a pride flag in my office window to express my support for and solidarity with colleagues and students whose diverse gender and sexual identities are represented by the pride flag,' Phillips told the Daily Mail.

'I don't think a passerby would see a flag in a random fourth floor office window as a statement by or on behalf of my institution, as BU administrators suggested.'

The removal outraged Phillips and his colleagues, who felt that school officials violated his free speech amid the Trump administration's crackdown on DEI policies in higher education.

'It kind of feels like if they come for one of us, they got to come for all of us. There's a growing movement. It almost feels like the start of an open rebellion,' Phillips added to the Boston Globe.

Boston University Professor Nathan Phillips said the school administration removed the pride flag from his office (pictured) over spring break

Phillips said the flag was folded on his chair, and school officials had left a note warning him that it was his second offense violating the university's policy

Phillips said he hung the flag back up and is waiting to receive his third-strike warning from the university.

Student newspaper The Daily Free Press reported that Phillips' flag, along with flags at the Womens, Gender, and Sexuality Studies offices and at professor Liz Bettinis office in the Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, were also removed.

Professors wrote letters to Boston University President Melissa Gilliam slamming the removals.

'It is profoundly sad and disappointing to see the university administration adopt policies that so deeply contradict not only the university's historical legacy and values, but that of the state and city in which its faculty and students live,' wrote Joseph Harris and Mary Battenfeld, co-presidents of the BU chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

Harris, an associate professor of sociology at BU, told the Globe, 'To have it come over spring break was to me akin to a politician releasing bad news late at night on a Friday, hoping no one will listen, hoping the story will go away.'

'It's difficult to not feel like this is becoming a hostile climate for our students, but also for faculty,' said Cati Connell, an associate professor of sociology.

'It all presents a compelling pattern that could be related to institutional fears about losing federal funding, about needing to appease to trustees and donors who perhaps are falling in line with conservative political agendas.'

Gilliam held a town hall event on Thursday to address the flag situation, WBUR reported.

She insisted that there was 'no targeting of any particular population' when Phillips' flag was removed, and the university's public signage policy is 'content neutral.'

Phillips told the Daily Mail he hung up the flag to 'express my support for and solidarity with colleagues and students whose diverse gender and sexual identities are represented by the pride flag'

Phillips said he hung the flag back up and is waiting to receive his third-strike warning from the university. Pictured: Phillips' flag from the exterior of his office

Boston University President Melissa Gilliam defended the removal of Phillips' flag and the school's signage policy

'I want to be very clear that we have unequivocal support for our LGBTQIA plus community,' Gilliam said.

'The experience of queer and non-conforming young people, all young people, minoritized groups, is my life's work. So to suggest that we, as an administration, do not see and value this community is frankly untrue.'

'We have time, place, and manner of rules, and these are content-neutral. And so we've decided that if you have the privilege of having a window that faces campus, you don't get the privilege of speaking for the university,' Gilliam added.

The Daily Mail contacted Boston University and Gilliam for comment.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa on Saturday celebrated her 63rd birthday, with Defence Minister Oppah MuchinguriKashiri among those who publicly extended their congratulations.MuchinguriKashiri announced the celebration via her X account."Today I join His Excellency the President and the First Family in celebrating the 63rd birthday of Her Excellency the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa," she posted."Her life remains a beacon of hope to the vulnerable and disadvantaged through her philanthropic work, underpinning our national development philosophy of leaving no one and no community behind."She added that they were inspired by the First Lady's tireless efforts in fighting social ills, improving access to health and education, and preserving Zimbabwe's rich cultural heritage - efforts she said were contributing to empowered and transformed communities."On this day, Amai, we salute you for your incredible contributions towards a prosperous, secure and peaceful Zimbabwe. May you be blessed with continued strength, good health and many more years of impactful service," MuchinguriKashiri said.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has revealed he is not currently contemplating enforcing fuel rations over fears restrictions could be put in place.

The scrutiny comes as the war in the Middle East intensifies, with Iran's decision to block the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil chokepoints, sending global oil prices surging and disrupted shipping lanes.

The shock has rippled through supply chains worldwide, contributing to fuel spikes across Australia and leaving service stations, particularly in regional areas across NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA to run out of fuel.

Bowen revealed that despite the turmoil, Australia's emergency fuel reserves had actually grown since the conflict began.

'We have 38 days' worth of petrol and 30 days' worth of diesel and jet fuel, and both our refineries are working at absolute full pelt and 100 percent dedicated to Australian supply,' he told ABC Insiders.

Host David Speers pressed him on whether rationing might be required within weeks if crucial shipments failed to arrive. Bowen dismissed the suggestion.

'We are a long way from that,' he said.

'If we receive around 74 of the 80 ships expected in April and May and our refineries are running at full capacity, that indicates strong supply.'

Chris Bowen (pictured) said that the government was not considering fuel rationing

Bowen acknowledged that the public sees a contradiction, fuel stocks remain high on paper, yet servos are running dry.

'Both things can be true. We can have strong national fuel imports and still have unacceptable distribution challenges.'

He maintained that ship arrivals had not collapsed.

'The arrival of fuel shipments has actually increased a little,' Bowen said.

But he warned that uncertainty looms from midApril as global shipping patterns could become less predictable.

'That gives us some context of what we're dealing with,' he said, stressing the situation is difficult but 'not catastrophic.'

Bowen also pushed back against fears of a sudden, total collapse in supply.

'People think that one day all the ships will stop. That is hardly likely to be the case. It is much more likely that there will be bumps in supply that we will manage,' he said.

Speers turned to the issue hitting Australians most directly, empty bowsers in several regions.

Bowen said fuel is arriving as expected, but shortages are being caused by a surge in demand

Bowen blamed a sudden and dramatic spike in consumer behaviour.

'We saw a 100 per cent increase in demand in a few days, and when demand doubles, no supply chain is going to cope,' he said.

Pressed again on the possibility of rationing in the next two to three weeks, Bowen refused to nominate any trigger point.

'We are not contemplating needing to use any of those powers,' he said, urging the public to avoid panicbuying.

'Please buy as much fuel as you need, but no more, no less.'

The government has vowed to address the ongoing supplychain problems, appointing former Energy Regulator CEO Anthea Harris as a new 'fuel tsar' to coordinate with states and territories and oversee national fuel management.

The Opposition has argued her appointment was unnecessary and that responsibility should rest squarely with Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

'This is all necessary because Chris Bowen has failed at his job,' Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan said earlier this week.
Pressure is mounting on Sarah Ferguson to appear before the US congressional committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein.

Congressman Suhas Subramanyam who sits on the House Oversight Committee probing the paedophile's child sex trafficking ring told the Mail on Sunday: 'It is clear from the files we have that Sarah Ferguson and Jeffrey Epstein had a close relationship.

'She once called Epstein the "brother I always wished for" and Epstein provided her with financial assistance.

'She should tell our committee what she knows about Epstein's financial and sex trafficking enterprises.

'If she has nothing to hide then this shouldn't be a problem. No one, not even former royalty, is above the law.'

The MoS understands a formal request to appear may be sent to Ferguson - who has not been seen in months - although legally she cannot be forced to testify.

Former President Bill Clinton and convicted madam Ghislaine Maxwell have already been hauled in front of the committee.

Last night lawyer Gloria Allred, who represents several Epstein survivors, told the MoS: 'Sarah Ferguson appeared to have a close relationship with Epstein.

Pressure is mounting on Sarah Ferguson to testify in the US over her links to Jeffrey Epstein. Pictured (left-to-right): Princess Beatrice, Sarah Ferguson and Princess Eugenie

'She visited him at his office in Florida while he was serving his sentence after he was convicted of soliciting an act of prostitution with a minor. (He was allowed to sleep in the jail at night, and go to his office to work during the day.)

'Reportedly she even brought her daughters to visit him in his home. She communicated with him by email. She asked him for money and advice.

'She could provide valuable information to Congress. The survivors have indicated they are seeking truth, transparency and justice.

'Sarah could help Congress and the survivors learn the truth.

'She has indicated in the past that she cared about children in crisis and she created a charity to help them. Many survivors of Epstein were children in crisis.

'She can help them and her own reputation by testifying under oath.'

Emails released as part of the three-million 'Epstein Files' reveal Fergie repeatedly begged Epstein for cash and visited him in Florida with daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

In one email she told him: 'I am at your service. Just marry me', while in another she made a crude reference to then 19-year-old Eugenie being on a 'sh***ing' weekend.

US lawmakers have repeatedly called for Ferguson's former husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, to answer questions about his links to Epstein and she is now facing calls to do the same

Emails released as part of the three-million 'Epstein Files' reveal Fergie repeatedly begged Epstein for cash and visited him in Florida with daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie

Jonathan Coad, a media lawyer who previously represented her told the BBC there was 'no chance' she will testify.

Mr Coad said: 'Of course she won't and if she were still my client my very strong advice to her would be not to go.

'It would be a disaster for her, for her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie and also for Andrew, as it would show him up for not going.'

The family of Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of sexual abuse, which he vehemently denies, also demanded she testify.

A spokesperson for Ms Giuffre's brother Sky Roberts said: 'If Ferguson knows anything she should testify in the United States immediately.'

The former Duchess of York has not been seen publicly for months.

Unconfirmed reports say she has been at a Swiss spa, a villa in the United Arab Emirates and at a retreat in Ireland.
Andy Burnham has encouraged speculation he is planning a joint leadership ticket with Angela Rayner after calling her Queen of the North  a direct reference to his own moniker.

The Manchester Mayor made his remarks on Thursday at a fundraising event for his Greater Manchester Homeless Charity in the city as he thanked the former deputy prime minister for her attendance.

It came just two days after Ms Rayner effectively launched an unofficial leadership campaign by warning Sir Keir Starmer the Labour Party was running out of time to deliver change.

In what appeared to be a co-ordinated attack, Mr Burnham, known as the King of the North, backed her by saying: I certainly know where shes coming from.

'I understand the frustration people feel.

Mr Burnham is said to be planning to launch his own leadership bid if he can find a Commons seat in time for the expected contest after the May local elections.

Earlier this year, he was blocked from running as the partys candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election on the grounds that it would open the door to Reform winning the vacant mayoralty.

After the seat was then won by the Green Party, Mr Burnhams allies believe he would not be blocked a second time  and even if he is, he would deploy the nuclear option of resigning his mayoralty to remove No 10s excuse.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham dubbed the former deputy PM Angela Rayner 'Queen of the North' on Thursday at a fundraising event for his Greater Manchester Homeless Charity

He is now said to have reached a private agreement with Ms Rayner that they will not run against each other.

MPs who support Mr Burnhams ambitions say if he launched his campaign, Ms Rayner would agree to be his running mate  his Queen  in return for a senior Cabinet job and a return to the post of deputy PM which she lost after the row over her underpayment of stamp duty on her property in Hove.

If Mr Burnham cannot find a seat then Ms Rayner will run herself, rather than see rivals such as Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood or Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper take the job.

Ms Rayners allies are increasingly confident HMRC will either exonerate her over her tax bill or hit her with only a small fine.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed suggestions Australians should work from home or cut back on travel, after the International Energy Agency urged countries to adopt fuelsaving measures as global supply pressures intensify.

Speaking in Melbourne on Saturday, Albanese rejected the idea that the IEA's proposals, including driving less, lowering highway speed limits by 10km/h and reducing air travel, were aimed at Australia.

'They're not suggestions to us, of course. They're suggestions to the world,' he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles supported that view, describing the IEA's guidance as 'options' rather than instructions and stressing that the government remains focused on maintaining supply.

'Right now, our message to the Australian people is to continue business as usual. To get on with people's lives,' he said.

The IEA argues that small behavioural changes could ease pressure on global oil demand as the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt supply chains and elevate prices, noting that road transport accounts for a significant share of consumption.

'Many of these measures have been implemented in the past and are again being considered in several countries,' the report said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed suggestions Australians should work from home or cut back on travel

It highlights several steps countries could consider, including encouraging people to work from home when possible, cutting highway speed limits, using public transport and carpooling.

'Working from home where possible reduces fuel demand for commuting, while lowering highway speed limits by at least 10 kilometres per hour cuts fuel use across both passenger vehicles and freight,' the report said.

It also urges a shift toward public transport and shared travel.

'Encouraging a shift from private cars to public transport, alongside measures such as alternating private vehicle access in large cities, can further reduce congestion and fuel consumption,' it said.

'Additional gains can be achieved through car sharing and more efficient driving practices, as well as improved efficiency in freight and delivery operations.'

IEA executive director Fatih Birol will be in Canberra on Monday to meet with Albanese and address the National Press Club.

Marles later again played down the urgency of the agency's recommendations, calling them 'options' rather than 'a directive.'

'Our focus is in respect of supply and getting fuel supplies to where it is needed most, and that is very much in the regions,' he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles supported that view, describing the IEA's guidance as 'options' rather than instructions and stressing that the government remains focused on maintaining supply

'What happens as we go forward, depending on how long this conflict ensues, may have implications.'

Energy Minister Chris Bowen also rejected the suggestion that the IEA's report was directed at Australia when questioned by David Speers on ABC's Insiders.

Speers pressed Bowen on the agency's advice.

'[The IEA] is telling countries that they should look at more work from home Would you urge businesses, for example, to be more flexible and work from home?'

Bowen replied that working from home was 'an essential thing' in many situations and 'an important part' of modern working life.

'I think many people are already looking at ways to minimise their fuel use right now, but for some it's much harder,' he told the ABC on Sunday.

He stressed that the IEA's recommendations were not prescriptive.

'So I don't think a onesizefitsall approach makes sense. The IEA report is really a smorgasbord of options for countries around the world to consider based on their own circumstances.'

The NSW government says it is factoring the IEA's guidance into its contingency planning and has encouraged people to use public transport where possible.
A tense legal battle in one of Sydney's wealthiest suburbs has come to an end after homeowners took on the neighbour next door over a tree encroaching onto their $3million property.

Rozelle couple Sally Armati and David De Coster took their strata neighbour to court over the tree which has plagued the inner west homeowners since August 2024.

The NSW Land and Environment Court heard the couple asked the Pine Street apartment complex strata to remove the tree, but a dispute arose after the willow myrtle was only pruned.

The couple, who moved into the neighbouring $3.35million Mansfield Street property in June 2024, went to court demanding the strata remove the tree and pay to fix a timber fence and a retaining wall.

Ms Armati and Mr De Coster, who declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail, said the tree is 'likely to fall onto and damage their property or cause injury to somebody'.

Both sides presented evidence to support their cases during the outdoor court session which was held onsite so the presiding member could inspect the tree and both properties in person.

The couple noticed the tree was pressing against the top of the fence and buckling it soon after moving in.

The court heard the trees stem also grew against and displaced the bottom of the fence.

The strata of this Rozelle complex refused to remove a tree

The 'buckling and displacement of the fence' was observed during the onsite hearing and the strata did not dispute that the tree is damaging the fence.

In response, the strata submitted if the tree required removal, it was 'due to actions on Ms Armatis and Mr De Costers land'.

The strata claimed the couple 'should pay the cost of its removal' and disputed Ms Armatis and Mr De Costers 'compensation claims'.

Ms Armati and Mr De Coster lodged their claim under the Trees Act to 'prevent the tree causing damage to their property or injury to a person, and to remedy damage caused by the tree'.

Acting-Commissioner David Galwey found the couple made a 'reasonable effort to reach agreement'.

The court heard several arborists and a pest control expert, who inspected the mischievous myrtle, returned varying reports on its condition.

Ms Armati and Mr De Coster engaged Growing My Way tree consultant Kyle Hill to inspect the tree.

The court heard Mr Hill noted 'cavities in the tree with evidence of termite activity' and a 'structurally weak union between the trees two main stems'.

The willow myrtle (above) has caused a major spat between neighbours

'Of greatest concern is the potential failure of a co-dominant stem,' Mr Hill concluded.

The couple also engaged Rentokil to inspect their property and the tree in January this year.

The Rentokil report included 'evidence of borer activity in the tree' and noted the 'moderate extent of damage was possibly caused by furniture beetle'.

The strata had previously engaged Aura Tree Services expert Daniel Heartwood to inspect the tree in September 2024.

Mr Heartwood recommended two branches be removed but found no reason to remove the tree entirely.

'This tree is growing mostly over the neighbouring property and is essentially following the light provided by the space it is occupying,' Mr Heartwood noted in his report.

'There were no defects observed with the root plate or main trunk. Two first order branches were observed to have decay and borer damage.'

The strata later engaged Heartwood Tree Consulting expert Daniel Leonard who inspected the doomed tree last month.

Rozelle, in Sydney's inner-west, is on the city's wealthiest suburbs

Mr Leonard assessed the trees health as 'fair' but noted a 'slight reduction in its vigour' since the September 2024 inspection.

'He assessed the tree as being structurally poor due to fungal decay within its lower stem,' Mr Galwey noted.

'After some discussion in his report about the impacts of development works at [the couple's property] on the trees roots, Mr Leonard estimated the trees useful life expectancy to be five-to-ten years.'

The court heard Mr Leonard also recommended the timber fence be 'modified or rebuilt to give appropriate clearance' to 'allow for the trees growth'.

Mr Leonard recommended 'further excavation near the tree be avoided' and the myrtle be 'monitored by an arborist annually'.

Mr Galwey sided with Ms Armati and Mr De Coster and their arborist.

Mr Galwey also found the myrtle was likely to injure someone if it remained in place.

The strata countered by saying if the tree 'must go' then Ms Armati and Mr De Coster have to pay for its removal.

Mr Galwey considered several 'relevant matters' which included minor pruning of the tree would not alleviate safety concerns.

He also considered the tree has 'no historical, cultural, social or scientific value' and it's 'not indigenous to the area and contributes little to the local ecosystem and biodiversity'.

Mr Galwey also considered most of the shade benefit provided by the tree favours Ms Armati and Mr De Coster.

'The trees removal is required to prevent damage or injury,' he said.

'Ms Armati and Mr De Coster have not contributed to this risk. The strata will be responsible for tree removal and for planting a replacement tree.'

'In the absence of any reasonable alternative to mitigate the risk, the tree must be removed. The strata will arrange and pay for tree removal.'

Both parties were ordered to share the cost of constructing a new timber fence.
The Prince of Wales has revealed his commitment to the Church of England and his 'quiet faith' in a move aimed at clarifying his role as future king and head of the Church.

William's devotion to the Christian faith has long been questioned as he is not a regular churchgoer nor as devout as his father, King Charles or the late Queen Elizabeth.

Now, days before he attends the Archbishop of Canterbury's enthronement, William has for the first time confirmed his wish to forge 'a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership'.

A source close to the prince told The Sunday Times: 'This week is an opportunity to be very clear in people's minds, when he walks into Canterbury Cathedral, of where he stands.

'For him, it is a drawing of a line in the sand of where he's at, and it's really important that [the question over his commitment to the Church] is cleared up.

'His feeling is, 'I might not be at church every day, but I believe in it, I want to support it, and this is an important aspect of my role and the next role, and I will take it seriously, in my own way.'

The Prince will attend the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally on Wednesday with the Princess of Wales, on behalf of the King.

It is protocol for the heir to attend, rather than the monarch.

The Prince of Wales has revealed his commitment to the Church of England and his 'quiet faith'. His devotion to the Christian faith has long been questioned as he is not a regular churchgoer nor as devout as his father, King Charles or the late Queen Elizabeth

William enjoys attending services at significant times of the year, such as Christmas and Easter. Pictured: Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk

An aide to William said: 'The Prince of Wales's commitment to the Church of England is sometimes quieter than people expect, and for that reason it is not always fully understood.

'Those who know him well recognise that his connection to the Church, and to the sense of duty that comes with it, runs deep and is grounded in something personal and sincere.'

However, the prince, who was baptised as a baby and confirmed at the age of 14, was once reported to have been 'embarrassed by certain aspects' of religion.

Royal biographer Robert Hardman, writing in The Mail on Sunday in 2024, responded to speculation that the Princess of Wales's cancer diagnosis had prompted a split between the couple on the subject.

Kate, it was said, had become more interested in faith since her diagnosis that year.

But Hardman wrote that William was not likely to 'suddenly become a regular worshipper or feign enthusiasm for something that he does not feel personally'.

It comes after speculation that William could become the first British monarch in five centuries to break official ties with the Church of England by not taking on the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England when he eventually becomes king.

William greatly admires and respects the church and enjoys attending services at significant times of the year, such as Christmas and Easter.

William was confirmed into the Anglican faith in 1997, when he was 14. The revelation about William's quiet faith comes at a time when Christianity is already under threat from public apathy, particularly among the younger generation. Pictured: A young Prince William with his mother Diana and cousin Peter Philips on their way to an Easter service

But he feels he is no different to the average Briton in that he is not a regular worshipper.

And that has led to speculation as to whether he may consider not taking on the formal role that British monarchs have held since the time of Henry VIII.

Hardman previously wrote: 'In royal circles, it is no secret that he does not share the King's sense of the spiritual, let alone the late Queen's unshakeable devotion to the Anglican church.'

William, 41, was confirmed into the Anglican faith in 1997, when he was 14, but is understood to only attend a 'handful' of services each year, mainly connected with official engagements or on special occasions in the Christian calendar, as well as weddings and christenings.

The late Queen Elizabeth was a devout Christian, with a deep sense of religious duty, who attended church on a weekly basis.

King Charles, despite his interest in other faiths, particularly Islam, has always been a regular churchgoer.

The revelation about William comes at a time when Christianity is already under threat from public apathy, particularly among the younger generation.

UK church membership has plummeted from around 30 per cent of the population a generation ago, a recent Church Statistics report found.
Fond of a selfie? Doom-scrolling for hours every day on social media? Think again  it could be turning your hair grey and giving you wrinkles.

Scientists have found that the specific type of light emitted by mobiles may trigger premature ageing, including hair loss, wrinkles, and circles around the eyes.

The average Briton spends more than three hours a day on their devices  but the research, based on young adults, suggests those glued to their phones for more than double that time are seven times more likely to have grey hair than more moderate users.

Nearly three quarters also had dark circles around their eyes. The problem stems from the light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, within the display screens of modern smartphones which produce high-energy visible light  often known as blue light  to create bright colours.

These LEDs are also contained in the camera flash of most devices, suggesting social media stars who are most keen to pose up a storm might be doing themselves no favours. While curbing the habit will undoubtedly help, applying sunscreen before using a phone or adding an ultraviolet filter to the screen might also lower the risk, say the team of scientists and dermatologists at Bahria University of Health Sciences in Islamabad.

The excessive use of mobile phones is increasingly being linked to side effects, including tinnitus, attention problems, sleep issues and so-called tech neck which causes neck and shoulder pain because of the angle at which people use their devices.

While some previous research has suggested blue light may be linked to premature skin ageing, associations between LED devices generally and ageing have not previously been investigated.

The research involved 450 adults, of whom nearly half admitted to using their devices for up to seven hours a day, while one in ten spent longer than that.

Fond of a selfie? Doom-scrolling for hours every day on social media? Think again  it could be turning your hair grey and giving you wrinkles (stock image)

The heaviest users were seven times more likely to have grey hairs compared to those on their phones for just two hours a day, and other signs of ageing  such as dry skin, wrinkles, dark circles and even hair loss  were also much more common in the group who used devices the most.

The study was not designed to explore why LED devices could cause such ageing effects. But other studies have found blue light penetrates the skin deeper than UV rays from sunlight, triggering the production of toxic particles which break down collagen and elastin, which are responsible for the skins firmness and elasticity.

Writing in the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, the experts say: This underscores the importance of educating about the potential risks associated with excessive screen time.
A Venezuelan man is in custody over the execution-style killing of an 18-year-old college student in Chicago, according to a new report.

Sheridan Gorman, a freshman at Loyola, was walking with her friends along Lake Michigan at around 1:30am on Thursday when a man clad in black jumped out of the bushes and shot her in the head. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sources within the Chicago Police Department told Fox News that a Venezuelan migrant is in custody and being questioned about Gorman's shooting.

The suspect is a 25-year-old man who was living in Rogers Park, according to the Chicago Tribune. The outlet declined to identify him because he has not been charged.

The man was identified by police because of his 'distinct limp'. The man also has a misdemeanor charge for shoplifting from a Macy's in June 2023, according to Cook County court records.

Sheridan's family is devastated over her senseless death. Her parents, Thomas and Jessica Gorman, flew to Chicago on Thursday night to collect her body.

'Our beloved daughter, Sheridan, was taken from us this morning in Chicago,' the family said in a statement. 'There is no way to soften this - this was murder. Sheridan was the light of our lives. She made people feel seen, safe, and loved simply by being who she was.'

'She lived her faith with kindness, compassion, and joy, and she loved her family and friends deeply. We trusted that she would be safe. That trust was broken. Someone made a deliberate choice that stole our daughter and forever changed our family.'

The college student is pictured with her mother Jessica Gorman. The mom posts frequently online about her love for her country, veterans, and protecting the American flag - and her daughter showed her love for God and her friends on her Instagram

Sheridan Gorman (second right) is pictured smiling in happier times with her friends in Florida last summer. The young woman was murdered on the street in the senseless killing

The family added that they are 'demanding answers' and won't stop fighting until the person responsible for Sheridan's death is brought to justice.

Just days before her death, the vivacious college student posted a series of photos of her enjoying St Patrick's Day weekend with her friends in Chicago, with the caption: 'Where's my kiss?'

Earlier in March, she wrote a caption now tragic to look back on: 'Warmer days ahead!' while posing across the city with her friends.

She often posted about her love for her friends and family, as well as her strong faith in God, with a Bible verse from Corinthians, 'let all that you do be done in love,' proudly in her social media description.

Sheridan grew up in Yorktown Heights, New York, an upper-middle-class suburb in Westchester County, and lived in a $1 million home with her parents until college. She went to Yorktown High School, a highly rated public school in the state.

Sheridan's all-American mother, Jessica, posts frequently online about her love for her country, veterans, and protecting the American flag.

She proudly announced in May 2025 that her daughter committed to Loyola, a private Jesuit university on the north side of Chicago.

'So incredibly proud of our sassy yet so sweet Sheridan Grace!' she wrote in a Facebook post accompanied by a picture of Sheridan surrounded with the college's merchandise.

Sheridan was killed on Thursday morning while she walking with her friends near Lake Michigan. She was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene (Pictured: Sheridan sits on her bed with Loyola Merch in May 2025, ahead of her first semester in the fall)

In March, the young woman wrote a caption now tragic to look back on: 'Warmer days ahead!' while posing across the city of Chicago with her friends

'An absolutely HUGE thanks to all our friends and family for coming over and decking her bed out with all this beautiful maroon and gold merch and all your love and hugs.'

Nearly a year later, in the middle of her second semester, Sheridan was gunned down. Chicago police have said she likely wasn't the intended target.

Chicago Alderman Maria Hadden, who has been in touch with the police, said Gorman was unfortunately 'at the wrong place at the wrong time'.

The seemingly random nature of Sheridan's killing echoes other recent cases that have sparked national attention - including the murder of Laken Riley.

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was attacked and killed while out for a morning jog on the University of Georgia campus in Athens on February 22, 2024.

Investigators said she was targeted by a man who attempted to sexually assault her. Ultimately, she was killed by blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.

A Venezuelan migrant has been arrested by the Chicago Police Department in connection with the killing of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old freshman at Loyola University

The seemingly random nature of Sheridan's killing drew comparisons to the 2024 murder of Laken Riley, a nursing student in Georgia

Jose Ibarra, a then-26-year-old Venezuelan migrant who entered the US illegally, was convicted of brutally murdering Riley in the woods as she was out for a jog. He was sentenced to life in prison

Riley's case was very similar to what happened to Mollie Tibbetts, a 20-year-old University of Iowa student who was killed by an illegal migrant from Mexico in 2018

Her body was found later the same day in a wooded area after she failed to return home from her run.

The next day, police arrested Jose Ibarra, a then-26-year-old Venezuelan migrant who entered the US illegally.

In November 2024, Ibarra was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

During the trial, prosecutors repeatedly focused on the level of brutality Ibarra was capable of.

'He put huge holes in her head with a rock. And he did it more than once. And there could be no other reason to do that, other than to silence her forever,' prosecutor Sheila Ross said.

Riley's murder became a political flashpoint, with Republicans pointing out that Ibarra made it into the country in September 2022, while Joe Biden was president.

Nine days into his second term, President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, which tightened immigration enforcement by mandating the detention of illegal immigrants who have been arrested for crimes such as theft, burglary, shoplifting, or assault on law enforcement.

Ibarra had been arrested twice before he killed Riley: once in New York City for endangering a child and again in Georgia for shoplifting.

Riley's case drew comparisons to the 2018 killing of Mollie Tibbetts, a 20-year-old University of Iowa student who was also killed while out on a run.

Her body was found weeks later, and Cristhian Bahena Rivera, a Mexican national living in the US illegally, was later convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison.
An Aussie has revealed how he lost more than $220,000 in retirement savings after handing the money over to his friend to manage.

Lincoln wrote to Barefoot Investor Scott Pape and said he transferred $173,000 from AustralianSuper into a self-managed super fund (SMSF) run by a trusted friend.

Hoping to grow his nest egg, he said he was persuaded to invest another $50,000 of his personal savings taking his total loss to $223,000.

'It's all gone,' Lincoln wrote.

'I'm really angry with my "friend" who I thought knew what he was doing but traded with an unregulated company overseas.

'All my Google searches about this company say the same thing: red flag or scam alert.

Pape likened Lincoln's AustralianSuper account to a Sydney ferry - large, boring and filled with the public - before contrasting it with the highrisk venture his mate pushed him into.

'Your mate stowed you both on board a pirate ship, with Captain Feathersword at the wheel,' he said.

Scott Pape (pictured) said there was little chance of the man getting his nest egg back

'Your mate walked you off the plank, but you do need to take some responsibility here, mate.

'You handed control of your super to a friend, and that's where you got peg-legged.'

Pape said Lincoln could speak to a lawyer about whether the friend had breached his duties as trustee but was pessimistic about his chances of recovering his nest egg.

'If he's been looted too, then chasing him may cost more than you'll ever recover,' he said.

'So by all means report it to ASIC and SCAMwatch, but do it knowing there's a very good chance the money is gone.

'They've stolen your money. Don't let them take everything else with it.

'People who get scammed lose more than money. They lose their confidence, their peace of mind, and sometimes their will to keep going.'

New research has revealed an alarming spike in the number of Australians with small super balances and no pre-existing advice relationship being switched at scale out of the safe, high performing, tightly regulated super system into more expensive and potentially riskier super products.

Super Members Council chief Misha Schubert said seven in ten people switching funds have no existing financial adviser, a sign the trend was fuelled by social media ads, lead generators or other thirdparty spruikers.

Super Members Council chief Misha Schubert (pictured) said alarm bells should be ringing

'Healthy competition and choice are long-term features of Australia's super system, but that is not what appears to be occurring here,' she said.

'Alarm bells should be ringing loudly for both regulators and policymakers if a surge into complex super products is making Australians with lower super balances poorer  and especially if there's a risk that any predatory operators could be driving it.'

The Council's analysis shows members switching to platform based super funds and SMSFs face over $160million extra in fees and costs per year compared to if they had stayed with their profit-to-member fund.

'Australians urgently need a comprehensive set of consumer protections, or we risk further Shield and First Guardian-style collapses, which means more Australians losing money they have saved to live on in retirement,' Ms Schubert said.

'Platforms and SMSFs are often typically more complex and costly products, and many don't face the same levels of performance testing or regulatory oversight as mainstream super funds, which can be a particular risk for Australians with smaller amounts of super.'

Last month the ATO announced it is scrutinising the 93,000 trustees of SMSFs who had not filed a tax return and issued a serious warning on illegal loans and illegal early withdrawals via SMSFs.

ASIC has also announced a major review of businesses using lead generators.
Horrifying footage captured a man choking a woman in public with so much force that bystanders had to tear him away from her twice after he spent months stalking her.

A Supreme Court of WA jury took less than a day to convict Mihael Vrhovsek, 29, of attempted murder on Wednesday.

Prosecutors said Vrhovsek bombarded the woman for five months, changing his phone number 18 times after she blocked each one so he could continue to call, abuse and intimidate her.

In the final days before the attack, he attempted to contact her 234 times in just three days, the court heard - a barrage of texts and calls that escalated into a chilling prelude to violence.

The jury was told the campaign culminated with Vrhovsek lying in wait outside her Perth apartment block for eight hours, hiding in his car until the moment he pounced.

The court released a video of the assault, including the moment a man intervened to stop the attack.

Vrhovsek grabbed the woman by the throat, lifted her off her feet and carried her, before dropping her limp body to the ground.

A man then intervened, confronting Vrhovsek, which allowed the woman who was walking her dogs an opportunity to drag the victim away.

A Supreme Court jury took less than a day to convict 29yearold Mihael Vrhovsek (pictured) after weeks of chilling evidence detailing his obsessive, abusive campaign against the woman

She was able to walk on her own, but Vrhovsek having broken free of the man who had confronted him, ran after her and again began to choke her.

The good Samaritan returned, punching and kicking Vrhovsek in a bid to get him to let go, before the woman walking her dogs was again able to drag the victim away.

The man who came to help managed to hold Vrhovsek down, preventing him from attacking the woman yet again.

The court heard he had said 'I want to kill her' and 'I want to finish the job'.

Among the flood of threatening messages were lines like 'Kill yourself already?', 'This is your last warning', 'You're a spectacular piece of s***' and 'I would have killed myself already but the hatred towards you is keeping me alive'.

The woman told the court she had finally walked out of Vrhovsek's apartment in September 2023 and tried to cut all contact, but he simply wouldn't stop.

She said he relentlessly called, texted and emailed her, even though she never once replied.

By January 2024, she said his messages 'got darker', turning from harassment to outright menace.

The jury was told the campaign culminated with Vrhovsek (pictured) lying in wait outside her apartment block for eight hours, hiding in his car until the moment he allegedly pounced

A bystander pins down Vrhovesk while another woman drags the victim's lifeless body away

One chilling email read: 'Thanks for another sleepless night, I much prefer pretending you are dead in that apartment.'

He followed it with texts including 'Good night attentionseeking s**t' and later, 'You're dead to me.'

After spending a weekend away from her apartment because she was scared he would find her, the woman told the court she returned briefly to grab clothes with a friend, but when she ran into Vrhovsek she immediately called triple-zero.

'I saw him walk out of the doors at me  he was looking down, targeted, coming at me,' she told the jury.

That call was played to the jury during the trial where she could be heard yelling 'get the f--k away from me, get the f--k away from me' before the call goes quiet.

It's in those moments that she said Vrhovsek put his hands around her throat and lifted her off the ground, choking her into unconsciousness.

The incident was all caught on CCTV cameras and played to the jury, but Vrhovsek denied he was trying to kill her and gave evidence that he did not remember the assault.

The court also released the woman's triple-zero phone call where she can be heard screaming and repeatedly shouting 'get away from me'.

The incident was all caught on CCTV cameras and played to the jury, but Vrhovsek denied he was trying to kill her and gave evidence that he did not remember the assault

At one point during the call, which lasts for more than eight minutes, the operator asks if the man has any weapons.

'Does he need to have weapons to be f***ing threatening?' the woman replied.

'The longer you take to answer my questions, the longer its going to take for me to put the job on,' the operator said as the woman continues to tell the man to get away from her.

'He's here  send the goddamn police right now!' the woman pleads.

'Stop screaming,' the operator said before confirming police were on their way.

He will be sentenced on July 23.

The verdict comes just days after new Australian Bureau of Statistics data revealed an 8 per cent rise, or 7,103 additional cases, in domestic violence offenders proceeded against by police in the 2024-25 financial year.

More than threequarters of FDV offenders were male (78 per cent), with a median age of 35.

It was the largest annual increase in FDV offenders since national reporting began in 2019.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Amnesty International has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) convener Tendai Biti, programmes director Morgan Ncube, journalist Fanuel Chinowaita and lawyer Nyasha Gerald Mukonyora in Mutare on Friday.

Mukonyora and Chinowaita were released without charge after several hours in custody, while Biti and Ncube were charged with contravening the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act for allegedly failing to notify police of a public meeting. The two are expected to appear in court for their initial hearing on Monday, 23 March 2026.In a statement, Amnesty International demanded the immediate release of Biti and Ncube, saying they were peacefully exercising their constitutionally protected rights.Authorities must respect, protect and guarantee the freedom of assembly, expression and association, the organisation said.
America's second key oil route out of the Middle East could be compromised in a matter of days if Iranian-backed terrorist rebels join the ongoing war.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy claims they have 'complete control' of the Strait of Hormuz - a waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman where roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes through.

But as tensions continue to grow between the US, Israel, and Iran the Red Sea, another major oil transport, could be targeted next if the Houthis get involved.

The Yemeni militant group, which is armed and funded by Iran, has already threatened they will step in, with Houthis leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi stating earlier this month that 'our fingers are on the trigger.'

The group hasn't entered the fight yet, but if they do, it would further impact the global economy. It could also see targets expand to Saudi Arabia and nearby US assets, including a base in Djibouti.

'If the Houthis enter the conflict, it really raises the stakes,' Adam Baron, a fellow at think tank New America, who specializes in Yemen and the Gulf, told The Wall Street Journal.

'It pulls the Suez Canal and the Egyptians in, it brings Saudi further in.

'Theyve got super useful real estate. If you are Iran and your aim is to build pressure by shutting down another key maritime shipping network, then obviously the Houthis are the easiest way to do that,' Baron added.

The Red Sea could soon be the next oil route to be impacted by the war in Iran if Iranian-backed terrorist rebels join the fight (Pictured: A ship exploding in the Red Sea after Houthi rebels attacked it)

The Houthis, a Yemeni militant group that is armed and funded by Iran, have already threatened to step in (Pictured: Armed Huthis soldiers on patrol in June 2025)

If the Houthis enter the fight, it wouldn't be the first time Iran teamed up with its militia allies.

Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shia militant group political party, jumped into the war to attack US and Israeli bases on March 2.

At the same time, the Houthis have floated the idea of joining, with its leader previously warning: 'Regarding military escalation and action, our fingers are on the trigger, ready to respond at any moment should developments warrant it.'

And in a phone interview with The New York Times, a senior political official for the Houthis named Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said: 'The expansion of the conflict to include other countries, including Yemen, is only a matter of time.'

'Our hands are on the trigger,' al-Bukhaiti added, echoing the statement of his organization's leader.

The official slogan of the Houthis is as follows: 'Allah is Greater. Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse on the Jews. Victory to Islam.'

The terrorist organization seized control of Yemen's capital over a decade ago while fighting off an Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

More recently, the Houthis launched drones and missiles during the war in Gaza, leading to a severe maritime crisis as commercial ships were targeted.

Because of their attack, carriers were forced to take a longer route around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope.

A satellite image shows the oil infrastructure at Saudi Arabia's western Red Sea port of Yambu

The Houthis also took aim at Israel when they jumped into that conflict.

In early 2025, President Donald launched a military campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen after they targeted US ships and regional shipping.

The campaign, known as 'Operation Rough Rider', saw US pilots and sailors get hit by a blitz of drones and missiles. It ended after nearly two months with a ceasefire.

Although the US and the terrorist group stopped their conflict, the Houthis continued to attack Israel and ships in the Red Sea.

Those attacks stopped after the Trump administration brokered a ceasefire deal last fall, ending a two-year war between Israel and Hamas - the militant group that controls part of the Gaza Strip.

The news of the Red Sea being the next oil route to be affected comes as Iran has taken control of the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which in turn has caused the cost of crude oil to surge to over $3.90 a gallon in the US.

Saudi Arabi has pipelines in the Red Sea that route crude oil across the peninsula to its port of Yanbu.

The path to exit takes ships past hundreds of miles of coastline that is controlled by the Houthis before getting to another checkpoint at Bab al-Mandeb, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

Trump issued a furious statement on Saturday evening, demanding that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz or the US will 'obliterate' its power infrastructure

The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is Iran's most prominent and largest nuclear power facility, located along the Persian Gulf

Trump issued a furious statement on Saturday evening, demanding that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz or the US will 'obliterate' its power infrastructure, the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

It is Iran's most prominent and largest nuclear power facility, located along the Persian Gulf.

In a dramatic post on Truth Social, Trump demanded action in 48 hours on the strategically vital waterway.

Trump faces increasing pressure to secure the strait as Iran's threats have effectively shut down the shipping lane, sending oil prices soaring.

'If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!' Trump wrote.

The president's message marks one of his most direct threats yet - explicitly naming civilian infrastructure as a target, warning how the country would be plunged into darkness.

The post comes just a day after Trump had talked about 'winding down' the war and suggests that a military escalation could be imminent if Tehran does not comply.
A nail salon customer has been praised for calling out another customer's rude behaviour after her appointment ran 15 minutes late.

Karina shared a video on Saturday of herself as she interrupted a woman who was being 'disrespectful and verbally abusive' towards the owner of her favourite nail salon in Adelaide.

'I was getting my nails done and a customer today was extremely rude and raising her voice at the nail salon owner for running 15 minutes behind schedule due to unexpected staff sick leave,' she wrote alongside the clip.

'The customer was verbally attacking the owner. I stayed quiet initially but the horrible customer started at her again, so l had to defend the beautiful owner.

'The customer is not always right and small business owners should not have to accept this behaviour!'

Karina's short video showed the unhappy customer was immediately defensive when questioned back.

'Don't tell me how to act. Who are you? I am talking to the business owner,' the customer said.

Karina shot back: 'So what happens if someone's sick, one of the workers, and so now they've got an overflow of customers.'

Karina (above) called out a nail salon customer for being rude to the owner

The customer said she would 'expect someone to follow up with at least a phone call'.

'Okay that's valid but it didn't come across like that. If you wanna be rude to Amy, who does a really good job, that's on you,' Karina said of the owner.

'Sometimes as business owners, things are out of their hands, such as if customers are late or early.

'I just want to make sure everyone's respected and everyone's heard.'

Commenters rallied behind Karina and praised her for standing up for the owner.

'People just need to move on if they don't like the service. Literally so many other places you can go to even if they're in the wrong! Just don't have to be rude about it. It's not that serious,' one wrote.

'Good for you! I'm so happy you stood up for Amy,' another said.

'This is beautiful, thank you so much for sticking up for her,' another wrote.

Commenters praised Karina (above) and thanked her for standing up for small business owners

'Love that you stood up for the business owner. A little bit of kindness goes a long way,' another said.

Karina told Daily Mail she hated seeing hard workers being disrespected.

'I understand that it is frustrating having an appointment time and running behind, however, what that customer should've done was ask to speak with the owner outside or away from customers. Not in front of everyone!' Karina said.

She added the verbal assault had racist undertones.

'Small business owners should not have to face degrading comments when English is their second language,' she said.
The average petrol price in Australia has surged yet again and drivers are now paying the highest prices on record for fuel.

The cost per litre across the country has reached $2.19 for unleaded, according to the Australian Institute of Petroleum, and $2.60 for diesel. Some retailers are charging far more, with consumer watchdog the ACCC investigating more than 500 complaints.

The average price for petrol in Australia has seen a spike of 20 per cent since the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on February 28, killing its Supreme Leader and triggering a regional war.

The ongoing conflict led to Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which around 20 per cent of the world's oil supply travels. Australia imports 90 per cent of its refined fuel mostly from Asia, but these countries get much of their crude oil from the Middle East.

The Albanese government insists that there is not a fuel shortage, despite six bulk tankers from Asia calling off their shipments to Australia, and Energy Minister Chris Bowen admitting 'the flow of oil to Asian refineries has slowed'.

The government also shot down talk of any WFH mandates after the International Energy Agency suggested working from home or driving slower to conserve fuel.

More Aussies could soon turn to public transport as a way to cope with the higher cost. The main transport workers' union in NSW, the Rail Tram and Bus Union, is pushing for public transit to be made free until the fuel crisis is resolved.

With the price jump straining already tight budgets of Aussie households, motorists are looking for cheaper fuel wherever they can get it. Here's where you'll have the most luck in your city, according to crowd-sourced fuel prices.

This graph shows the average petrol price in Sydney over the last two months

Australians' budgets are feeling the strain from massive fuel price hikes

In Melbourne petrol prices have also surged to the highest on record

Sydney

The cheapest 91 Unleaded in inner-Sydney on Sunday night was at U-Go Rozelle at 233.9c per litre.

Rozelle also tied with Annandale as the home for the second, third and fourth cheapest unleaded for 237.9c per litre at 7-Eleven and Metro in Rozelle and Reddy Express in Annandale.

The best diesel price was also in Rozelle at 285.9c per litre at 7-Eleven and U-Go Rozelle.

Next was Ampol Woolworths Alexandria at 288.9c per litre.

Melbourne

The best price for Unleaded 91 was 237.2c per litre at Shell Yarraville followed by 239.7c per litre at Liberty North Melbourne.

Diesel was cheaper than in Sydney with the cheapest being 275.9c per litre at Metro Showgrounds and second going to Shell Yarraville at 284.5c per litre.

BP Footscray and BP Whitehall were tied for the third-best diesel price at 286.9c per litre.

The cost for a litre of fuel has surpassed $2.20 for unleaded and $2.60 for diesel since conflict broke out in the Middle East

Brisbane has seen a similar trend with prices spiking in recent weeks

Brisbane

Brisbane's cheapest Unleaded 91 was at NightOwl Shell Kelvin Grove at 236.9c per litre, followed by 237.5c per litre at Liberty Annerley and 238.9 at Quill Petroleum Hawthorne.

The best price for diesel on Sunday night was at Qull Petroleum Hawthorne at 287.5c per litre, closely beating 7-Eleven Greenslopes at 287.9c per litre.

The third cheapest diesel was 2c per litre more expensive at 289.5 at Liberty Annerley.

Perth

Perth's Unleaded 91 was more expensive than that available on the east coast.

Its cheapest location was at the Burk Mount Lawley at 239.3c per litre, followed by 239.9c per litre at several Ampol locations.

Diesel started at 287.9c per litre at Ampol Mt Lawley and the second-best price was 289.3 at Burk Mount Lawley.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen admitted the flow of oil to Asian refineries has slowed but insisted there is not a fuel shortage in Australia

Adelaide saw a dramatic jump after February 28 when the US attacked Iran

Motorists have been searching where to get the cheapest fuel in their city

Perth has obvious petrol price cycles but that was blown out of the water in March

Adelaide

Four servos tied for the cheapest Unleaded 91 in Adelaide at 239.9c per litre - United Adelaide Airport, United Richmond South, Ampol Cumberland Park and U-Go West Hindmarsh.

U-Go Hindmarsh also claimed the cheapest diesel at 286.9c per litre.

The second-best price was 6c more per litre at 292.9c per litre at Silver's Auto Centre.

Hobart

The cheapest Unleaded 91 in Hobart on Sunday night was at U-Go Lindisfarne at 239.9c per litre.

That was followed by Ampol Hobart at 243.7c per litre and United Hobart North and BP Brooker at 245.9c per litre.

The best price for diesel was 289.9c per litre at United Selfs Point Ufill, followed by 290.9 at U-Go Lindisfarne.

Authorities warned panic buying was only making prices worse

Canberra

Five service stations tied for the best Unleaded 91 price in Canberra on Thursday night at 239.9c per litre.

Those were Reddy Express Deakin, 7-Eleven Braddon, Reddy Express Braddon, Reddy Express Dickson and Ampol Canberra Airport Pialligo.

Costco Canberra Airport Majura Park had the best diesel price at 288.7c per litre, followed by Reddy Express Deakin at 294.9c per litre.

Darwin

Darwin's cheapest Unleaded 91 price was recorded at four servos at 245.5c per litre - FuelXpress Winnellie, United Parap, BP Winnellie and United Winnellie Roadhouse.

The best price for diesel was 285.5c per litre at FuelXpress Winnellie, followed by 289.9c per litre at United Parap and BP Winnellie.

Australian fuel prices are especially vulnerable to price hikes as the country only has two of its own refineries

What's causing the price hike?

Deakin Law School energy policy expert Professor Samantha Hepburn earlier told Daily Mail Australia is particularly vulnerable to fuel shortages as the country only has two oil refineries.

Retired Royal Australian Air Force vice-marshal John Blackburn also predicted Australians would have to 'adjust fuel consumption' and implement a 'type of rationing'.

'I had people in the Department of Energy tell me 10 years ago they didn't care if we didn't have any refineries because it was cheaper to import refined fuel,' he said.

'I did somewhat sarcastically ask that individual, ''were they an economist?'' and I tried to explain the difference between ''just in time'' and ''just in case'', because there was no concept of fuel security. The assumptions were huge.'

He implored politicians to explain the reality of the global market to the Australian public and highlight that the country imports 90 per cent of its fuel.

Professor Blackburn added recent panic buying 'had only made things worse' because 'our fuel system wasn't built for huge demand shocks like that'.

'The reason we're running into problems is that people seeing what's happening in the Middle East are running around trying to buy extra stocks in case of interruption,' Mr Blackburn said.

'In some areas, [there's been] about a 35 to 40 per cent increase in demand. Our system is not designed to do that.

'It's not a problem with the supply coming into the country at the moment or the processing - it's our behaviour that's causing the system itself to break down.

'We've got to stop panic buying.'
A university is embroiled in a legal battle with a student after he was suspended for making a joke about a Pro-Palestine activist's headscarf.

'Non-Jewish Zionist' Brodie Mitchell, 20, was reprimanded by Royal Holloway, University of London, for likening Huda El-Jamal's keffiyeh scarf to a tea towel.

The second-year student made the barb after Ms El-Jamal, the president of the Friends of Palestine Society, dubbed him a 'wannabe Jew' during an ill-tempered 'spat' at the university's Freshers' Fair last September.

Within 24 hours, Mr Mitchell was handed a nine-week suspension while Royal Holloway conducted an investigation 'for alleged conduct that could be considered hate speech'.

Surrey Police told the Daily Mail that an investigation into the same allegations of hate speech is ongoing.

The politics and international relations undergraduate claimed he was also forced to leave his student accommodation for several days. The university, in Egham, Surrey, denies the allegation.

Mr Mitchell, a member of the campus Conservative Association, is now taking the university to court, accusing it of violating its contractual obligations to him. A three-day High Court hearing will be heard in June.

He says it will now take him longer to complete his degree, and the disciplinary action was the equivalent of a seven-week loss of teaching time.

'Non-Jewish Zionist' Brodie Mitchell, 20, (pictured) was reprimanded by Royal Holloway, University of London, for likening Huda El-Jamal's keffiyeh scarf to a tea towel

The second-year student made the barb after Ms El-Jamal (pictured), the president of the Friends of Palestine Society, dubbed him a 'wannabe Jew'

Royal Holloway had previously suggested it would have to pay 734,000 in legal costs.

A Cost Management Order reduced this to 226,000 after Mr Mitchell's barrister, Francis Hoar, said the university's bill was 'grossly disproportionate and unreasonable'.

Mr Mitchell told a pre-trial hearing last December he reacted when Ms El-Jamal, who is of Palestinian origin, had 'smirked and pointed at me, saying something like 'here's the wannabe Jew'' before remarking that he was not wearing a kippah.

'I began filming the interaction as I realised I didn't have any witnesses and said 'You're wearing a tea towel over your head', referring to her Yasser Arafat inspired keffiyeh, which I considered at the time to be a fitting off-the-cuff retort to her pre-emptive racist and antisemitic attack on me and reference to her jibe about my lack of kippah,' Mr Mitchell said in a statement.

He has described his comment as 'poorly expressed and inappropriate' in an email to the university but argued 'it was only about politics, not about race or religion'.

Mr Mitchell says he is prepared to apologise to Ms El-Jamal, who he claims was not interviewed during the university's probe.

Gemma White KC, representing Royal Holloway, stated in written submissions for a November hearing: 'The university's overarching position is that it plainly acted reasonably, proportionately and fairly in responding to the claimant's conduct in the way that it did.

'The claimant's right to free speech did not require it to treat his "tea towel" comment any less seriously than it did.'

The Free Speech Union is backing Mr Mitchell, who has since been allowed back onto campus.

The FSU accused Royal Holloway's handling of the case as 'deeply unfair and a blatant example of double standards'.

'Royal Holloways conduct is, in our view, disgraceful and intolerable. The Free Speech Union is proud to stand by Brodie in fighting back against this attempt to bully him,' it said in a statement on its Facebook page.

The university said it fully investigated the incident and encouraged an informal resolution to the dispute.

In a comment provided to The Telegraph, Dr Nick Barratt, chief student officer at Royal Holloway, University of London, said: 'Following a formal complaint from a student who described being targeted with a comment from another student they found discriminatory and distressing - and which was reported to the police as a hate crime - the University was obliged to follow its established conduct procedures.

Mr Mitchell (left) is pictured here at an Iranian protest outside 10 Downing Street in February 2026

'The student at the centre of the conduct process has not denied the behaviour that was under investigation.

'No formal complaint has been made against the reporting student, and no evidence has been provided to support one, but we are clear that any such allegation would also be investigated.

'This case is about addressing conduct that was found to be harassment. For us, that means defending every student's right to a University experience free from discrimination.

'We respect the court process, and welcome the opportunity to demonstrate that our actions were in line with our duty to protect students from harassment and discrimination.'

The Daily Mail has approached Royal Holloway and Surrey Police for comment.
The Middle East carnage and clashes with Donald Trump look to have lifted Keir Starmer's popularity off grim lows.

An Opinium poll shows the PM's ratings have ticked up another four points over the past week - although he is still deep in negative territory.

Sir Keir's score of minus 38 compares to the record low of minus 49 he hit at the end of last month, before the US-Israeli attacks were launched on Iran.

The improvement comes after the PM triggered the wrath of Mr Trump by refusing to allow UK bases to be used for 'offensive' strikes.

Although Sir Keir has since shifted position to facilitate America's 'defensive' operations against Tehran's missile launches, the president has branded him 'disappointing' and 'no Churchill'.

There are signs that the crisis has bolstered the premier's standing with Labour MPs, who have been in open mutiny over the Mandelson scandal and defeat in the Gorton & Denton by-election.

The Middle East carnage and clashes with Donald Trump look to have lifted Keir Starmer's popularity off grim lows

Sir Keir's score of minus 38 compares to the record low of minus 49 he hit at the end of last month, before the US-Israeli attacks were launched on Iran

The president has branded Sir Keir 'disappointing' and 'no Churchill'

However, the real-word impact of the turmoil on Brits' pockets has only just started to be felt.

And potential rivals such as Angela Rayner remain on manoeuvres, with looming local elections in May seen as another moment of maximum danger.

The former deputy PM has put herself at the head of a Labour revolt against tough immigration measures, seen by many as key to countering the surge from Reform.

The Opinium research still put Nigel Farage's party significantly ahead on voting intention, with 27 per cent support - although that figure was down three points in a week.

Labour was on 21 per cent, the Tories on 17 per cent and the Greens 15 per cent.

Ms Rayner is reported to have been wooing the City in recent weeks, in an apparent bid to ease concerns she would rack up even more borrowing to splurge on the public sector.

She is also seen as building up a warchest with lucrative speeches and a rumoured 100,000 advance for a memoir.

However, opponents point out that she has yet to conclude negotiations with HMRC over the unpaid tax that sparked her resignation in September.

She has already broken ranks to criticise Sir Keir over welfare reforms and the release of files relating to the Lord Mandelson scandal.
BrewDog's new owner has launched a scathing attack on the beer brand's millionaire co-founder James Watt - insisting his reputation is a 'stigma' for the company.

Irwin Simon, chief executive of Tilray Brands, laid out his plans to revive the drinks business after a 33million rescue deal was announced earlier this month.

He said he was 'very clear' that Mr Watt, who co-founded the company in 2008 with his school friend Martin Dickie, would not be returning - adding he had 'not spoken' to him.

It follows the closure of 38 UK bars operated by the Scottish brewery and the dismissal of 484 staff in an all-hands conference.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph today, Mr Simon branded Mr Watt's legacy 'a stigma we would have to overcome'.

He said: 'We don't need James Watt, because if James Watt were ever to come back here - and I'm being very clear, he's not - what happens is this becomes about James Watt's second and third act.'

At its peak, BrewDog operated more than 120 bars across 57 countries.

BrewDog's new owner has launched a scathing attack on the beer company's founder - insisting his reputation is a stigma and 'we don't need James Watt' (file image)

BrewdDog founder and former CEO James Watt married Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo last year

Irwin Simon (pictured), chief executive of Tilray Brands, laid out his plans to revive the drinks business after a 33m rescue deal was announced earlier this month

However, from 2021 Mr Watt was hit by allegations of a 'toxic' workplace culture amid the company's abandonment of the Real Living Wage in 2024.

Mr Watt, who is married to Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo, had sought to invest 10million of his own cash in the firm as part of a rescue deal that ultimately failed.

Some 733 staff were retained in the sale, including operational staff and those working at 11 franchised pubs.

Mr Watt said he was 'heartbroken' following the acquisition by Tilray - after his company was speculatively valued at 2billion just a few years ago, only for it to be sold for a fraction of the price.

Shares owned by the 220,000 'equity punks' who invested some 75million in the company over seven funding rounds were also rendered practically worthless.

Mr Simon has now laid out his blueprint for reviving BrewDog.

He said he would drive customers back to the company's pubs by stocking competitors' beers - adding that a franchised model for future pub openings was also on the cards.

Mr Simon clarified he would 'not be doing any of these media stunts' - a reference to some of Mr Watt's controversial marketing tactics which saw him taunt competitors.

'I've heard multiple stories [about Mr Watt], but it's not us.

'It's a stigma that's attached to it but it's a stigma we have to overcome.'

Responding to Mr Simon's claims, Mr Watt said he was 'really disappointed' Tilray had not repaid the equity punks who spurred the brand's success, adding 'for me, there is no BrewDog fightback without taking the community with us'.

Martin Dickie and James Watt (pictured right) founded BrewDog in 2007

BrewDog grew from a small beer brewing business founded by Watt and Dickie in 2007 to the world's leading craft beer brand at its peak in the late 2010s.

However, it was plagued by a series of public relations misfires and allegations of a toxic working culture and inappropriate behaviour by Mr Watt, who has vehemently denied any wrongdoing over the years.

In 2022, a BBC documentary aired claims that he had kissed a drunk customer and that female staff were given advice on how to avoid unwelcome attention from him on visits to bars.

Mr Watt later apologised for making anyone feel 'uncomfortable' - but hired private detectives to investigate those who had raised concerns and went to regulator Ofcom challenging the programme's claims, though none of the complaints were upheld.

BrewDog has weathered PR storms over the years, facing claims that it has shed its original DIY 'punk' ethos and become one of the corporate juggernauts that it resented so deeply.

It comes as Britain has lost 6,900 pubs and bars since 2010 while there are now 25,000 more barbers, nail salons and other beauty outlets.

Four hospitality businesses closed every day under Labour between October and December 2025.

In January Rachel Reeves announced a 300m package to support pubs against rising business rates after a widespread backlash to her Budget announcement saw Labour MPs banned from pubs across the country.

Pubs and music venues will be given a 15 per cent discount on business rates from April.

But industry groups such as HospitalityUK and business owners have warned that more cafes, restaurants and hotels will be left with no choice but to shut up shop if similar measures are not drawn up for other parts of the sector.

Mr Simon said 'there's a tax on everything here' - while admitting he was unfamiliar with the specifics of rising National Insurance Contributions and business rates.
Spies for hostile states including Iran will be locked up for longer under tougher sentencing laws.

Foreign agents guilty of committing national security crimes will no longer be automatically released ahead of serving their full prison sentences from Sunday.

This relates to offences including espionage, sabotage, or foreign interference.

Instead they will be thoroughly risk assessed by the Parole Board before being let out of prison after serving no less than two thirds of their sentence behind bars.

The Ministry of Justice said that once spies are released hey will be subject to rigorous supervision and some of the toughest monitoring conditions, such as being tagged, until the end of their term plus an extra year.

Justice Secretary David Lammy said: 'Keeping the British people safe is our number one priority as a Government.

'Those conspiring against this country should see this new measure as a clear warning. Public protection will always come first, and threatening activity by foreign powers will always be punished.'

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: 'States are deploying new hostile tactics on our streets, using proxies to do their dirty work and targeting our national infrastructure with cyber attacks.

Justice Secretary David Lammy said 'those conspiring against this country should see this new measure as a clear warning'

'Our police and security services have strong powers to defend and defeat these threats, but those responsible must face tougher consequences.

'That is why we are introducing new laws so anyone compromising our national security for a foreign state will face longer behind bars.'

The tougher sentencing laws come after MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum warned in October last year that Britain was in a 'new era' of threats, citing a 35 per cent increase in hostile state threat activity targeting Britain - with new plots and threats being detected 'every day'.

He said Britain needs to 'defend itself resolutely against threats', adding: 'In this new era, with multiple overlapping threats on an unprecedented scale, we need to up our game.

'We can't rely solely on investigating and disruption. Together, we have to ensure that the UK is a hard target.

'We want our adversaries to think twice before acting against us.'

Sir Ken warned of a 'new era' of unprecedented threats saying: 'In 2025, MI5 is contending with more volume and more variety of threat, from terrorists and state actors than I've ever seen.'

He also spoke of 'rising aggression on UK soil', saying: 'State threats are escalating. In the last year, we've seen a 35 per cent increase in the number of individuals we're investigating for involvement in state threat activity.'

'That means espionage, including against our Parliament, our universities, our critical infrastructure.

'But now, states are also consistently descending into ugly methods MI5 is more used to seeing in our terrorism casework.

'My teams are routinely uncovering attempts by state actors to commission surveillance, sabotage, arson, or physical violence, right here in the UK. We are dealing with these threats every day.'

MI5 has tracked more than 20 potentially lethal Iran backed plots in the last year.
A single vehicle crash has killed one man and left five injured.

NSW Police were called to Stuart Road at Dharruk, in west Sydney, shortly before 5.20pm on Sunday following reports an SUV had crashed into a residential property and was stuck in a tree.

One man, believed to be a passenger, was found partially ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.

Two men, a woman and two toddlers were rushed to Westmead Hospital and The Children's Hospital at Westmead by road ambulance.

'The adults are reported to be in a serious but stable condition while the children, believed to be boys, are stable,' NSW Police said in a statement.

Officers attached to Mount Druitt Police Area Command established a crime scene which specialist officers attached to the Crash Investigation Unit are attending.

It's understood seatbelt usage will form part of the investigation.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage of the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

A car crashed into a property in Dharruk

The car became stuck in a tree after leaving the road
A pub landlady who inherited killer farmer Tony Martin's 2.5million fortune has unveiled plans to convert his barns into 10 new homes.

Jacqueline Wadsley, now 52, became friends with Mr Martin - who shot dead a teenage burglar at his remote farmhouse in 1999 - while he was drinking in her pub in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire following his release from prison in 2003.

The pair were said to have formed 'a father and daughter' style relationship and Ms Wadsley was named the sole beneficiary in the killer's will, although she claims to have known nothing about the huge inheritance until he died last February aged 80.

The landlady and her husband David, 45, have now applied to convert five run down barns on Mr Martin's land at Bleak House Farm in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk into 10 homes.

Plans submitted to King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council describe the barns as 'functional agricultural buildings and modest in appearance'.

Permitted development rights allow agricultural buildings to be turned into homes without full planning permission.

Two of the outbuildings are steel-framed and the others are built from brick with metal cladding roofs.

They lie just yards from Bleak House, where Mr Martin shot dead Fred Barras, 16, and injured accomplice Brendan Fearon, then aged 29.

Jacqueline Wadsley, pictured, inherited killer farmer Tony Martin's 2.5million fortune and has now unveiled plans to convert his barns into 10 new homes

Mr Martin is pictured outside his farmhouse called Bleak House in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, shortly after his release from prison in August 2003

Pictured: Four of the five barns included in the conversion plans, along with a dilapidated cottage, far right, not included in the proposal

Mr Martin opened fire with an unlicensed pump action shotgun from his stairs after being woken up by the pair breaking in to try and steal antiques.

He was jailed for life in April 2000 after being convicted of murder and wounding at Norwich Crown Court, but his sentence was reduced on appeal to five years for manslaughter.

The case sparked a national debate about the rights of land owners to protect themselves and their property from intruders.

Mr Martin never returned to Bleak House following his release from Highpoint Prison, Suffolk, in 2003, often preferring to sleep in his car parked in one of his barns.

When interviewed after his release from jail, Mr Martin always insisted those who broke into other people's properties deserved all they got.

Speaking in 2019, he said: 'What happened to me is important to every man, woman and child in this country - not just to me.'

And two years ago Martin insisted he 'doesn't regret anything' relating to the events of August 20 1999, adding: 'You may think I've got a chip on my shoulder but I'm bound to.

'I haven't met anybody who says I was wrong. I don't think people appreciate what happened. I've been naive, I'm too honest for my own good and I don't like dishonesty.

'I would like to appeal but you can't because you need fresh evidence. My idea of fresh evidence and their idea are different.

'I'd love to clear my name before I die but it may never happen. The law won't allow it.'

Martin died on February 2, 2025, confirmed by a family friend who said he had suffered a stroke a few months earlier.

Pictured: The five barns - each containing between one and three proposed homes - circled in red. Bleak House - where Mr Martin killed an intruder in 1999 - is coloured in red, as is a further dilapidated cottage

Mr Wadsley pictured with Ms Wadsley. He said his wife had helped Mr Martin with medical appointments and accommodation

Mrs Wadsley often cooked the killer Sunday lunches while he often did odd jobs for her family to keep busy.

Bleak House - which along with another derelict cottage is not part of the conversion plans - has been boarded up with steel shutters and covered in ivy with part of its roof collapsed since the shooting.

Mr Martin said he was 'too old' to consider restoring the once-grand property, originally known as Cow Croft Field Farm, which he was left by an uncle in 1993.

He stated in 2022 that he would be leaving his farm to someone, but declined to say who.

The planning statement for the project to convert the barns states: 'The barns are arranged in clusters across the site and are set within areas of hardstanding and grassland, surrounded by mature trees and open fields.'

It adds the appearance of the barns will be largely the same following conversion which will involve upgrading walls, roofs, doors and installing doors and windows to make them into homes.

Probate records revealed last month that his estate in the UK, which included his 350 acre farm, was worth 2,573,973, reduced after payment of liabilities to a net figure of 2,567,795.

His entire estate after funeral and legal expenses was left in trust to Mrs Wadsley but did not include any property that he may have had overseas.

Mr Martin was rumoured at the time of his death to own some property in Australia.

After Mr Martin's will was revealed, Mr Wadsley said his wife had helped the farmer with medical appointments and accommodation and was 'there at all hours of the day' when he needed assistance in his final years.
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing Pete Hegseth's media policy that drastically limits reporters' access to the Pentagon.

The Department of War ordered all journalists with press access to sign an agreement in October that banned military personnel from making 'unauthorized disclosures' to the media.

The Daily Mail joined other major publishers, including CNN, The New York Times, the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic, in vowing not to sign the agreement.

It limits reporters' ability to communicate with military sources and declares that asking personnel to 'commit criminal acts' by making unauthorized disclosures would not be protected under the First Amendment.

Journalists were also barred access to large areas of the Pentagon without an escort, and a press pass can be revoked for any reporter who asks staff for information that hasn't been approved for release by the Secretary of War.

The Orwellian new rules came after the Daily Mail revealed Hegseth has been 'crawling out of his skin' with paranoia, firing staffers for speaking to journalists and erupting in explosive tirades over concerns for his personal security.

The New York Times sued the Pentagon and Hegseth in December, claiming the credentialing policy violates the journalists' constitutional rights to free speech and due process.

On Friday, US District Judge Paul Friedman in Washington, DC, sided with the newspaper and ruled that the Pentagon policy illegally restricts the press credentials of reporters who walked out of the building rather than agree to the new rules.

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing paranoid Pete Hegseth's media policy that limits reporters' access to the Pentagon

Reporters were required to sign an agreement that banned military personnel from making 'unauthorized disclosures' to the media and limited access to large areas of the Pentagon

Friedman, who was nominated to the bench by Democratic President Bill Clinton, said the policy 'fails to provide fair notice of what routine, lawful journalistic practices will result in the denial, suspension, or revocation' of Pentagon press credentials. He ruled that it violates the First and Fifth Amendment rights to free speech and due process.

'Those who drafted the First Amendment believed that the nations security requires a free press and an informed people and that such security is endangered by governmental suppression of political speech. That principle has preserved the nation's security for almost 250 years. It must not be abandoned now,' the judge wrote.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell posted late Friday on X, 'We disagree with the decision and are pursuing an immediate appeal.'

In court, the Defense Department has argued that the policy imposes 'common sense' rules that protect the military from the disclosure of national security information.

'The goal of that process is to prevent those who pose a security risk from having broad access to American military headquarters,' government attorneys wrote.

New York Times spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander said the newspaper believes the ruling 'enforces the constitutionally protected rights for the free press in this country.'

'Americans deserve visibility into how their government is being run, and the actions the military is taking in their name and with their tax dollars,' Stadtlander said in a statement.

'Today's ruling reaffirms the right of The Times and other independent media to continue to ask questions on the public's behalf.'

US District Judge Paul Friedman ruled that the Pentagon policy illegally restricts the press credentials of reporters

The judge ordered the Pentagon to reinstate the press credentials of seven Times journalists. He also said his decision to vacate the challenged policy terms applies to 'all regulated parties.'

The judge said he recognizes that 'national security must be protected, the security of our troops must be protected, and war plans must be protected.'

'But especially in light of the countrys recent incursion into Venezuela and its ongoing war with Iran, it is more important than ever that the public have access to information from a variety of perspectives about what its government is doing - so that the public can support government policies, if it wants to support them; protest, if it wants to protest; and decide based on full, complete, and open information who they are going to vote for in the next election,' Friedman wrote.

It comes as the White House and the Pentagon have launched an aggressive social media blitz to sell the Iran war, splicing real missile strikes with video game footage in videos that have racked up billions of views.

With machismo narration from Hegseth, Call of Duty scenes and dramatic backing music, the videos have horrified traditionalists who believe it is offensive to America's troops.
A boy of 15 is among 21 people being tested for HIV and hepatitis after unsterilised surgical tools and equipment were used on patients.

Ieuan Williams' parents were only told about the blunder three weeks after he had braces fitted to his teeth at the Royal Gwent Hospital, in Newport, south Wales.

Karen and Lee Williams have accused the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which runs the hospital, of a 'cover up' after it emerged health chiefs only informed patients when a concerned whistle-blower contacted a local news website.

The couple told WalesOnline the delay was 'disgusting' and pointed out that patients could have unknowingly passed on potential infections to friends and relatives in that time.

'They knew about this weeks ago and they tried to cover it up,' Mr Williams, 47, who runs a double-glazing business, said.

His 46-year-old wife added: 'If it wasn't for the whistleblower, would we have ever known? They need to be more transparent with us. We need to know exactly how these errors happened.'

Ieuan is one of 21 patients affected by the mistake, which occurred over two days at the hospital, on February 25 and 26.

The health board insisted instruments had been disinfected but not put in the autoclave  a machine that sterilises medical tools using heat and steam - due to 'human error'.

Ieuan Williams, 15, (pictured right) with his father, Lee, 47. The schoolboy is undergoing tests after unsterilised pliers were used to fit his braces three weeks ago

The blunder occurred because of 'human error' at the Royal Gwent Hospital, which is run by the Aneurin Bevan health Board, in South Wales

The hospital's orthodontic department had fitted Ieuan's braces on February 25 but, although bosses knew about the mistake on February 27, following routine checks, it wasn't until Thursday March 19 that an official  dressed in medical scrubs and a surgical mask  delivered a letter to his parents asking them to get in touch urgently.

They were told that unsterilized instruments - pliers and a mirror  had been put into Ieuan's mouth during the 20-minute procedure.

Although the hospital say the risk of the schoolboy contracting a blood-borne virus, such as HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, is 'very low' he faces six months of tests before being given the all clear.

Ieuan, a pupil at Cwmbran High School, said: 'I was quite scared at first.

'I'm going to have to go back and forth to the hospital for six months. They keep saying how low the risk is but I want to know for sure.'

Local politicians have also condemned the health board's handling of the error, with Laura Anne Jones, Reform MS for South Wales East, saying: 'It's scandalous that it's taken three weeks for my constituents to be informed.'

A spokesman for Plaid Cymru also described the failings as 'terrifying'.

'Those responsible for such glaring failings on clinical safety should be brought to account - and the health board must show full transparency on how it is dealing with this,' he said.

While Peter Fox, health spokesman for the Welsh Conservatives, said it was 'a serious breach of care'.

'An apology alone is not good enough,' Mr Fox added. 'We need a full investigation into why this appalling incident occurred.'

In a statement the health board claimed all patients affected were contacted on March 16, but a spokesman later admitted that, because they were unable to reach Mr or Mrs Williams, they were not informed until two days later.

Asked why the health board waited three weeks to tell patients, he told WalesOnline: 'We really needed to be sure we had an accurate list of patients and that we were only contacting those impacted.

'We needed to be clear about what steps were taken to ensure their health needs are responded to.'

The spokesman added: 'We fully recognise the concern and distress this may cause, and we are truly sorry.

'The wellbeing of our patients is our highest priority, and we are taking all necessary actions to understand how this happened and to prevent it from occurring again.

'We also understand that others may feel concerned on hearing about this. We want to reassure all patients that this was a very limited incident, those affected have been contacted directly, and there is no wider cause for concern.'
A total of six people have been injured and about 70 others were trapped when a floor collapsed at a New Hampshire wedding venue.

The horrifying ordeal unfolded Saturday at The Preserve at Chocorua in Tamworth, where about 140 people were attending the celebration, according to officials.

The floor gave way at around 4.30pm, opening a 20-by-20ft hole and sent about 70 people plunging 8ft into the basement.

No fatalities were reported and the four attendees that were rushed to MaineHealth Memorial Hospital have since been released.

Investigators say the building, known as the Sap House, was likely over capacity before the collapse.

A photo via Facebook showed a gleaming chandelier and white bunting hanging above buckled floorboards.

Stacked benches used for seating were left perched above the jagged, rustic collapse.

Photos released by the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's office showed the wooden floor caved in at a Tamworth wedding venue

Firefighters gather around a barn-like building called the Sap House, at The Preserve at Chocorua venue

A snap of the basement where about 70 guests fell into and were trapped, it shows the beams and flooring

Another photo showed firefighters clustered around the barn, tending to frightened guests.

A third image appeared to show the basement below, with exposed beams and flooring.

Multiple people were trapped by the fallen beams and by farm equipment that had been stored on the lower floor.

'When first responders arrived on scene, they learned that venue staff and wedding guests had already provided initial first aid to some guests and used ladders to help individuals who fell through the collapsed floor,' according to the statement.

'Before first responders arrived, other guests and staff helped some of the people who had fallen climb out of the basement with the aid of ladders.

'Firefighters assisted additional guests and began on-scene evaluations of those who reported injuries.'

The investigation into the collapse is ongoing, and officials say no additional details are available yet.

Guests gather outside of the Sap House, officials say around 140 people were attending the wedding

First responders used ladders to enter the venue and rescue the attendees trapped inside

The Preserve at Chocorua is a 26 acre estate in the White Mountains, it is known for hosting a variety of events such as weddings and corporate retreats

When reached out for comment by the Daily Mail, the Fire Marshal's Office responded with the news release.

The Daily Mail has reached out to The Preserve at Chocorua for comment.

Philbrick Neighborhood Road is home to The Preserve at Chocorua, a 26-acre White Mountains estate hosting weddings, family reunions, and corporate retreats, according to its website.

Tamworth, a town of about 2,800 people, is around 115 miles north of Concord, New Hampshire, near the western border of Maine.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials claim Donald Trump knew about Kristi Noem's controversial $220 million ad campaign that the president said he wasn't aware of.

Noem was axed from her position as US Secretary of Homeland Security by Trump on Truth Social on March 5 after she testified under oath that the commander in chief gave her permission to push the ads.

The adverts aimed to warn illegal migrants to self-deport from America or face consequences if they don't, with one showing her sitting on a horse in front of Mount Rushmore, stating: 'We will find you and we will deport you.'

After hearing that Noem told Sen. John Kennedy that the commander-in-chief allegedly gave her permission to go forward with the ads, Trump said he never did such a thing.

But now, after Trump replaced Noem with Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, DHS officials allege that Trump did know about the ads and want the White House to complete a 'full audit' of Noem's advertising contract.

A source close to the administration told the Daily Beast that the president 'knew about the campaign and wanted it to happen.'

Another told the outlet: 'The big question we are all asking is where did that money go? We could be happy to have a full audit on this tomorrow, going into every single penny of the award, including where it went.

'Everyone at DHS is happy to turn over our taxes and bank records - but only the White House can agree to that - will they want to?'

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials claim President Trump did know about Kristi Noem's $220 million advertisements, even though he said he was not aware

The adverts aimed to warn illegal migrants to self-deport from America or face consequences if they don't, with one showing her sitting on a horse in front of Mount Rushmore (pictured)

When asked about the claims, the White House did not address where the money had gone or if it would agree to hold an audit.

'Contracts are awarded by individual agencies. The White House has no involvement in an agency's contract decisions,' the spokesperson added.

When contacted by the Daily Mail, a White House spokesperson referred to a quote Trump told Reuters, stating: 'I never knew anything about it.'

After news of how much was spent on the ads, the Noem and the administration faced immediate scrutiny.

Democrat Rep. Joe Neguse, who questioned Noem about the campaign during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on March 3, is one of many who is questioning the deal.

'Corruption and self-dealing has become pervasive and endemic within the Trump administrationand the American people deserve answers,' Neguse told the Beast.

The outlet also learned that the company that was paid to create the commercials under a $143 million contract is owned by Ben Yoho, the husband of Noem's former spokeswoman, Tricia McLaughlin.

The contract was then turned over to Safe America Media, which is run by veteran Republican operative Mike McElwain, per the report.

McElwain's business partner, Pat McCarthy, was brought on board during Trump's 2024 election campaign and helped produce the president's 'They/Them' ad that targeted former Vice President Kamala Harris during the election.

A source close to the Trump administration said that the president 'knew about the campaign and wanted it to happen.' (Pictured: Trump and Noem during a roundtable in October 2025)

Trump replaced Noem with Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin

A DHS source found this information puzzling, telling the outlet: 'One question that should be asked is why was McCarthy brought so closely into the campaign team at that point in the campaign, when it had many ad buyers it worked with over the previous two years?'

Months later, the White House demanded that Safe America Media 'be considered' for the ad campaign, and that the White House signed off on them, the report stated.

A written record of that exists within the DHS and the White House, the outlet added.

Joseph Folio, the lawyer representing Safe America Media, said that the firm 'submitted a proposal for and was awarded a contract to support DHS's nationwide public awareness campaign, and committed substantial resources to meet an accelerated timeline on budget.'

Folio continued: 'We look forward to providing additional information to address inaccuracies in the public reporting and ensure the record accurately reflects the scope and context of that work.'

Noem speaking at a packed law enforcement conference in Nashville when the news broke that she was fired by Trump

The Daily Mail contacted the White House, DHS, and Folio for comment.

The DHS adverts have become the third-most costly US government marketing campaign over the past 10 years, behind COVID PSRs and military recruiting ads.

Noem has since been referred to the Justice Department for a criminal investigation over alleged perjury tied to her claims that Trump approved spending for her ad campaign.

Top congressional Democrats referred her to the DOJ over 'knowingly making false statements under oath' to Congress.

A source familiar with the matter previously told the Daily Mail the referral appears 'pretty weak,' but said the questions on the advertising contracts would be the stickiest.
A twisted Oklahoma couple allegedly used a 14-year-old girl as a surrogate to bear their twins.

Nathan Potier and Erica Palmer, both 36, were arrested Tuesday for allegedly forcing a teenage girl to become pregnant after Palmer was 'unable to conceive.'

The duo allegedly fled the state but were captured 1,450 miles away in Reno-Sparks, Nevada, and arrested on felony warrants by the US Marshals Nevada Violent Offender Task Force.

Potier is charged with one count of sexual abuse of a child, while Palmer faces one count of enabling sexual abuse of a child and two counts of child abandonment, according to records obtained by the Daily Mail.

The arrests followed a three-month investigation after an Oklahoma Child Protective Services caseworker reported in December 2025 that a 14-year-old girl was pregnant with twins, per documents obtained by KFOR.

Oklahoma City Police were called to investigate a possible child sexual assault at an apartment complex near North Penn and Northwest 122nd.

Authorities believed the couple abused the teenager, resulting in her pregnancy, and allege that Potier is the father of the twins.

Before the arrest warrants were issued, Palmer allegedly told police she wanted children but couldnt conceive due to a previous tubal ligation.

Oklahoma City Police Station, couple Nathan Potier and Erica Palmer, both 36, were arrested Tuesday in connection with a child sexual abuse case

Oklahoma City police received reports of child sexual assault, at an apartment near North Penn and Northwest 122nd. Shown is the intersection of the neighborhood

A tubal ligation, also called 'having your tubes tied,' is a form of permanent birth control.

Police claimed the couple targeted the victim and later obtained a search warrant to collect Potiers DNA to confirm if he was the father.

However, before authorities could act, Potier and Palmer fled the state.

Further records from the outlet revealed earlier reports from California accusing the boyfriend of sexually assaulting the same 14-year-old girl.

Further allegations targeted Palmer, accusing her of knowing about the abuse.

The teenage victim has been placed in foster care for her safety, according to KFOR.

Both 36-year-olds remained behind bars at the Washoe County Detention Facility as of Friday afternoon.

'This case demonstrates a high level of coordination between investigators and partner agencies,' the Washoe County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

'Law enforcement remains focused on locating individuals attempting to avoid detection and ensuring they are held accountable.'

Gary G Schofield leads the operations of the US Marshals Service in Nevada, the team that arrested the couple

The 14-year-old pregnant teenager is reportedly safe in foster care

As the case came to light, outrage poured in on social media.

'Just when when you think people can't be even more evil,' one user wrote, while another said: 'This world is so f**ked up!'

Records seen by the outlet showed Palmers bond at $200,000 and Potiers at $300,000.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Oklahoma City police department and Washoe County sheriff's office for comment.
Travelers on their way to much-anticipated Spring Break trips are being met with hours-long delays at America's top airports.

Social media users on X complained of hours-long lines at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson on Sunday amid the chaos, in part caused by the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), being both without a secretary at the helm as well as unfunded for over a month, since the February 14.

One individual reported a 153-minute wait in line at 6am in Atlanta, while another posted later on Sunday that she 'got in line at 9:11am for a 12:45pm flight.'

As of 12:30 pm EST, the page on the Atlanta airport's website that shows security wait times had crashed. Users trying to access the site were met with a message that 'there has been a critical error on this website.'

Notably, some airports have been able to avoid total chaos as their security screening services are provided by contractors under the Transportation Security Administration's Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which was founded in 2004.

These private contracts are pre-funded and thus not affected by the current shutdown.

The website for the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) specifically notes that 'SFO is the largest airport participating in the TSA's Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which allows airports to outsource screening to certified private contractors.'

SFO's website denoted normal wait times just after 12:00 noon EST Sunday, without providing any specific numbers.

Travelers on their way to much-anticipated Spring Break trips are being met with hours-long delays at America's top airports

Your browser does not support iframes.

Per FlightAware, 2,122 flights going within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday morning were delayed as of 11:25 ET, with another 147 flights being cancelled.

President Donald Trump noted in a Sunday morning post on his social media site, Truth Social, that he would be sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports to help address the chaos.

'On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job despite the fact that the Radical Left Democrats, who are only focused on protecting hard line criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts, and all,' Trump noted.

'But watch, no matter how great a job ICE does, the Lunatics leading the incompetent Dems will be highly critical of their work. THEY WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB. The great Tom Homan is in charge!!! President DJT,' he added.

Homan told CNN's State of the Union anchor Dana Bash on Sunday 'that ICE agents receive a high level of training. And ICE agents are assigned at many airports across the country already. They do a lot of investigation, criminal investigation on smuggling at airports.'

'You got TSA agents covering exits, people that enter through the exits. Certainly, a highly trained ICE law enforcement officer can cover an exit and makes sure people don't go through those exits, entering the airport through the exits. And stuff like that relieves that TSA officer to go to screening and to reduce those lines,' Homan added.

Homan appears to be Trump's go-to fixer for all things DHS, as the agency does not currently have a secretary at the helm.

Trump noted in a Sunday morning post on his social media site, Truth Social, that he would be sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports to help address the chaos

Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump's pick to replace ousted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, appears to be days away from confirmation to lead the embattled department.

Mullin has represented Oklahoma in the United States Senate since 2023, and previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2013 to 2023.

Senators held a hearing to confirm Mullin to the DHS post on Wednesday, and his nomination was advanced by a committee vote on Thursday after Pennsylvania's Democratic Senator John Fetterman, crossed party lines to support the nominee.
A controversial art exhibition in Margate has sparked outrage after a Jewish visitor claimed she was 'hounded out' by an 'aggressive' artist amid accusations the display features antisemitic and Nazi imagery.

The exhibition, titled Drawings Against Genocide, has been reported to police following complaints that it depicts Jews using offensive stereotypes and inflammatory symbolism linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Witnesses described 'ugly' and 'aggressive' scenes on Saturday as tensions boiled over inside the venue, with visitors confronting the artist and others in attendance.

Critics say the artwork includes repeated use of the Star of David around figures portrayed as Israelis and members of a so-called 'Jewish lobby' - imagery widely condemned as antisemitic.

Some attendees were also reportedly wearing 'globalise the intifada' T-shirts, a slogan often interpreted as endorsing violence against Jews.

Writer Zoe Strimpel, who attended the exhibition, shared a detailed account of the confrontation on social media, describing a deeply distressing encounter.

She wrote: 'My cheeks are red. I am shaking. I popped into an exhibition that turned out to be the insane fever dream of an artist called Matthew Collins: "Drawings Against Genocide."

The exhibition, titled Drawings Against Genocide, has been reported to police following complaints that it depicts Jews using offensive stereotypes

Critics say the artwork includes repeated use of the Star of David around figures portrayed as Israelis and members of a so-called 'Jewish lobby'

Some pictures also featured Nazi imagery

'The exhibition is described as "drawings raising consciousness about hell. Israel is the pure encapsulation of it".

'Zionism is this terror state's ruling ideology.'

Shocked by the use of Nazi imagery - the room is full of the Star of David pasted around figures meant to be Israelis and the Jewish 'lobby' spewing blood, to say nothing of blonde yummy mummies wearing 'globalise the intifada' shirts, I spoke to the artist to share my reaction as a Jewish person.

'He was instantly aggressive. As soon as I started to say I was shocked and threatened by what I was seeing because it was Nazi imagery, the artist started yelling at me that I didn't mean anything I was saying.

'Anytime I tried to speak (calmly) he said: "you don't mean any of what you said", you're just repeating "hasbarah talking points" because "you're defending a genocide". On and on he yelled, in my face.

'I said: "if I was a Black person" but couldn't finish the sentence because: "you're not are you?" On the Nazi ideology point he said: "yeah. Why do you think it's there. Israel are the Nazis".

'His breath was disgusting. The crowd began booing and closing in around me, making to shoe me out. I said: "fine, get the Jew out" and he yelled more across the room at me, repeatedly jeering "call the police, go ahead, call the police".

'I said I would, and the community security trust, which features as a devil in his exhibition. This was met with even more jeering. "Yeah, call the CST" was the last I heard before leaving.

'Someone snapped pictures of me while I was being shouted at. Short video shows the artist. The longer video, of our final almost surreally disgusting exchange, didn't record.'

The row has also raised questions over the promotion of the exhibition, which is listed on a tourism website run by Thanet District Council

The exhibition is the work of artist Matthew Collings, 70, who was present during the confrontation

Witnesses described 'ugly' and 'aggressive' scenes on Saturday as tensions boiled over inside the venue, with visitors confronting the artist and others in attendance

Her post quickly drew widespread support online, with several high-profile figures condemning the exhibition.

Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman wrote: 'Disgusting.'

Michael Gove added: 'Truly terrible.'

Others echoed the outrage, with one commenter saying: 'Vile people. Disgusting display. So sorry you had to endure this.'

Ben Goldsmith wrote: 'Disgusting and wholly unsurprising.'

Author Alex Hearn also criticised the exhibition, claiming it portrays 'Jews are depicted as blood-soaked, baby eating demons, controlling the British government'.

He added: 'It literally revels in being racist.'

The row has also raised questions over the promotion of the exhibition, which is listed on a tourism website run by Thanet District Council.

Hearn said: 'Thanet District Council should be absolutely ashamed.'

The exhibition is the work of artist Matthew Collings, 70, who was present during the confrontation.

Footage shared on social media appears to show him speaking at the event in front of a sign reading: 'Resistance until liberation.'

Both Collings and Thanet District Council have been approached for comment.
Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump's pick to replace ousted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, appears to be days away from confirmation to lead the embattled department.

Mullin has represented Oklahoma in the United States Senate since 2023, and previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2013 to 2023.

Senators held a hearing to confirm Mullin to the DHS post on Wednesday, and his nomination was advanced by a committee vote on Thursday after Pennsylvania's Democratic Senator John Fetterman, crossed party lines to support the nominee.

The Oklahoman is known for his unusual name, which is a combination of two monikers. The unique amalgamation has a deeply personal connection to his family, as he is damned after his uncle Mark and Wayne - both of whom were childless, he once told Roll Call.

'My father was the youngest boy of eight children, and he had two brothers who did not have any sons. And since I was the youngest of seven in my family, I was named after both of them,' he said at the time.

Prior to entering politics, the Oklahoman had a brief stint as a mixed martial arts or MMA fighter. He left the sport in 2012 with an undefeated 5-0 record and was later inducted into the Oklahoma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016.

The senator is known as a firebrand and even challenged the Teamsters president to a brawl during a Senate hearing in 2023.

'This is the time, this is the place, you want to run your mouth, we can be consenting adults, we can finish it here,' he said.

US Senator Markwayne Mullin (R) and wife Christie Mullin (L) arrive for a hearing for the position of US Secretary of Homeland Security at the US Capitol, Washington, DC, USA, 18 March 2026.

Mullin seen working out in a video posted to his Instagram page

'Okay, that's fine, that's perfect,' Sean OBrien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, replied.

'You want to do it now?' Mullin replied.

'I'd love to do it now,' O'Brien said, to which Mullins responded, 'Well, stand your butt up then.'

'Stand your butt up,' O'Brien mimicked.

Mullins, however, did stand up, fists clenched, while fellow Senator Bernie Sanders admonished him and told him to 'sit down.'

'You're a United States Senator, sit down,' Sanders said.

O'Brien had taken to X prior to the hearing to challenge Mullin to a fight. He also called Mullin a 'clown' and a 'fraud,' which infuriated the former fighter.

Mullin attended Missouri Valley College on a wrestling scholarship but later dropped out of school at the age of 20 after his father Jim fell ill and he needed to help with the family plumbing business.

Mullin would go back to school in 2018, eventually achieving an associate's degree in applied science in construction technology from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology.

He is the only senator without a bachelor's degree.

Mullin and his wife of nearly 30 years, Christie, would expand the family business into the largest in the region and also started other successful companies.

He and his wife have six children, including two adoptive twins, Ivy and Lynette.

Mullin with his children and President Donald Trump

Mullin with his family and Kristi Noem former DHS Secretary and South Dakota Governor

The Oklahoman, who was a businessowner prior to serving in public office, had a multi-year ethics investigation into him, which resulted in the politician paying back $40,000 that was 'mistakenly paid to him.'

He was accused of still being involved in the businesses. The committee ultimately decided he had made a 'good faith effort' to comply with the ethics rule.

Mullin also worked as a cow-calf rancher prior to becoming a representative.

He grew up on a farm in Westville, where his family still resides today.
Hawaii's historic flooding that forced thousands of people to flee their homes has caused over $1 billion in damage, while crews are searching for an elderly woman swept away in the ferocious waters.

Officials urged people in hard-hit areas across Oahu and Maui to evacuate Saturday due to the state's worst flooding in more than 20 years, caused by heavy rainfalls on soil already saturated by downpours from a winter storm a week ago.

It comes as crews launched a desperate search for a missing 71-year-old who reportedly fell into an inundated stream on Saturday.

She was last seen near an encampment along the Iao Stream on Waiehu Beach Road attempting to gather water using a basket when she fell into the river, according to the Maui Police Department.

Crews conducted extensive ground searches along the river and surrounding areas and launched air and ocean searches using a helicopter and jet skis, but have been unable to locate her, and their efforts remain ongoing.

Meanwhile, Governor Josh Green estimated that the damage to both public and private sectors will cost over $1 billion, as a statewide flood watch remains in effect through Sunday.

'You can see the flood levels are significant. We'll have over $1 billion of damage, it appears,' he told CNN on Saturday.

'We've had 40 to 50 inches of rain, the largest flood that we've had in 20 years. This has been going on for about 11 days. We did have two terrible injuries that resulted in spinal cord injuries. One hospital went down and has been wiped out on Maui.'

Crews are searching for a missing 71-year-old who allegedly fell into an inundated stream on Saturday as officials urged people in hard-hit areas across Oahu (pictured) and Maui to evacuate

Hawaii Governor Josh Green estimated that the damage to both public and private sectors will cost over $1 billion

He added, 'We've had 236 people get rescued. We had a whole camp that had to be rescued. This is spring break for the public schools, and people were isolated and trapped in certain areas. There were people that were on rooftops.'

At a Friday press conference, Green explained the $1 billion estimate includes 'damage to the airports, a major hospital thats been damaged on Maui.'

He added, 'Lots of damage at schools, roads, and then of course, the innumerable events that have happened at peoples homes where theyve lost structure and it will have to be repaired.'

Authorities have also warned that the Wahiawa Dam on Oahu was at risk of failure, prompting urgent evacuation orders for communities downstream in Haleiwa and Waialua on the island's North Shore.

According to the National Weather Service, most of Hawaii will remain under a flood watch through Sunday afternoon. This includes the islands of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island.

Hollywood star Jason Momoa was among thousands of Hawaiians forced to flee as a powerful storm battered the islands, causing dangerous, potentially fatal flooding.

Momoa took to Instagram and revealed he fled the North Shore after losing power and was with his family.

'We're safe now, but there's a lot of people who weren't, so sending all our love,' he said.

According to the National Weather Service, most of Hawaii will remain under a flood watch through Sunday afternoon. Pictured: a washed out road on Oahu on Saturday

The flooding was caused by heavy rainfalls on soil already saturated by downpours from a winter storm a week ago. Pictured: flooded vehicles in Waialua on Saturday

The Aquaman actor also shared footage of flooding near his father's home, calling the destruction 'crazy' and pleading with his followers to stay safe.

Momoa said the dangerous weather forced him to cancel a music event planned for the weekend.

The actor, who was born in Honolulu, posted on Instagram ahead of the weekend that the past weeks had been 'heavy' for his home state.

'The storms, the flooding, the constant rain across Oahu have affected so many of our people, especially those already facing hardship,' Momoa said.

'Seeing families displaced, communities struggling, and our unhoused neighbors hit the hardest'

Momoa encouraged locals to check in on neighbors ahead of the dangerous next few days.

'That's what aloha is,' Momoa wrote. 'It's showing up for each other when it matters most.'
Donald Trump faces being denied permission to use British bases if he follows through on a threat to 'obliterate' Iranian power plants.

The UK has given US forces the green light to run 'defensive' operations from its military sites, such as Diego Garcia.

On Friday evening, Keir Starmer extended that to action aiming to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz - amid mounting panic over choked off oil supplies.

However, the premier has assured Cyprus that RAF Akrotiri will not be used for strikes.

And Government sources made clear the UK had not agreed to facilitate attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Posting on his Truth Social site last night, Mr Trump said: 'If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.'

Donald Trump faces being denied permission to use British bases if he follows through on a threat to 'obliterate' Iranian power plants

Mr Trump has vented fury at Sir Keir's reluctance to take a bigger role in the US-Israeli war on Iran, branding him 'disappointing' and 'no Churchill'

The PM has previously condemned Russia's 'depraved' attacks on Ukraine's power grid. The UN has said that targeting 'civilians and civilian infrastructure is a clear breach of the rules of warfare'.

Concerns have also been raised that Iran could respond to the move with concerted strikes on infrastructure in neighbouring countries.

Senior Government sources said permission to use UK bases had only been granted for 'specific and limited defensive purposes', such as degrading capabilities threatening allies in the Gulf and tankers.

It is not clear whether the US has asked, or will ask, to operate such missions from British sites.

Mr Trump has vented fury at Sir Keir's reluctance to take a bigger role in the US-Israeli war on Iran, branding him 'disappointing' and 'no Churchill'. He has called Nato countries 'cowards' for not sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed was repeatedly pressed whether the Government supported Mr Trump's deadline in broadcast interviews this morning.

He told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: 'I think you need to ask President Trump about the things that President Trump is talking about.'

Mr Reed insisted the Government is 'perfectly capable' of defending the country, following signs Tehran can fire ballistic missiles much further than previously believed.

The Communities Secretary also played down the need for fuel rationing as the Middle East crisis escalates, although he admitted there were 'contingency plans'.

The appeal for calm came after Iran launched an attack on Diego Garcia, the joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean.

Although neither missile hit the target, the distance of 2,360 miles was well beyond the 1,240 miles that had been regarded as the outer limit of the regime's reach.

Join the discussion Do YOU support the UK refusing to allow its bases to be used for strikes?

Mr Trump delivered his ultimatum to Iran in a post on his Truth Social site last night

Israel pointed out that Paris, 2,609 miles away, and even London  2,750 miles  are potentially within Iran's range. Some strategists fear the country can use its Simorgh space launch technology to extend its reach.

In a ballistic attack, defence experts say Britain would be forced to rely on American SM-3 defence systems stationed across Eastern Europe, or the Patriot missiles used by the Germans, to intercept rockets.

It follows a fresh wave of missile attacks launched by Tehran towards Israel amid mounting fears about the regime's ability to strike European capitals.

More than 100 people have been wounded in southern Israel after strikes on buildings in the cities of Dimona and Arad.
Billionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is taking legal action against four-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie to get back the 180m boat they built together for the America's Cup.

Sir Jim, co-founder of petrochemicals giant Ineos and one of Britain's richest men, funded Ainslie's team for two cycles of the famous yacht race, in Auckland in 2021 and again in Barcelona in 2024.

Ineos' investment - estimated to be around 350m - saw Ainslie skipper the first UK team to victory in the America's Cup challenger series but narrowly miss out on the coveted cup when they lost to defenders New Zealand in the final in Spain 18 months ago.

However, despite their 2024 success with the yacht - named Britannia - relations between the two men turned sour and they split just a few months later.

Initially, Sir Jim announced he would be challenging for the 38th America's Cup, due to take place in Naples, Italy, in 2027, without Ainslie, who set up a rival team.

But Ineos abandoned plans to take part and pulled out of next year's competition last April. They blamed 'protracted negotiations' with Ainslie's Athena Racing, who they accused of causing a costly six-month delay to settlement talks.

On Saturday the row between the two knights of the realm took a new twist when Ineos released a statement saying it had 'recently received information' that Athena Racing - now rebranded as GB1 and backed by private equity firm Oakley Capital - was 'in possession of the boat built and used during AC37 [America's Cup 37 in Barcelona]'.

The statement added: 'Ineos is surprised that the boat we built for the last America's Cup (AC 37) has been taken by Athena Racing.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Ben Ainslie celebrate at the America's Cup in Barcelona which they eventually lost to defenders New Zealand

The pair were best of friends after leading the Ineos Britannia team into the record books in Barcelona in October 2024. But they fell out soon afterwards and on Saturday it emerged Sir Jim was taking legal action to get the 16,450-tonne boat back

Ainslie with the 180m yacht that Ineos claim is theirs. He says the boat belongs to his team, GB1, and they are entitled to use it for the 2027 race, in Naples, Italy

The crew of Ineos Britainnia in Barcelona harbour last October

'The boat belongs to Ineos and it is inappropriate to assume it can be used for the next competition without seeking our permission.

'The boat was the most successful British boat in history and cost Ineos 180m and evolved naturally from the first boat which cost a further 170m. Ineos is taking legal steps for the boat to be returned.'

Ineos claims to have invested a total of 350m in Ainslie's team for the 2021 and 2024 cups and that it's success was also helped by the involvement of Mercedes F1, which Ineos part owns.

However, it is unclear whether that outlay bought Sir Jim or Ineos any control of assets or intellectual property.

In response, GB1 issued a statement saying they 'appreciated the sponsorship and support of Ineos over the last two campaigns' but insisted the boat was theirs.

'It should come as no surprise to Ineos that assets which are owned by, and have always been in the possession of, Athena Racing are being used for AC38 [America's Cup 38],' the statement added.

Ainslie, 49, told the BBC last year that splitting with Ineos after the 'fallout' was 'a difficult decision' but stemmed from 'different opinions on how to move forwards with the team'.
Donald Trump has posted a sketch mocking Keir Starmer for being too afraid to call him in a fresh blow to the 'Special Relationship'.

The US president spread a toe-curling clip from the British version of 'Saturday Night Live' on his Truth Social platform this afternoon.

The scene from the show - which aired for the first time on Sky last night - depicts the PM in No 10 too terrified to pick up the phone to talk to Mr Trump about Iran.

'What if Donald shouts at me?' the comedian playing Sir Keir says to his deputy, David Lammy. When 'Mr Trump' answers he immediately hangs up in a panic.

'I just hate conflict so much,' Sir Keir says, admitting he is 'out of my depth'.

In the SNL skit, Sir Keir - who has a framed photo of Mr Trump behind him - says: 'I just want to keep him happy, Lammy. You don't understand him like I do. I can change him.'

The faux premier later adds: 'I'll say anything, I'll do anything, except take a stand.'

Mr Trump has repeatedly vented fury at Sir Keir's reluctance to take a bigger role in the US-Israeli war on Iran, branding him 'disappointing' and 'no Churchill'.

Donald Trump spread a toe-curling clip from the British version of 'Saturday Night Live' on his Truth Social platform this afternoon

Mr Trump has repeatedly vented fury at Sir Keir's reluctance to take a bigger role in the US-Israeli war on Iran, branding him 'disappointing' and 'no Churchill'

He has also called Nato countries 'cowards' for not sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz.

Polls have suggested the British public is extremely wary about taking part in the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which have caused carnage in oil and gas supplies and raised fears of a global recession.

An Opinium survey released this weekend found that Sir Keir's personal ratings have improved by 11 points since the start of the strikes, albeit remaining at a dire low.

The UK has given US forces the green light to run 'defensive' operations from its military sites, such as Diego Garcia.

On Friday evening, Sir Keir extended that to action aiming to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz - amid mounting panic over choked off oil supplies.

However, another clash could be looming, with Government sources making clear the UK has not agreed to facilitate attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Posting on his Truth Social site last night, Mr Trump said: 'If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.'

Join the discussion Do YOU think humour has a place in political disagreements?

Sir Keir (pictured in his study last week) has given US forces the green light to run 'defensive' operations from its military sites, such as Diego Garcia

The version of the SNL sketch posted by Mr Trump cuts off before a section where Sir Keir is shown insisting he cannot join America in starting 'World War 3'.

That part includes the PM leaving Mr Trump a voice note saying: 'Hi Donald. I'm afraid I can't go to war with you.

'But that doesn't mean we can't still be chums.'

Sir Keir gives a list of things the UK and US have done together in the past, including D-Day, but says he wants to 'take a break' like Rachel and Ross out of sitcom Friends.

The Sky Original show follows NBC's late-night comedy show with 75-minute long episodes which feature a number of segments, including an opening monologue, topical sketches and a UK version of The Weekend Update.

The US version of Saturday Night Live has been running since 1975 and is responsible for launching the careers of the likes of Fey, Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy.
A manic Florida woman beat up a pregnant driver before attacking an elderly bystander and biting a police officer during a chaotic road rage rampage.

Mandolyn Shaffer-Brockwell, 37, was arrested on February 23 after she stopped traffic on a bustling Orlando road near the Mall of Millenia, the Orlando Police Department said in a Facebook post Friday.

Shocking footage captured her violent outburst, which started when Shaffer-Brockwell jumped on the hood of a white SUV before rushing toward the driver's door, swinging it open, and attacking the woman inside.

The unidentified victim, who told the crazed suspect she was pregnant and had a child in the car, told police the incident stemmed from a road rage dispute.

The pregnant woman said Shaffer-Brockwell repeatedly stopped her car short and wouldn't allow her to change lanes after the victim honked at her, according to a police report obtained by Fox 35 Orlando.

A 68-year0old woman who witnessed the ordeal got out of her vehicle to help, prompting Shaffer-Brockwell to scream at her.

She then proceeded to claw her in the face, leaving bloody marks under her eyes, according to gruesome footage of the attack.

The unhinged woman drove off, but a cop soon caught up to her and tried to arrest Shaffer-Brockwell, who was seen biting him as he tried to do so.

Mandolyn Shaffer-Brockwell, 37, was seen attacking three people, including a police officer, pregnant woman and an elderly driver, during a road rage incident in Orlando near the Mall of Millenia. She is seen trying to get on top of the pregnant victim's car

A 68-year-old woman who witnessed the incident then got out of her vehicle to help at a nearby light, but Shaffer-Brockwell then went after her

Shaffer-Brockwell fought with others for a few minutes before getting back in her car and driving away

Shaffer-Brockwell was seen sitting on a curb next to a building as a male officer pulled out his handcuffs and let her know he was going to arrest her.

'Absolutely the f*** not! No,' she replied as she attempted to squirm away from him.

'Don't resist me,' the officer shouted as Shaffer-Brockwell repeatedly said: 'Tell me why, tell me why, tell me why!'

The two of them then got into a scuffle as the officer pushed her toward the building and tried to place the handcuffs on her wrists.

At one point, he managed to get one of them on her before Shaffer-Brockwell swung out of control and hollered: 'The f*** I am!'

She soon fell to the pavement as the officer tried to control her and get her in custody.

As he tried to do so, Shaffer-Brockwell was seen sinking her teeth into his arm as the cop shouted: 'Don't bite me!'

Officers with the Orlando Police Department soon caught up with her as the suspect put up a fight and screamed

Shaffer-Brockwell is seen biting the male officer's wrist as he tries to put her handcuffs

She screamed at the older victim to get back in the car before clawing her in the face, leaving bloody marks under her eyes (pictured)

She replied: 'Get the f*** off of me!' as the officer responded: 'Turn around!'

The next clip showed more officers getting involved in her arrest before escorting her into the patrol car.

Once inside, Shaffer-Brockwell didn't speak, but instead appeared to collect herself after the struggle and seemed disoriented.

Her mugshot photo showed blood and bruises on her face.

Shaffer-Brockwell was charged with battery on a person 65 years of age or older, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, burglary of a conveyance, and resisting an officer with violence.

It is unclear if any of the victims, including the police officer, were injured.

She is currently being held in jail on a $1,000 bond for each charge, except for burglary of conveyance, according to jail records reviewed by the Daily Mail

Once inside the cop car, Shaffer-Brockwell didn't speak, but instead appeared to collect herself after the struggle and seemed disoriented

Her mugshot photo showed blood and bruises on her face

She is currently being held in jail on a $1,000 bond for each charge, except for burglary of conveyance, according to jail records reviewed by the Daily Mail.

It is unclear when she is due in court and if she has obtained legal counsel.

The Daily Mail contacted the Orlando Police Department for comment.
A Scottish waitress is to marry her American fiance after he proposed just 24 hours after meeting her in person.

Dani Scott fell for retail worker Jake after he commented on her YouTube post about old-fashioned mobile phones.

The pair ended up chatting and last month her love interest, 24, jetted over from South Carolina to visit her in Scotland.

Just a day later, he went down on one knee asking the 22-year-old, from Galashiels, Roxburghshire, to marry him.

She had only called off her wedding to her ex-fiance, Matthew, months earlier and is now prepared to moved across the Atlantic after their nuptials next summer (2027).

The former theology student admitted her friends were worried about her getting engaged so soon after her break-up but insisted it was the right thing to do.

Ms Scott had been due to walk down the aisle in October, having already postponed the wedding by a month but the couple decided to call it a day at the last minute.

Weeks later, she met Jake after he commented on her dumbphone video and the pair ended up chatting.

Dani Scott said 'yes' when American Jake proposed to her just 24 hours after the pair met in person for the first time

She said: I met Jake through YouTube, a month after splitting from my fiance, who I broke up with a few weeks before our wedding.

We both made videos about dumbphones and started chatting.

After a few phone calls we decided we liked each other, even though hes in America, and Im in Scotland.

I like that he sees the world differently to other people.

Hes very gentle, kind, and really into nature, we just instantly clicked.

We started dating a week after our first call, even though wed never met in person.

He came to visit me for the first time in February 2026 and spent 12 days in Scotland with me.

It was amazing, the best 12 days of my life, we just got on so well.

Scottish waitress Dani Scott and her American fiance plan to wed in summer next year

The day after we met, Jake proposed, whilst we were on a walk.

I knew it was going to happen, but it was still so exciting.

Long distance is really difficult; it was much easier to cope before wed met in person.

She said her family have come round to the relationship but some of her friends still need convincing especially as they did not even know shed split up with Matthew.

Ms Scott said the pair had met at university in 2024 while studying theology and were engaged within six months with the wedding planned for last September.

But as their relationship soured they first postponed the ceremony by a month before pulling the plug on the plans and going their separate ways.

She uses her YouTube channel to post videos about mobiles that do not have internet access or apps and how they are better than smartphone.

Intrigued, Jake commented under one of her videos, telling her that she had inspired him to start his own channel.

He also began posting about dumbphones, and the pair became invested in each others channels.

In December he asked for her email address and then to call her.

Following their phone conversations they decided to start dating even though theyd never met and lived 4,000 miles apart.

And after he flew over to visit her in February for a 12-day trip, they knew they wanted a life together.

Ms Scott, who first told her story to Talk to The Press, said: Wed decided we wanted to get married from the first moment we started talking.

They wanted to move fast so that she can apply for a visa and move to the United States.

The pair believe it could take over a year for the paperwork to get processed to are planning to get wed in his native South Caroline in the summer of next year.

Because her family will not be able to attend the wedding due to costs, the couple plan to have a celebration in Scotland before their big day to share the moment with her relatives.

While her visa is being processed, Ms Scott is unable to visit the U.S. meaning the first time she goes there is for her wedding.

However, Jake plans to visit his Scottish fiancee every few months to until then.
You wait forever for Nicola Sturgeon to make a contribution at Holyrood and it turns out to be her final speech as an MSP.

The budding media darling, former first minister, and occasional parliamentarian popped up on Thursday, during the third-stage consideration of the Children (Scotland) Bill.

With a sometimes trembling voice, she ventured some advice while admitting she had not always lived by these principles.

They were mostly quote-a-day-calendar bromides (keep a sense of perspective, do not forget to think for yourself), plus a clunky Americanism  reach across the aisle  that suggested she was leaving not only Holyrood but the cast of The West Wing.

Then there were the Alan Partridge-worthy musings that confirmed the former first minister has gone full no-contact with her sense of self-awareness. As a gospel, Do not live life on social media gets a hearty amen from me, but its difficult to keep a straight face when its the selfie queen doing the preaching.

She remarked that the current session of Holyrood was the most fractious and divided that I have served in.

One day, the Sturgeon who frets about division and discourse might encounter the Sturgeon who handed ministerial power to the Greens, tried to eliminate womens sex-based rights, and told parliament Scotland was being treated like something on the sole of Westminsters shoe, and if that day ever comes the universe will surely implode.

Its tempting to chortle at the woman who attempted to legislate away rights guaranteed in the Equality Act declaring that equality is the thread running through everything that I have sought to champion and achieve, but there isnt all that much to laugh about in Sturgeons record.

Nicola Sturgeon after delivering her final speech at Holyrood

The attainment gap she made it her priority to close yawns still. The emissions targets she assured us were vital to avoid ecological disaster were missed and missed again.

The procurement of a couple of ferries that brought the nationalisation of a shipyard and the ignominy of posing before an unfinished boat with painted-on windows.

The complacency that allowed Scotland to become the drugs deaths capital of Europe. The high-handed secrecy of deleted Covid-era messages and her unconvincing performance during the Holyrood inquiry.

Even to her own side, she offered one disappointment after another. For all that I and others similarly minded had a conniption every time she banged on about independence, thats all she ever did  talk about it.

Handed the 2015 yellow tsunami, Brexit, the Internal Market Act, chaos and sleaze at Westminster, and a cost-of-living crisis, she could parlay none of these opportunities into a second referendum.

Instead, the leader of Scottish nationalism conceded that independence was a matter of constitutional law by placing the question before the Supreme Court, knowing only one outcome was possible. That she has yet to appear on the Honours list for services to the Union is an injustice.

There is plenty damning to be done with that list of failings but, as I have argued before, they pale compared to her dismal stewardship of an institution she was always keen to tell us she loved: the NHS.

As both health secretary and first minister, Sturgeon made grand promises about NHS waiting times. What became of them?

There are too many to cover here but the 12-week target for outpatient appointments is illustrative of the rest.

Ninety-five per cent of new outpatients were supposed to be seen within 12 weeks of referral. When Sturgeon left Bute House at the end of March 2023, this standard was being met in just 63 per cent of cases. A mere 32 points off-target.

Ah but, Sturgeons defenders cavil, this merely reflects the lingering impact of Covid-19 on a health service still in recovery.

So, lets look at the figures for the final quarter of 2019, before NHS Scotland was placed on a pandemic footing. If Covid is the reason Sturgeon failed to meet her own targets, we should expect the pre-Covid statistics to show 95 per cent or more patients being seen on time.

The actual figure: 77 per cent. Off by 18 points.

And because Sturgeons apologists are an implacable bunch, they might contend that the figures for October to December 2019 will have been distorted by the pressures of winter flu. So I had a look at the numbers for July to September.

Wouldnt you know, the figure was the same: 77 per cent. At some point, the excuses just run out.

When first she reached the summit of Scottish politics, I had high hopes for her. Alex Salmonds blokey, bellicose persona was not to my tastes at all. She seemed like a breath of fresh air.

I would plead the ignorance of youth, but I stopped qualifying for that defence some time ago.

We all want to believe the latest political fad is different to the ones that went before. No matter how many times we are let down, we convince ourselves this one really cares and will actually do what they promise.

I hate to break it to you, but the politician youre currently enthused about, the one you think has all the answers, is almost certainly another fad. Prepare to be let down again.

The problem, or one of the big ones, is the gulf between what political leaders promise and what they deliver. Nicola Sturgeon could almost be a case study.

Whether on waiting times or the attainment gap, the Ferguson Marine ferries or climate change, drugs deaths or independence, her leadership was defined by promises made with rhetoric and unmade in results.

Sturgeon at an anti-nuclear campaign at Faslane early in her career

There is an irony in Sturgeons last remarks to Holyrood being on The Promise, an undertaking given during her time as First Minister to improve the lives of care-experienced children and adults. It is the one regard in which I think she made an unambiguously positive contribution to national life, and for a class of people who were for the longest time written off, if even considered at all.

The word trauma gets overused but for young people today and older people in the past, their lived experience (another overused phrase) was one of multiple traumas. The trauma of family breakdown; the trauma of being abruptly chucked into the system; the trauma, for some, of abuse and maltreatment; and the trauma of official indifference to them and their lives.

Sturgeon was the first person in power who bothered to meet them, to learn their names, and most importantly to listen. Whether The Promise is achieved, or proves to be just more rhetoric, is an open question.

She broke so many promises and while keeping this one would not make up for all the others, it would at least be a legacy to look back on without the pangs of regret that even she must feel.

There are substantial numbers of people in this country who hate Nicola Sturgeon. The very mention of her name is enough to set their teeth on edge.

Im not one of them. I think she was a terrible first minister and cast a baneful spell over Scottish politics and public life.

With the exception of her championing of care-experienced people, I suspect Scotland would be a better place today if she had never darkened the door of the Scottish Parliament.

But I cant hate her. In my eyes, she is a tragic figure, an object lesson in the pursuit of office for its own sake. In the incalculable waste of time and opportunity and resources that follows when a limited political imagination gets almost unlimited access to the levers of the state.

All that power, all that potential, all that promise  all for nothing.
Homework would be abolished for primary school pupils and exams phased out in secondaries under madcap proposals unveiled by the Scottish Greens.

The party came under fire for setting out one of the most radical overhauls of the traditional schooling ever proposed by a mainstream political party.

Its manifesto for the Holyrood elections will commit to ending all homework for primary school pupils because it claimed this can have a negative impact on learning due to the lack of motivation for additional schoolwork.

The party also claimed that homework worsens inequality by disadvantaging pupils without access to technology and learning resources at home.

Independent MSP Fergus Ewing, who represents Inverness and Nairn, said: The wine bar revolutionaries must have been glugging too much Chablis when they came with this madcap wheeze.

Their time in Government wreaked havoc with the economy. The main parties must before the Scottish elections rule out any deal with the Greens, who should not be within a thousand miles of government. No-one should risk voting for any party that would bring the Greens back into government.

Children need to learn to read, write, count and spell. To develop literacy and numeracy skills they need the discipline of having to work at things to learn and make progress. Homework and exams are vital to childrens education.

He also highlighted that Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer quit his politics and psychology course at Strathclyde University to become Yes Scotlands communities co-ordinator for the independence referendum before becoming an MSP, and said: Just because the Green leader Greer didnt bother to finish his education, when he quit university, shouldnt mean he deprives others of the chance and the right to do so.

Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay, the co-leaders of the Scottish Greens, claim homework is harmful and exams Victorian

The Greens said their proposals were one of the boldest overhauls of Scottish education in decades.

The party said it previously commissioned research which found that homework in primary school can have a negative impact on learning due to younger childrens lack of motivation for additional schoolwork and that it can worsen inequality as it disadvantages children without access to technology and learning resources or whose home life makes it difficult to complete.

Its manifesto will also include a commitment to move away from Scotlands Victorian-era system of high stakes exams, and will propose that more of each pupils grade is based on work completed during the year.

Scottish Conservative education spokesman Miles Briggs said: This bonkers call is another illustration of the dangers the extremist Greens pose to Scotland and our education system.

Homework is an important part of school life, helping pupils to develop their understanding and knowledge.

It teaches both primary and secondary school pupils valuable life-skills and should not be scrapped.

Mr Greer said: Homework in primary school offers little, if any, proven benefit. In fact, the evidence suggests it can do more harm than good. It can dampen rather than encourage curiosity, turning education into something to dread rather than love.

Children need time to play, to explore and to socialise with each other after school. Homework gets in the way of these learning opportunities.

Scottish Greens believe primary school pupils should not be handed homework

Everyone accepts that the primary curriculum has become far too cluttered. This puts pressure on teachers to issue more homework just to get through it all. That isnt the solution though, fixing the curriculum is.

We cant just stick with homework because its what weve always done. We need to think big, be bold and embrace this chance to fix the system.

He added: High stakes end of term exams have never been a fair or accurate way of measuring a young persons knowledge or their abilities. A bad cold or a poor nights sleep caused by a chaotic home life can mean students missing out on the grade they really deserved. That just isnt right.

The Scottish Governments own expert review told them to move on from this Victorian-era system, but they refused. Scottish education needs to be pulled into the 21st century, not held back by this timid thinking. The Scottish Greens will deliver these long overdue improvements for our school system.

A Scottish Government spokesman said ministers had agreed with the Hayward Review recommendation that the balance of assessment methods in the senior phase should change to have less reliance on high-stakes final exams.

He added: This means that, in the future, internal and continuous assessment will contribute to a greater percentage of a final grade.

Indeed, written exams have already been removed from more practical courses, such as metalwork and woodwork, where coursework and practical assessment better reflect the nature of the subjects.

The Government has been clear, however, that taking steps to rebalance assessment does not mean that exams will be removed.

The spokesman added: It is also appropriate that headteachers and teachers in our primary schools are empowered to make decisions for the children and young people they support every day, this includes decisions on the use of homework.
A benefit fraudster who has lived in Scotland for 20 years needed a taxpayer- funded interpreter to help with his English when he landed back in court.

Hassan Mirzas latest offence saw him again appear in the dock at Dundee Sheriff Court.

The 43-year-old shopkeeper from Pakistan was previously jailed for eight months in 2022 after he posed as his dead father, Abdul Mirza, to claim 22,000 in benefits over a two-year period.

When Mirza was quizzed about the fraud at the time he said: My English is not so good.

In the latest case, Mirza admitted engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards his wife between May 2023 and September 2024.

He turned against Saira Arif, whom he married in 2021, after she took issue with his repeated trips to Sweden, where his adult children live.

Hassan Mirza needed an interpreter at court - despite having lived in Scotland for 20 years

He repeatedly cut himself in front Ms Arif blaming her for his actions. He also grabbed her by the neck and pushed her, smashed her phone and chased her out of their Dundee home.

Sheriff Paul Ralph said: For a period of almost 18 months you were abusing your wife. That behaviour is completely unacceptable.

'Some of the responses you gave to social workers indicate you have not reflected on your behaviour.

Acknowledging that the background report prepared by social workers was extremely poor, solicitor Annika Jethwa, defending, told the court on Friday: 'He has lived in this country for 20 years and he does speak English  but he is sometimes not following things said to him.

He did not have the benefit of an interpreter.

Sheriff Ralph placed Mirza under supervision for two years for social workers to challenge his attitudes and also gave him 200 hours of community service.
A woman and two men have been seriously injured in a crash between a tractor and two motorbikes.

Emergency services rushed to the scene on the A92 just south of Aberdeen near the village of Catterline on Saturday at 3.25pm.

They found a rider and a pillion passenger of a BMW K1200 - a 61-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman - and a rider of a Yamaha FZ6 - a 44-year-old man - with serious injuries.

All three were rushed to hospital. The driver of the tractor was uninjured.

The road was closed for seven hours while police scoured the scene for their crash investigation.

Police Scotland has now issued a plea for witnesses to come forward, particularly those with dashcam footage.

Sergeant Lesley Morrison said: 'Our enquiries are ongoing to establish exactly what happened and I'm appealing for the public's help.

'Were you travelling on the A92 around the time of the incident and saw what happened? Did you see any of the vehicles prior to the crash and have information which may help? If you do, please come forward.

The crash happened on the A92 near Catterline (pictured). The road was closed for seven hours while police carried out their crash investigation and have issued a plea for witnesses to come forward with dashcam footage

'I'd also ask drivers with dash-cams to review your footage and bring anything of significance to our attention.'

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 1783 of 21 March.
A Republican California sheriff who is running for governor has seized more than 650,000 ballots to investigate an alleged excess of votes.

Sheriff Chad Bianco, who oversees Riverside County just east of Los Angeles, began his investigation over the weekend, with his office describing 'alleged irregularities' in the county's elections.

The move stemmed from the findings of a third-party, citizens' election watchdog group called the Riverside Election Integrity Team.

The organization claimed to have found an excess of around 46,000 votes in the November special election for Proposition 50, which was a redistricting effort intended to favor Democrats in the midterm elections and was voted into law.

Proposition 50 was introduced by California Governor Gavin Newsom in response to a similar redistricting move in Texas that strengthened Republicans' prospects in the upcoming midterms.

California officials have insisted that the Riverside Election Integrity Team's findings are unfounded and could fuel conspiracy theories, but Bianco has gone ahead with his investigation anyway and has said his office will conduct another count.

At a press conference on Friday, the sheriff, who is an avid supporter of Trump, said: 'This investigation is simple: physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes recorded.'

But California Secretary of State Shirley Weber has questioned Bianco's investigation and said his office has neither the expertise nor the authority to conduct a recount.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has seized more than 650,000 ballots as his office investigates 'alleged irregularities' in the county's elections

Bianco cited an alleged excess of around 46,000 votes in the special election for Proposition 50, which was a redistricting effort favorable to Democrats that was introduced by California Governor Gavin Newsom (pictured)

Bianco is a Republican, and he is running for governor of California. He is pictured walking through a crowd after announcing his gubernatorial bid in February

'The Riverside County Sheriff's Office has taken actions based on allegations that lack credible evidence and risk undermining public confidence in our elections,' Weber told the City News Service, a news wire for Southern California.

'The sheriff's assertion that his deputies know how to count is admirable. The fact remains that he and his deputies are not elections officials, and they do not have expertise in election administration.'

Proposition 50 was passed into law after receiving 64 percent of statewide ballots cast in November of last year.

The law won 56 percent of the vote in Riverside County, where a total of 656,000 votes were cast. That means Bianco has seized pretty much every vote that was made.

At a Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting in February, Greg Langworthy, a leader of the Riverside Election Integrity Team, explained his group's method of auditing voting machines.

'We are accounting for all the ballots that came into the system, and there cannot be any more votes than the ballots that came into the system,' he said, noting that the exact number of ballots that allegedly could not be accounted for was 45,896.

Art Tinoco, a Riverside County election official, dismissed the Riverside Election Integrity Team's excess ballot findings last month and said the organization did not understand how vote counts are done on election day.

The election official told county supervisors that initial intake logs are supposed to be estimates rather than exact counts and that the final tally, which was determined through two independent systems, was still within 103 votes of that estimate.

A Riverside County election official dismissed the excess vote count and said that the election integrity did not understand how vote tallies work on election day. A woman casting her ballot is pictured (stock image)

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber has questioned Sheriff Bianco's investigation and whether his office has the experience or authority to conduct a recount

California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office has said that it has 'serious questions about the merits of [Bianco's] investigation'

That is a tiny fraction of the discrepancy cited by the sheriff's office, and it is well within the state's accepted margin of error, Tinoco said.

'Did the Nov. 4, 2025, statewide special election have a 45,896-ballot discrepancy between ballots cast and ballots counted?' Tinoco asked at the board of supervisors meeting. 'The answer to that is no.'

On top of vocal opposition, Sheriff Bianco has said that Democratic California Attorney General Rob Bonta has actively worked to undermine his investigation.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Bonta's office refuted that allegation and said: 'We have attempted to work cooperatively with the Sheriffs Office in order to better understand the basis for their investigation, including by reviewing the warrants themselves and by requesting the Sheriffs complete investigative file.'

The California attorney general's office added that Bianco 'has delayed, stonewalled, and otherwise refused to work with us in good faith.'

Bonta's office said that the sheriff has not provided most of the documentation that has been requested and that it has 'serious questions about the merits of this investigation.'

Sheriff Bianco told the Daily Mail in a statement: 'AG Bonta has repeatedly shown he is an absolute embarrassment to law enforcement. He has never conducted an investigation.

'The only investigations he seems to be a part of are the ones he is interfering with. A judge approved the warrant, so Bontas opinion means absolutely nothing. Its no wonder California is ripe with waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer money; We have an incompetent AG.

'The court has jurisdiction over the evidence, and the court has appointed a special master to oversee the count. We will know more in the coming days.'
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has acknowledged that Australias widely cited estimate of about 30 days' worth of fuel reserves includes shipments that are still on their way to the country.

Australias reserves are estimated to cover roughly 38 days of petrol and about 30 days each of diesel and jet fuel -figures that have been repeatedly referenced since tensions escalated around the Strait of Hormuz.

The admission came during a fiery clash with Sunrise host Nat Barr over the Albanese governments response to worsening fuel shortages, after six tankers bound for Australia were cancelled or delayed due to the Middle East conflict.

Barr asked Plibersek: 'You know the 30 days that everyone in your government keeps talking about - is that how much fuel we've got in Australia?'

Plibersek said that fuel security was measured in the same way it had always been.

'It's measured in the fuel stocks that we've got in Australia, and ships that are headed here as well,' she said.

Plibersek added: 'We absolutely acknowledge that there are problems in getting fuel supplies to regional areas.'

But Barr highlighted that shortages had also hit some stations in metropolitan areas.

A frustrated Barr interrupted: 'This is in Neutral Bay in Sydney! It's in the city. In Sydney, there are dozens of stations empty, like the little sign, no fuel.'

Tanya Plibersek clashed with Sunrise host Nat Barr and Oner Nation MP Barnaby Joyce on Monday

'Out of order' signs are displayed on empty pumps at an Ampol petrol station in Sydney after running out of fuel

Plibersek said the government had released petrol from its emergency stocks and appointed a national fuel coordinator to tackle distribution issues.

'The most helpful thing people could do is just buy the fuel they need and no more,' Plibersek said.

'We've got our two refineries working overtime, all of that fuel staying in Australia, and we're negotiating with our countries in the region to make sure that the supplies keep coming.

'We are absolutely on the issue of fuel distribution, and we're working very closely with the states and territories on that as well.'

Barr said many motorists were still being left in the dark by the government about the shortages.

'No one knows why stations are empty though. Can't quite work that out,' Barr said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been phoning his global counterparts to try to shore up Australia's fuel stocks over the coming weeks.

Australia is heavily reliant on fuel imports, bringing much of it in from South Korea and Singapore, which in turn rely on oil from the Middle East.

Robinvale in Victoria (pictured on Saturday) is among a host of regional towns that have run out of fuel

Albanese was working the phones to ensure Australia's imports were not forgotten in the global rush for oil, Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said.

'The prime minister's negotiating with our Asian neighbours and counterparts to try and maximise the amount of fuel that is available in Australia,' he told Sky News on Monday morning.

Thistlethwaite suggested Australia could leverage its natural gas exports to incentivise countries such as South Korea to continue sending fuel.

The International Energy Agency has suggested encouraging people to work from home in a bid to reduce demand for petrol, a move the government described as 'sensible' on Sunday.

In response to the shortages, fuel companies have increased their imports from the United States in response, Labor minister Mark Butler said on Monday.

'We're seeing, as I understand it, an increase in shipments from the US that we haven't seen for many, many years,' he told Nine's Today program.

'I think the companies, but also the government, (are) working very hard to make sure that we can get supplies from wherever possible,' he said.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume said stronger supply chains were the solution to the fuel crisis.

'The way to deal with the crisis we're facing now is to address those distribution channels and to make sure that we have the supply chains in place to deliver fuel where it's needed,' she told ABC TV.

'Without that, the economy simply runs to a stop.'
A British tourist has died in Colombia after reportedly travelling to the South American country for his wedding.

The 30-year-old is said to have into trouble in the sea off the Caribbean port city of Cartagena.

The alarm was raised around 7am on Sunday local time after he went swimming in El Laguito, a popular neighbourhood with tourists.

Local reports say the Brit had travelled to Colombia to get married, with one saying he had just tied the knot with his partner who is believed to have been with him at the time.

He was pronounced dead at the scene after failed efforts by emergency responders to revive him.

Sea conditions at the time he went into the water were described as rough.

An investigation into the tragedy remains ongoing although the British tourists death has been described as accidental.

His body has been taken to a city forensic medicine institute so a post-mortem can take place.

The 30-year-old died after getting into difficulties in the sea off the Caribbean port city of Cartagena (pictured)

Colombian media have published pictures of the dead man taken from social media.

Earlier this year, two British tourists came close to death after the sailing boat they were on was hit by a cargo vessel off Cartagena before sinking.

Colombian naval officers went to the rescue of the holidaymakers and 18 others on board the boat after they managed to save themselves by jumping into emergency life rafts following the early morning collision as the captain sounded a Mayday alert.

Miraculously all survived unharmed despite the near-tragedy.

The tourists were thought to have been nearing the end of a five-day, four-night tour from Panama to Colombia starting in the San Blas Islands, a stunning Caribbean archipelago off Panamas coast.

The latest death comes just days after a British tourist drowned after being dragged out to sea in a rip current in Bali.

The 39-year-old was on holiday when he went swimming at Nyang-Nyang Beach where it is believed he was pulled away by the current.

His body was discovered floating near the Pecatu village early Monday morning, where two tourists helped pull him ashore.

Paramedics arrived at the scene where they confirmed the man was dead before taking him to hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Authorities said they were investigating the cause of death.

Nyoman Sidakarya, Head of the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, said: 'The search and rescue standby officer on duty received information from the Pecatu community officer requesting evacuation assistance regarding the discovery of a body in the middle of the sea.

'The evacuation involved several agencies, including the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office, the Water Police, South Kuta Police, Pecatu village authorities, Balawista South Kuta lifeguards, and members of the local community.'
Sleepless no more? China scales up sleep care nationwide

Xinhua) 09:19, March 22, 2026

Nurses introduce the correct sleeping posture for children in Handan City, north China's Hebei Province, March 21, 2017. (Xinhua/Hao Qunying)

BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Just a few years ago, only a handful of patients would walk into the sleep clinic at Huimin County People's Hospital in Binzhou, east China's Shandong Province. Today, that number has tripled, with annual visits rising from around 200 to 600.

"It's not that suddenly more people can't sleep," said Yin Jianfeng, the clinic director. "It's that more people are willing to come for help."

The rising footfall reflects both the widespread nature of sleep problems in China and the rising public awareness of sleep health -- a challenge brought into focus as the country marks World Sleep Day on Saturday.

PRESSING DEMAND

According to a survey published in 2025, Chinese people aged 18 and above sleep an average of 7.06 to 7.18 hours, while 48.5 percent report experiencing sleep problems, a share that rises with age.

The survey, conducted by the Chinese Sleep Research Society and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, showed that on average, Chinese adults fall asleep at 11:15 p.m. and wake at 6:38 a.m.

Among younger people, late sleep has become the norm, with around half not falling asleep until after midnight.

High-pressure professionals, people with chronic illnesses, and those with mental health conditions are among the groups most at risk of insomnia.

Huang Zhili, a professor at Fudan University and chairman of the Chinese Sleep Research Society, pointed out that the rise in insomnia is closely linked to China's rapid industrial and digital development, which has brought intensified competition, heavier workloads, and a growing reliance on electronic devices.

Excessive screen use can disrupt sleep through light and noise stimulation, while constant exposure to information may also heighten anxiety.

Huang also warned that sleep disorders are increasingly affecting younger people, whose sleep problems are often associated with smartphone overuse, academic pressure and parental expectations.

BEYOND BIG CITIES

At Shanghai's Huashan Hospital, sleep services have been offered for more than two decades, and its sleep disorders center is now a top choice for patients.

For Professor Yu Huan from the hospital's neurology department, the surge in demand is unmistakable. Her outpatient hours, once limited to half a day, now stretch from the afternoon to as late as 10 p.m.

"Patient visits to sleep clinics are exploding," Yu said, attributing the trend to both fast-paced lifestyles and growing public awareness of health.

To meet the growing demand and bring sleep services closer to more people, China has stepped up efforts to expand sleep clinics beyond major cities.

In February 2025, Chinese health authorities moved to mandate that each prefecture-level city must have at least one hospital providing sleep clinic services by the end of the year.

By the end of December 2025, outpatient visits to sleep clinics nationwide had risen by 39 percent from a year earlier, making it easier for more patients to access professional care closer to home.

Some regions are going further. In Shandong, sleep clinics have been extended to the county level to improve accessibility. As of October 2025, more than 300 medical institutions across the province had set up such services.

"As sleep clinics become more widespread, the stereotype surrounding psychiatric hospitals is gradually broken. Many patients no longer suffer from sleep disorders in silence. They start to seek help," said Li Xirong, director of the sleep medicine center of Shandong Mental Health Center.

BEYOND SLEEPING PILLS

As sleep services expand, there is growing recognition that treating sleep disorders requires more than medication alone.

Li said many patients used to have a common misconception that sleeping pills are the only way to treat insomnia.

"Using sleeping pills to fall asleep is like getting a false sleep," Li said, noting that long-term reliance on medication not only fails to address underlying sleep issues but may also harm the body.

Non-drug therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and device-based treatments such as CPAP machines or transcranial magnetic stimulation, are increasingly used in clinics.

Regular exercise, meditation, and mindfulness practices are also encouraged as part of a holistic approach to better sleep.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including acupuncture, herbal remedies, and tui-na massage, is also being incorporated to address sleep problems and promote overall balance.

Established in 2006, the sleep clinic at Guang'anmen Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences now handles close to 100,000 outpatient visits each year, with patients with insomnia accounting for around 60 to 70 percent of the total.

"The advantage of the TCM lies in its individualized approach," said Hong Lan, a senior doctor from the clinic.

"It not only focuses on helping patients fall asleep, but also emphasizes overall body and mind balance," said Hong.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
A USPS mailman arrested for pushing a Jewish boy has been pictured on surveillance footage for the first time, as police say the attack is not being investigated as a hate crime.

Gabriel Stan, 39, was arrested on Friday after shocking surveillance footage circulated of him allegedly pushing a four-year-old boy while delivering mail.

The Town of Ramapo Police Department determined that Stan 'intentionally' shoved the boy and was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and attempted assault in the third degree.

He was also hit with a third charge of felony attempted assault in the second degree because the child was under the age of seven.

The alleged attack occurred on Thursday, just after 6.25 pm in Monsey, a census-designated community in the town of Ramapo, New York.

Police sources told the New York Post that investigators do not believe the alleged attack was motivated by the boy's religion. Ramapo Police did not disclose the victim's identity because of his age.

Video of the incident, first obtained by the local news outlet Monsey Scoop, showed the child standing nearby as the postman placed letters into a communal mailbox.

The little boy then walked up to the mail truck before he was violently struck down by the postal worker.

Gabriel Stan, pictured above on surveillance video, was arrested on Friday in connection with a viral video allegedly depicting him pushing down a four-year-old Jewish boy

The video, first obtained by the Monsey Scoop, revealed the shocking moments a mailman struck down a small Jewish boy while on duty

The boy fell over onto his back and can be seen scrambling to his feet moments later, picking up his yarmulke, and walking away.

A yarmulke is a traditional Orthodox Jewish headpiece worn by men. It is also referred to as a kippah or a koppel.

Stan was then seen returning to his mail truck before appearing to yell at the boy and his friends.

A picture of Stan on surveillance camera footage showed him in a black beanie and his USPS uniform.

Photos of the aftermath shared by the Monsey Scoop depicted Orthodox Jewish children congregating with their parents as police cars were seen parked in the suburban neighborhood.

Monsey is a community with a large Hasidic and Orthodox Jewish population. Last year, Ramapo was named the safest place to live in America.

Ramapo Police said Stan was released on his own recognizance, meaning authorities determined he was not a flight risk.

He is scheduled to appear in court at the Ramapo Justice Court. It's unclear whether Stan has retained an attorney or entered a plea to the charges against him.

The Daily Mail attempted to reach Stan for comment.

Monsey is a small community in Rockland County, New York, that contains a large Jewish population. A file photo of a member of the Orthodox Jewish community in Monsey is seen riding a bike above

The incident was widely condemned by local officials after the video footage circulated online.

Ramapo Town Supervisor Michael Specht wrote on X that he had viewed the video footage, calling it 'very disturbing,' and assured his constituents that police were treating the case with 'extreme seriousness.'

New York State Assemblyman Aron Wieder added: 'The attack on a four-year-old in Monsey is appalling and deeply troubling, never acceptable under any circumstances.'

State Senator Bill Weber echoed such anger, saying he had been inundated with concern from residents.

'I've heard from constituents who are deeply alarmed by the assault of a young child in the @TownOfRamapo. I share their concern and outrage,' Weber wrote on X, calling for the suspect to be prosecuted 'to the fullest extent of the law.'
A Venezuelan migrant accused of killing an 18-year-old college student in Chicago had been apprehended and released under the Biden administration.

Jose Medina-Medina was previously caught by US Border Patrol on May 9, 2023 under the Biden administration, but was released into the United States, the Department of Homeland Security announced on Sunday.

Just over one month later, on June 19, 2023, he was arrested for shoplifting but was once again released into society.

Medina-Medina is now in custody for killing Sheridan Gorman, a freshman at Loyola University, as she was walking with her friends along Lake Michigan at around 1.30am on Thursday.

He allegedly approached the college freshman while wearing a mask and dressed in all black, then shot her in the head as she attempted to flee. Gorman was later pronounced dead at the scene.

'Sheridan Gorman had her whole life ahead of her before this cold-blooded killer decided to end her life,' Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said.

'She was failed by open border policies and sanctuary politicians who RELEASED this illegal alien TWICE before he went on to commit this heinous murder,' she continued.

Bis then went on to call on Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and other 'sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail back into American neighborhoods.'

Jose Medina-Medina, the Venezuelan national accused of killing an 18-year-old college student, was caught by US Border Patrol on May 9, 2023 under the Biden administration, but was released into the United States

He is now in custody for killing Sheridan Gorman, a freshman at Loyola University, as she was walking with her friends along Lake Michigan at around 1.30am on Thursday

Pritzker has since also released a statement saying his 'thoughts are with the family, friends, and Loyola University community grieving the senseless murder of Sheridan Gorman.

'Violent crime has no place in our streets, and we expect the alleged perpetrator to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' the governor said.

He then argued: 'The Trump Administration needs to stop politicizing heinous tragedies and instead focus on real solutions, like reinstating federal funds to prevent violence that support our public safety efforts.'

Sheridan grew up in Yorktown Heights, New York, an upper-middle-class suburb in Westchester County, and lived in a $1 million home with her parents until college. She went to Yorktown High School, a highly rated public school in the state.

Her parents, Thomas and Jessica Gorman, have since flown to Chicago to collect her body.

'Our beloved daughter, Sheridan, was taken from us this morning in Chicago,' the family said in a statement. 'There is no way to soften this - this was murder. Sheridan was the light of our lives. She made people feel seen, safe, and loved simply by being who she was.'

'She lived her faith with kindness, compassion, and joy, and she loved her family and friends deeply.

'We trusted that she would be safe. That trust was broken. Someone made a deliberate choice that stole our daughter and forever changed our family.'

The family added that they are 'demanding answers' and won't stop fighting until the person responsible for Sheridan's death is brought to justice.

Just days before her death, the vivacious college student posted a series of photos of her enjoying St Patrick's Day weekend with her friends in Chicago, with the caption: 'Where's my kiss?'

Earlier in March, she wrote a caption now tragic to look back on: 'Warmer days ahead!' while posing across the city with her friends.

Sheridan grew up in Yorktown Heights, New York, an upper-middle-class suburb in Westchester County, and lived in a $1 million home with her parents until college (Pictured: Sheridan sits on her bed with Loyola Merch in May 2025, ahead of her first semester in the fall)

The college student is pictured with her mother Jessica Gorman. The mom posts frequently online about her love for her country, veterans, and protecting the American flag - and her daughter showed her love for God and her friends on her Instagram

She often posted about her love for her friends and family, as well as her strong faith in God, with a Bible verse from Corinthians, 'let all that you do be done in love,' proudly in her social media description.

Her all-American mother, Jessica, also posts frequently online about her love for her country, veterans, and protecting the American flag.

She proudly announced in May 2025 that her daughter committed to Loyola, a private Jesuit university on the north side of Chicago.

'So incredibly proud of our sassy yet so sweet Sheridan Grace!' she wrote in a Facebook post accompanied by a picture of Sheridan surrounded with the college's merchandise.

'An absolutely HUGE thanks to all our friends and family for coming over and decking her bed out with all this beautiful maroon and gold merch and all your love and hugs.'

Nearly a year later, in the middle of her second semester, Sheridan was gunned down. Chicago police have said she likely wasn't the intended target.

Chicago Alderman Maria Hadden, who has been in touch with the police, said Gorman was unfortunately 'at the wrong place at the wrong time'.

The seemingly random nature of Sheridan's killing echoes other recent cases that have sparked national attention - including the murder of Laken Riley.

Chicago police have said Gorman (pictured) likely wasn't the intended target of the shooting

The seemingly random nature of Sheridan's killing drew comparisons to the 2024 murder of Laken Riley, a nursing student in Georgia

Jose Ibarra, a then-26-year-old Venezuelan migrant who entered the US illegally, was convicted of brutally murdering Riley in the woods as she was out for a jog. He was sentenced to life in prison

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was attacked and killed while out for a morning jog on the University of Georgia campus in Athens on February 22, 2024.

Investigators said she was targeted by a man who attempted to sexually assault her. Ultimately, she was killed by blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.

Her body was found later the same day in a wooded area after she failed to return home from her run.

The next day, police arrested Jose Ibarra, a then-26-year-old Venezuelan migrant who entered the US illegally.

In November 2024, Ibarra was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Nine days into his second term, President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, which tightened immigration enforcement by mandating the detention of illegal immigrants who have been arrested for crimes such as theft, burglary, shoplifting, or assault on law enforcement.

Ibarra had been arrested twice before he killed Riley: once in New York City for endangering a child and again in Georgia for shoplifting.
The US State Department warned Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution over concerns that groups supportive of Iran may target interests overseas.

Americans around the globe, especially in the Middle East, were advised on Sunday by the State Department to follow the guidance of their nearest US embassy or consulate as tensions with Iran continue to escalate.

US citizens were also warned that travel can be disrupted due to 'Periodic airspace closures.'

'US diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted,' the alert stated.

'Groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world.'

The security alert follows a week of heightened tensions, starting when Iran issued a warning on Friday that it would attack civilian targets worldwide, including at luxury resorts, as millions of Americans head off for spring break.

General Abolfazl Shekarchi warned that Israeli and US officials would not be safe after strikes wiped out Iran's leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have already put their counterterrorism operations on 'high alert' for possible Iranian retaliation on US soil.

US State Department issued a warning to Americans worldwide to be cautious over concerns that groups supportive of Iran may target interests overseas (Pictured, flames rising from an oil depot struck by airstrikes in Tehran on March 7, 2026)

The department also warned that travel for Americans can be disrupted due to 'Periodic airspace closures' (Pictured destruction from airstrikes in Iran)

A gunman opened fire at a packed bar in Austin, Texas, killing two people and wounding 14 others on March 1. The shooter, Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a Senegalese-born US citizen, was killed by police after opening fire on patrons before turning his weapon on pedestrians nearby.

In recent days, Iran has escalated retaliatory strikes after Israel hit a major gas field, which has ignited panic across the Middle East.

Now Iran has vowed to 'completely shut' the Strait of Hormuz and destroy Israeli and US-linked power plants in the Middle East if Donald Trump follows through on threats to 'obliterate' Tehran's energy facilities.

The vital passageway through which about a fifth of global gas and oil supplies flow has been at the center of contention since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. The struggle over the Strait has driven energy prices worldwide to spike.

Now in its fourth week, the conflict has killed 13 US service members and at least 1,300 Iranians.

A gunman opened fire at a packed bar in Austin, Texas, killing two people and wounding 14 others on March 1. The shooter, Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a Senegalese-born US citizen, was killed by police after opening fire on patrons before turning his weapon on pedestrians nearby

Iran issued a warning on Friday that it is preparing to attack civilian targets worldwide, including luxury resorts, as Americans head off for spring break (stock photo)

F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 31, taxiing on the flight deck of the world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78), on Sunday

President Trump said he would destroy the power plants in Iran - 'starting with the biggest one first' - if the waterway is not fully reopened within 48 hours.

He issued the stark warning late on Saturday night - just one day after he was said to be thinking about 'winding down' the war.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that if the US targets Iranian energy infrastructure, they will keep the Strait 'completely shut' and that Israeli and US energy infrastructure in the region will be 'completely destroyed.'

The threats follow a fresh wave of missile attacks launched by Tehran towards Israel amid mounting fears about the regime's ability to strike European capitals.

More than 100 people have been wounded in southern Israel after strikes on buildings in the cities of Dimona and Arad.

Missiles from Iran also took aim at Diego Garcia on Saturday, a key US and U.K. military base in the Indian Ocean, roughly 2,500 miles from Iran.

The two missiles launched did not strike the base but demonstrated that the Iranians have the capabilities to hit Europe.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Saturday: 'Just yesterday, Iran launched a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 4,000 kilometers [2,500 miles] toward an American target on the island of Diego Garcia.

'These missiles were not intended to hit Israel. Their range reaches the capitals of Europe  Berlin, Paris, and Rome are all within direct threat range.'

Israeli security personnel secure an area around a rocket partly buried in a field in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights bordering Lebanon on Thursday

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However, amid the discovery of Iran's capacity to hit Europe, a Royal Navy submarine from the U.K. arrived in the Arabian Sea on Saturday.

The submarine allows British forces to have the capacity to launch attacks on Iran if the conflict escalates.

The news comes after the Prime Ministers office said on Friday that Sir Keir Starmer had agreed to allow the US to use British bases to launch strikes on Iranian sites that have been targeting the Strait of Hormuz.

Sir Keir had previously allowed US forces to use the bases only for defensive operations, to prevent Iran from firing missiles that put British interests or lives at risk.

However, he has now approved expanding the targets to help protect ships in the shipping channel on the basis of 'collective self-defense'.
Key Kinahan lieutenant Sean McGoverns surprise guilty plea this week has sent a strong message to cartel leaders that there is nowhere to hide, the head of the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau has said.

In an interview with the Irish Mail on Sunday, Detective Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland said the evidence against McGovern  who was previously named in the Special Criminal Court as one of the leaders of the Kinahan organised crime group  was so phenomenal he had no choice but to enter a plea.

In his first comments since the senior gangland figure pleaded guilty to directing a criminal gang in relation to the murder of one man and the surveillance of another, Det Chief Supt Boland said: You dont enter a guilty plea unless you absolutely have no way out.

McGovern was arraigned on the two charges on Monday and replied guilty to both. He was the first person to be extradited to Ireland from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to face trial.

Detective Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau

The senior detective also said the war in Iran has led to a change in dynamics in the Middle East, which has heaped further pressure on Dubai-based cartel boss Daniel Kinahan, his father Christy Sr and brother Christy Jr.

He noted the current environment in the Middle East is not good for anybody, particularly people who may have nowhere to go.

Det Chief Supt Boland said of McGoverns guilty plea and the net tightening around the Kinahans: Its been a good week for everyone. These things take time, and from our perspective we have to be very measured about what we can say. But when you see such a significant case ending up with pleas being offered, it is a testament to the investigation and to the level of evidence that was being presented as well.

He added the guilty plea is an indication of where we are... the evidence is just so phenomenal.

And it has given welcome momentum to the investigation team tasked with bringing the Kinahans  and other drug gangs operating in the country  to justice.

It is good for all of us because it frees us up to continue with similar investigations, as we have quite a number of similar investigations that we are pursuing.

Not all directly linked to the Kinahan gang, I should say, but we are gathering all of the evidence available with our absolute intention to be bringing very serious criminals who are well-known household names before the courts in the future.

Sean McGovern, a key member of Ireland's powerful Kinahan cartel who last week pled guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing a criminal gang

Mr Boland said the Garda strategy is to pursue the leaders, rather than the footsoldiers, within organised crime groups.

Were in a different space; for so many years the only people that risked being prosecuted for murders were the people caught at the time who were actively pulling the trigger, or due to forensics.

So weve moved into such a different space where youre now seeing the people who are making the decisions brought to justice.

That message needs to get out to everybody coming up after them as well, that they will become the focus of everything we do.

The senior detective acknowledges that targeting the top tier of criminal organisations would not be possible without close international co-operation.

He said gardai have invested heavily in these law-enforcement collaborations since 2015. All of the current investigations being conducted by the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GDOCB) have an international dimension to them.

Investigators are in daily contact with police forces in other countries. And as a result, Mr Boland said, there is nowhere for criminals to hide.

Were developing those relationships [to be] so much stronger, even out as far as South America in recent years.

There is nowhere for them to hide any more and we have had nothing but a positive experience with our colleagues in the UAE. Theyve proved to us if the evidence is there and we satisfy their own judicial processes, there is nobody who is safe in the UAE.

Daniel Kinahan has been sanctioned by US authorities who have offered a $5m reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction

US authorities have also offered a $5m reward for Christopher Kinahan Jnr, who they have also sanctioned

Mr Boland said the recently appointed Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly is a huge supporter of that relationship [with the UAE], having being over there himself, and we are going to continue to build on that.

Commenting on how the war in Iran has changed the landscape for Irish criminals in the Middle East, the man leading the fight against organised crime groups said there is a pressure on them now that was not foreseen.

Heres a man [McGovern] over here, whose partner and children are all still over there and he is getting locked up now  and hell be in custody here likely for a considerably long period of time. Of course that [war] changes lots of dynamics, even apart from how safe people might feel out there.

So of course it is adding to pressures, but from a criminal perspective so be it. But nobody wants to see what is going on out there.

He added the threat posed by the Kinahan drugs gang to Irish society has been very, very significantly reduced. But he stressed the job of bringing the gangs top leaders to justice is not finished.

There are groups who would have been facilitated by the Kinahans or worked with them who are still involved, but it is obvious to everyone their direct control of what happens in this jurisdiction doesnt happen any more.

But from our perspective our work has not finished. We have had a goal from the beginning to totally dismantle that group.

They have created too much misery and damage to this society, so from that perspective our work has not finished.

We are absolutely determined to bring senior decision-makers who are responsible for all of the death and carnage that occurred on both sides before the courts, so that justice can be delivered.

Were not there yet, but we are at a very advanced stage.

There has been a remarkable shift in the countrys gangland landscape in recent years.

Ireland has moved from number 12 on the Global Peace Index in 2016 to number two a decade later. There have been no gangland gun murders in the country in the past 16 months.

Mr Boland noted: I dont know of any other country  and I think everyone in Ireland should be proud  that has managed to decrease their organised crime-related murders and murders by firearms to the level we have in a modern society.

It will be challenge to maintain that, but that is going to be our responsibility. Thats our focus all the time. That [no gangland murders in more than a year] is hugely significant and its something we set out to achieve.

Recent successes, according to Mr Boland, can be partly attributed to how gardai strategically went after criminals they knew to be capable of murder.

I remember conversations we were having at a senior level within AGS [An Garda Siochana], and the acceptance that we have to take out these gangs, concentrate our resources on those who are the most violent, and ensure we concentrate all our intelligence-led investigations to take these groups down.

I remember the discussions where we said strategically, If we take out all of these individuals who are willing to order people to be murdered and lock them up, society will be safer.

We anticipated this is what would happen. And we have a very strong, powerful legislative tool-kit which has been given to us by Government, particularly in relation to organised crime.

Christy Kinahan Senior, known as the dapper don. Chief Supt Boland believes Kinahan knows the net is closing around him

And so far, the strategy has been working well.

It was crazy. There was one year we had 33 shot dead and it [the level of violence] became normal for people.

I had heard a quote that it is the first time since the 1960s that weve gone for 12 months without a gangland gun murder, and its been even longer now.

The head of the Garda unit that is tasked with taking down the countrys most dangerous criminals said that the achievement is particularly significant, as it is not being successfully replicated in other countries.

Its phenomenal because its not the same that is being experienced in other jurisdictions, he added.

So we are, as a nation, standing up to all of the challenges.

Its not just the guards. We have fantastic collaboration with the Revenue Commissioners and in relation to the work we do here, it is almost hourly.

Were in a good place in regards to processes and how to do our business, but the challenge is to keep it that way.

We wont become complacent. We have to make sure that level of violence never returns to this jurisdiction again.
A 23-story tower is set to change a Californian city skyline forever as it will become the tallest building in Berkeley.

The Bancroft-Fulton Residence will offer homes for students at UC Berkeley and is set to contain 1,625 beds and feature amenities such as a fitness center, music rooms, a wellness studio, meeting spaces and a 500-seat dining space, according to a March university newsletter.

Construction of the tower on the city's Southside begun last month and the newsletter said: 'We look forward to welcoming our first group of residents in fall 2028.'

Kyle Gibson, a spokesperson for the university, told the Daily Mail: 'UC Berkeley is deeply committed to expanding campus housing options that allow our students to thrive, succeed, and fully immerse themselves in the transformative experience our university offers.

'We recognize that stable, quality housing in close proximity to campus is a cornerstone of student success, and increasing our residential capacity remains a top campus priority.

'The Bancroft-Fulton project represents a significant step forward in this mission.'

The dorm building, in what has regularly been dubbed California's most liberal city, will be targeted to freshmen and is set to hold single rooms, doubles and triples. The news was welcomed on Facebook.

One person wrote: 'YES, WAY MORE high rise dorms, apartments, Manhattanize Berkeley. Ignore the view snobs... they are making life miserable for young people just to protect their equity.'

A rendering of the Bancroft-Fulton Residence, on the corner of Bancroft Way and Fulton Street in UC Berkeley

Construction on the building began last month. Berkeley is pictured with the city of Oakland in the background

The student population of UC Berkeley saw 7,657 new transfer and first year students enrolled in the fall semester of 2024. The academic year saw a total of 45,882 students enrolled

Another added: 'Great, about time Berkeley had some new dorms.'

A third said: 'I'm pro university funded dormitories. They serve a real purpose.'

But some said that the building would take away from the feeling that many students come to Berkeley to attain.

'So much for the small town, hip feel of Berkeley,' one wrote.

Rents are expected to be similar to current prices, which range from $1,500 and $2,200 per month, as well as a mandatory $6,500 annual meal plan cost.

'There are many for rent signs around Berkeley. You never used to see that. The vacancies in the new buildings seem to be mostly unaffordable,' another said.

'Berkeley is becoming a city of big walls and on top of that the designs are pretty uninteresting. You'd expect more from this town given its history. I believe a lot of this development is a dumping ground for big investors who don't know where else to put their money,' they continued.

The additional accommdations, according to Gibson, 'will provide more students the opportunity to live where they learn' and 'foster a stronger sense of community,' ensuring that their experience at the university is 'accessible and supportive for all.'

A rendering of what the entrance to the new building will look like. It is expected to welcome students in fall 2028

Berkeley has added around 2,400 beds since 2018, including Blackwell Hall and Anchor House, in an attempt to address housing concerns for students. Another rendering is pictured

The building will cover around 340,000sq ft and has been designed by KieranTimberlake, a Philadelphia based architecture firm

Renderings of the building display a modern looking design, with floor to ceiling windows and a gray exterior

The building will reach 276ft making it the tallest in the city, surpassing the 185ft office tower on Shattuck Avenue.

It will reach around 340,000sq ft and has been designed by KieranTimberlake, a Philadelphia based architecture firm.

Renderings of the building display a modern looking design, with floor to ceiling windows and a gray exterior.

The building comes after the university faced calls for additional housing, as students cram triples into double rooms while the city booms with students.

Berkeley has added around 2,400 beds since 2018, including Blackwell Hall and Anchor House, in an attempt to address the university's growing population

According to the university, the student population saw 7,657 new, transfer and first year students enrolled in the fall semester of 2024. This current academic year saw a total of 45,882 students enrolled.
A California community is pushing back against a controversial proposal to build 110 homes on the doorstep of Yosemite National Park, as experts warn the plan could be 'dangerous.'

Fury has erupted over plans to construct more than 100 modular homes across 31 acres just north of the park's southern entrance, with 20 percent set aside for low-income residents, according to Mariposa County planning documents viewed by the Daily Mail.

Officials revealed the project would pack in 120 parking spaces and 95 two-story homes, each looming around 24ft tall.

The remaining homes would be single-story structures around 12ft tall, creating a residential enclave near Yosemite West's community accessible only through Park Service-managed roadways.

But experts, homeowners, agencies and conservationists are sounding the alarm, warning that water shortages, wildfire dangers, overcrowded schools, limited medical services and environmental threats are looming.

'This doesn't just fail the common sense test. It's irresponsible and dangerous,' Neal Desai, Pacific regional director at the National Parks Conservation Association, said in an email against the project.

Homeowner John Hipskind agreed, adding: 'I'd be shocked if I found someone who's in support of this.'

The developer, Camp Yosemite LLC, has faced nothing but backlash for its bold plan to establish a long-term living community near the iconic park.

The Yosemite National Park community is fighting against a developer's plan to build more than 100 modular homes across 31 acres just north of the park's southern entrance

Traffic forms along Hwy 140 in Yosemite National Park last month. People are concerned the proposed development would put more pressure on the already busy roads

Desai slammed the proposal as being out of step with conservation goals and warned that it comes at a time when 'Yosemite is in a major crisis.'

He questioned Camp Yosemite's plan to build residential homes instead of a hotel or inn, warning that the move appears designed to exploit California's builder's remedy.

The law lets developers sidestep local rules, speeding up housing projects that might otherwise face delays.

In short, hotels or inns don't qualify - meaning the developer may be relying on permanent residences to get around the rules.

John Mock and Kimberley O'Neil, Yosemite West property owners, revealed that this is the second attempt in 30 years to develop these parcels.

'The first attempt failed and the history of this remains pertinent today,' the pair wrote.

Some of these worries were shared by Hipskind, who stressed that building long-term housing units, particularly low-income ones, would not work in an area lacking public transit and steady job opportunities.

Because Yosemite West and Mariposa County offer few employment options, many new low-income residents would be forced to travel 90 minutes or more to work in Fresno.

Join the discussion How should communities balance urgent housing needs with protecting the safety and soul of treasured places?

The residential units would only be accessible through Park Service-managed roadway. An overcrowded lot is pictured in this file photo

Many new low-income residents would be forced to travel 90 minutes or more to work in Fresno due to the park's low employment opportunities

'Low-income households particularly depend on local services,' he wrote. 'Job scarcity creates economic instability and potential foreclosure risk.'

Both Mock and O'Neil agreed with his assertion, arguing that the proposed project 'does does not appear to genuinely provide affordable housing.'

Instead, they said the units look more like a 'glamping' hotel for short-term stays, with the supposed 'low-income' units possibly meant for staff.

Robert and Cindy Kroon, longtime residents, called the project's low-income housing 'disguise' a false premise.

'There is little or no full-time work. Any available work is seasonal at best. Yosemite West is a remote place where residents are on their own,' the couple wrote.

'There are no food deliveries. There are no grocery stores within 14 miles. There is no gas station within 14 miles. There's no post office,' they added.

'It is foolish to think that low-income housing residents would be able to afford the fuel and time for children, much less just survival, living in an area with no supporting services around for miles.'

One of Hipskind's top concerns is that the development could drain the already scarce water supply, putting the region at serious risk.

A top concern is that the development could drain the already scarce water supply

A resident argued that the application does not prove there is enough water to serve an additional 110 residents

Yosemite West relies on independent water systems with limited capacity, and Hipskind argued that the application does not prove there is enough water to serve an additional 110 residents.

The sudden population boom, Hipskind said, would push schools, hospitals, fire and sheriff services and utilities to their limits.

He said the infrastructure is already near breaking point, and a 40 percent population increase would severely strain the services residents rely on for safety and sanitation.

Firewise coordinator Adam Emken warned that the biggest problem with the development is its 'evacuation capacity.'

He described Yosemite West as having several hazardous features, such as dense forest and steep terrain that can quickly spread fires.

The lone road out of the community, Emken warned, could also become a deadly trap.

'Even when warnings are received, a single roadway out of the community could quickly become impassable due to congestion, downed trees, smoke conditions or advancing fire,' he wrote.

Many outraged community members pointed out the same issue, including longtime business owner Matthew Adams, who said that the whole proposal essentially 'looks like a fire trap.'

Residents warn that a 40 percent population increase would severely strain the services residents rely on for safety and sanitation. Pictured is Yosemite Valley's historic Ahwahnee Hotel

The community argued that a sudden population boom would push schools, hospitals, fire and sheriff services and utilities to their limits

Some highlighted the deadly 2018 Ferguson Fire near Yosemite, which tore through the area for over a month, killing two and injuring 19.

'Distance from suppression forces, heavy fuels, steep slopes, hot dry weather conditions and a history of lightning-ignited fires (projected to increase by 22 percent by 2050), could combine to lead to a large, rapidly moving crown fire that would threaten the entire community and place life and property at great risk,' Mock and O'Neil wrote.

'The community faced such a threat in the 2018 Ferguson Fire,' they added.

Lot owners Richard and Patricia Jarrett wrote: 'In light of the Ferguson Fire, firefighters were trapped inside Yosemite West because there was only one road out of the community.

'Having additional structures and people outside the community will only serve to impact the ability of firefighters and emergency response personnel should another fire encircle the community again.'

Resident Dr Hilary Bagshaw cautioned that these problems are far from procedural - they threaten the very heart of the communitys health and safety.

'As a physician, I understand the implications of inadequate resources on public health,' Bagshaw wrote.

'As a community member, I feel the collective anxiety of my neighbors and as a concerned citizen, I implore all stakeholders to reconsider this development with the utmost scrutiny,' she added.

The site borders 900 acres linked to the Southern Sierra Miwuk tribe - prompting alarm from tribal members

Firewise Coordinator Adam Emken said a lone road 'could quickly become impassable due to congestion, downed trees, smoke conditions or advancing fire'

Local agencies also shared concerns over the projects feasibility - particularly regarding roads, water and sewage systems, wildfire risks and traffic.

Preliminary planning documents revealed that the project would need entirely new water and sewage systems, and the road plans fall short of basic topographical standards.

The site borders 900 acres linked to the Southern Sierra Miwuk tribe - also prompting alarm. Tribal member Ursula Phillips blasted the lack of environmental review and called for a full impact report and cultural and historical studies.

On behalf of the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, Sandra Chapman said generations of ancestors lived in the area, sustained by the natural resources the land provided.

'Our tribal government and people have persevered,' she wrote. 'We know, respect and care for our sacred places and our ancestral village areas in the Yosemite National Park.'

Tribal Member Aanthony Lerma added that their 'bloodline has withstood hundreds of years of being systematically hunted, murdered, built over and persecuted.

'The blatant disregard for the potential environmental destruction of building 110 small modular structures into the hillside with the intended road access destroying a creek is environmentally irresponsible.' He added: 'Nature has the right to exist.

'The irony of the continued destruction from colonialism has become too apparent to ignore.'

Preliminary planning documents revealed that the project would need entirely new water and sewage systems. El Capitan in the park is pictured

Mock and ONeil raised concerns that the development could harm local ecosystems, threatening endangered species and destroying their habitats.

Resident Nathanial Abrahams agreed, adding: 'I would like to see our county stand up against outside investors exploiting our natural resources in such egregious, irresponsible ways.'

Suspicions are growing about the projects real purpose, as the developers past appears murky, according to the Mariposa Gazette.

The project is led by disbarred former attorney Ben Eilenberg, who lost his license in California in 2018, and Craig Martin Smith, a former plastic surgeon.

The pair have a history of working together. Just last year, their company, The Mission LLC, sued Santa Barbara County over property taxes - and is now attempting to use the builders remedy to force through an eight-story apartment complex.

'It really it makes people question whats going on and what are the real intentions,' Desai said.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Camp Yosemite LLC for further comment.
Austins housing market isnt just cooling - its unraveling.

Once one of the hottest real estate destinations in the United States, the city that symbolized the pandemic-era boom has flipped into a case study of how quickly momentum can collapse.

In just a few short years, Austin has gone from red-hot growth to the epicenter of a nationwide housing slowdown.

The pressure is coming from every direction. Inventory has surged while demand has thinned out. Home prices that once soared are now sliding. Foreclosures are climbing. The energy that defined Austins meteoric rise has been replaced by a sense of strain - and uncertainty.

But the latest twist isnt about buyers or sellers. Its renters who are now signaling trouble.

Rental prices in Austin are falling fast, adding a new layer of concern to an already shaken market.

And this isnt just a local anomaly - its part of a broader national shift. February 2026 marked a four-year low for median asking rents across the country, and the 30th straight month of year-over-year declines for smaller units in major metros.

Still, Austin stands out. Among the 50 largest US cities, its leading the downturn, with rents down a staggering 18.2 percent from their peak. The median asking rent has dropped to $1,357 - more than $300 below where it stood at its height in September 2022.

Once one of the hottest real estate destinations in the United States, the city that symbolized the pandemic-era boom has flipped into a case study of how quickly momentum can collapse (pictured: Austin)

In just a few short years, Austin has gone from red-hot growth to the epicenter of a nationwide housing slowdown (pictured: suburbs of Austin)

Rental prices in Austin are falling fast, adding a new layer of concern to an already shaken market

That peak came on the heels of an even bigger surge in home prices. Just months earlier, in May 2022, Austins median home price had climbed to an eye-popping $665,000.

Now, the city that once couldnt build fast enough is grappling with a very different reality: too much supply, not enough demand, and a market thats still searching for its floor.

Homes are also spending more time on the market, with the median days on market increasing by ten days.

Meanwhile, many people - including public figures such as conservative podcaster Joe Rogan and comedian and MMA fighter Brendan Schaub - are leaving Austin, and they're not doing so quietly.

All of these factors have created the perfect storm for Austin's housing market.

To call the market 'unbalanced' would be an understatement, Redfin's chief economist, Daryl Fairweather, told the Daily Mail.

'Austin is the most extreme example of a market that overheated during the pandemic and is now correcting,' Fairweather said. 'Builders added a lot of supply when demand was red-hot, and many homeowners who locked in low mortgage rates are now trying to sell into a slower market.'

Indeed, there are 10,000 more homes on sale than there are people looking to purchase in Austin, according to Redfin - making it the strongest buyer's market in the country.

The city that once couldnt build fast enough is grappling with a very different reality: too much supply, not enough demand, and a market thats still searching for its floor (pictured: homes in Austin)

There are 10,000 more homes on sale than there are people looking to purchase in Austin

Daryl Fairweather, chief economist for Redfin

Aside from being the strongest buyer's market, Austin has also seen the steepest drop in prices of all major US cities.

Prices have plunged 7.3 percent over the past year to $462,000 - far more drastic than the 0.6 percent drop seen on a national level.

Aside from Austin, 14 other metros saw median asking rents at least 10 percent below their peaks, including Birmingham (-17.1 percent), and Memphis (-16.1 percent ) - marking the deepest cumulative rent relief since the pandemic era.

Meanwhile, five markets - Virginia Beach, Kansas City, Baltimore, San Jose, and Richmond - remained within 3 percent of their peak rents, signaling a potential rebound ahead.
As the threat of a nuclear war intensifies, the terrifying reality of what could happen after the bombs explode may cause more fear than the initial cataclysm.

For decades, worst-case scenarios have projected that tens of millions could perish within minutes as nuclear warheads struck major metropolitan areas such as New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles.

However, each of those fireballs have long-lasting consequences for the planet and everyone within range of their deadly radiation clouds.

Scientific research has suggested that the conditions caused by a series nuclear detonations around the planet would be catastrophic for human health, the environment and almost all other living organisms that some might consider being vaporized in the atomic blast a less painful fate.

Specifically, years of studies on the effects of nuclear explosions and the ensuing fallout have found that such a war, even an isolated conflict, would burn away the ozone layer, spread disease from unburied corpses and expose millions to a fatal illness called Acute Radiation Syndrome.

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, a Chicago-based nonprofit that created the infamous Doomsday Clock, warned in January that the world has never been closer to total annihilation.

Recent events have only moved that timeline further along, with the war in Iran threatening to spiral out of control as nuclear-armed Russia has allegedly begun supplying Iran with military intelligence on US forces.

Meanwhile, the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between the US and Russia, called New START, officially ended on February 5, leaving no barriers on either nation's ability to build and test weapons of mass destruction.

The US, Israel, Iran, and Russia have all warned that a catastrophic global war could be nearing as the crisis in the Middle East escalates (Stock Image)

The 'Ivy Mike' nuclear test on November 1, 1952 (Pictured) was one of the largest surface detonations ever, completely destroying Elugelab Island in the Marshall Islands

Diseases ravage the planet

Following a nuclear war, diseases such as salmonella, dysentery, typhoid, malaria, dengue fever and encephalitis would spread widely among the survivors, according to a 1981 report in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Not only would survivors not have clean water, but insects would multiply rapidly, feeding on the corpses littering the streets.

Along with untreated sewage carrying more diseases, the rise of trillions of radiation-resistant insects would allow these pathogens to be carried from dead humans and animals to those who still living around the globe.

Medical equipment running on electricity may also be useless without generators in areas struck by blackouts.

A 1986 report entitled The Medical Implications of Nuclear War warned: 'Many familiar barriers to the spread of communicable disease... will be seriously compromised in the post-attack environment In their absence.'

'A host of enteric diseases not yet encountered by most Americans may be expected to spread widely,' the report continued.

According to the National Library of Medicine, these illnesses would include hepatitis, a viral liver infection that can cause inflammation and jaundice, and E. coli, a potentially fatal bacterial gut infection often leading to severe diarrhea, cramps and dehydration.

Join the discussion How should world leaders balance nuclear deterrence with the risk of catastrophic global fallout?

The idea of 'nuclear winter' first came to the world's attention in an article by scientist Carl Sagan in 1983 (Stock Image)

Russia's Sarmat-2 intercontinental nuclear missile, in a successful test launch on April 20, 2022

The ultraviolet spring

Nuclear war could strip away the ozone layer, leaving survivors to be blasted by cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation from the unfiltered sun. The suns intense rays could also kill off much of the remaining food supply.

Researchers first realized in 1970s that nuclear fireballs would produce nitrogen oxides, which would be carried high into the stratosphere and chemically destroy ozone molecules.

A 1975 study by the National Academy of Sciences, nuclear explosions could reduce the ozone layer by up to 70 percent in an all-out nuclear war where 10,000 megatons of weapons detonated.

However, that amount of damage is far beyond what the combined nuclear arsenals on Earth currently possess.

John W. Birks of the University of Colorado wrote: 'Once most of the smoke and dust was removed from the atmosphere and sunlight began to break through, the biosphere would not receive normal sunlight but, rather, sunlight highly enriched in ultraviolet radiation.'

The resulting increase in UV-B radiation would cause more skin cancers among surviving humans, and also have devastating effects on crops and wildlife.

Recent research suggested that the effects of even a small nuclear war between, such as a hypothetical conflict between India and Pakistan, could potentially destroy up to 40 percent of the ozone layer.

Michael Mills, chief study author from CU-Boulders Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics said: 'We would see a dramatic drop in ozone levels that would persist for many years.'

'At mid-latitudes the ozone decrease would be up to 40 percent, which could have huge effects on human health and on terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems.'

Tests of early US nuclear weapons during the Manhattan Project in World War II

The black rain

In Hiroshima, Japan, fires created by the first atomic bomb dropped in World War II carried ash and radioactive material into the clouds. The result was 'black rain,' which falls with an oily consistency almost like tar.

The rain fell on the city in the hours after the bomb exploded, leading to severe radiation burns in some cases.

The effects of the weather on radiation can be unpredictable, with the 1953 Nevada bomb tests leading to 'hot spots' where large amounts of radiation lurked.

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found that lethal amounts of fallout could spread hundreds of miles from the site of an explosion.

Fallout is the radioactive dust and particles that fall back to Earth after a nuclear explosion. Carried by wind, it can mix with dirt or debris from the blast site and contaminate everything it touches.

Researchers writing in The Medical Implications of Nuclear War suggested that up to seven percent of the US could be covered in enough fallout to deliver a dose of radiation large enough to kill within two days.

Black rain fell on the victims of the US atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945

Global starvation

Up to five billion are projected to die of hunger after a full-scale nuclear war.

Soot from burning cities would soar high into the air, encircling the planet. The vast cloud of smoke would rapidly cool the planet, reflecting sunlight back into space.

This would cause crops to wither and make it impossible to plant those same foods at least for the next year, according to a 2022 Nature study.

Firestorms would kill people even in bomb shelters

Doomsday preppers and other survival experts have long noted that the safest place to be during a nuclear attack is in a well-shielded fallout shelter or some type of underground basement.

However, scientists have argued that those in shelters could actually be killed by the fires started in the explosions.

Collapsing buildings and ruptured fuel tanks or gas lines could combine to ignite what researchers called a 'firestorm.' This type of 'fire wind' would rapidly rise to gale force, blowing inwards from all directions.

The research in the Journal of Public Health Policy suggested that even in bomb shelters and basements, temperatures would rapidly rise to fatal levels during the firestorm on the surface.

The fire would completely consume available oxygen, the researchers added, meaning that those who were not burnt to death would suffocate.
A chilling pattern has emerged after a string of US scientists died or went missing in recent months.

Retired General William Neil McCasland, 68, and NASA aerospace engineer Monica Jacinto Reza, 60, were both major figures in the Air Force Research Laboratory. The general oversaw Reza's work on creating a futuristic metal for rocket engines.

Within the span of eight months, both have mysteriously vanished without a trace while allegedly hiking in the Southwest United States.

McCasland's reported ties to secret UFO programs at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, and Reza's work with space-age technology used for advanced propulsion, have led many to claim without evidence that the pair are fleeing from parties that wish to silence them because of what they know.

Independent researchers and even a member of Congress fear the pattern has grown even darker after three scientists in the fields of chemical biology, nuclear fusion and astrophysics were murdered or found dead in just the last three months.

One of those renowned scientists was working on a breakthrough that could one day revolutionize science, creating an unlimited energy source that may end fossil fuel use as we know it.

Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett told the Daily Mail he saw a clear pattern in these seemingly unrelated deaths and disappearances, noting that the work several of them were doing has been linked to theories about extraterrestrial spacecraft.

'There have been several others throughout the country that have disappeared under suspicious circumstances,' Burchett said. 'I think we ought to be paying attention to it.'

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Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett has spoken about the potential threat to national security tied to McCasland's disappearance

Burchett also blasted the nation's intelligence community, specifically calling out the so-called 'alphabet agencies' such as the FBI, for being unhelpful and frustrating his attempts to find out the truth about what has happened to these scientists.

'The numbers seem very high in these certain areas of research. I think we'd better be paying attention, and I don't think we should trust our government,' he warned.

McCasland has not been seen since February 27, when he suddenly left his home without a phone and was last spotted near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The congressman specifically noted that McCasland's disappearance was a major national security issue, claiming that the general not only possessed some of America's nuclear secrets but also worked with recovered UFO technology housed in Ohio.

McCasland's name became associated with UFO topics after the 2016 WikiLeaks release of emails from John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman.

In the emails, musician Tom DeLonge, founder of Blink-182 and the UFO-focused To The Stars Academy (TTSA), referenced McCasland multiple times, claiming he had advised him on disclosure matters and helped assemble an advisory team.

The general had previously led the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson, which was rumored to hold extraterrestrial debris from the 1947 Roswell UFO crash.

'Everybody's talking about the UFO stuff,' Burchett said. 'Those folks are very secretive about what they know. So I suspect very much that [McCasland] was involved in some of that.'

William Neil McCasland, 68, was last seen near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office said

Monica Reza has been missing since June 22, 2025. A memorial mysteriously claiming the scientist was dead was set up online four days after her disappearance and later taken down

McCasland's wife, Susan, claimed that 'foul play' was not suspected in her husband's disappearance, but noted that the avid hiker and cyclist left home with only a pair of boots and his .38-caliber revolver.

The retired Air Force officer did not take his phone, wearable devices and prescription glasses, leaving behind any way of tracing or contacting him.

Burchett also confirmed that Reza was working on special metals used in missiles and rocket technology, which raised questions for him about where those materials originally came from.

'I've talked to people in departments that say, in fact, they do exist. There is [UFO] material. We don't really know what it is or what to do with it,' Burchett claimed.

However, the congressman said he had also spoken with members of the intelligence community who claimed they had no knowledge about UFOs or the US military's alleged work to reverse engineer that technology.

'I honestly think that they both are telling the truth as far as they know it. It's a very compartmentalized issue,' said Burchett.

Reza was the co-inventor of the special metal called Mondaloy and was serving as the Director of the Materials Processing Group at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory when she vanished without a trace last summer.

Conspiracy theorists have noted that an online memorial claiming Reza was dead appeared on the website Find a Grave just four days into the search for the missing scientist.

That page has mysteriously been taken down after alleging that Reza was given a 'green burial,' meaning a body would have needed to be found, placed in a biodegradable container and put straight into the earth.

Investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department have not announced the discovery of a body, and the case remains unsolved.

Meanwhile, the deaths of the other three scientists have been equally disturbing.

Nuno Loureiro was leading efforts to create fusion energy, a form of clean energy that could upend the multi-trillion-dollar fossil fuel energy

Nuno Loureiro, 47, was assassinated at his home in the Boston suburb of Brookline on December 15, 2025. Authorities said the gunman was Claudio Neves Valente, a former classmate in Portugal.

Loureiro, a respected physicist, had recently become the director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was reportedly on the brink of revolutionizing the energy sector as we know it.

Loureiro's research centered on plasma physics, the study of super-hot, ionized gases, and how to apply them to fusion energy, a promising clean power source.

However, independent investigator Daniel Liszt has claimed that this obscure science has also been tied to speculation about the advanced propulsion of secret UFO tech, noting that Loureiro's background also involved neutron star mergers - a theorized source of unlimited energy.

Carl Grillmair was killed by a gunshot wound while on his front porch. The scientist have been studying exoplanets and dark matter at the California Institute of Technology

Astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, 67, was killed in his home on February 16, 2026, after being mysteriously gunned down on his front porch around 6am local time.

Grillmair had contributed to the discovery of water on a distant planet, with colleagues calling his work 'ingenious' and adding that the research could point to signs of life less than 160 light-years from Earth.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department named Freddy Snyder, 29, as a person of interest in Grillmair's homicide case and later charged the man with murder, carjacking and burglary.

However, police did not release a motive in the alleged homicide and it was unclear if the two men knew one another or whether the shooting was targeted.

Grillmair lived in a rural home in Llano (Pictured). Police responded to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon and later arrested a suspect for carjacking and murder

Meanwhile, the remains of 45-year-old Jason Thomas were discovered on March 17 in Wakefield, Massachusetts, at Lake Quannapowitt.

Thomas had been the assistant director of chemical biology at Novartis, a global pharmaceutical company, before disappearing on December 12, 2025.

His work reportedly focused on using chemistry and biology to discover and create new medicines, including potential treatments for cancer.

Novartis has active contracts with the US Department of War and has previously worked with the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Novartis for comment on the nature of Thomas's work.

The Wakefield Police Department said that the cause of death still needed to be determined, but 'no foul play is suspected.'

Jason Thomas was found dead after being pulled from a Massachusetts lake on March 17. He had been missing since December 12, 2025

When asked if the public was taking this mysterious string of events seriously enough, Burchett said, 'I'm thinking it is now.'

However, the congressman said he feared it had taken too long for the disappearances and deaths to gain mainstream attention, allowing 'the trail to cool off.'

'He might find [McCasland]... I don't want to speculate on what's happened to him, or where he is now,' Burchett said. 'But anytime there's a delay between the disappearance and us taking it seriously, that begs the question of why? Why were we not immediately paying attention to this?'
Gisele Pelicot, the woman whose husband was jailed for drugging and raping her for over a decade, thought she had a brain tumor before she discovered the dark truth of her husband's abuse.

Gisele, 73, had suffered from terrifying bouts of memory loss for years, but despite repeated visits to the doctor and multiple tests, nobody could work out what was wrong with her.

Her poor memory and trouble with speaking could only mean one thing, she thought: that she was dying of a brain tumor - just as her mother had done when was nine years old.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Sinister sign: Gisele Pelicot was plagued by memory loss in the 10 years before her rapist husband was brought to justice

The loss of her mom had resulted in what Gisele has described as a descent into hell - a trauma that sucked her childhood and teenage years into a black hole.

When she started facing the same symptoms, they felt like a curse - that destiny was finally catching up with her.

It was only when her husband of nearly 50 years, Dominique, was arrested and later convicted of systematically drugging and raping her - and inviting more than 50 men to abuse her unconscious body - that the horrifying, unimaginable truth became clear.

Family support: Gisele in court with her son Florian during the trial of her husband Dominique and 50 other men who raped her

In her new memoir, A Hymn To Life: Shame Has To Change Sides, she wrote that it was her daughter, Caroline, who first suggested that her memory lapses might have something to do with the drugs she had been plied with for the past decade.

I hadnt made the connection, she wrote. Dominique had always been there to witness my memory losses.

'He was the one who reassured me and took me to the doctor; he was the one to whom my hairdresser had confided her concerns that time Id completely forgotten Id been in for an appointment.

I went back the next day to try to piece together what had happened. She told me how relieved she was when I walked in again, and described my blank expression in the mirror the day before, my mechanical responses to her questions, how she had been afraid I might be having a stroke, how shed suggested to Dominique I get some tests done as a matter of urgency.

'He was my ally.

Icon: Her image and slogans appeared across France in solidarity, including: 'Gisele, women thank you'

On another occasion, her children later told her, shed been on the phone to her grandson and kept repeating the same thing, like a broken record. He was so embarrassed that he'd hung up.

One friend of the family suggested it might be Alzheimers. Another whispered that perhaps it was time to consider putting Gisele in a home.

She remained convinced she had a brain tumor - despite the fact that a 2017 scan had come back clear.

'Happy' couple: Her memoir recounts how she fell in love with husband Dominique Pelicot

And throughout all the doctors visits, concerned conversations, and Giseles own deep trauma, her husband played the part of loving, supportive partner to hide the truth of his vile lies.

When the children called, it was not unusual for their father to tell them I was too tired to speak, she wrote in the memoir.

Whenever they came to visit, though, I was fine. There was never anything wrong, except for one time when everyone was leaving to go back to Paris.

I had spent lunch slumped in my chair, my arm falling continually as if I couldnt control it.

'Florian [her youngest son] was clearly upset, he didnt want to leave, but his father frogmarched him to the car and said, Dont worry, shes just tired, Im going to put her to bed.

He was going to put me to bed, yes. To rape me and invite other men to rape me a few hours after my son had left.

Epic bravery: Gisele leaves court surrounded by press - she waived her right to anonymity

Now Gisele has become a global symbol of strength for abuse survivors everywhere, after defiantly waiving her legal right to anonymity at a rape trial the likes of which the world had never seen.

In a courthouse in Avignon, France, in 2024, her husband admitted to drugging and raping her - inviting dozens of men he met on the internet to sexually assault her while unconscious in her bed - for almost a decade.

Gisele attended the entire four-month trial and the appeal, a tiny figure with a neat bob and tailored jackets, whose quiet strength and dignity against the unfolding horrors of the case prompted thousands to march in support, with murals of her face appearing across the country.

Ultimate heroine: Gisele became a global symbol of strength for abuse survivors

Her memoir describes how she fell in love with Dominique as a young virgin, and how they grew together as a couple before retiring to the French town of Mazan in south-eastern France.

When police first informed her that photographs and video revealed her being raped at least 92 times by 72 different men - all facilitated by the man she lovingly called Doume, an affectionate nickname for her Dom - she was in denial.

How could that be her in those images? She looked like a rag doll.

But as she pieced together their past - and as she faced her abuser in court - the full extent of his perversion became impossible to deny.

That he had allowed her to believe she was dying was just one more layer of his violation of her body and spirit.

I spent a decade having endless medical examinations, she wrote.

Blood tests. Scans. Multiple courses of vaginal pessaries. Neurological tests. Ten years of going to see doctors who looked at me as if to say that at my age, a woman cant expect much any more never wondering what might be going on. Never attempting a diagnosis.

And Dominique, always there by my side. He knew.

Vile abusers: Dominique during his trial - he is serving 20 years for aggravated rape

On one occasion, she said, she unwittingly came close to uncovering the truth.

She described being shrouded by a brain fog all day, unable to remember anything at all - what time she got up, what shed been wearing.

I joked to Dominique, who was busy fixing something, Doume, you havent been drugging me, have you?

Her husband burst into tears, feigning distress.

Savvy daughter: Caroline Dorian made the connection between her mom's memory lapses and being drugged

How could you possibly say such a thing? he told her, weeping.

In December 2024, Dominique Pelicot was convicted of aggravated rape and given a 20-year sentence.

All of the 50 co-defendants were found guilty of committing aggravated rape, attempted rape or sexual assault against Gisele, and were sentenced to between three and 15 years imprisonment.

Only one appealed and lost in court last year.

In a recent exclusive interview with You Magazine, Gisele revealed that she has unexpectedly found love again, with a former Air France steward called Jean-Loup.

It happened almost by accident, because I never thought Id fall in love again or would even want to, she said.

Neither of us expected it at all. And we thought, Why not? Why not allow ourselves to be happy?
China's top political advisor meets Harvard professor Graham Allison

Xinhua) 09:34, March 22, 2026

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Graham Allison, a professor at Harvard University, in Beijing, capital of China, on March 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Huning met with Graham Allison, a professor at Harvard University, in Beijing on Friday.

Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said that China will respond to the ever-changing international situation with the certainty of its own development as this year marks the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan.

Wang emphasized that the Taiwan question is at the center of China's core interests. China and the United States should enhance dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, expand practical cooperation, forge a correct path of coexistence, and inject certainty and positive energy into the world, Wang said.

For his part, Allison said that international peace and order are currently being severely eroded, and it is very important for the world that the United States and China find the right way to get along.

It is hoped that the United States and China will properly handle issues such as Taiwan and ensure the stable development of bilateral relations, said Allison, adding that this is also in line with the expectations of all countries.

Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Graham Allison, a professor at Harvard University, in Beijing, capital of China, on March 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
Designing bespoke private jet interiors for high-end clients is all in a day's work for the (fabulously named) Aurora Saboir.

The creative is in the niche  and often highly demanding  world of curating luxurious spaces at 30,000ft.

Saboir, 35, who graduated as an industrial design engineer, entered the aviation design industry by accident after being given a tour of a private jet while working in Mallorca.

She'd been a furniture designer previously but explains: 'The jet owner wanted some style advice and I went and visited the plane and it just immediately clicked.'

Saboir, from Austria, now runs her own company  Aurora Aero Design, which offers boutique services for both cabin interiors and exterior paint.

Private jet interior designer Aurora Saboir (pictured) specialises in curating bespoke and luxurious plane fittings  for super rich clients

A private jet interior designed by Aurora, boasting elegant seats, sleek tables and stylish lamps

Her big spending clients are mostly from the US and the Middle East, and range from solo owners to large families looking for planes that suit their personal travel needs.

The price of a jet makeover 'depends on the model, the size and the age of the plane,' she tells the Daily Mail.

'For off-market jets in the mid-size range, refurbishment can be somewhere between 1million to 2.5million.

'For brand new planes, the interiors usually account for around 30 per cent of the purchasing price,' the designer explains.

'So if a new jet costs 80million, then we are really around 15million to 20million for customisation, because these are ultra-customised planes.'

The bigger the plane, the higher the costs too. Outfitting Boeing Business Jets, for example, typically used by clients in the Middle East can cost 'anywhere from 40million to 5060million, depending on how extra it needs to be in the end.'

Last year, the talented designer tried her hand at plane exteriors for Qatar Airways

She has worked on a range of aircraft, and has clients from around the world that are willing to pay millions for her services

Another design by Aurora, this time featuring brown seating and luxurious polished wood touches on the ceiling

With such limited space onboard, how comfortable and luxurious can the inside of a jet really be?

'Maybe the only limit is the size of the plane, the geometry of it  but inside of that we can go pretty far,' she says.

It's a bespoke affair, depending on what's important for each customer.

If a client really values 'technology and innovation', then Saboir says she would 'go beyond' to 'research the newest screens' and how they could be integrated.

For another client, sleeping in the skies might be 'super important': 'So, we are going to have custom produced, fitted mattresses, full blackout options, advanced noise cancelation  everything that is related to the end goal'.

And when a client requests extra attention on the 'finishes and tactileness of the cabin,' Saboir makes sure to work with 'high end luxury brands for fabrics and raw materials'.

The finer details, such as finishes and surfaces are highly considered, with the designer seeking out businesses who create 'custom designed and made mother of pearl or precious stone inserts or inlays'.

Saboir says 'the sky is the limit' for how comfortable and elegant she can make a small jet feel

The designer steers away from certain materials  especially ones that are made from plastic and polymers

To create a truly opulent finish across the plane's interior, Saboir steers clear of certain fabrics.

'What we are avoiding is usually materials with a lot of plastic and polymers inside, or anything that is is artificial,' the designer reveals.

There are several reasons why Aurora doesn't use such textiles, and safety is a major one.

'They usually don't pass the burn test, they are super flammable compared to natural materials like cashmere, cotton, wool, silk, real leather, real wood, stone,' she says.

But the way the fabric feels matters too, especially when clients are paying millions for Aurora's finest work.

'The other thing is the feeling itself, the tactileness of the interior,' she adds.

'Imagine when all the walls are super close to you, you really see the fibres of the fabric because it's next to your face.

'Everything is the highest quality,' she says, explaining that owners are increasingly wanting to 'avoid artificial materials whenever it's possible.

'We can have cashmere on the walls, on the seats, you can have a 100 per cent silk carpet'.

Just last year, Aurora helped create a custom-designed Boeing 777-300ER for Qatar Airways, a partner of Formula 1.

It was her first ever exterior project on a commercial plane. But her most luxurious design is a 'multi-year project' that, at the time of the interview, she hadn't signed off on yet.

'I started four years ago, it's not even finished,' she says, explaining the bespoke jet is for a client in the Middle East.

How easy are such wealthy clients to please?

She says expectations are as high as the plane's altitude for the most part...adding her clients are used to getting exactly what they want  and it's no different when they're looking for a luxury cabin interior.
We are flying to Malaga in early May. As I understand it, the European Union will finally be fully implementing its biometric Entry/Exit System on April 9. What will happen? Will there be more queues at European airports?

Debbie Morris, Birmingham

Answer: Expect hold-ups. April 9 is indeed when every air, land and sea port in the EU should, in theory, have biometric facial scans and fingerprint systems in place to ensure that non-EU members have legitimate documents and are complying with the EUs rule of 90 days maximum entry within any 180-day period.

The technology rollout needed to perform this mammoth data gathering began in October, when scanners were introduced alongside regular passport checks with ink stamps.

From April 10, again in theory, passport stamps will go. You will be able (if you have not already done so) to scan your fingerprints and have a picture of your face taken at a kiosk.

From then on, you should be able to use facial scan e-gates when visiting the EU. It is possible that face-to-face encounters with officials may still be required at some borders, during which biometric checks will be conducted. However, this will be down to individual countries.

Delays during this new phase of the Entry/Exit System (EES) are sadly likely, as passengers will need to familiarise themselves with the technology. And there will be no way to move people through with a visual passport check any more.

Trouble on arrival is expected when several planes touch down in quick succession. Will European border guards cope? Will staffing levels be sufficient? Will machines work properly? Nobody is entirely sure.

Expect hold-ups, writes our Holiday Guru, as delays during this new phase of the Entry/Exit System (EES) are sadly likely

Will European border guards cope? Will staffing levels be sufficient? Will machines work properly? Nobody is entirely sure

Delays departing the EU could be equally troublesome. Passengers are advised to allow a little more time, from April 9, to err on the side of caution.

Finally, bear in mind some are sceptical EU countries will meet the April rollout, so its possible that traditional checks could continue for a while yet.

Is it true the EU is considering legislation to standardise carry-on baggage size rules? Having just taken a trip with Ryanair and been charged because their sizing is 5cm smaller than Easyjet, its ridiculous as things stand.

Dennis Bailey, via email

Answer: The European Parliament recently voted to back a proposal to allow one under-seat personal item with a maximum size of 40x30x15cm, plus a separate cabin bag measuring 100cm.

This needs to be ratified before becoming law, and is some way off as airlines are lobbying hard against it.

We're here to help: If you need advice the Holiday Guru is here to answer your questions. Email us at holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk
A BBC comedy branded 'unmissable and wickedly funny' has been snapped up by Netflix - and is already racing up the streaming platform's charts.

Amandaland premiered in 2025 and is a spin-off of popular long-running sitcom Motherland.

Lucy Punch returns as posh Amanda Hughes, with Dame Joanna Lumley reprising the role of her mother Felicity.

They are joined by Philippa Dunne, who portrayed Amanda's sidekick Anne in Motherland.

Meanwhile, Amandaland has expanded its audience after being added to Netflix's library.

The premise sees Amanda navigating her recent divorce, downsizing to South Harlesden in London, as well as being a parent to teenagers.

BBC sitcom Amandaland has been expanding its audience - with the show added to Netflix and racing up its charts

The show - which is a spin-off of long-running BBC comedy Motherland - first hit screens back in 2025

Six episodes initially aired, with a Christmas special - featuring guest star Jennifer Saunders - following in December 2025.

Furthermore, Daily Mail's TV critic Christopher Stevens described the sitcom as 'wickedly funny' and awarded it a five-star review.

He penned: 'The show, a spin-off from Motherland starring Lucy Punch and Joanna Lumley, has become unmissable in the space of a couple of weeks.

'Anyone who hasnt heard of it probably doesnt live here, no matter what they claim.

'And only a robot could reply, "Ive seen it but didnt think it was amusing".

'Amanda, once the school gates bully who lorded it over the other mums with her swanky kitchen and designer clothes, is as pretentious as ever.

'Its not enough for her to post videos of herself to social media  she has to claim to be, the face and brains and body and hair of a rapidly growing Instagram start-up.

Christopher continued: 'But shes so much more interesting now that her life has fallen apart.

'Divorced, struggling to pay the rent in unfashionable South Harlesden and reduced to riding a bicycle after her car is repossessed, Amanda is realising to her horror that shes no better than anyone else.'

After the initial six episodes, viewers were later treated to a Christmas special with guest star Jennifer Saunders reuniting with Joanna Lumley

Elsewhere, BBC viewers shared their enjoyment of Joanna's increased role - as she had previously appeared as a guest star in Motherland.

One wrote: 'Thank god for #Joannalumley in #Amandaland.'

Another echoed: 'Love it, and love Joanna Lumley, as always #amandaland.'

It comes as the show will have a presence at Comic Relief - via a sketch featuring an all-star line-up of Amandas.

The skit will follow Amanda being invited for a collaboration on Radio 2 with her friend Anne.

But confusion occurs when she bumps into Amanda Holden, 55, travel presenter Amanda Lamb, 53, Coronation Street's Amanda Barrie, 90, presenter Amanda Byram, 51, and The Traitors detective Amanda Collier, 57, at Broadcasting House.

Sara Cox will play a DJ, while Big Mood's Lydia West will portray a stressed out producer.

'Expect mix-ups, misunderstandings, and classic slapstick humour in this unmissable Comic Relief Amandaland special,' a TV insider told The Mirror.

Amanda Holden added: 'I am a massive fan of Amandaland. We watch it religiously in our house, so its a little bit of an out-of-body experience for me.'

While Sara said: 'I was playing the DJ, so it wasnt that much of a stretch, but it was just brilliant to work with actual Amanda from Amandaland, and so many iconic Amandas. We had Lamb, we had Holden, we had Barrie  who I grew up with, not literally  but on Coronation Street.

'So, its been an incredible time pretending to be an actor and getting to work with amazing Lydia West.'
Saturday Night Live UK has been branded a 'hit and miss' by critics as it took aim at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the Beckhams in its 'savage' debut this weekend.

The eight-part Sky Original series premiered with Mean Girls icon Tina Fey presenting the first ever episode, alongside the likes of Ania Magliano and Paddy Young.

In their first Weekend Update section they roasted Andrew - who has kept out of sight since his arrest last month over the Epstein files and claims of misconduct in public office when he was a UK trade envoy.

Ania joked in the 'news' segment: 'Renovations to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's new home, Marsh Farm, have been taking place over the last month, including the installation of Sky TV. So, if you're watching this Andrew, hello!'

'You're not gonna like this next bit. Also, I'm older than I look. Andrew's new residence, Marsh Farm, is of course named after the nearby marsh where his body will be found...

'It was reported this week that the police investigation into Andrew is set to widen,' Paddy said. 'The big question now is, if Andrew is charged, found guilty and put in prison, will he be able to keep his mouth shut? I hope not, said his cellmate's penis.'

Saturday Night Live UK has been branded a 'hit and miss' by critics as it took aim at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the Beckhams in its 'savage' debut this weekend (host Tina Fey seen)

The eight-part Sky Original series premiered with Mean Girls icon Tina presenting the first ever episode, alongside the likes of Ania Magliano and Paddy Young

There was later a joke about the ongoing Beckham feud as Paddy said: 'Feuding father and son David and Brooklyn Beckham narrowly missed each other whilst at the same Beverly Hills hotel.

'The feud began when Victoria was, quote, 'inappropriately' close with her son at his wedding, and escalated after Brooklyn accidentally yelled out his wife's name during sex with his mum.'

However critics weren't overly impressed with the first episode, with The Times writing that it 'needs work'.

Their critic savagely penned: 'I would like to propose a drinking game. Head over to a friend's house and put on the new UK version of Saturday Night Live. Take a shot of vodka every time you laugh. Then drive home.'

They added that some of the jokes 'didn't live up to the risk' and that 'the spark is not there yet' with the show.

The Independent gave a three star review, pointing out that because it was airing on Sky - which most people don't have access to - it was never going to be seen by a huge amount of the public.

They also point out that they didn't 'invest in much of a shake-up to the formula', adding: 'This means SNL UK lacks its own spark of irreverence.

'At best it shows what it's learnt from a half-century of its New York cousin; at worst it seems like tepid cosplay.'

The Guardian also gave it three stars but overall was more positive about the debut episode.

They penned that while some sketches were weak 'it could have been a lot, lot worse'.

In their first Weekend Update section they roasted Andrew - who has kept out of sight since his arrest last month over the Epstein files and claims of misconduct in public office

However critics weren't overly impressed with the first episode, with The Times writing that it 'needs work'

SNL UK: The reviews The Guardian: 'It could have been a lot better. But it is likely to become so as the team and the audience settle in over the coming weeks' Rating: The Times: 'I would like to propose a drinking game. Head over to a friend's house and put on the new UK version of Saturday Night Live. Take a shot of vodka every time you laugh. Then drive home.' The Independent: 'At best it shows what it's learnt from a half-century of its New York cousin; at worst it seems like tepid cosplay.' Rating: The Telegraph: 'Tina Fey shines as guest host in shockingly competent spin-off.' Rating:

They added in their review: 'And it could have been a lot better. But it is likely to become so as the team and the audience settle in over the coming weeks and we might see some recurring characters and start to build a rhythm and rapport with the show.'

The Telegraph was much more positive giving four stars, writing: 'Tina Fey shines as guest host in shockingly competent spin-off.'

Tina hosted the launch episode and was joined by chart-topping musical guest, Isle of Wight indie sensations Wet Leg.

The next two hosts have already been announced for upcoming episodes.

On March, 28, critically acclaimed Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan will be joined by the BRIT Award-winning band Wolf Alice.

And on April, 4, Academy Award-winning British actor Riz Ahmed will be joined by titans of rock Kasabian.

Live from London at 10pm every Saturday night, each 75-minute episode, will see a different host take to the stage alongside SNL UK's inaugural cast.

The cast includes Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi and Paddy.

It comes as bookies Coral have revealed that there is an odds of 1-2 for it being scrapped after the first series.

Coral's John Hill said: 'We are not optimistic about Saturday Night Live UK lasting very long.

'We make it odds-on to be scrapped after just one series.'

Despite that, many had taken to X before the first episode aired to share how excited they are about the show.

'I genuinely thing SNL UK has the potential to actually be way better than the yank version.'

'wait snl uk sounds fire hello.'

'i'm excited for uk snl im not gonna lie.'

'I AM SOO SAT FOR THE UK SNL. I'M ON FREEZE MODE TILL MARCH.'

'actually so excited for snl uk.'

'UK SNL? FINALLLLLLYYYYY.'

On March, 28, critically acclaimed Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan will host the show and will be joined by the BRIT Award-winning band Wolf Alice

And on April, 4, Academy Award-winning British actor Riz Ahmed will host and will be joined by titans of rock Kasabian

'Saw a tweet about UK SNL but my timeline refreshed. maybe god IS real and looking out for me.'

'Omg uk SNL cast is SO GOOD.'

Saturday Night Live, created by Lorne Michaels, is an American late-night sketch show that has aired on US channel NBC since 1975.

There have been 1,000 episodes across 51 seasons.

Now, they have decided to create their own version in the UK.

Viewers will be treated to a new guest host who will be joined by a chart-topping musical guest each week.

Lead producer, James Longman, said of the upcoming series: 'The UK is absolutely packed with incredible comedy talent right now and this cast represents the freshest voices we have, they're bold, exciting and of course, incredibly funny.

'The chemistry between them is something special and we can't wait to share this funny group of people with the world.'

Executive director of Unscripted Originals at Sky, Phil Edgar Jones OBE, added: 'We all need a laugh like never before, so we're beyond excited to bring Saturday Night Live to the UK, only 50 short years after it first launched in the US.

'The show's long-standing legacy of discovering and nurturing outstanding comedy talent speaks for itself, and this UK version will build on that legacy with the support of Lorne Michaels, a brilliant local production team, and an exciting new generation of voices.

'Saturday nights are looking bright!'

Watch Saturday Night Live UK live on Sky and streaming service NOW every Saturday from March, 21, or catch-up on demand.
The drama surrounding Gia Fleur's headline-making 36th birthday bash has taken another explosive turn.

Just days after the MAFS star's controversial guest list sparked outrage, intruder bride Juliette Chae has broken her silence - revealing she was sensationally disinvited from the celebration.

And according to Juliette, the shock decision came down to one person.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail, Juliette claimed Gia chose to prioritise her unlikely reunion with on-screen rival Bec Zacharia over her so-called 'ride or die' friendship.

'I got disinvited,' Juliette said bluntly.

'I [initially] got invited, like late notice I think as well. And then because Bec was there, she told me that she didn't want me there 'cause Bec's gonna be there. And I said fair enough.'

The drama surrounding Gia Fleur's headline-making birthday bash has taken another explosive turn. (Gia pictured arriving for her 36th birthday in January)

Just days after the MAFS bride's controversial guest list sparked outrage, intruder bride Juliette Chae has broken her silence - revealing she was sensationally disinvited from the celebration. (Gia pictured with Juliette during filming)

The revelation comes after fans were left stunned that Bec - long considered Gia's arch-nemesis during filming - made the guest list, while Juliette was nowhere to be seen.

And Juliette admits even she was blindsided by the snub.

'Initially, I remember when she did tell me about it. I did have one of my best friend's birthday that night anyway, and so I was like, look, I don't think I can come.

'She begged and was like, can you do a like of an appearance? And I was like, sure.

'Then she texted again and said that she just didn't think it was the right move because she thought she didn't wanna have another dinner party happen again.'

In a move that has only fuelled speculation of shifting alliances within the cast, Juliette claimed Gia ultimately chose to avoid potential conflict by removing her from the equation entirely.

'So she'd rather have Bec - who she doesn't like - there,' Juliette said.

'At that point I was like, look, that's like whatever. Fair enough. Because also, would I really wanna be in the same room with Bec? Probably not.'

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail, Juliette claimed Gia chose to prioritise her unlikely reunion with on-screen rival Bec Zacharia over her so-called 'ride or die' friendship. ' I got disinvited,' Juliette said bluntly

Still, the decision has raised eyebrows given Juliette's unwavering loyalty to Gia throughout the experiment.

'Yeah, you would think she'd have invited me, for sure,' she added.

'But I think Gia got really swept up in trying to be friends with Bec again.

'And Bec probably didn't want me there and was like, if you want me there, Julie's not gonna be there. And so she just probably folded for that.

'I bet she's regretting that decision now. Yeah, Gia has apologised multiple times.'

The bombshell claims come after Daily Mail revealed Gia celebrated her milestone birthday at Criniti's in Melbourne alongside new boyfriend Alan Wallace, with the couple packing on the PDA in front of guests.

While several cast members including Rebecca Zukowski, Luke Fourniotis, Chris Nield and Chris Robinson were in attendance, a number of notable names were missing - including Juliette.

The absence of Gia's closest ally had already sparked speculation of a falling out.

But in a twist no one saw coming, Gia's longtime rival Bec Zacharia somehow scored an invite

And according to Bec, their feud may be a thing of the past

Now, Juliette's version of events suggests the truth may be even messier.

As for Bec's reasoning for attending Gia's birthday, she suggested their fall out may be a thing of the past.

'I definitely didn't like Gia at the hens',' Bec told Daily Mail on the day. 'I knew that she and I were going to be at loggerheads like the whole season.'

'The reason why I'm here tonight: we connected because we went through a really, really hard time,' she continued.

'We became really good friends, and now she's the one I love. You know, we're all just women trying to make it in this dog-eat-dog world.'

The unlikely alliance comes after months of explosive clashes between the pair during filming, with insiders previously describing them as 'arch-nemeses'.

The Mail understands Bec and Gia are now no longer on talking terms.
Strictly's executive producer has quick-stepped into a vicious ageism row over the sacking of the shows longest-serving female professional dancer, Karen Hauer.

Programme chief Sarah James came under fire last night after posting a glowing tribute to Ms Hauer online, just two weeks after brutally axing the star ahead of her 44th birthday next month.

Friends of the dumped dancer accused the BBC executive of hypocrisy over the post, telling The Mail on Sunday: If Sarah loved Karen so much then why did she get rid of her?

It came in response to Ms James taking the unprecedented step of posting a glowing tribute to Ms Hauer on social media yesterday.

The gushing statement said the dancer  who was born in Venezuela and grew up in the Bronx district of New York  captivated audiences with her talent, warmth and genuine love of dance and has been responsible for some of the most iconic partnerships and joyous routines the Strictly dance floor has ever seen.

But those close to the star are furious at Ms James, describing her move as hypocritical nonsense and playing to the gallery to make herself feel good.

One told the MoS: We believe Sarah is now trying to protect herself. The BBC wants younger women so they sacked the one they believed to be too old. She should be ashamed of herself for sacking a popular dancer who is in her 40s. They should have more respect for older people.

Karen is devastated and is scared about her future. She was loyal, worked really hard and was an ambassador for the show. It has been really tough for her. She has been sacked for her age.

This is becoming an unfortunate pattern with the BBC. Look what they did to Arlene Phillips. They sacked her [from the Strictly judging panel in 2009] and replaced her with a younger judge, Alesha Dixon, and that all went wrong.

Strictly's executive producer Sarah James has come under fire

The message that she posted in tribute to axed dancer Karen Hauer

Ms Hauer on Strictly, on which she was a dancer for 14 years. She was dropped along with Nadiya Bychkova, Michelle Tsiakkas and Luba Mustak

Ms Hauer, who was married to fellow Strictly pro Kevin Clifton between 2015 and 2018, was dropped from Strictly after 14 years this month, along with Nadiya Bychkova, Michelle Tsiakkas and Luba Mustak.

Show insiders said they were axed after BBC research showed they were the least popular. However, that is not thought to have applied to Ms Hauer, insist her friends.

They also cite how Anton Du Beke was working as a professional dancer on Strictly way into his 50s before he hung up his ballroom shoes to become a judge.

Ms Jamess statement appeared just minutes after Ms Hauer posted an emotional video on social media where she spoke for the first time about her sacking.

She said in the clip: Its a tough one, but here we go. After 14 years on Strictly Come Dancing, Ive decided this is the right time for me to close this chapter and take on new projects in other areas that Im passionate about.

Strictly completely changed my life, not only as a performer and a teacher, but as a human being. Ive had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people [who] I admire so much.
Jaclyn Smith, one of the reigning bombshells of the 1970s, still cut a youthful and luminous figure when she was seen this week aged 80.

She shot to stardom alongside Farrah Fawcett and Kate Jackson on the original Charlie's Angels series, which ran from 1976 to 1981.

In recent years she has repeatedly left fans agog with how exquisitely she has managed to maintain her radiant complexion and willowy figure.

Smith made yet another age-defying appearance as she surfaced in Beverly Hills, exuding the showbiz glamour for which she rose to fame.

Draping her lithe torso in a flowing striped white blouse, she emphasized her vertiginous legs in a set of fitted oyster jeans.

Her blonde locks fell in gentle waves to frame her screen siren features, which she accentuated with elegant makeup for her latest outing.

Jaclyn Smith, one of the reigning bombshells of the 1970s, still cut a youthful and luminous figure when she was seen this week aged 80

Smith (right) shot to stardom alongside Farrah Fawcett (left) and Kate Jackson (center) on the original Charlie's Angels series, which ran from 1976 to 1981

Smith accessorized with shades and a simple off-white handbag, rounding the look off with a comfortable set of sneakers well-suited to a brisk stroll.

The Houston-born actress was seen chatting busily on her cellphone as she dashed around the tony 90210 zip code during her day's business.

Smith achieved nationwide pinup status as Kelly Garrett on Charlie's Angels, and was the only one of the three leads to stay on the show throughout its run.

Post-Charlie's Angels, her acting gigs have largely been TV movies and miniseries, such as a Golden Globe-nominated turn in the title role of the 1981 ABC picture Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, with Rod Taylor featuring as her father.

She played Kelly Garrett again in 2003 for a cameo in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, the second in the film series starring Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz.

Smith most recently returned to the role for the 2019 flop Charlie's Angels movie starring Kristen Stewart and directed by Elizabeth Banks.

She has also made successful forays into designing, including with women's apparel for Kmart and a Jaclyn Smith Home and a wig collection.

Her first three marriages lasted less than a decade apiece, but the fourth, which is to a surgeon called Brad Allen, began in 1997 and has survived to this day.

Smith was catapulted to nationwide pinup status as Kelly Garrett on Charlie's Angels, and was the only one of the three leads to stay on the show throughout its run

In recent years she has repeatedly left fans agog with how exquisitely she has managed to maintain her radiant complexion and willowy figure

Draping her lithe torso in a flowing striped white blouse, she emphasized her vertiginous legs in a set of fitted oyster jeans

Her blonde locks fell in gentle waves to frame her screen siren features, which she accentuated with elegant makeup for her latest outing

Smith accessorized with shades and a simple off-white handbag, rounding the look off with a comfortable set of sneakers well-suited to a brisk stroll

The Houston-born actress was seen chatting busily on her cellphone as she dashed around the tony 90210 zip code during her day's business

She has also made successful forays into designing, including with women's apparel for Kmart and a Jaclyn Smith Home and a wig collection

Her first three marriages lasted less than a decade apiece, but the fourth, which is to a surgeon called Brad Allen, began in 1997 and has survived to this day

In recent years, Smith's latest husband also developed a skincare line for her, amid gathering public fascination with how she has retained her beauty down the years

In recent years, Smith's latest husband also developed a skincare line for her, amid gathering public fascination with how she has retained her beauty down the years.

She gave credit to her 'healthy lifestyle' in an interview on the subject a few years ago, remarking: 'I dont drink. Ive never touched a drug. I exercise daily. Im married to a heart surgeon who preaches the importance of eating your fruits and vegetables. I enjoy my green drinks. What we put on our bodies shows up on our faces.'

Her fridge contains 'lots of fruits and vegetables,' and 'I try to have a green drink made from my vegetables to stock up,' she told Fox News.

'But listen, I eat meat. Im gonna have my hamburgers and Im gonna have my pizza. I love cheese. Ive gotta have my gummy bears. We gotta enjoy life,' she noted.

'I think having everything in moderation is so important. If youre so strict, its going to show up on your personality and your face,' Smith observed.

'You will get a little angry for depriving yourself of so much. If you try too hard to be too strict, you will then splurge and it defeats the whole purpose. Everything in moderation is much more rewarding,' she said.

Her exercise regimen, meanwhile, includes 'Pilates and weights' with a trainer who 'keeps me motivated and challenges me,' she shared.

'For me, movement is so important. I feel at a certain age, theres always going to be some sort of bone loss. Im also a breast cancer survivor. I did a lumpectomy 20 years ago with radiation and I went on a drug that can cause some bone loss,' she added.

'I also live with a man who loves working out and taking such good care of his body. He always says that exercise is as much for your bones as it is for your brain.'
Shia LaBeouf was seen yelling at a woman to 'f*** off' in a shocking new video in Rome following his recent battery arrests.

The 39-year-old star, who sparked a scene in only his underwear inside a hotel lobby just days earlier, was spotted raising his voice towards the woman during the public incident.

The Transformers actor could be seen sitting at a table outside of a restaurant while facing the woman who was at a table next to him.

He initially appeared to talk in her direction and then loudly exclaimed, 'F*** off!' before silently staring her down.

The woman seemingly was unfazed by the moment as she continued to remain seated at the small table next to his.

LaBeouf, who was arrested twice in connection to a Mardi Gras brawl last month, then picked up a bottle and took a sip from it before the reel cut to him yelling once again on a sidewalk.

Shia LaBeouf, 39, was seen yelling at a woman to 'f*** off' in a shocking new video in Rome following his recent battery arrests

The Transformers actor could be seen sitting at a table outside of a restaurant while facing the woman who was at a table next to him

It is not known if the actor was yelling at the woman or to another individual. The identity of the woman is also not yet known.

He continued to scream while pacing back and forth around a street corner as bystanders walked by.

After strolling back and forth along a crosswalk, LaBeouf bent down to snatch an object up from the ground before continuing to keep walking.

Daily Mail has reached out to a rep for LaBeouf for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

It comes shortly after the star was granted permission to travel to Italy for his father's baptism while out on bail.

Last week, LaBeouf was also spotted in a separate clip sparking up a scene inside the lobby of a hotel in Rome.

He had been shirtless as he asked strangers for a light for his cigarette and appeared slightly frustrated as he asked people standing nearby, 'Come on bro, give me a f***ing match. You got a match?'

One individual started to walk away while a hotel concierge reached over to one side of a front desk as he watched the commotion unfold.

It comes shortly after the star was granted permission to travel to Italy for his father's baptism while out on bail; seen in 2025 in London

He initially appeared to talk in her direction and then loudly exclaimed, 'F*** off!' before silently staring her down

The woman seemingly was unfazed by the moment as she continued to remain seated at the small table next to him

It is not known if the actor was yelling at the woman or to another individual. The identity of the woman is also not yet known

He continued to scream while pacing back and forth around a street corner as bystanders walked by

Last week, LaBeouf was also spotted in a separate clip sparking up a scene inside the lobby of a hotel in Rome; seen in February in New Orleans

Throughout the video, an unlit cigarette was placed between the actor's lips while he donned a pair of black boxer briefs.

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 on March 4 by magistrate Peter Hamilton.

The Hollywood star was arrested on two counts of misdemeanor battery on February 17 following an alleged fight outside a bar in New Orleans' French Quarter.

LaBeouf was then released later that same day on his own recognizance.

He was ordered by a judge to pay a $100,000 bond after learning about alleged homophobic slurs the actor had used during the incident, per The Guardian.

The star 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.

LaBeouf recently had a dramatic run-in with the police this week outside of his home.

The Hollywood star was arrested on two counts of misdemeanor battery on February 17 following an alleged fight outside a bar in New Orleans' French Quarter

The star 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; LaBeouf's February 17 mugshot seen above

In video obtained by TMZ, police were seen speaking with LaBeouf on his porch in what appeared to be a rather measured conversation until it devolved into chaos.

Not all of the conversation's audio could be picked up and it's unclear why exactly the police had visited LaBeouf at his home.

'I'm a target,' he was shown telling cops at one point. 'I'm a target. I'm an easy target.'

Eventually the conversation took a turn as LaBeouf lifted up his shirt, sobbed, and headed inside his house.

'I have a f**king three-year-old!' he was heard crying.

His recent arrest was weighing on him as well as he cries about 'sitting in jail for [expletive] four months for punch one man,' TMZ reported.

'I don't trust you at all. I don't trust you at all!' he said.

An emotional LaBeouf eventually moved from the porch and onto the middle of the street, where he screamed: 'It's why I never call you!'

Eventually the conversation took a turn as LaBeouf lifted up his shirt, sobbed, and headed inside his house; seen in 2019 in Beverly Hills

He shouted again and walked across the street, seemingly attempting to console himself.

The latest interaction with police took place one month after his arrest in New Orleans following a bar brawl.

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. I'm 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.

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.

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

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.

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.'

The star 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.'
Amanda Peet learned she had breast cancer 'last fall' after a 'routine scan' showed unusual changes.

In an essay published in The New Yorker on Saturday, the 54-year-old Something's Gotta Give star went into detail about her experience from diagnosis to treatment.

'For many years, I've been told that I have 'dense' and 'busy' breasts - not as a compliment but as a warning that they require extra monitoring,' Peet wrote.

'I had been seeing a breast surgeon every six months for checkups. The Friday before Labor Day, I went for what I thought would be a routine scan.'

She added that her doctor 'didn't like the way something looked on the ultrasound,' and ordered that a biopsy be done.

Peet, whose Your Friends & Neighbors co-star Olivia Munn revealed her own breast cancer diagnosis in 2024, had a premonition something was wrong judging by her physician's next response.

Amanda Peet has spoken out about her breast cancer diagnosis in an essay published in The New Yorker on Saturday (pictured in May 2025)

The 54-year-old actress learned she had breast cancer 'last fall' after a 'routine scan' showed unusual changes (pictured in October 2025)

'After the procedure, she said that she would walk the sample over to Cedars-Sinai and hand-deliver it to Pathology. That's when I knew,' Peet said.

Her doctor shared the results with her the next day. 'The tumor 'appeared' to be small, but I would need an MRI after the holiday weekend to determine 'the extent of disease.''

In the meantime, Peet was facing another heartache as both of her parents were in hospice care.

The actress, who currently stars on the Apple TV+ series Your Friends & Neighbors, has a sister, Alisa Peet, who is a doctor.

'Our parents, long divorced, were both in hospice, on opposite coasts,' Peet recalled.

'Our mother's had started in June, but our father's was only a week in, so we hadn't expected him to go first. I flew to New York. I didn't make it before my father took his last breath, but I got to see his body before it was taken from his apartment.'

Once Peet got back to Los Angeles to be with her mother, she learned that she had Stage 1, hormone-receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative breast cancer, which is an early stage tumor.

'I was happier than I'd been pre-diagnosis, when I was just a regular person who didn't have cancer,' shared Peet, who is married to Game of Thrones co-creator David Benioff and mother to their three children, Frances, 19, Molly Jane, 15, and Henry, 11. 'But after about 10 minutes, I remembered that I still needed the MRI and regressed to baseline terror.

Peet is married to Game of Thrones co-creator David Benioff and they have three children together, Frances, 19, Molly Jane, 15, and Henry, 11

The actress famously co-starred with Jack Nicholson (and the late Diane Keaton) in the 2003 comedy Something's Gotta Give

Peet laughingly said on The View last year that her daughters found her romantic scenes with Nicholson in Something's Gotta Give 'inappropriate and unethical'

The star revealed in her essay that both of her parents, long-divorced, were in hospice care at the time of her diagnosis

'[My doctor,] Dr. K., said that the radiologist would check my lymph nodes, as well as 'the left side for any surprise findings' and call with the results within a week. It was dawning on me that cancer diagnoses come in a slow drip.'

A second mass was detected in Peet's breast but her doctor told her it was benign so it would only require a lumpectomy and radiation rather than chemotherapy or a mastectomy.

Peet decided not to tell her mother about her diagnosis or her father's death as she was in the last stages of Parkinson's disease.

She took medicine for her anxiety. 'I sucked on little chips of Ativan all day, but my blood pressure was so jacked they didn't even register,' she said.

'The morphine was taking forever to kick in, and she was looking at the ceiling and whimpering, so I climbed onto her rented hospital bed to get in her line of vision,' Peet said of her final moments with her mother.

'We locked eyes and she quieted down, and then she and I continued to stare at each other for what felt like several minutes.'

Peet went on, 'I thought of my teen improv class, which she had found for me when we moved back to New York from London. In improv, even if the given circumstances defy logic, you and your scene partner have to stick to them.

'I wasn't sure whether my mom knew that she was looking at me or whether I was just a constellation of interesting, disembodied shapes. I said 'howdy doodle' - that's how she often greeted me. But then I realized that she was communing without words, and I followed suit. Time was running out, and, besides, I had already told her everything.'

Join the discussion Do YOU think routine screenings can save lives in cases like this?

The New York native currently stars as Mel Cooper on the Apple TV+ series Your Friends & Neighbors opposite Jon Hamm, who plays her ex-husband

Peet's Your Friends & Neighbors co-star Olivia Munn (pictured right with Peet and Hamm in April 2025) considers herself cancer-free after revealing her own cancer diagnosis that required five surgeries including a double mastectomy and hysterectomy

In 2024, Peet's Your Friends & Neighbors co-star Olivia Munn revealed she had been diagnosed with 'aggressive' luminal B breast cancer that required five surgeries, including a double mastectomy and hysterectomy.

Munn, who is in remission and considers herself cancer-free, bravely bared her mastectomy scars for a SKIMS ad during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 2024.

In an interview with Today at the time, Munn said the campaign initially wasn't supposed to be about her scars - until she chose to embrace them.

She said, 'When Skims approached me to do this campaign, it was just to do their shapewear and their new leggings, and it wasn't about my scar at all.'

Meanwhile, Peet's BFF, Sarah Paulson, has commended the star for her 'gorgeous essay.'

'My best friend, Amanda Peet has written the most profoundly gorgeous essay about the loss of her parents, while dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis,' Paulson wrote on Instagram on Saturday.

'@newyorkermag has published it today, and I'm screaming from the rooftops with joy. I hope you all take the time to read it.'

'If you are running around and doing other stuff, I did the audio recording and you can listen to me try to do the piece justice. My friend is a @newyorkermag essayist. How outrageously groovy is that? Bird, I love you beyond.'

Peet's best friend Sarah Paulson commended the star for her 'gorgeous essay' on Saturday (Peet was pictured supporting Paulson at her All's Fair premiere in October 2025)

Other celebrities flocked to the comments section to echo that sentiment.

'Going to read now!!' Naomi Watts wrote.

Rose Byrne let people know she already had 'read [the essay] this morning' and found Peet's story 'so extraordinary.'

Ali Wentworth added, 'It's a beautifully written piece. All too familiar. Give Amanda a huge hug for me!'
Brenda Song slammed Alaska Airlines as she claimed the company disrupted her and her fiance Macaulay Culkin's family trip.

In an Instagram Story post on Saturday, the actress, 37, said the airline 'split up' her and Culkin, 45, from their two young sons - Dakota, four, and Carson, three - even though they had reserved first-class seats together.

She further criticized the airline for allegedly 'giving away' their seats 'with no warning.'

In her lengthy post, Song, 37, explained she booked her family's plane tickets 'six months in advance' for one of her sons' birthdays.

At the end of her post, she tagged Culkin and also urged other people to 'never fly' with the airline again.

The Home Alone actor reposted Song's review of their flight to his own Instagram Story and added: 'Hell hath no fury like a Brenda scorned...'

Brenda Song slammed Alaska Airlines for 'splitting up' her and fiance Macaulay Culkin and their two sons on a first-class flight; seen in February

'I didn't know when you book your first class tickets 6 months in advanced for your family of six for your son's birthday @alaskaair can just give away your seats the morning of with no warning,' the actress wrote in her original post.

A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines told TMZ that Song's experience was 'unacceptable and not reflective of the care' their company aims to provide.

Alaska Airlines apologized for 'adding friction' to their travel plans and also reportedly reached out to Song privately.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Alaska Airlines for further comment.

Song and Culkin have been together since 2017 after meeting on the set of their film Changeland.

The pair got engaged in early 2022, in between welcoming their two sons in April 2021 and December 2022.

The couple's family trip comes after Culkin opened up about fatherhood and his relationship with Song.

In an interview with WWD published in December 2025, Culkin admitted he never thought he would become 'a suburban dad who wears Crocs' until parenting changed everything.

Join the discussion Should airlines face harsher penalties for separating families whove paid extra to sit together?

She took to her Instagram Story on Saturday morning to criticize the airline

Culkin defended his partner as he reposted Song's message on his Instagram Story and added: 'Hell hath no fury like a Brenda scorned...'; the couple seen on March 14

A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines responded to TMZ in a statement and said Song's experience was 'unacceptable' and indicated they reached out to Song privately; Song seen in February

'I wasn't ever really a Crocs guy,' he explained. 'But when I started having kids, I found out that they are kind of really convenient and cozy.'

Prior to fatherhood, the actor joked that he had long promised himself he wouldn't fall into the cliche.

'You know, I kind of swore to myself that I was never going to be the suburban dad who wore Crocs, but then I became a suburban dad who wears Crocs,' he said. 'So here we are.'

Culkin said the turning point came after spotting his eldest child wearing a bright pink pair, prompting him to follow suit.

'So, of course, I got a pair of pink Crocs,' he quipped. 'And the next thing you know, you see the paparazzi photos of me dropping my kid off at school in pink Crocs.'

While the former child star has softened his stance on footwear, he's still a work in progress in other areas of domestic life  namely, self-care.

Song and Culkin have been together since 2017 after meeting on the set of their film Changeland. The pair got engaged in early 2022, in between welcoming their two sons in April 2021 and December 2022; seen in January

Culkin previously revealed that it was Song, 37, who introduced him to even the most basic grooming habits.

'Whenever Brenda started schmearing stuff on my face,' he told People in 2024 when asked how he got into skincare.

Despite her best efforts, Song admits her fiance remains fairly low-maintenance. 'He has no skincare routine,' she joked.

The former Disney Channel star, who rose to fame on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, said she's 'lucky' if Culkin even splashes his face with water before bed.
Sabine Getty experienced a dramatic moment when her gown got stuck in an escalator at the 2026 Oscars.

The 41-year-old billionaire socialite, who is married to hedge fund manager Joseph Getty, jumped to her main Instagram page this week to offer a glimpse at the 'hectic' incident.

The Lebanese jewelry designer had donned a sleeveless, ivory silk dress by Ralph Lauren that flowed down towards the ground and contained cutouts on the back for a sultry flare.

Her blonde locks were curled and pulled back away from her face, easily revealing mini earrings.

Getty could be seen sitting at the base of an escalator inside the Dolby Theatre where the awards ceremony had taken place.

The hem of her gown appeared to have gotten caught at the very bottom, making it impossible for her to move.

Sabine Getty, 41, experienced a dramatic moment when her gown got stuck in an escalator at the 2026 Oscars

The socialite jumped to her main Instagram page this week to offer a glimpse at the 'hectic' incident

Other staff members were spotted assisting the star by trying to pry her dress out of the escalator.

During a short clip included in the post, Getty was crouched down as she said, 'It's such a beautiful dress!'

Someone off camera suggested to make the ensemble 'shorter' which caused the star to throw her hands to her face.

'No, it's really sad,' the designer said as staff continued to find a way to get the gown out.

Another slide in the Instagram carousel showed a text message which read: 'Like I expected hectic but nowhere near escalator near death dress massacre hectic.'

In the caption of the post, she simply penned to her followers: 'The DRAMA @theacademy.'

The mom-of-two previously opened up about how she gets ready when it comes to attending glitzy events.

'I get excited to get dressed up when I have a great dress to wear,' she told Tatler last year. 'I think for me it's that way round. It's not so much the event. Although, I do love a beautiful museum summer party.'

Join the discussion Should celebrities rethink extravagant fashion if it risks safety at high-profile events like the Oscars?

Getty could be seen sitting at the base of an escalator inside the Dolby Theatre where the awards ceremony had taken place

The hem of her gown appeared to have gotten caught at the very bottom, making it impossible for her to move

'No, it's really sad,' the designer said as staff continued to find a way to get the gown out

Another slide in the Instagram carousel showed a text message which read: 'Like I expected hectic but nowhere near escalator near death dress massacre hectic'

She continued, 'I think that comes from spending so much time in England where you have such lovely ones - the Serpentine, the V&A - but it's always the dress that leads me.'

Getty attended the 98th Annual Academy Awards due to one of the projects she was recently involved in being nominated.

She was an executive producer on the 2025 docudrama film titled The Voice Of Hind Rajab.

The premise is: 'Red Crescent volunteers receive an emergency call. A 6-year-old girl is trapped in a car under IDF fire in Gaza, pleading for rescue.

'While trying to keep her on the line, they do everything they can to get an ambulance to her,' per an IMDB synopsis.

The movie had garnered a nomination for Best International Feature Film - which went to Sentimental Value.

Getty was an executive producer on the 2025 docudrama film titled The Voice Of Hind Rajab - which had been nominated for Best International Feature Film

Back in 2015, the media personality tied the knot with Joseph Getty - who is a descendant of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty.

The couple are parents to daughter Gene and son Jupiter.

Last year, both she and Joseph celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary and the socialite reflected on the milestone while talking to Vogue Arabia.

'It feels like a real achievement. Covid was a turning point; being together 24/7 isn't easy,' she explained.

'But we faced challenges and came out stronger. We're happiest just hanging out together. That's what comes from marrying your best friend.'

Getty was born in Geneva and raised in both Switzerland as well as Lebanon.

Back in 2015, the media personality tied the knot with Joseph Getty - who is a descendant of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty

'My soul is Lebanese; I may not look it, but at my core, I am,' the designer told the publication. 'I moved from the manicured order of Geneva to the wild, intoxicating beauty of Beirut'; seen in February in London

'My soul is Lebanese; I may not look it, but at my core, I am,' the designer told the publication. 'I moved from the manicured order of Geneva to the wild, intoxicating beauty of Beirut.'

She added, 'In Achrafieh, I saw graceful, traditional homes beside bullet-riddled ruins. That contrast  chaos and elegance coexisting  taught me to find beauty everywhere.'

It has also been an inspiration when it comes to her own creativity and fashion.

'Color excites me, but I feel my best in black. It's about silhouette  black creates that striking column effect,' Getty said. 'Fashion shouldn't be too serious. It's a playground for self-expression.'
Embattled radio star Kyle Sandilands suffered another blow this week when his movie co-star Chuck Norris died at the age of 86 on Thursday morning.

The Australian shock jock, whose $100 million contract at ARN was terminated last week, shot the action comedy Zombie Plane with the American film icon on the Gold Coast in 2023.

The movie, in which Norris played the head of a spy agency made up of celebrities, turned out to be his final role.

Sandilands previously said that he was paid a pittance for his cameo in the comedy but accepted the role as he could not pass up the chance to work with legends like Norris and Ice-T.

'I know that I didn't want to get paid because it was a pathetic amount. And then they said, "by law, we have to pay you",' Kyle explained last year.

When asked how much that 'pathetic amount' was, Kyle replied, 'I don't know, like five grand or something like that.'

Embattled radio star Kyle Sandilands (pictured) suffered another blow this week when his movie co-star Chuck Norris died at the age of 86 on Thursday morning

The Australian shock jock shot the action comedy Zombie Plane with the American film icon on the Gold Coast in 2023. Norris is pictured in Zombie Plane

Sandilands explained he dropped much more on travelling to the set and hiring his own private boat.

'I think it cost me about 15 grand because I travel my own way, stay in my own accommodation,' he said.

'And I had to get a separate boat to sit on. How much does that cost me? But I didn't care. I did it because I wanted to work opposite Ice-T.'

The movie is currently in the editing phase and is set to premiere sometime next year, with the late Hollywood legend making his final silver screen appearance, the film's producer Shaked Berenson told the outlet on Friday.

The producer revealed that Norris was one of many celebrities in the movie who had cameo roles meant to poke fun at their on-screen personas.

Berenson said he is processing the loss and praised the actor as a 'pure joy to work with and a total pro,' per the outlet.

The producer also added that his 'lovely' family were also on the set while they filmed at Norris's ranch.

He said that the famous Chuck Norris memes became a topic of conversation, at one point, and revealed that the actor 'got a kick out of them'.

The movie, in which Norris played the head of a spy agency made up of celebrities, turned out to be his final role. It also stars Sophie Monk (right) and Vanilla Ice (centre)

Berenson told the outlet that the silver screen star 'could laugh at himself,' and that ability 'was perfect for the tone of the film' they were working on together.

Following his passing, Norris's family paid tribute to Norris as a 'devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family.'

'He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved,' their statement said.

'Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives.'

Norris was best known for action roles, including Walker, Texas Ranger and The Delta Force in the 1980s, before he became a cult figure on social media in his later years.

The actor was a renowned martial artist and fitness guru.
Kyle Sandilands might soon have a tidy sum in the bank after listing his Sydney property for sale.

The radio king's lavish six-bedroom, five-bathroom Sydney mansion is on the market for $5.9 million, four years after he purchased it at almost half the price.

The 54-year-old paid $3 million for the 9,580 sqm semi-rural property in Glenorie, located in Sydneys North West Hills District, in August 2022.

Sandilands settled on the bushland-adjacent acreage shortly before he welcomed son Otto with Tegan Kynaston.

He bought the property in secret as a home for his family, but when his wife Tegan said she didn't want to live there, he decided to renovate it and then flip it for a profit.

The stunning property was listed for sale with a price guide of $5.7 million to $5.9 million in February.

Kyle Sandilands might soon have a tidy sum in the bank after listing his Sydney property for sale. Pictured with wife Tegan Kynaston

The home has undergone a significant transformation since its pre-renovation days.

Last year, Sandilands revealed he was having the lavish property extensively made over.

The residence now boasts 832 sqm of internal living space  excluding alfresco areas  with a Georgian-inspired double-storey design.

A grand circular driveway leads to a courtyard, while a welcoming balcony above completes the stately arrival.

The property is perfect for raising a family, featuring multiple formal and informal living areas that are exquisitely designed.

At its centre sits a spacious dine-in kitchen, complemented by generous preparation and storage areas.

Meanwhile, a private study with a custom library and concealed storage ensures the property is perfect for both work and play.

Its semirural location ensures it has breathtaking nature views and scenic walking trails, while still being close to a variety of amenities.

The radio king's lavish six-bedroom, five-bathroom Sydney mansion is on the market for $5.9 million, four years after he purchased it at almost half the price

The 54-year-old paid $3 million for the 9,580 sqm semi-rural property in Glenorie, located in Sydneys North West Hills District, in August 2022

Sandilands may not be struggling financially with an estimated $100 million business empire, but the termination of his contract at ARN has certainly hit his back pocket.

The end of The Kyle and Jackie O Show was announced on Wednesday when Sandilands released a statement at 7am on Wednesday announcing that KIIS' parent company, ARN, had terminated his 10-year, $100 million contract.

It comes as rumours that Sandilands plans to buy ARN after being sacked continue to gain traction.

After the shock jock's former boss Craig Bruce first made the claim that Sandilands has his eye on purchasing the radio network last week, industry sources now say that it's increasingly becoming a possibility.

A source told news.com.au that while buying up ARN in full would cost in the realm of $100 million, Sandilands could purchase a controlling stake for $51 million.

'The short answer is the network is already pretty cheap,' the source said.

'It just depends on the level of ownership that Kyle wants. You could become a majority shareholder for $51 million but I think he just wants to be a stakeholder,' they continued.

'He just wants to have a say on how it is run and he has been on radio for so long that he's very confident on how a radio station should be run or shouldn't be run.'

The residence boasts 832 sqm of internal living space  excluding alfresco areas  with a Georgian-inspired double-storey design

The home has undergone a significant transformation since its pre-renovation days

In an explosive statement obtained by Daily Mail on Wednesday morning, Sandilands admitted he doesn't 'accept' the fate of his role at the network following the termination of his contract.

He also confirmed the matter will now be in the hands of his lawyers.

'ARN has just announced they've terminated my contract,' he said.

'I don't accept it.'

Sandilands continued: 'My lawyers told them last week this would be invalid. And guess what? It is.'

ARN announced last month 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 onair comments that left her in tears.
Mrs Brown's Boys star Dermot O'Neill has shared that his wife Patricia has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, after she nursed him through his own battle with the disease.

Patricia 'Chickie' Maguire, 60, discovered she had stage four cancer when she travelled to Spain to have a hernia removed, only for doctors to share they were unable to operate after discovering tumours in her stomach.

Dermot, 74, who is best known as Granddad on Mrs Brown's Boys, is now caring for his spouse while she undergoes chemotherapy in Ireland.

The actor was himself diagnosed with the disease after discovering a lump in his throat in 2019, but was given the all-clear the following year.

In a heartbreaking interview, Patricia shared doctors have told her she only has months to live.

She said: 'Dermot has been amazing. He's old school - a real man's man. Being 14 years younger than him, he never believed he would see me being sick.

Mrs Brown's Boys star Dermot O'Neill has shared that his wife Patricia has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, after she nursed him through his own battle with the disease

'When the doctor told me it was stage four cancer, he said I had months to live, rather than years. I was choking when I got the news. They can't reverse the cancer, only prolong my life.'

Patricia said the hardest moment came when she broke the news to her two sons Salvador, 39, and Evan, 24.

She told The Sun: 'Dermot put his hand on my knee and both boys held each of my hands, and we all hugged and cried. I told them it's a fact of life, I have cancer in my body. We have to deal with this.

'What else can we do? I have started chemotherapy  if I can get six months out of it we can roll for another six months.'

During the interview, Patricia shared her fears that Dermot was struggling with the impact of her terminal diagnosis,

Dermot and Patricia at one of Mrs Brown's Boys creator Brendan O'Carroll's in Dublin, and were together for 20 years before they married in 2012.

The pair had seven children between them from previously relationships before they met, and Patricia shared Dermot proposed via text message while he was awau touring with Mrs Brown's Boys.

The actor, who has played Granddad on the BBC sitcom since 2011, was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 after finding a lump in his neck.

Dermot, who is best known as Granddad on Mrs Brown's Boys, is now caring for his spouse while she undergoes chemotherapy in Ireland

After undergoing treatment, he feared the cancer had returned when he found swelling in his neck, and subsequent tests were delayed by the Covid pandemic.

But he later learned he had the all-clear telling The Sun:'I'm over the moon, It's such a load off my mind.

'I had been living a nightmare with a swollen neck and this thing flashing through my mind, ''Is that the cancer back?'' Now I can go back and live my life.'

Mrs Brown's Boys has been a regular feature on the BBC's Christmas schedules for more than a decade.

The show has also had several mini-series runs, including a four-part series last year, which was the first since 2013.

In the programme Brendan's character, who is known affectionately as 'mammy' in the series, is a foul-mouthed Irish mother.
Coronation Street and Emmerdale fans have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket after two stars pulled out of a fan event over claims of a 'breach of contract.'

Vicky Myers, who plays Lisa Myers on Corrie, and Michelle Hardwick, who stars as Vanessa Woodfield on Emmerdale, were scheduled to appear at FanFushionUK at Heathrow this weekend.

Fans had forked out up to 1000 for tickets to the sold-out event with the hope of receiving autographs and selfies from their favourite soap stars.

However on Friday both Vicky and Michelle confirmed they would no longer be attending the event.

The pair alleged a 'breach of contract from bosses,' who have since hit back claiming they first they learned of their withdrawal was via social media.

In a post on X, Vicky wrote: 'It is with deep regret that due to the organisers breach of contract, myself and Michelle Hardwick are unable to attend the FanFusion event this weekend.

Corrie and Emmerdale fans have been left thousands out of pocket after stars Vicky Myers (pictured) and Michelle Hardwick pulled out of a fan event over claims of a 'breach of contract

Fans had forked out up to 1000 for tickets to the sold-out event with the hope of receiving autographs and selfies from their favourite soap stars, Vicky and Michelle (pictured)

'We are incredibly disappointed, as we were very much looking forward to meeting you all.

'Unfortunately, this is beyond our control. Despite numerous attempts to resolve the breach, we are now left with no other option but to withdraw.'

'We would like to send our sincere apologies and our love and best wishes to our loyal fans. Please direct all refund enquiries to FanFusion. Vicky.'

However FanfusionUK hit back in a statement that was shared with guests at the venue, saying they first learned that Vicky and Michelle would no longer be attending through their statements online.

They said: 'We regret to announce that Vicky Myers and Michelle Hardwick will no longer be attending FanFusionUK this weekend.

'Unfortunately this update was not directly communicated to us and we became aware of the situation at the same time as the fandom.

'We understand that this news may be disappointing and frustrating and we recognise that there may be speculation or rumours circulating.

'Despite this we remain committed to ensuring you have an enjoyable weekend and we are excited to still host the five fantastic guests who are in attendance.

However on Friday both Vicky and Michelle confirmed they would no longer be attending the event in a post on the Corrie star's social media

Many fans expressed their disappointment on social media, with some blasting event organisers after they flow over from countries including Australia and Canada

'As we have only just received this information ourselves, we kindly ask for your patience while we take the necessary time to review the situation and determine the next steps.'

The last-minute nature of the cancellation has been made even more apparant by the fact that full size pictures of Vicky were still available for fans to pose with at the venue.

It meant that fans had been left significantly out of pocket, with some even posting they'd flown over from Australia and Canada.

Prices for the event weren't cheap with ticket packages starting at 150 and going up to 1,000, with selfies with Michelle or Vicky charged between 35 and 45 per picture.

Autographs from Michelle were charged for 35 for up to ten words and the star was also doing two meet and greet sessions with tickets for those at 90.

Many fans expressed their disappointment on social media, writing: 'Wtaf have fanfusion done to make Vicky and Michelle cancel the day before;

'Fanfusion have broken the hearts of so many people who wanted to meet their faves for so many reasons... people spent hundreds of pounds... and they couldn't honour a f*****g contract. But know this @VixMyers & Michelle - we love you so much;

' A f*****g flip chart!!! ARE YOU FOR REAL #fanfusion. People have travelled miles and spent hundreds and you give a flip chart!! Still claiming you didn't know.... SORRRYYYY

'I know whose statement I'm believe and it ain't theirs;'

'We know you wouldn't have pulled out without the best of reasons Vicky, the ''damage control'' by fanfiction is just an insult to you and Michelle.'

Daily Mail has contacted representatives for FanFusion, Michelle Hardwick and Vicky Myers for comment.
Alan Bennett, our greatest living writer  and such an accredited national treasure in Britain that the public (when not mistaking him for David Hockney) applaud him in car parks  is feeling every bone-cracking moment of his 90-odd years.

Though not quite at the nappy stage, these days thoughts of death are seldom far away, and in Enough Said we hear plenty about cancer of the bowel, arthritic ankles, brain scans, urinary infections, a leaking aorta, cramps, falls and regular visits to the chemist. Who is the scrotal itch? demands the pharmacist, emerging with a prescription.

Increasing deafness is an issue. I may be home late. Ive got to get to Paris, somebody said to Bennett, though what theyd really said was, I may be home late, Ill get the carrots. Fans once circled Bennett, talking to him about Sophie. Which Sophie? Not Sophie at all. They wanted a selfie.

Bennetts days are filled with regular check-ups, blood pressure monitoring, colonoscopies and consultations but the chief characteristic of old age, nevertheless, isnt illness, its the anomaly that ones ears get larger and ones d*** gets smaller. Thats something to conjure with.

Sex, indeed, is often on Bennetts mind. He looks back and wishes hed had more erotic confidence. Boxed in by his reserve, my problem was lack of sex rather than what sort. Matters werent taken properly in hand, so to speak, until he met Rupert Thomas in 1992. Thirty years Bennetts junior, Rupert, formerly the editor of The World Of Interiors, these days is the full-time nurse and home-help.

Meanwhile, as one of those ancient men who shuffles to a park bench, Bennett sits in the sunshine dreaming about Tom Daleys lustrous looks, the gorgeous creatures on Love Island, and the lovely-looking young man in the corner shop. Given goodish legs, Bennett observes, shorts make people randier. Nicky Henson, we are told, was a sexy actor, and one of Bennetts neighbours, David Miliband, is sexy still.

When Bennett said Cecil Beaton was gay, Coral Browne insisted, Not when he was with me, darling. Like a rat up a drainpipe. Bennett is also amused to know Judi Dench still enjoys a lively love life with her partner, an environmentalist, whom Maggie Smith called Squirrel Nutkin.

The book, therefore, is no mere catalogue of ailments. Nor is there any self-pity. Bennett looks out at the world and finds joy in small-scale things: porridge with half a sliced-up banana; wearing a pair of battered suede shoes; watching a heron standing in a stream; pottering around churches, Rupert with his box of salad, me with my sandwiches of smoked salmon. Bennett is as observant about the weather as any poet, noting big bosomy clouds that suddenly give way to torrential rain.

Sex, indeed, is often on Bennetts mind. He looks back and wishes hed had more erotic confidence

Alan Bennett, right, with his fellow Beyond the Fringe band members Peter Cook, left, Dudley Moore, front and Jonathan Miller

Bennett, throughout his work, is profoundly nostalgic for the north  indeed his latest film, The Choral , in production during these diaries, is about Yorkshire music-making

Bennetts big trick  classic misdirection, like a stage magician  is to pretend to be humble and provincial, with a regional accent carefully intact, but in actuality he is very shrewd, ambitious, independent-minded and cosmopolitan.

Bennett has had hit plays at the British National Theatre and on Broadway, where he met Judy Garland at a private party and Elizabeth Taylor sat on his knee. John Gielgud was in Bennetts first West End play, Forty Years On. He received umpteen postcards from Alec Guinness, arranging dinner dates, and the other day Bennett found a letter from Christopher Isherwood, with whom he went to supper. Barbra Streisand, Kenneth Williams, Vincent Price and Morrissey called at his house.

Snowdon took me to Windsor Castle where he photographed me on a butchers bike full of corgis. At some function or other, Bennett was glad to find himself sitting next to Gyles Brandreth, which is a bonus as hes easy to talk to. Invited to meet royalty, Camilla appeals, somewhere always a twinkle. Given such a life, Bennett, I feel, works too hard at trying to convey modest outsider status.

Hes not like Margaret Drabble, he insists, or William Golding: Im on the side of the bath while they do all the splashing. Though one of the Beyond The Fringe quartet, with Dudley Moore, Peter Cook and Jonathan Miller, Bennett is determined not to swank. He was the lowliest and least funny of the group, a silly and untrue sentiment. Miller makes frequent appearances in Enough Said. In one hilarious episode, taken short in Camden Town, Bennett has to waddle to Millers house for an emergency pair of underpants.

Bennett complains about Millers boastful egomania, his continuous intellectual one-upmanship, going on about the futility of all religion, talking 19 to the dozen and refusing to allow himself to be corrected on matters of demonstrable historical fact. Finally, Miller glides away with Alzheimers, unable to recall Beyond The Fringe, or that he and Bennett were ever in it.

Bennett is more fully appreciative of Victoria Wood, who died in 2016. Hed met her at the avocado counter in the supermarket. They gave speeches at Thora Hirds memorial service at Westminster Abbey, both wishing they could ascend to the pulpit in a Stannah Stairlift. Bennett enjoyed the brass band at Woods own send-off, and he salutes her funniness and cleverness in the recreation of northern speech, particularly in Dinnerladies.

Bennett, throughout his work, is profoundly nostalgic for the north  indeed his latest film, The Choral, in production during these diaries, is about Yorkshire music-making.

An eye-opener that he likes the idea of taking drugs: Ive always found amphetamines delightful  Coke without sex I never quite saw the point of.

At coming up to 92, surely a person can say and do what they please.
Nicola Coughlan put on an ethereal display in a green dress as she joined her co-star Claire Foy at the UK screening of The Magic Faraway Tree in London.

The Bridgerton actress, 38, who stars as Silky, looked incredible as she arrived on the red carpet wearing a layered off-the-shoulder dress.

She completed her bejewelled ensemble with a pair of intricate pearl earrings and matching rings.

Meanwhile, Claire, 41, who plays Polly, arrived in a sheer lace green skirt, which she layered under a blazer.

Claire opted for a sensible shoe choice, pairing brown leather boots with a green short co-ord and layering her skirt over it.

Lead actor Andrew Garfield, who portrays Tim, looked classically handsome in a green knit cardigan.

Nicola Coughlan (L) put on an ethereal display in a green dress as she joined her co-star Claire Foy (R) at the UK screening of The Magic Faraway Tree in London

He layered his woollen garment over a white T-shirt, black flared trousers and black leather shoes.

Jessica Gunning, who stars as Dame Washalot, looked effortlessly elegant in a forest green pleated dress, a grey shawl and gold flats.

Lou Featherstone commanded attention in a bright pink-and-green ballgown and toted her belongings in a brown wicker bag.

Victoria Brown looked elegant in a floor-length, pink pleated, low-cut dress.

Nicola transformed into woodland fairy Silky, complete with bright blonde hair, for the fantasy, which is set for release on March 27 2026.

Based on the series of novels, it follows Polly (Clare) and Tim Thompson (Andrew) and their children, Beth, Joe and Fran, who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside.

There, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric occupants.

Ted Lasso's Nonso Anozie stars as Moonface and is seen on screen with a white beard and crescent moon-shaped hair.

The Bridgerton actress, who stars as Silky, looked incredible as she arrived on the red carpet wearing a layered off-the-shoulder dress

Lead actor Andrew Garfield, who portrays Tim, looked classically handsome in a green knit cardigan

Jessica Gunning, who stars as Dame Washalot, looked effortlessly elegant in a forest green pleated dress, a grey shawl and gold flats

Lou Featherstone commanded attention in a bright pink-and-green ballgown and toted her belongings in a brown wicker bag

Victoria Brown looked elegant in a floor-length, pink pleated, low-cut dress

Nicola transformed into woodland fairy Silky, complete with bright blonde hair, for the fantasy, which is set for release on March 27 2026

Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning stars as Dame Washalot with Dustin Demri-Burns as Saucepan Man.

Rounding out the cast of the magical denizens of the woodlands will be Mark Heap as Mr. Oom Boom Boom and Oliver Chris as Mr. Watzisname.

The first trailer, sees the family travel to the fantastical lands for the first time after discovering the magical tree.

Adapted by BAFTA Award-winner Simon Farnaby (Wonka, Paddington 2), the movie is directed by Ben Gregor and production wrapped earlier this year, taking place on location across the South of England and at Shinfield Studios, Reading.

Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes' production company Neal Street Productions are leading the project, with their previous credits including TV smash hit Call The Midwife and big screen successes 1917 and Revolutionary Road.

As per the official synopsis for the film: 'Soon after the family's arrival in the countryside, the children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric residents, including treasured characters Moonface, Silky, Dame Washalot and Saucepan Man.

'At the top of the tree, they are transported to spectacular and fantastical lands and, through the joys and challenges of their adventures, the family learn to reconnect and value each other for the first time in years.'

Enid Blyton's books remain actively in print to this day and have been translated into over 35 languages, selling over 500 million copies worldwide and making her the most translated children's author in the world.

In the UK alone, over 3.5 million copies of her books are sold annually.
Taylor Frankie Paul sent a rather NSFW message as she stepped out after the bombshell cancellation of her season of The Bachelorette.

The disgraced 31-year-old reality star was spotted in Salt Lake City, UT on Saturday wearing a blue Nodpod 'Can't Wait To Sleep With You' sweatshirt.

Despite the drama Paul is now embroiled in, she managed to crack a smile.

Last Thursday, ABC pulled the entire season 22 of The Bachelorette from airing Sunday following the leak of cell phone footage of the hot-tempered brunette throwing chairs at her babydaddy Dakota Mortensen, one of which accidentally hit her daughter Indy, in a 2023 incident.

The tone deaf tagline for the $30 million-budget season read: 'If you don't fit the mold, break it.'

Taylor Frankie Paul sent a bit of a NSFW message as she stepped out after the bombshell cancellation of her season of The Bachelorette

Paul is still on probation until August 4 following the plea deal she accepted for aggravated assault for hurling her phone, a wooden playset and heavy metal barstools at Mortensen in a drunken rage.

The newly released cell phone footage the 33-year-old Basin Tiling owner had showed police at her Herriman home revealed one of the barstools accidentally struck eight-year-old Indy.

In police bodycam footage, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star admitted she was so intoxicated she had peed herself.

Paul faced up to five years in state prison had she been convicted of two counts of 3rd degree felony domestic violence in the presence of a child with injury, a Class A misdemeanor of child abuse with injury and Class B misdemeanor criminal mischief.

Last Thursday, Mortensen was granted temporary custody of their two-year-old son Ever and Paul must remain '100 feet away' with 'no parent time allowed' until the April 7 court hearing - according to People.

The on/off couple got into physical fights as recent as February with him alleging she choked him, ripped his necklace off and scratched his neck because of his hookup with TSLOMW co-star Shinia Powell.

The Utah Division of Child and Family Services have reportedly received numerous calls from Mortensen alleging abuse and there's still an open investigation including psychological evaluations ordered for both parties.

Join the discussion Should reality TV shows be held responsible for the real-life actions of their stars?

The disgraced 31-year-old reality star was spotted outside in Salt Lake City, UT on Saturday wearing a blue Nodpod 'Can't Wait To Sleep With You' sweatshirt

Despite the drama Paul is now embroiled in, she managed to crack a smile

Last Thursday, ABC pulled the entire season 22 of The Bachelorette from airing Sunday following the leak of cell phone footage of the hot-tempered brunette injuring her babydaddy Dakota Mortensen and her daughter Indy in 2023

The tone deaf tagline for the $30 million-budget season read: 'If you don't fit the mold, break it'

Paul is still on probation until August 4 following the plea deal she accepted in 2023 for aggravated assault for hurling her phone, a wooden playset and heavy metal barstools at Mortensen in a drunken rage (pictured)

The newly released cell phone footage the 33-year-old Basin Tiling owner (pictured) had showed police at her Herriman home revealed one of the barstools struck eight-year-old Indy

In police bodycam footage, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star admitted she was so intoxicated she had peed herself

Paul faced up to five years in state prison had she been convicted of two counts of 3rd degree felony domestic violence in the presence of a child with injury, a Class A misdemeanor of child abuse with injury and Class B misdemeanor criminal mischief

Last Thursday, Mortensen was granted temporary custody of their two-year-old son Ever and Paul must remain '100 feet away' with 'no parent time allowed' until the April 7 court hearing (pictured March 15)

Paul also welcomed two children - daughter Indy, eight, and son Ocean, five - during her five-year marriage to ex-husband Tate Paul, which ended in 2022 following a 'soft-swinging' scandal (pictured March 6)

On Saturday, TikTok user Holden Smith posted a video about the Mormon #MomToker's reluctance to 'put her phone down' while embroiled in the scandal

Paul clapped back in the comments: 'Want me to stare at the wall instead?'

Paul also welcomed two children - daughter Indy, eight, and son Ocean, five - during her five-year marriage to ex-husband Tate Paul, which ended in 2022 following a 'soft-swinging' scandal.

'Taylor is very grateful for ABC's support as she prioritizes her family's safety and security. After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm,' the Mormon #MomToker said in a statement.

'There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.'

The scandal has prompted calls for ABC/Hulu/Disney to cancel the entire Bachelor franchise as the networks were fully aware of Paul's violent criminal past when they cast her last September.

Five of the 22 contestants who competed to win the heart of the Utah native 'are mulling over legal action' against ABC and Warner Bros. Discovery - according to TMZ.

On Saturday, TikTok user Holden Smith posted a video about Paul's reluctance to 'put her phone down' while embroiled in the scandal.

She clapped back in the comments: 'Want me to stare at the wall instead?'

The Bachelorette never had the best track record for lasting marriages as only four couples have remained together after 21 seasons.

Only three couples remain married from The Bachelor after 29 seasons while the odds are far better on Bachelor in Paradise where 13 couples remain married after 10 seasons.
Katie Price's new husband Lee Andrews is reportedly set to face further legal woes in Dubai, amid claims he is banned from leaving the now war-torn country.

The ex glamour model, 47, initially tied the knot with the businessman, 42, in January just weeks after meeting, before holding a second, legal ceremony  much to the shock and concern of fans and family, due to reports of Lee being a scammer.

It was claimed British-born Lee spent three weeks locked up in a Dubai jail for allegedly forging his ex-girlfriend's signature to take out a 200,000 loan in her name and has been banned from leaving the United Arab Emirates.

He denies this, but as yet, does not appear to have left the country since meeting Katie and Iranian missiles striking the city.

Question marks have been raised over self-proclaimed 'millionaire' Lee's bombastic claims about his life, including his PhD from Cambridge, his millionaire businesses and his links to Elon Musk.

According to news reports, allegations were made to Herefordshire Police against him, which have since been handed to Dubai cops.

Katie Price's new husband Lee Andrews is reportedly set to face further legal woes in Dubai, amid claims he is banned from leaving the now war-torn country

A source told The Sun: 'The police have handed the files to the police in Dubai as Lee lives there and the allegations made against him happened in that country.'

Daily Mail have contacted Lee Andrews' representatives for comment.

Lee's ex Dina found out about his apparent swindling after receiving a phone call from the mortgage company, sparking her decision to file a legal case against him.

According to Dubai law, individuals pending criminal investigations, including unpaid debts or civil lawsuits, are not legally allowed to leave the country.

The woman reported him to the authorities in Dubai who investigated her claim.

It is unknown at what stage the investigation is at  but Lee was subject to the travel ban preventing him from leaving Dubai while the case was open.

He has also reportedly been heard begging a woman for cash in desperate voice notes.

The US-based businesswoman, who did not want to be named, revealed she received a string of 'desperate' voice notes from him just a week before he proposed to Katie.

In the voice notes, Lee reportedly tried to persuade the woman to send him cash in amounts ranging from 1100 to 2500 on multiple occasions since last May for what she believed was a business opportunity.

But as the woman felt uneasy about sending money, Lee's voice notes reportedly became more and more desperate  with the Dubai-based 'millionaire businessman', asking her for cash as recently as January.

In the voice notes heard by The Sun, Lee reportedly said: 'If you can help me or send Western Union 3000 that would help me so much. I could just do with a big hug really.

'You don't know how desperate it's been, the last couple of months of me trying to survive.'

Self-proclaimed 'millionaire' Lee is said to have claimed he was cash-strapped and living off 20 pence ready meals because he was waiting for payments from his business Aura Sustainable Vehicles & Energy BVI to clear from Kenya.

Despite their arrangement reportedly being a business one, Lee is said to have told the woman he would 'love her' if she could send him the cash and referred to her as 'beautiful'.

Now according to reports allegations were made to Herefordshire Police against him, which have since been handed to Dubai cops

When the woman refused to send Lee money, he reportedly swore at her and called her a time waster.

Speaking to the publication, the woman said Lee had told her he was so poor he was forced to live off packets of rice.

She said she ultimately decided against sending him cash but she came very close as he is 'so persuasive'.

The woman went on to say that Lee told her back in December he had met someone special, who she believes to be Katie.

The Daily Mail has contacted Lee for comment. Lee has denied all previous claims.

She is not the first woman to make allegations against Lee.

It comes after Lee's furious ex accused him of 'scamming' women out of cash as she dubs him the 'tinder swindler'.

The former glamour model stunned fans last month when she announced she had married the Dubai-based businessman following a whirlwind one-week romance.

After news of their nuptials emerged, Lee's exes spoke out about him and he faced a string of accusations about the true nature of his finances, with a slew of his claims about his wealth, business acumen and celebrity-links said to be false.

His former flame Alana Percival, 32, previously spoke out about how Lee had asked her to marry him in a lavish proposal strikingly similar to when he popped the question to Katie 16 weeks later.

Last week Alana claimed four women have got in contact with her in the last two weeks since she told her story  all claiming that Lee tried to 'scam' them out of money  in a post seen by The Sun.

Alana went on to brand Lee 'embarrassing' and likened him to the Tinder Swindler  a Netflix show made about Israeli conman Simon Leviev, a notorious relationship scammer.
Hayley Atwell made a rare public appearance with fiance Ned Wolfgang Kelly at the The Standard Theatre Awards 2025 Winners Dinner at Claridges Hotel in London on Sunday.

The actress, 43, who welcomed her first child with the hunky artist in 2024, stunned in a striking silver gown as she was honoured for her role in Much Ado About Nothing.

Hayley's look boasted a caped collar and floral embroidery which she teamed with diamond earrings and chic Roger Vivier heels.

Meanwhile Ned cut a cool figure in a black suit which he wore over a crisps white shirt with bolo tie.

The couple - who were first linked in July 2022 - have kept their relationship away and from the public eye and are rarely pictured together.

Ned popped the question to Hayley in Venice in April 2023, before going on to welcome their first child a year later.

Hayley Atwell made a rare public appearance with fiance Ned Wolfgang Kelly at the The Standard Theatre Awards 2025 Winners Dinner at Claridges Hotel in London on Sunday

The actress, 43, who welcomed her first child with the hunky artist in 2024, and is nominated for Best Actress in A Play, stunned in a striking silver gown

She was honoured for her role in Much Ado About Nothing

Confirming their engagement last year, Ned wrote: 'Lucky me. Arrived in Venice at 10am, around midday the love of my life and I got engaged in the kitchen of this strange apartment surrounded by ducks, with a bloke outside the window murdering "My Way" on the accordion.

'A perfect start to the rest of our lives together. I'd never had any interest in getting married... until I met this extraordinary woman. Happy as a clam.'

While speaking to the Daily Mail's Richard Eden, Hayley described Ned's low-key proposal, recalling: 'My fiance was in his pants in the kitchen, and there was an accordion playing outside our window  which was timed perfectly but not planned.

'We had rented this Airbnb that had lots of shelves with porcelain ducks on them, so it was quite a surreal set-up.

'I said to him, "Venice was my first most precious destination", and I've always had a weird connection with it. So, he took me there, and it happened there.'

Hayley, was first linked to Ned shortly after she was said to have split from co-star Tom Cruise for the second time.

The London-based artist's Instagram bio reads that he 'doesn't eat animals' and that he has been 'alcohol & drug free for over a decade'.

Join the discussion Should celebrities keep their relationships private or share more with their fans?

Hayley's look boasted a caped collar and floral embroidery which she teamed with diamond earrings and chic Roger Vivier heels

She posed proudly with her trophy on the big night

Hayley (R) posed for a snap with fellow nominee Cate Blanchett (L)

Cate sizzled as she slipped into a chic black cocktail dress

Speaking to The Sun when the couple first got together, an insider claimed: 'Hayley's happiness is written on her face right now.

'They get on like a house on fire and make a very handsome couple.'

Ned's website says he has produced commercial music for big brands such as Bud Light, Headspace and Samsung.

He has also scored films, worked on the design side of projects, and penned articles.
Plenty of online traders are looking for a Trump bump. Should you join them?

Market maven Justin Banks thinks you should, posting on X that, 'The government is telling you exactly what to invest in.'

For Banks, the administration's words and deeds guide his selection of the top stocks - mostly in tech firms - that comprise his own personal Trump trade.

One market professional we spoke to violently disagrees with this strategy. 'I would argue it's one of the most ridiculous, dangerous ideas I've ever heard,' David Bahnsen, founder and chief investment officer of the Bahnsen Group, told the Daily Mail.

Either way, there's no shortage of options for amateur investors to track the trades of high-profile politicians.

The Trump administration has made no secret of its investments in a range of public and private companies over the last year, from materials companies like US Steel to nuclear energy firm Westinghouse.

Then there's Unusual Whales, a platform wholly dedicated to political trades that offers two easy-to-buy exchange traded funds (ETFs) mimicking the portfolios of leading Democratic and Republican politicians.

Here, the Daily Mail has examined the pros and cons of tracking the stock trades of politicians to help you decide whether this approach is right for your portfolio.

The stock market has been on a run since tariff chaos eased in April 2025

President Donald Trump, in front of Heidi Overton, Novo Nordisk CEO Maziar Mike Doustdar, Eli Lilly CEO David A Ricks, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick

Political portfolio watchers insist there is ample evidence showing that it is worth copying the trades of elected officials. Despite disclosure delays, investors could potentially reap the benefits from keeping an eye on savvy people in power.

'Even though they have 45 days to disclose, many disclose much sooner,' said Legen, a 28-year-old software developer who founded the app InsiderWave to track the trades of former House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

'For example, Pelosi discloses within one or two weeks. Based on my experience in two years doing this and analyzing the data, the delay doesn't matter so much,' he added.

Legen said Trump administration investments have been lucrative for his app's portfolio tracking performance. 'We added a Trump admin portfolio in October,' he explained. 'Since then, its value has increased by 30 percent.'

According to Rebecca Baldridge, a chartered financial analyst and managing partner at Quartet Communications, political portfolios are a useful tool when someone proceeds with caution.

'While making selective bets based on politicians' portfolios can be attractive, don't let the allure of what feels like insider information blind you to the risk of over-concentration,' Baldridge told the Daily Mail. 'Diversification - buying a wide variety of investment assets - is so important.'

As a rule of thumb, Baldridge said investors should limit their 'political' investments to no more than five or ten percent of their portfolios.

Nancy Pelosi's stock moves have long been scrutinized by online traders

Financial experts favor an unbiased, diverse approach to investment

Investing experts highlight the risks of remaking your 401(k) based on the administration's policy choices or a given politician's stock bets.

'The problem is that markets price this stuff in, and the issues politicians talk about very rarely become policies,' said Bahnsen.

For example, Bahnsen cited the belief among investors that Trump administration policies would crush the stocks of Big Pharma firms after it installed Robert F Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy was well known for holding highly controversial opinions that flew in the face of established medical norms.

But that did not come to pass, and the shares of the biggest pharmaceutical companies - including Merck, Johnson & Johnson and Amgen - have seen impressive gains over the last year.

Then there's the question of how to manage investments inspired by changeable political whims. While there may be gains to be had, investors need to pay close attention to changing trends in order to benefit - and that could be challenging for some home investors.

'Political trades ride the wave of policy momentum, so investments like these are of interest for the short to medium term,' Baldridge said. 'Investors will want to capture the policy impact before the political winds shift.'

This is little more than market timing - chasing trends rather than consistent, long-term investing - a strategy investing experts recommend regular folks to avoid. Baldridge said 401(k) investors would be better served by buying and holding an S&P 500 stock fund.

'Investing in companies tied to politicians or administration initiatives can be compelling, but it's no guarantee of outperformance,' she said.

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While there's never any guarantee in the stock market, the fact is that several of the Trump administration's stock picks have done very well since the administration announced deals with various companies.

For example, the Commerce Department said it would buy ten percent of chipmaker Intel Corp in August 2025 to help keep tech manufacturing jobs in the US. Since then, the value of Intel's stock has more than doubled.

But determining what news has sent a stock soaring isn't always simple.

Just a few weeks after the administration announced the investment, shares of Intel surged again after chipmaker Nvidia announced its own ten percent investment in the company.

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Canadian firm Lithium Americas mines the minerals that power electric vehicles. The Department of Energy purchased five percent of the company in October 2025. Since that time, its shares are up around 75 percent.

But this example also highlights Baldridge's warning: don't assume all the gains will last.

While the shares have sustained decent appreciation in the wake of the government investment, shares of Lithium Americas are well off the huge spike seen immediately after the deal was announced.

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MP Materials mines rare earth minerals that the tech industry can't do without. In July 2025, the Defense Department cut a deal with MP that will make Uncle Sam the company's biggest investor. Shares have almost doubled since then.

The deal will help fund the company's push to become a rare earth magnet manufacturer, but MP faces big competitive risks from Chinese state-subsidized producers, plus challenges adapting the business to manufacturing. Both risks could derail the stock's gains.

When it comes to investing, some of the biggest pitfalls come from people who make decisions without recognizing their own biases - political or otherwise.

'Instead of judging the politics, you have to judge the policies,' Lawrence Fuller, the founder and principal owner of Fuller Asset Management, LLC, told the Daily Mail.

'I'm very opposed to the tariff policy, the trade policies that are in place. But I don't invest based on whether I think they're good or bad. I invest on what they're actually doing.'

Fuller does see a few strategic benefits for investors who track Trump's policies and investments, particularly in manufacturing, transportation and industrial stocks. But even then, he warned non-professionals to be very cautious.
Casino bosses in Las Vegas are pushing back against claims of overcharging and concerns about the city's affordability, saying they 'don't like' that narrative.

At a community forum on Wednesday evening, leaders from several major casinos -including Plaza, Circa, and El Cortez - discussed a range of topics, honing in on the economic forces shaping the city.

They were adamant that the city wasn't dying, despite reports suggesting a decline in tourism for 2025 and growing perceptions that casinos on the Strip were nickel-and-diming visitors.

Instead, they painted a different picture: the city is evolving.

At the start of the forum, Joe Woody, chair of the Downtown Vegas Alliance and the chief financial officer for El Cortez, made clear the purpose of Wednesday's event.

'There's a lot of social media, there's a lot of news media that we thought was overreporting the overcharging and prices and affordability of Las Vegas in general,' Woody said, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 'And we didn't like that message.'

He also boasted about the 'remarkable' growth at the El Cortez - partially due to the property's $20million expansion and renovation - noting the influx of wealthier players.

Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel said the recent wave of negative reports should be viewed in context, noting it was 'hard to compare' current tourism levels to the 'record growth' the city experienced in the immediate aftermath of COVID-era lockdowns.

Casino bosses in Las Vegas are pushing back against claims of overcharging and concerns about the city's affordability, saying they 'don't like' that narrative

El Cortez's CFO Joe Woody boasted about the 'remarkable' growth at the El Cortez - partially due to the property's $20million expansion and renovation

Woody also said that he and the other casino bosses 'didn't like' the narrative that they were nickel-and-diming visitors

'There's an expression that trees don't grow to the sky. And so, while things may not be as good as they were 12 to 24 months ago, it's still pretty good,' Jossel said.

Jossel also pointed out that several of the biggest casino operators' recent earnings calls showed a 'tremendous' number of visits, spending and gaming spend.

The vice president of operations for Circa, Jeff Victor, pointed to the emerging 'K-shaped economy' - where wealthy Americans prop up consumer spending while poorer consumers increasingly pull back.

The top 20 percent of earners account for nearly 60 percent of all US consumer spending, a recent analysis from Moodys Analytics found.

And middle-class spending growth was closely aligned with high-earners until the end of 2025, when it began to diverge, according to Bank of America Institute data released in February.

As of January, the gap between high-income households and all other households annual spending growth reached its highest level since mid-2022, the bank reported.

'We've been watching this for several years now, where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer,' he said.

'Circa has done quite well. Those customers are not feeling it like some folks that are below the 9 percent line. The D has definitely felt it, and the Golden Gate has felt it quite a bit.'

Jossel also pointed out that several of the biggest casino operators' recent earnings calls showed a 'tremendous' number of visits, spending and gaming spend

Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel said the recent wave of negative reports should be viewed in context, noting it was 'hard to compare' current tourism levels to the 'record growth' the city experienced in the immediate aftermath of COVID-era lockdowns

The vice president of operations for Circa, Jeff Victor, pointed to the emerging 'K-shaped economy' - where wealthy Americans prop up consumer spending while poorer consumers increasingly pull back

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) confirmed that the city drew just 38.5 million visitors in 2025, a devastating fall of 7.5 percent from the previous year

Despite their optimism, visitors being turned off by high prices could spell doom for Vegas, as it's long been rumored that a tourism collapse looms.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) confirmed that the city drew just 38.5 million visitors in 2025, a devastating fall of 7.5 percent from the previous year.

The slide has continued into 2026. Overall visitor numbers in 2025 were down 7.4 percent compared with the year before, and December alone saw a steep 9.2 percent fall.

But Jossel doubled down, saying their optimism stems from the area's appeal to a mix of visitors, leading them to acquire longtime regulars and first-time visitors.

'We can make (guests) feel pretty special downtown,' he said. 'And, ultimately, we can repeat that time and time again.'

Ultimately, despite the high prices and shaky reports, it appears that casino executives expect the iconic downtown to stay successful in the coming years.

'It's an authentic experience,' Jossel said. 'You can't recreate the history (of downtown Las Vegas).'
The American professor has spent 30 years studying the social brain. He speaks with EL PAIS about the loneliness epidemic, specifically how artificial intelligence and political polarization might influence it

When Matthew Lieberman began studying social pain in the 1990s, very few of his colleagues bought into the idea that isolation, solitude and a lack of social skills  in short, loneliness  could cause a level of pain comparable to physical ailments. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic  which was followed by an epidemic of loneliness  Liebermans theories have made him one of the worlds most influential researchers in his field, with more than 58,000 academic citations. His book Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect (2013), continues to be translated at a time when his arguments are more relevant than ever, and has just been published in Spanish.

Today, few doubt that loneliness is one of the great ills of our time, exacerbated by polarization, social media and artificial intelligence (AI). Meanwhile, chatbots are beginning to replace the conversations we once had with other humans (with uncertain results).

Lieberman, 56, spoke with EL PAIS via videoconference.

Question. Your book was published in 2013. Since then, has the world been changing for better or for worse?

Answer. [Things have] continued to get worse, without a doubt. There are two enormous changes. The first is that the world is much lonelier; were more isolated than before. There was already a 50-year trend toward isolation, but the pandemic put it on steroids. In the United States, we spent 18 months practically seeing only one family: our own. We bubbled together.

The other [big change], at least in the United States and in most of the Western world, is the partisan animosity, which is at a level that Ive never seen in my lifetime. And I think that those two things have really shaped modern life in a way that makes a lot of people feel like the world has gotten worse.

For decades, Ive been an optimist about the trajectory of the world. [But over] the last 10 years, it just feels like, where are the good parts? In terms of the trajectory of society, things are getting worse and worse, not better and better.

Q. The pandemic forced billions of people into isolation. What did that experiment reveal about what happens to the brain when it suddenly loses social connection?

A. We dont need social connection to survive the way we need food or water but we do need it to be able to thrive. What the pandemic did was make us acutely aware of this need. The immediate effect of isolation on the brain is similar to physical pain. But the long-term effect of chronic loneliness is that it constantly activates the immune system, generating inflammation. And this inflammation has been linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease and increased mortality. Loneliness kills, in a very literal sense. [And it does so] in ways that are far from obvious.

Q. We have more tools than ever to stay connected: mobile phones, social media, chatbots, video conferences like this one, and yet, loneliness is at record levels. Whats going wrong?

A. I wouldnt say these technologies [in and of themselves] are making things worse. Im a big fan of apps like Zoom, because they allow us to connect. I remember when Apple came out with FaceTime: suddenly, my son could see his grandparents, who were thousands of miles away.

The real problem is that we make choices that distance us from our social support systems: we move for work to cities where we dont know anyone. And creating a new network of close friends in an unfamiliar place is extremely difficult. Zoom can help you feel connected and stay connected to people you already care about but theres something remote enough about Zoom that, if I put you together on the screen with someone [who you match perfectly] with as a friend, youd have a friendly conversation, and then you probably wouldnt talk again. Its just not something that we go to naturally.

Q. There are studies that link the intensive use of chatbots with greater loneliness and less real socialization. What do you think about AI as a substitute for human connection?

A. AI is the most extraordinary invention Ive ever seen. I use it many times a day, but not for social support, not to connect. However, I know that my sons generation  those under 30  use it as a source of social support. And were starting to study this in my lab.

AI replacing contact with real people isnt good. People are complex and unpredictable in ways that AI isnt. And that uncertainty  while sometimes frightening  is valuable. What worries me is that some AI companies are optimizing their products to be friendlier and more emotionally close, because thats what sells. And the question we need to ask is: Are [these companies] also thinking about how to ensure that this helps people, rather than making them more dependent?

Q. You propose that many of our values and beliefs have been instilled in us by society through the social brain. Isnt that unsettling? Where does free will fit in?

A. So, when you first learn about [this], its unsettling. It sounds like a kind of fascism or authoritarianism like society is making you into one of its minions. But theres another framing: by getting this training after were born, as opposed to just [relying on what] we inherit through our DNA, it allows us to learn how to sort of harmonize with the communities that were raised in. It allows us to have shared ways of seeing and understanding the world; [we can better] connect and collaborate.

If you asked 20-year-old me about this, I would say that it sounds horrifying. But as an adult whos gone through more of the cycle of life and has seen how important it is to be able to fit in with new groups, the fact that were hardwired to do that as were going through our teenage years has a lot of advantages, in addition to the scary part.

Q. Earlier on, you mentioned political polarization, which has increased enormously since you published the book.

A. There are analyses showing that, when a conservative leaves California, a very liberal state, theyre twice as likely to move to a conservative state than a liberal state. And, when you look at the opposite, someone liberal leaving Texas, which is a conservative state, theyre much more likely to go to a liberal state than a conservative state. So, were sorting ourselves into states. And then, within states, were sorting ourselves between cities and rural areas. It just makes it hard to understand why were part of one larger community that we call a country. When you dont interact with people who think differently in your daily life, they cease to feel like part of your community.

When I was a child, I lived in a cul-de-sac with 10 houses. We all knew each other. Some were liberals, some were conservatives, but it didnt matter: they were part of our small community. That no longer exists to the same extent. And what I find truly dangerous is that weve turned political difference into this huge moral issue. In 1960, more than 50% of Americans opposed their children marrying someone from another race. Today, that number is maybe 5%. But now, they say, Oh my God, please dont marry someone [from another] political party. I think thats really dangerous for society.

Q. Is there any hope? Or are things going to get worse?

A. The only hope I can point to is the awareness that the real conflict tends to be between the 10% on [one] extreme and the 10% on [the other] extreme. And most of the people are in the middle [well, maybe] not the middle  very few people are in the middle  but theyre close to the middle. And they align more with one side or the other, but they dont have this furious need to take each other down. But the people who do have that need take up all the oxygen, theyre the ones running the far-right news and the far-left news. Theyre the ones whore going onto social media and arguing all the time. And so, they look like they represent all of us [but] they dont. They represent a small fragment of us.

The hope is that this large majority in the middle will realize they have more in common with each other than with the extremists. I dont see that happening yet, but it could.

Q. In your book, you propose something interesting: reforming education and teaching history through narratives about people, rather than just using dates and battles. Is there evidence that this works?

A. I dont know of any country thats systematically implementing this. But what we do know is that humans are wired to listen to stories. We learn about people  their faces, their personalities, their motivations  much more easily and lastingly than when we learn abstract facts about the world. If I teach you about a war by telling you what was going on in the minds of those who made the decisions, its engaging and sticks with you. When we learn history as a series of maps and dates, were using the wrong format for how the brain works.

Q. In the book, you also argue that companies undervalue social connection as a driver of productivity. Has the massive shift to remote work during the pandemic, and the return to the office afterward, proven you right?

A. My university building is much more of a ghost town than it was 10 years ago. Professors come in when they teach or have a meeting, but hardly anyone is there from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM anymore. And, [because of] that, we lose those moments of serendipity: the chance encounter in the hallway where someone says, Hey, I saw a lecture yesterday that I think youd be interested in, [or] spending an hour in [your] office developing a new idea. That doesnt happen the same way remotely.

In America, workers have really resisted going back to the workplace. And I get it. You can sit at home, do your work and be in your pajamas all day. There are lots of nice benefits: you can go see your neighbor and things like that. But there are benefits to why people come together in companies and not just over Zoom. There are things that happen when people meet physically that dont happen [online] and we havent yet found a way to compensate for that.

Q. Based on all your research showing how the brain needs social connection, what practical advice would you give to someone who feels lonely or has difficulty connecting with other people?

A. I started a company (Resonance) thats trying to solve this problem. We have an app that can help people in large communities find the people that they should be talking to. Were [doing] this with universities right now: before [thousands of students in a freshman] class show up, we connect each of the people in that class with, say, three other people. So, when they arrive on campus, [they already know] a couple of people, to help them navigate this experience. We do the same thing with companies.

But beyond that, I think there are two [pieces] of advice for someone whos lonely. One is that you have to put yourself out there: go join a club or organization that does something youre interested in. Start playing pickleball, join a group that talks about whatever it is that youre interested in. This doesnt automatically make you lots of friends but its probably where youre going to find some friends.

[Secondly], once youre there, you have to sort of figure out how to turn acquaintances into friendships. Part of that is trying to be curious about the other person, not just doing all the talking. And you also have to share a little about yourself. We think that if we get into deep stuff, the other person is going to be turned off but multiple studies have shown were wrong about all of that. People like being in these deeper conversations, because thats what actually makes you feel more human.

You [also have] to dare to say yes when someone suggests something even if that means a shared bad experience. The worst concert you ever went to with someone can become a bonding point. In a sense, making friends is about taking risks.

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In the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, five million people from Africa work mostly in the fields of construction, hospitality, and domestic service. But fluctuating oil prices are threatening their jobs

When sirens wail across Dubai, Meron tries not to think about leaving. She fears the missiles, but this Ethiopian domestic worker knows exactly why shes staying: her salary pays her daughters school fees and puts food on the table for her entire family back in Addis Ababa. For her, leaving the Gulf because of the barrage of Iranian missiles launched in response to attacks by the United States and Israel isnt an option.

Im not thinking about leaving. Whatever happens, happens, Meron shrugs. She asks that her real name be withheld for security reasons. This situation affects all of us, not just me. My daughter needs to go to school. I pray for peace, because peace here means survival back home.

Meron is one of approximately five million African migrants living in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. These people  who hail from countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Ethiopia  have made a living in construction, domestic work, hospitality, logistics, and security services.

I pray for peace, because peace here means survival back home Meron, domestic worker

But now, growing geopolitical tensions linked to the conflict between Iran and the U.S. are causing them deep concern about their ability to earn money and send it home. Across the African continent, more than 200 million people benefit from remittances, according to United Nations data. With this money, they pay bills, buy food, obtain medical treatment and cover other expenses. Remittances represent almost 6% of the continents GDP. And, in countries like Gambia and Lesotho, they exceed 20%. In some cases, money sent from abroad represents more income than official development assistance (ODA).

In 2024, African countries received more than $95.3 billion in remittances from their diasporas, making these transfers one of the continents largest external sources of financing. Nigeria, Egypt, and Morocco are among the main recipients, according to the African Finance Corporations State of Infrastructure in Africa Report 2025.

For a Kenyan taxi driver navigating the UAEs busy highways, geopolitical tensions are secondary to his daily wage. Having lived in Dubai for a decade, he says he wont back down, because his family depends entirely on his income. Im not afraid. I send money every month to my mother, my sister, and my brother, he explains. I support them no matter what happens here. I work every day. I wont stop sending money.

For many African households, the question is simple, yet crucial: Will the remittances keep coming? Well, so far  and according to at least a dozen workers interviewed by EL PAIS  the money continues to flow, thanks to the numerous apps and digital payment services that are available in the GCC countries. However, concerns are growing about the possibility that the war could drag on for much longer.

The grueling work schedules of these migrants highlight an apparent financial paradox: remittance flows may even increase during the initial phases of a crisis. Market analyst Hany Abu Akleh, from XTB MENA, points out that the Gulf labor market has undergone a remarkable shift in recent years. Theres been a widespread increase in the participation of African workers  particularly those from Kenya and Uganda  in Gulf economies, especially the UAE and Qatar.

Abu Akleh states that many of these workers often work abroad with the primary goal of sending money back to their families. He notes that this trend is partly due to currency depreciation in several African economies during global crises, especially in the face of a strong U.S. dollar.

The analyst adds that direct transfers through electronic payment apps  widely used in the Gulf  are also becoming increasingly important for migrants families in their home countries as commodity prices rise. Many of these economies are heavily reliant on imports, which drives up costs for consumers. This trend has been exacerbated by the surge in oil prices, which have risen above $100 a barrel.

Economists believe that the real risk lies not in disrupted money transfer systems, but in job stability. If the war impacts regional economies, slows down construction projects, or forces companies to cut costs, migrant workers could be among the first to feel the impact.

Financial services analyst Amro Zakaria says that the latest data available  from 2024 and 2025  show that remittances from Kenyan workers in the Gulf region account for about 10% of all funds sent home by Kenyans abroad, equivalent to about $497 million. In Uganda, remittances total about $1.6 billion, driven largely by the approximately 300,000 Ugandan workers employed in the Gulf countries. As for Ethiopia, official figures put remittances from Gulf workers at about $600 million, though the actual amount is likely higher due to limited and incomplete data.

The threat, Zakaria says, isnt immediate, but structural. When oil prices fluctuate, shipping routes become uncertain and tourism declines. Companies may choose to reduce hiring or cut working hours. Such adjustments would directly affect migrant workers, he adds, whose income supports families thousands of miles away.

Zakaria notes that if the current crisis were to worsen, the economic repercussions could resemble the disruptions seen during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, he maintains that the Gulf states  particularly the UAE  have sufficient liquidity that could help cushion any potential disruptions.

The African Union and leaders across the continent have expressed growing concern about the escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran, warning that the crisis could have serious economic and security repercussions. Rising fuel costs, disrupted trade routes  including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz  and volatile financial markets are already wreaking havoc on several African economies. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the situation is already straining African supply chains and driving up energy prices. He also warned that import-dependent economies across the continent were particularly vulnerable and urged all parties to pursue dialogue, noting that diplomacy remained the only sustainable path to ending the conflict.

In Kenya, President William Ruto condemned the escalating hostilities and warned that the regionalization of the conflict posed a grave threat to global peace and security. He called for urgent international intervention to de-escalate tensions.

This article has been published in collaboration with Egab, a platform that works with journalists from the Middle East and Africa.

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There is widespread shock across Derry this evening after it emerged that a young woman had been murdered.

The woman, named locally as Amy Doherty, was found injured at a property in the Summer Meadows Mews area of the city but died later in hospital.

A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Detective Inspector Michelle Griffin said: Officers attended a property in the Summer Meadows Mews area of the city at around 10.20am and located an injured woman at the scene.

She was taken to hospital by our colleagues in the NI ambulance service where she sadly died.

A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones, who are left trying to come to terms with this shocking loss.

Police inquiries are continuing.

Speaking at the scene SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said there is "huge shock and sadness" in Derry today.

"There is huge shock and sadness right across the city at this heartbreaking and horrifying incident that occurred this morning, Mr Durkan said.

People are absolutely shocked and devastated and nobody more so than the family and friends of the young woman who so tragically and so cruelly lost her life.

Sinn Fein Foyle MLA Ciara Ferguson said: Our heartfelt thoughts are with this womans loved ones as they face the unimaginable loss which this horrific crime has brought upon them.

A young woman's life was taken in the latest act of violence against women and girls and I appeal to anyone with information to bring it forward to the PSNI.

The Executives Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls sets out how it aims to tackle this scourge in our society. But we must all do more to confront the causes and cultures behind this violence and to do everything possible to bring the harm and abuse of women to an end.

Mayor of Derry and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairi McHugh extended his condolences on behalf of the city and district Ms Doherty's family an friends.

Cllr McHugh said: "I am deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic murder of a young mother, whose life was taken so violently today.

"On behalf of the people of Derry and surrounding areas, I would like to extend the heartfelt sympathy and condolences to her family and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time.

"No words can ease the pain of such a loss, but please be assured that the community stands with you in grief, support, and solidarity.

"We all mourn together, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

"We call on everyone to come together in compassion, to support one another, and to honour her memory in the days ahead. RIP Amy."

In a joint statement Derry DUP councillors Chelsea Cooke, Niree McMorris and Julie Middleton expressed their deep shock and sadness.

They said: As women representing the City at Council, this is utterly devastating news for our city. The loss of a womans life in such circumstances is both shocking and deeply distressing for the entire community.

"Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victims family and loved ones as they face unimaginable grief. No family should ever have to endure such heartbreak.

"This is a stark reminder that violence, particularly against women, has no place in our society. Every woman and girl should feel safe in their own home and community.

"We must ensure that those responsible for such heinous acts are brought before the courts and held fully accountable.

"We would appeal to anyone who may have information, no matter how small it may seem, to come forward to the PSNI and assist with their investigation.

"As a community, we must stand together to support the victims family and to send a clear message that such violence will never be tolerated.
Coleraine Mental Health charity CEO Yasmin Geddis was recently victorious in winning a funding pitch competition at the Institute of Directors Women in Leadership Conference on Friday, March 6 at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast.

Yasmin Geddis, the CEO for The Zachary Geddis Trust pitched for 4,000 to support the charity at the Northern Ireland Pitch Perfect competition at the prestigious conference.

Yasmin was overjoyed when her pitch was successful, and surprised to hear that her winning pitch had secured 47% of the vote.

Pitching the essential services of the Zachary Geddis Trust in front of 500 people, Yasmin described her reaction to the announcement that they had won.

I was honoured to represent our charity, The Zachary Geddis Trust, in the Institute of Directors Women in Leadership Pitch Perfect competition," she said.

It was a huge shock and thrill when The Zachary Geddis Trust were named as the winners, securing 4,000 for our organisation.

I was delighted by the result, which displayed the faith and confidence placed by the people of Northern Ireland in our organisation to deliver essential mental health services in our community.

This much needed funding boost is vital in supporting our core services and in the delivery of additional programmes which positively impact our service users and meet the community's growing needs in mental health provision.

I would like to thank everyone who voted for our pitch, wished us luck and to all those who support and follow the work of the Zachary Geddis Trust.

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The annual Institute of Directors Women in Leadership Conference is a celebration of women in leadership roles and aims to unite a community of inspiring leaders.

Yasmin faced stiff competition in the pitch from other female led organisations such as Last Say Ltd., Bloom Band, Kitchen Sync and CAST planning.

For further information about The Zachary Geddis Trust, please contact info@zgbtst.org, visit the website or follow the organisation on Facebook, Instagram or Linkedin.
Elon Musk has announced a massive new project called the Terafab. Speaking at an event in Austin, he explained that this will be a giant factory where his companies, Tesla and SpaceX, will design and build their own AI chips. According to Business Insider, Musk has a very big vision for this, saying it is the start of a galactic civilisation. However, the factory is not built yet; this announcement was simply the official start of the project. Musk wants to make these chips to power his self-driving cars, his Optimus robots, and even satellites in space.

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Why Musk is building his own chips

The main reason for this move is the ongoing global shortage of high-tech chips. Right now, almost every big tech company relies on a firm called Nvidia to get the powerful chips needed for AI. Bloomberg notes that the semiconductor industry is moving too slowly to keep up with the number of chips Musk thinks he will need. Because he doesnt want to wait for others or be held back by shortages, Musk has decided to build the Terafab so he can make exactly what he needs, when he needs it.

What the Terafab will do

According to Business Insider, the Terafab will be different from most factories because it will do everything under one roof. Usually, one company designs a chip and another one builds it, but Musk wants to handle the whole process, from testing to final packaging. The factory will focus on two main things:

For Earth: Chips for Tesla cars and Optimus robots. Musk expects to need millions of these as his robotics business grows.

For Space: A specialised chip called D3. Bloomberg reports that these chips are being designed to work in space, where SpaceX and Musks AI company, xAI, want to run mini AI satellites that process data while orbiting the Earth.

The Pros and Cons

The big pro is that Musk would no longer have to rely on companies like Nvidia or TSMC. He also believes that running AI in space will be cheaper because space is always sunny, which means his satellites would have a constant supply of free solar power.

The con is that this is an incredibly difficult and expensive goal. Bloomberg points out that building a chip factory can cost tens of billions of pounds and takes many years to complete. Musk also has no experience in making chips, and he is known for setting deadlines that he often misses. Experts are sceptical because the technology needed to make these chips is some of the most complicated in the world.

Looking ahead

Musks plans are definitely ambitious. He even talked about building a base on the moon and a future where everything is free, including trips to Saturn. While those ideas sound quite far-fetched and more like science fiction, the immediate plan is to get the Terafab started in Texas. If it works, it would change how his companies function, but for now, it is a huge gamble that will take a long time to become a reality.

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New figures show Louth is performing strongly for house building compared to the rest of the country.

A new tool, developed by Irish Sustainable Homes and Rigr AI, compares the number of adults aged 18-44 who do not yet own a home with the number of new homes built in each electoral area.

The figures show how long it would take, on average, for a first-time buyer to get the keys to a newly built home in their own community.

The data reveals that Drogheda Rural has the fastest rate of home-building in Ireland. A total of 630 new homes were built last year for a population of 5,015 adults between the ages of 18 and 44 who do not own a home, resulting in an average wait time of just eight years - the shortest in Ireland.

Dundalk South also features in the top 20 areas nationwide for the shortest wait time, with an estimated average of 22.1 years. Dundalk-Carlingford and Ardee are listed at 35.8 years and 52.1 years, respectively. In 18 of the 166 electoral districts, the wait time is more than 100 years.

Figures also show that County Louth recorded the fastest growth in new home construction in 2025, with the number of new builds rising by 24%.

Cllr Sean Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, said the figures are very encouraging for Louth.

"It shows that our county is leading the way nationally in building new homes and reducing waiting times for firsttime buyers. I want to acknowledge the strong partnership across our communities, planners, housing bodies and developers, all of whom are helping to deliver real results for people in Louth, he said.

Cllr Michelle Hall, Mayor of Drogheda, also welcomed the findings, saying: Im proud to see Drogheda Rural recognised as having the fastest rate of home building in the country - no other electoral area performs better.

The Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) has been central to this surge, unlocking major landbanks for housing after years of planning and showing what long-term investment can achieve for our growing town.

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David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, said: These figures show that Louth is delivering homes at a rate that leads the country. Drogheda Rural, in particular, stands out as the best-performing area in Ireland, while Dundalk South is also showing positive progress.

However, Mr Conway said there is room for improvement in Dundalk-Carlingford and Ardee but said he is "hopeful that new opportunities, especially around land activation" will bring wait times down.

The strong growth in new homes last year reflects the hard work of many partners, and this data gives reassurance that progress is being made in Louth.

For context, the worst area in the country is Palmerstown-Fonthill in Dublin, which will take over 1000 years at the current delivery rate.

There are currently over 5,500 waiting to buy a home, with there being just 1.4 homes per 10,000 people.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
The median house price for houses sold with the Dundalk Eircode A91 in January 2026 was 333,000, up 1000 from December according to figures released by the CSO (Central Statistics Office) in their Residential Property Price Index report.

The county wide median house price for Louth now stands at 370,000, up 5,000 on the previous month and 15,000 on November.

Of the 57 houses sold in Dundalk in January, 24 were to first time buyer owner-occupiers; 28 to former owner-occupiers and 5 were to non occupiers.

Thirty-nine of these houses were existing builds while eighteen were new homes.

The median price of the new houses sold was 392,500 (down 2500 on December) and the median price of existing houses sold in January was 250,000 (down 30,000 on December).

In Drogheda, the median price of residential properties sold in A92 in January 2026, was 383,000, an increase of 3000 on December and 8000 on November.

Of the 111 houses sold in Drogheda in January, 62 were to first time buyer owner-occupiers; 42 to former owner-occupiers and 7 were to non occupiers.

54 of the houses sold were new houses and the other 57 were existing. The median price for the new houses sold was 399, 250 (up from 392,500 in December) while for existing houses it was 341,000 (up from 322,000 in December.)

The national Residential Property Price Index (RPPI) increased by 7.0% in the 12 months to January 2026, up from the 6.9% recorded in the year to December 2025. Property prices in Dublin rose by 6.1% and prices outside Dublin were up by 7.7% compared with January 2025. The median price of a dwelling purchased in the 12 months to January 2026 was 389,986.

The highest median price for a dwelling in the 12 months to January 2026 was 680,000 in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, while the lowest median price was 195,000 in Donegal. In January 2026, 3,781 dwelling purchases by households were filed with the Revenue Commissioners at a total value of 1.66 billion. These purchases were made up of 2,686 existing dwellings and 1,095 new dwellings. Revenue data shows there were 1,566 first-time buyer purchases in January 2026.

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Commenting on the release, Edel Flannery, Senior Statistician in the Prices Division, said: Residential property prices rose by 7.0% in the 12 months to January 2026, up from the 6.9% in the year to December 2025. In Dublin, residential property prices saw an increase of 6.1%, while residential property prices outside Dublin were 7.7% higher in January 2026 when compared with a year earlier.

In the 12 months to January 2026, house prices in Dublin rose by 5.6% while apartment prices increased by 7.8%. The highest house price growth in Dublin was in Dublin City at 8.0% while Fingal saw a rise of 3.8%.

Outside of Dublin, house prices were up by 7.3% and apartment prices rose by 12.3%. The region outside of Dublin that saw the largest growth in house prices was the Midlands (Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath) at 15.9%, while at the other end of the scale, the Mid-West (Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary) saw a rise of 5.6%.
NASA will attempt to send four astronauts to orbit the Earths satellite in April, in a mission that no longer faces Soviet competition, but Chinese

Everything is ready for the launch of the first crewed mission to the Moon in 50 years on April 1, NASA announced on March 12. For those who followed the adventure of the first flights to Earths satellite, it is impossible to avoid comparisons between Apollo 8, the first expedition to orbit the Moon in 1968, and the imminent Artemis 2. Nearly six decades later, preparations are underway for a new lunar tussle, but the geopolitical circumstances are very different. Today, Russian competition is nonexistent (that of China is another matter), and the sense of a space race has vanished. And with it, the pioneering epic that characterized Apollo 8.

The idea of sending that expedition to the Moon arose in the summer of 1968. It was a proposal put forward by George Low, head of the Apollo Spacecraft Program Office. The program envisioned a first flight of the main capsule around the Earth in October of that year; this would be followed by another, also orbital, which would include the lunar module. But the lunar module wouldnt be ready until spring, which would delay the entire program, jeopardizing John F. Kennedys goal: We choose to go to the Moon in this decade.

Meanwhile, U.S. spy satellites had located the Russian N-1 super rocket (the equivalent of Wernher Von Brauns Saturn V) installed at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It might not yet be operational, but what was certain was that, using smaller Proton rockets, the Soviet Union could launch a Soyuz-type capsule on a circumlunar trajectory. It wouldnt be a lunar landing attempt, but the propaganda impact would be immense.

The 'Apollo 8' crew (from left to right): James Lovell, William Anders and Frank Borman. Heritage Images (Heritage Space/Heritage Images via Getty Images)

Low sent his proposal to NASAs top brass. If the first crewed Apollo flight was successful, the next one would be to our satellite. No lunar module. Just go, orbit a few times, and return.

The first manned mission, Apollo 7, was a success. A mixed bag, since all three astronauts caught colds that put them in a foul mood throughout the flight. This, combined with their exasperation at ground controls constant changes and expansions to the experiment program, eventually erupted in the first mutiny aboard a spacecraft. None of the three ever flew again. But thats another story.

Thus, in November 1968, NASA officially announced the change of plans. Apollo 8, with its three crew members  Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders  would go to the Moon, taking advantage of the next launch window in December. They would spend Christmas where no human being had ever been before. There was a sense of urgency. By then, the USSR had sent two capsules on the same trajectory. They carried no people, but they did have a small menagerie: a couple of tortoises, flies, earthworms, plants, seeds, and bacterial cultures. These were the first living beings to visit the vicinity of our satellite.

The 'Apollo 8' astronauts at Cape Kennedy, Florida, on December 21, 1968. Bettmann (Getty Images)

In retrospect, the Apollo 8 flight was an extremely high-risk endeavor. Almost reckless. Without a lunar lander, the command module was entirely dependent on its maneuvering engine both to enter lunar orbit and to break out of orbit and return to Earth. There was no alternative. In all likelihood, any catastrophe along the way would have been fatal. When, years later, Apollo 13 suffered an oxygen tank explosion, the crew was able to survive by converting their lunar module into a kind of lifeboat. The engine that was supposed to allow them to land on the Moon was used to maneuver them into a safe return trajectory to Earth (a trajectory very similar to that planned for Artemis 2). And it was by using up their reserves of air, water, and electricity that they were able to complete the journey.

Artemis 2 faces a similar problem: it also wont have a lunar lander. This is the responsibility of SpaceX, Elon Musks company, and its still unknown when it will first fly. The contract with NASA requires demonstrating a successful descent and subsequent takeoff from the Moon under automated control before entrusting it with human passengers. That should happen in 2028, so time is of the essence.

View of the Moon taken during NASA's 'Apollo 8' mission in December 1968. Interim Archives (Getty Images)

NASA didnt want to take the same risks as in 1968, especially with a new spacecraft that has only flown once without a crew. Thats why Artemis 2 wont orbit the Moon. It will simply follow a figure-eight trajectory, passing high above the far side before heading back. Even if all propulsion systems failed, the return would be guaranteed from the very first minute. For NASA, thats the most important thing.

And what will the astronauts do during the journey? Essentially, thoroughly test all the onboard systems, from the cameras and the computer for star navigation (the Apollo missions made do with a sextant and a computer with 38K of memory) to the new toilet built into the cabin floor, complete with a door to ensure some privacy. Half a century ago, astronauts only had plastic bags and had to trust that their colleagues would look the other way while they used them.

Specifically, the astronauts will practice the approach and formation flight with the rockets final stage. This is a preparatory exercise for what their Artemis 3 colleagues will have to do, but this time to dock with the lunar lander. Its a routine maneuver, both in manual and automatic modes: the Soyuz and Dragon capsules perform it every time they have to deliver new crews to the International Space Station. But for the Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft, its a first.

'Apollo 8,' the first manned mission to lunar orbit, departing from Earth. Corbis (Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

After all, NASA still remembers the problems that plagued another newly designed capsule  Boeings Starliner  in 2024 during its first attempt to dock with the International Space Station. Five of the 28 positional control engines failed, partly due to unexpected helium leaks and corrosion of the fuel valves. It was later discovered that the culprit had been ambient humidity while the rocket was on the launch pad.

The astronauts will serve as guinea pigs, and not just during the flight. For six months, the four have been providing blood, saliva, and urine samples to be compared with those obtained during and after the journey. The idea is to conduct a study of immune biomarkers. They have also provided bone marrow samples, which have been implanted in small, pen-sized devices to see how tissues respond to radiation and microgravity. And during the flight, their sleep, circadian rhythm, stress levels, and mood will be monitored. The attention to their mood is certainly intriguing. Not everyone has the opportunity to travel through space to contemplate, for a few hours, the side of the Moon that no one else sees.

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A total of 22,318 of the workers auto-enrolled to the Governments new Auto-Enrolment (AE) scheme, My Future Fund, come from Louth.

The lions share of the workers auto-enrolled to My Future Fund come from Dublin, with one in three (32%) or a total of 262,611 of the workers auto-enrolled so far - hailing from the capital. Cork had the second highest share of workers auto-enrolled, with one in ten of the workers signed up to AE or 75,706 in total - residing in Cork.

Around one in 20 of the workers or 38,463 in total that have been auto-enrolled come from Galway, meaning Galway workers make up the third biggest proportion of the total amount signed up to AE.

This is according to new government figures which provide a county-by-county breakdown of the number of workers enrolled to AE since it was launched at the start of the year.

Commenting on the figures, Keith Butler, CEO of Ask Acorn (a nationwide network of financial advisers) said:

The figures reflect the concentration of workers in various counties, and so naturally, counties with higher concentrations of workers hold a higher proportion of the overall number of workers auto-enrolled to AE than is the case for other counties. Recent CSO data shows that the highest proportion of workers reside in Dublin, Cork, Galway and so its not surprising that workers from these three counties account for the highest proportions of the overall number of Irish workers signed up to AE.

So far, over 763,000 employees have been automatically enrolled since My Future Fund launched at the start of the year, with their first contribution to the scheme made in January and their second contribution made in February.

Pension experts at Ask Acorn are urging workers that have been signed up to AE to carefully weigh up the scheme and decide if its going to form part of their long-term plans or not, reminding these workers that they are still within the opt-out window which is between six months and eight months of the date they were automatically enrolled if they wish to leave the scheme.

For any worker enrolled on January 1, this means that their opt-out window runs until between June and August. The pension experts however are warning that any decision to opt out should not be taken lightly, particularly if AE is a workers only opportunity to join a pension scheme.

Ask Acorn is also pointing out that workers still have alternative pension options even if they have been signed up to AE  such as supplementing AE with a personally owned pension or signing up to a company pension scheme that became available after AE.

Mr Butler explained:

Workers who have been signed up to AE should note that its not a one-size-fits-all solution. For some, this scheme will be a good fit. But for others, particularly those with different income levels, career paths or retirement goals, the contribution levels under AE may not fully meet their desired retirement income targets.

AE might lead some people, especially those who havent yet thought seriously about pensions, to believe theyre covered without seeking proper advice. Everyone who has been signed up for AE should be looking closely at what the scheme offers and considering independent advice  including around any alternative offer on the table from an employer and whether or not they need to supplement their AE pension.

Read Next: Reinstatement of histopathology services "will bring real relief to GPs and patients" in Louth

If youre one of the 763,000 workers that has been signed up to AE, its important to take the time to make sure you are making adequate provisions for your retirement. From a workers perspective, a bad decision around pensions could cost them dearly and see them struggle financially in retirement  or even worse, having to postpone retirement because they simply cant afford to give up work.

Workers signed up to AE since it was launched may now be realising that their first decision on it  or indeed any inaction around their retirement planning - may not be the best approach. Workers who have been auto-enrolled should be using the first few months of the year to consider their position on the scheme  that is, is AE right for them or should they be looking at other forms of retirement planning. It is not too late to do so, particularly given workers are still within the opt-out window.
To celebrate this years Engineers Week, Dundalk IT welcomed almost 1,000 primary and secondary school students to campus to participate in 9 events under the theme Transform Your Future.

Engineers Week has been created to introduce primary and secondary school children to the diverse world of engineering, and this year the DkIT team focused on bringing this message to as many schools as possible. Prior to the events on campus, volunteers ran STEM quizzes for primary schools in libraries across Monaghan and Louth. The top teams from each qualifier went head-to-head in the final in DKIT with Aston Village Educate Together from Drogheda being Named the Engineers Ireland North East STEM Quiz Champions.

To kick off the DkIT events, 600 primary school students made the journey to campus to attend the Science Made Simple show Who Wants to be a Superhero?, an exciting and interactive session, that introduced the audience to the world of engineering and explored how engineers can work on real life superpowers like lasers, superstrength and flight, to make our world a better place.

The superhero theme continued later in the week, when The Superhero Scientist Dr. Barry Fitzgerald explored the wonder of science and engineering with 5th and 6th classes from Kilcurry and Dromiskin National Schools.

A first for Engineers week was the Trath Na Geist, an Irish language STEM quiz for gaelscoileanna from Monaghan and Louth, where a team from Gaelscoil Lorgan, Castleblaney were announced as the overall winners in the event.

To round off a fantastic week, DKIT in conjunction with global engineering consultancy company AtkinsRealis, hosted 75 female secondary school students from Louth and Monaghan in the Women in Engineering event. It was fantastic to have the support from such an established engineering company, particularly when the Irish Managing Director Martina Finn is a proud DKIT graduate. 17 inspirational female professional engineers, lecturers and DKIT students took the time to speak with the students about the challenges, possibilities and opportunities of following a career in engineering.

Read Next: Outrunning the rattling: Dundalk drivers excuse after 100km/h in 60 zone

The event had a fantastic impact on students who are at a major crossroads in their lives, by exposing them to a centre of excellence in the teaching of engineering, and the women who are forging pathways into what in the past has been a predominantly male field, according to Gareth Kelly, Lecturer in the Department of Engineering, Trades and Civil Engineering.

He added It was wonderful to have so much energy on campus throughout the week as our visitors explored the endless possibilities of engineering. With the help of our Engineers Week Partners, Engineers Ireland North East, AtkinsRealis, Louth and Monaghan County Libraries and our fantastic staff and students, we are committed to working with primary and secondary school students throughout the region to have a positive and lasting impact on their career choices and the future of engineering.
One week on from the launch of Grow. Thrive. Shine, Hub 21 in Carrickmacross is reflecting on a powerful and inspiring evening that celebrated the children and families at the heart of the charitys work across the North East.

The Down Syndrome Awareness Exhibition, which remains open throughout the month of March at the Civic Offices in Carrickmacross, features 44 children and young people who attend Hub 21, capturing their personalities, stories, and potential through a series of striking portraits.

The exhibition was officially launched on 9th March, exactly seven years after Hub 21 first officially opened its doors in Carrickmacross. Since then, the charity has supported many children with Down syndrome and their families across Monaghan, Cavan, Louth, Meath, Armagh, and beyond through dedicated therapies, supports, services and activities.

Hub 21 Manager Caitriona Crosby reflected on the evening: "Seeing these incredible children celebrated in such a public and positive way was deeply moving. The exhibition captures their personalities, their determination, and their potential.

Below: Louis from Louth is one of the children who attends Hub 21 and features in the exhibition

"Seeing many of the models physically starting in front of their portrait, with their families observing and supporting them was particularly poignant. It is a reminder of why Hub 21 exists - to support children with Down syndrome to grow, thrive and shine."

Read also: Dundalk's St. Malachys Infants NS scoop inaugural Sean Rocks Commemorative Cup

The launch featured inspiring contributions from guest speaker Dr Mei Lin Yap, whose powerful speech reminded everyone that people with Down syndrome must be seen, heard, and given opportunities to rise, lifting communities along the way.

Mei Lin is the first person in Ireland with an intellectual disability to receive an honorary doctorate and she left everyone speechless with her inspiring life story and calls to break down barriers and make a more inclusive Ireland for everyone.

Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council, and Councillor Paul Gibbons, Cathaoirleach of the CarrickmacrossCastleblayney Municipal District also pledged their ongoing support of families and local initiatives.

Local photographer Dalia Guzauskaite was responsible for capturing the beauty, personality and spirit of every child. Each photo comes with a little biography on the child. As the exhibition continues through March, it also highlights upcoming World Down Syndrome Day which takes place on 21st March, because it is the 21st chromosome that is triplicated in people with Down Syndrome.

The theme this year is loneliness. Children with Down syndrome are often known but not chosen - present in classrooms or playgrounds but socially on the outside. Hub 21 encourages families, schools, and the community to start conversations about inclusion and empathy.

One visible way to do this is through Lots of Socks, where children and adults wear bright, colourful, mismatched socks on World Down Syndrome Day to spark conversation and symbolise that everyone should be included. Small gestures, like inviting someone to join a game or including them in a conversation, can make a big difference in helping children feel valued and connected.

"We warmly encourage the local community - families, supporters, volunteers, and businesses - to visit the exhibition during Civic Offices opening hours," Caitriona added. "It is a chance to meet the children we support, see the impact of our work, and start conversations that can help create more inclusive communities."

The Grow. Thrive. Shine. exhibition will remain open throughout March, offering everyone an opportunity to celebrate the children and families who make Hub 21s work so special, and to reflect on the importance of inclusion in everyday life.
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) Lecturer Glenn McCormack, was recently awarded a prestigious scholarship by the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Foundation to attend the SITE Global Conference in Abu Dhabi. Glenn is a Lecturer and Programme Director for the BA (Hons) in Event Management with Marketing, in the Department of Hospitality.

Glenn, who also serves as Chapter Leader for Membership on the SITE Ireland Board, was selected as a scholarship recipient based on his essay on the topic of Travel as Transformation.

The essay explored the powerful role of incentive travel in shaping careers, communities and personal development - themes that resonate strongly within both the global incentive travel industry and hospitality education.

Glenns journey in the incentive travel, events and hospitality industry began with early bar and restaurant work that sparked his love of human connection and grew through roles in major hotels, international event operations, and over a decade at the Guinness Storehouse, where he helped shape worldclass experiences for global incentive groups.

Along the way he developed expertise in experience design, destination marketing, and collaborative leadership, guided by mentors who shaped his approach to people and purpose.

Read also: Hub 21 reflects on powerful Grow. Thrive. Shine. exhibition in Carrickmacross

That foundation ultimately led him into academia, where he now teaches and mentors future professionals while continuing to champion the sector through SITE Ireland, where he plays an active part in growing engagement within the Irish incentive travel community and supporting the next generation of industry professionals.

In recognition of the strength of his submission and his leadership within SITE Ireland, Glenn was invited to speak at a dedicated breakout session for scholarship winners during the conference.

His presentation on Travel as Transformation, examined how travel experiences can act as catalysts for professional growth, cross-cultural understanding and long-term industry impact.

The SITE Global Conference brings together international leaders in incentive travel, destination management, hospitality and events to explore innovation, sustainability and the future direction of the sector.

The 2026 conference which took place in February in Abu Dhabi marked a significant gathering of global industry professionals and reaffirmed SITEs commitment to developing emerging leaders through its foundation programmes.

Incentive travel is a reward-based programme used by organisations to recognise and motivate highperforming employees, sales teams, or partners. Designed to drive business outcomes rather than leisure, it delivers exceptional, often onceinalifetime experiences.

The sector supports airlines, hotels, venues, destination management companies and local suppliers, contributes to jobs and international trade, strengthens destination brands, and is a key part of the Governments Business Events 2030 strategy.

Speaking about the experience, Glenn said: Receiving the SITE Foundation scholarship was both an honour and a privilege.

"The opportunity to contribute to a global conversation about the transformative power of travel aligns closely with my work at DkIT, where we aim to equip students not just with industry skills, but with a global mindset. Incentive travel has the capacity to shape careers and communities, and I was proud to represent DkIT and SITE Ireland on this international stage.

Head of Department, Dr Kevin Burns, Department of Hospitality at DkIT, added: Glenns scholarship and speaking engagement reflect the calibre of expertise within our department. His involvement with SITE at international level strengthens DkITs industry links and ensures our students benefit from current global insights and professional networks.
Louth County Council is to hold a Public Participation Day next Thursday 26 March from 11am to 7pm in the Blackrock Suite, Fairways Hotel, Dundalk (A91 E6KC), to present the high-level, emerging flood relief options for Blackrock, to gather views and ensure the community has a meaningful role in shaping any future flood protection for Blackrock.

The project is part of the Dundalk Flood Relief Scheme. In 2012, to address flooding issues nationally, the Office of Public Works (OPW) commissioned and completed Catchment and Flood Risk Management (CFRAM) studies covering the entire country reviewing 300 flood-prone sites.

An output of the flood study identified 118 at-risk areas, including Dundalk/Blackrock and the associated impacts of flooding. The plan also set out the measures and policies to be pursued in order to achieve the most cost effective and sustainable management of flood risk.

As part of the Governments National Development plan to 2030, 1.3 billion has been committed to the development of flood relief measures across Ireland.

Following this commitment, a steering group was established between the OPW and Louth County Council to progress a flood relief scheme to alleviate the risk of flooding for the communities of Dundalk, and Blackrock. In August 2020, Binnies/NOD were appointed Consultants to develop a scheme that is technically, socially, environmentally and socially acceptable.

Read also: Dundalk IT lecturer scholarship win sees him present at global conference

Dundalk and Blackrock have suffered many flooding events, most notably in 2008, 2014, 2016 & 2020, whilst they are furthermore at significant risk of coastal flooding. With the future flood risk increased by climate change and the areas natural low-lying topography, calls for a sensitive flood relief scheme to be constructed to reduce the risk from future flood events were set out in the Catchment Flood Risk and Management Study (CFRAM) published by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2018.

The development of any proposals will consider the impact on any neighbouring communities in line with requirements of the EU Floods Directive.

To address flooding issues nationally, the Office of Public Works (OPW) commissioned and completed Catchment and Flood Risk Management (CFRAM) studies covering the entire country. The North Western  Neagh Bann CFRAM Study, included Dundalk, and Blackrock and was completed with support from various County Councils, including Louth County Council.

An output of the study identified flood risk areas, including Dundalk/Blackrock and the associated impacts of flooding. The plan also sets out the measures and policies to be pursued, in order to achieve the most cost effective and sustainable management of flood risk.

Following the launch of the flood relief programme by the OPW in 2018, Binnies / Nicholas ODwyer Joint Venture (B/NOD JV) were appointed, by tender competition off the OPW's framework, in August 2020 to complete a detailed project level engineering assessment for Dundalk/Blackrock.

The assessment will involve identification of appropriate flood risk alleviation measures and preparation of detailed design drawings and documents. B/NOD will carry out the appropriate Environmental Assessments including the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and the Natura Impact Statement (NIS), where required under the relevant legislation.

The works are likely to involve improvement of channel conveyance (maintenance & culvert upgrade), potential storage ponds, and hard defences (walls & embankments). All works will be carried out in accordance with the project programme and the public will be fully informed in advance of any potential disruption.

Louth County Council advises that those who cannot attend on the day, the display information and questionnaire will be available on-line at the project website here.
The energy shock as a result of the war in Iran highlights the importance of running budget surpluses in good times, Simon Harris has said.

The Tanaiste and Finance Minister said the Government will be taking measures on Tuesday to reduce prices at the petrol pump and support those most at risk of fuel poverty.

Energy and fuel prices have risen across the world as a result of the US and Israels war in Iran which has entered its fourth week.

Sinn Fein has called on the Government to scrap plans to increase carbon tax on home heating oil on May 1, and to reduce the cost of fuels through emergency legislation on mineral oil taxes.

In a statement on Saturday, Mr Harris said he is conscious of the fact that people are really feeling financial pressure, and indeed financial anxiety due to the rising prices.

At this point, there is no clarity regarding the depth and duration of the conflict  this means there is considerable uncertainty regarding the economic fallout from the shock to oil supplies, he said

If the conflict continues for a prolonged period, the impact on the global economy will be real  Ireland could not be immune from such an outcome.

It is important to stress that we, in Ireland, are approaching this global economic challenge from a position of relative strength  we are running a significant budgetary surplus which gives us the fiscal capacity to respond.

In the past, we have often been criticised for running these budget surpluses and asked why we do not spend all available resources.

The current situation highlights why it is so important to run budget surpluses in good times  this common-sense approach to budgetary policy allows us to build up fiscal buffers and gives us the capacity to intervene when an economic shock arises.

One important side effect from the energy price shock has been the increase in sovereign borrowing costs, with these reaching near two-decade highs in some countries; our favourable fiscal position thankfully means that we are not in this space.

The interventions we will announce on Tuesday strike an appropriate balance between providing help now and keeping some of our powder dry  nobody knows what the situation will be in a month from now, so we must remain nimble and flexible in our response.

For this reason, I believe that any measures introduced initially should be for a short, defined period, with the option to renew, revise or adjust them as circumstances evolve; this approach is in line with that which some other EU member states are taking.

I have asked my officials to finalise a macroeconomic analysis covering a range of potential scenarios arising from this conflict.

Mr Harris also said he expects the Irish economy to grow albeit at a slower pace than previously envisaged and he will attend a meeting with European counterpoints next week to assess the situation collectively.

This current conflict is a sharp reminder to the world, including Ireland, that we must accelerate our transition towards energy independence, and I will be discussing this with government colleagues in the days ahead, he said.

Mr Harris concluded: Finally, I want to stress that Ireland, and the Irish economy, will get through this  I have no doubt about that.

That said, the sooner we see a de-escalation of the conflict the better for both humanity and for the living standards of everyone.
Cork citys Old Waterworks Experience last week saw young environmentalists from across Cork and beyond gathered for the Cork Eco-Dens, the semi-final stage of the Eco-Unesco Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA).

Across two days, 42 teams of young people aged 10 to 18 pitched innovative environmental projects to a panel of expert judges for a place in the national finals.

The Eco-Dens, which have taken place across Ireland for the past 15 years, allow shortlisted groups to present their environmental action projects to a panel of experts.

Participants receive constructive feedback while also developing skills such as public speaking, leadership and project presentation.

The Cork gathering was part of a nationwide series of events taking place this month in Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Armagh and online, bringing together hundreds of young environmentalists.

Biodiversity loss

Among the issues tackled were biodiversity loss, climate change, waste reduction and sustainable food systems.

This years YEA programme has attracted 340 environmental action projects from across 29 counties, with 186 semi-finalist groups  involving more than 1,100 young people  competing for a place in the national final.

The 2026 programme also marks a milestone year for Eco-Unesco, as the organisation celebrates 40 years of empowering young people through environmental education and action.

Projects showcased at Corks Old Waterworks Experience included initiatives focused on protecting local biodiversity, reducing waste in schools and communities, promoting sustainable transport options and delivering creative environmental awareness campaigns tailored to local communities.

Elaine Nevin, national director of Eco-Unesco, said the awards give young people the opportunity to share their ideas, solutions and passion for protecting the environment with a panel of experts.

Each year we are inspired by the creativity and determination shown by young people across Ireland, she said.

Following the ECO-Dens semi-finals, selected projects will progress to the Young Environmentalist Awards Showcase and Awards Ceremony in Dublin this May, where finalists will present their projects and national winners will be announced.
The rate of progress on developing essential bypasses and road improvements in West Cork is abysmal.

That is according to Social Democrats councillor Ann Bambury, who raised the issue at a recent meeting of Cork County Councils western committee.

Ms Bambury said proposed road improvements were taking years and years and years to come to fruition, and people are sick of it.

She said many people in West Cork are forced to drive to work because of a lack of viable public transport, made worse by a lack of adequate road infrastructure.

Ms Bambury said although she welcomed funding of 100,000 for bypasses in Bandon and Innishannon, the need for these roads had been evident for years but not been progressed.

Traffic chaos

She said roads around Bandon and Innishannon were in traffic chaos as commuters attempt to avoid bottlenecks and jams, leading to dangerous conditions on backroads not designed to handle such high traffic volumes.

Ms Bambury said granting planning for more housing was a cart and horse situation as the road infrastructure was not in place to cope with the increased traffic.

Party colleague Isobel Towse said a bypass is also urgently needed for Clonakilty. Congestion on the N71 Clonakilty bypass is the roads issue I hear about most frequently from constituents," she said.

"It's unacceptable that a new bypass for Clon is still not featuring on any roads allocations or submissions. We always hear that it's 'decades away'. What can we do to progress a new bypass?

With very welcome additional housing popping up, and an overall increase in population in Clonakilty and in the towns to the west of Clon that travel on this road, a new bypass is critical.

People are leaving up to an hour earlier for work just to avoid Clon's traffic congestion. Parents who need to drop their children to school in Clonakilty before work are in a massive predicament as schools obviously aren't open at that hour of the morning.

Read More Mayor says lack of funding for Cork county roads is disgraceful

They were speaking following a presentation to councillors of the latest roads and transportation update for the Western Division.

This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Cork County Council is looking at building groynes and using natural solutions like installing Marram Grass to stabilise sand dunes under plans to tackle significant coastal erosion.

There is 1,118km of coastline in the county, making it the longest of any county in Ireland. Of that 422km is considered soft coastline described as vulnerable as its made up of beaches, mudflats and soil cliffs.

The council is currently awaiting an imminent risk analysis report by experts at University College Cork on a 10km study area from Youghal Front Strand to Claycastle, Redbarn, Pilmore Cottages, and Ring.

The UCC team is also monitoring at coastal areas at Owenahincha, Inchydoney, Garretstown and Garylucas, while the council is monitoring at the Warren and Long Strand beaches in West Cork.

Assistant council chief executive Sharon Corcoran the authority would seek funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW) for the installation of groynes in certain locations. Groynes are normally wooden structures built perpendicularly from the shore stretching out into the sea, to protect a beach and the coastline from erosion,

Ms Corcoran announced the move after amotion from East Cork-based Fianna Fail councillor Patrick Mulcahy, who outlined how experts said they prevented sand being blown away, which leads to coastal erosion.

Urgent need

Theres an urgent and growing threat to communities all along the Cork coastline. From Youghal to Crosshaven, from Ballycotton to Castletownbere, we are seeing the same pattern.

A change in our weather patterns seeing more concentrated rain in shorter periods of time and longer drier hotter spells, the ever increasingly powerful wave action around our coastline, the accelerated erosion of land banks, and real risk to homes, roads, and vital local amenities in our communities, Mr Mulcahy said.

He pointed out that in the late 1800s, a coastal engineer by the name of Rowland Allanson Winn often built low timber groynes in Ireland, including Youghal, where many of them have now eroded away.

Groynes are a proven, low-cost measure used around the world to reduce wave energy and slow the erosion of valuable land. By disrupting long shore drift and dissipating wave force, they help stabilise beaches, protect land banks, and safeguard nearby properties, Mr Mulcahy said.

Marram Grass

Fine Gael councillor Maire OSullivan said Marram Grass can play an important role in stabilising sand dunes and reducing the movement of sand inland, and was told the council would also look at this natural method solution.

At beaches such as Garretstown and Garrylucas, the local area office regularly has to deploy machinery to clear sand from the road. Measures that help stabilise dunes and reduce sand drift would therefore be beneficial, potentially reducing maintenance costs while also protecting the coastline, she said.

Fianna Fail councillor Gillian Coughlan said tackling coastal erosion will need huge funding and the government and EU must provide it.

Fine Gael councillor Anthony Barry said action is urgently needed as beaches between Youghal and Garryvoe are being stripped away of sand.

His party colleague Sinead Sheppard said a former swimming amenity at Battery Strand, Cobh has been closed off for several years due to landslide risks caused by coastal erosion.
The awards are moving to Switzerland, because their founder believes he can no longer guarantee the laureates safety in the United States

More than a million people have watched it. More than seven billion people have not. This note about Marc Abrahams TEDMED talk  displayed on the Improbable Research website (the community he runs)  offers clues about who he is and how a sense of humor governs his life.

A Harvard-trained mathematician, Abrahams, 70, founded Wisdom Simulators, a company that used computers to help people practice making impossible decisions. In other words, before creating the Ig Nobel Prizes, he was already obsessed with improbability.

The Ig Nobel Prizes are pronounced as theyre spelled; a play on the famous Nobel Prizes and the word ignoble. Abrahams  who was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts  created the awards in 1991. And hes been their driving force and master of ceremonies for all 35 editions.

All the award-winning studies  which include disguising cows as zebras to avoid fly bites, getting worms drunk, or creating a toilet to record and analyze feces in real time  share some common traits: theyre improbable, unexpected but that doesnt mean they arent good science. For instance, a study that won an Ig Nobel Prize in 2006  which found that the malaria-carrying mosquito is just as attracted to Limburger cheese as it is to the smell of human feet  had a direct consequence: traps using this cheese were placed in strategic areas across Africa, in order to combat the epidemic. And another Ig Nobel laureate, Andre Geim  awarded for using magnets to levitate a frog and a sumo wrestler  ended up winning a real Nobel Prize 10 years later.

The entertaining Ig Nobel Prize ceremonies are attended by actual Nobel laureates and have been held at prestigious American venues, such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Boston University. But this year, the ceremony has moved to Switzerland, because the US has become unsafe for the laureates, as the organization announced on Monday, March 9.

Abrahams sat down to chat with EL PAIS via video conference after a couple of very busy and emotional days for him. After spending 35 years celebrating the improbable, hes facing something he never imagined: that the impossible  the notion that the U.S. has become a hostile place for science  is actually happening.

Question. When and why did you start thinking about moving the Ig Nobel Prizes out of the U.S.?

Answer. Actually, the process had two very distinct stages. I founded the Ig Nobel Prizes in 1991. It has grown with the help of many people around the world. But Im not young, and so, I wondered about how to ensure that the project would continue after I was gone. Last year, during a dinner in Switzerland, I asked this question to one of the guests, who holds a very high position in academia and government. And we started making plans to create a foundation in Europe. Thats the sweet part of the story.

Q. And the not-so-sweet part?

A. At the ceremony held last September  as always  there were 10 winners. Almost every year, they all manage to come, even though we dont have the money to pay for their travel. But by 2025, things in the United States were already getting very difficult. I was surprised that nine out of the 10 said that they still wanted to come, despite everything. The tenth laureate said he was happy to receive the prize, but that he absolutely would not travel to the United States  [he was] very angry about what was happening. And thats a standard thing. If somebody cannot travel, well have somebody else come and accept the prize for them and read their speech.

In the week leading up to the ceremony, three other winners  seeing what was happening  decided it wasnt safe to travel. Suddenly, only six of the 10 were present. And what we did for the [absent] four was that we had each of them send us the words of their acceptance speech. And, for each of them, we had a Nobel Prize winner read their acceptance speech, while we projected a big photo of them. That worked out pretty well.

Since then, things have gotten much worse in the United States. And it looks very clear that people really shouldnt travel here its just not safe.

Q. How did Boston University react to the decision?

A. Sad that the ceremony is moving, but also very happy and supportive. [And were] still having an event at Boston University this year, three weeks after the ceremony in Zurich. We want to make it very clear that were not going to allow things to be destroyed.

Q. Was it an easy or painful decision for you, after 35 years of hosting the awards in Massachusetts?

A. I still live here. Im going to continue to live here. Im sad that the ceremony isnt happening [in Massachusetts]. We did it 35 times and every one of those was completely magic for so many people. The magic will continue to happen, just not here. Well [bring] things back as much as we can. [But] it looks like it will be many years before the ceremony can happen in the United States again.

A Stand Up For Science rally in Boston, Massachusetts, in March 2025. Boston Globe (Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Q. You say that the situation in the United States isnt safe. What exactly is happening to the scientific field in your country?

A. [The situation] is extremely bad. And, in the near future, its mostly very, very bad. A lot of careers are being destroyed. A lot of careers are being prevented. A lot of ongoing research has already been destroyed. I could talk about this for hours. [That being said], some good things are going to happen as a result. In many places in the world, people are realizing that things can happen [anywhere]. We can do things on our own. We dont have to always be trying to go to a bigger place or a place that has a bigger name (like the United States). Its like watching a lot of little seeds that were in the ground starting to grow when spring comes.

In the United States, we dont know whats going to happen. Just a few days ago, there were big rallies for science all across [the country]. I gave a talk at the one in Boston. Four Nobel laureates were part of that.

The change has been very noticeable. There was a rally exactly a year ago, in the same place. [At the time], many of the scientists who [spoke] were just scared and confused, [unsure] about what they could possibly do. [But] this year, everybody was deeply angry, making it very clear that theyre going to do something.

Q. And what can they do?

A. Many of them are saying that they cannot do science. The funding got taken away, their labs are being shut down, the students who come up with the best ideas have no money to live [its] terrible. And some [scientists] are moving to other countries.

Its a great time for every other country that has a long history of doing good science. Now, people in other places are waking up and realizing [that there are other good places] to do research.

Q. Can humor do something that serious protests arent capable of doing?

A. Yeah, [it does] a couple of things. One is that it can get people interested. And I think thats the real power of the Ig Nobel Prizes. If youre laughing at one of these discoveries, youre paying attention to it and now, youre interested.

The other aspect  which Im sure youve heard many scientists talk about  is that science is a very difficult and frustrating profession. Science is one of the few professions where you know [for] a fact [that] most of what you do is going to fail. And, if you have a sense of humor about it, that can help an awful lot. That can help you keep going and stay cheerful and make sure that you keep at it, so that, sometimes, you can have wonderful success. So, [humor] is a small thing, but its a really important thing.

Q. When you founded the awards in 1991, did you think they would last 35 years?

A. I thought [they] had a good chance to, but you never know. Since I was a little kid, I collected stories and I liked to write about science and funny things but I never saw any grown-up who was doing that as a profession. [So], I was doing other things, [like] math and computer [science].

The question I asked myself one day was: Hey, what would happen if I tried to get something published, something Ive written? And the answer was: Whats going to happen if I dont do that? [I knew that, if I didnt try], I [would] instantly become a really angry old man.

Q. How did you go from humor writing to creating the awards?

A. [It happened] very quickly. I started meeting a lot of inventors, a lot of scientists. And, I kept thinking: Nobody knows these people. And they never will. Theyre going to live their lives and be forgotten. And thats wrong. Something has to be done.

We organized a small ceremony. By then, I already knew quite a few famous scientists and I asked them to come. I also knew many journalists. And we used the internet, when it was still very young, to post an announcement: The first annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony will take place at MIT. Admission was free, but you had to pick up a ticket on a Tuesday morning. All the tickets were gone. And the whole time, I was thinking  and Im pretty sure everyone else was, too  that, at any moment, some grown-up would come in and tell us to stop and go home. But nobody did. And the next day, there were reports about it all over the world.

Q. Is there any award you remember with particular fondness?

A. One that always comes to mind very quickly was the 2003 Biology Prize for the discovery of homosexual necrophilia in the mallard duck. When you tell people [about it]  if you say the words slowly, one word at a time  its like watching an entire drama unfold, because every word changes the meaning of the story for them. And, when you get to the final word  duck  the whole story falls apart.

The article itself, its a spectacular piece of writing. Its like Edgar Allan Poe. Oh my God, its beautifully told. The story is so crazy, yet its true and documented.

Q. What do you think the Ig Nobel Prizes will be like in 35 years?

A. I hope they continue to grow, that small and large events are held in more countries. And [I hope] they use the essence of the Ig Nobel Prizes to get people to suddenly become curious about things that they thought they never would care about.

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The need for traffic-calming measures to be installed at the Shournagh Grove housing estate in Togher was raised by Sinn Fein councillor Joe Lynch at the most recent meeting of Cork City Council.

In his motion, Mr Lynch asked if the council was aware of the road safety concerns of residents of Shournagh Grove in Togher that the estate is being used as a short-cut by motorists to bypass the Togher Rd/Clashduv Rd junction.

Given that the estate had not been taken in charge by road operations, he asked if the councils housing directorate would arrange for the installation of appropriate traffic calming measures in the estate, in consultation with the residents.

Serious road safety issue

This is a serious road safety issue, given the number of motorists using Deanrock Avenue and Shournagh Grove to bypass the Togher Rd/Clashduv Rd junction, said Mr Lynch.

Given the number of young children in the estate, parents are justifiably concerned about the possibility of a collision involving their children, and are crying out for speed ramps to be installed.

Replying to Mr Lynchs motion, John Stapleton, director of services in the local area development and operations directorate, said that following the taking-in-charge process, Shournagh Grove will be added to the list of locations for assessment of traffic calming needs.

Mr Stapleton said: Each year, roads operations present all requests for traffic calming to each LAC. Members then select locations in conjunction with the engineering advice received and subject to funds being available.

"Accordingly, the measures sought for Shournagh Grove can be brought forward through this established mechanism.

Upgrade

Elsewhere in the locality, Independent councillor Paudie Dineen has confirmed that a junction upgrade has been approved at Tower St.

Concerns over the safety of the junction at Tower St and Friars Walk have been continuously raised.

Mr Dineen has confirmed that the junction will, in the coming months, be upgraded in an effort to increase safety for all road users and pedestrians.

As part of a road safety improvement scheme, Cork City Council has proposed the reconstruction of the crossroads as a raised-table junction, with the improvement of junction sightlines by the removal of on-street parking. The upgrade will also see the reconstruction of footpaths at junction environs and the provision of uncontrolled crossings.
The sentencing of a hospital patient who punched an 88-year-old patient to death at Mercy University Hospital will go ahead on March 27, as it was confirmed that the pre-sentencing probation report would be available.

Defence senior counsel, Brendan Grehan, confirmed that the probation report would be available at the Central Criminal Court in Cork next Friday.

Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford said last Thursday that the case could remain in the sentencing list for March 27. After a trial, Dylan Magee, aged 33, of 30 Churchfield Green, Cork, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

The killing occurred on January 22, 2023, at Room 2, St. Josephs Ward, Mercy University Hospital, and the victim was Matthew Healy.

The late Mr Healys family will have an opportunity to describe the impact that his killing had on the family through a victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing.

Mr Grehan said after the verdict was delivered: Mr Magee wants, at the earliest available opportunity, to express his deep remorse for what happened Mr Healy.

Ms Justice Lankford told the jury, before they commenced their deliberations, that they could well take the view that Dylan Magee, who was admitted to hospital for treatment for delirium, and Matthew Healy who had a fall at home, were both let down by the system.
Irelands offshore and inshore fleets could be grounded in three weeks if the Government does not subsidise the fishing industrys fuel bill, it has been claimed.

This could lead to a shortage of fish, and a threat to the jobs of 3,650 people in the fish processing industry.

Industry representatives have also warned the viability of the entire Irish offshore fishing industry is now in doubt.

Diesel supplies over a certain amount have already started being limited in some ports, with higher rates charged for orders over 10,000 litres.

It is also understood that around a third of the countrys 180-strong offshore fishing fleet are on the verge of pulling in their nets and tying up their vessels because they can no longer afford to fish due to the rising cost of fuel.

Struggling

The country's 800 inshore fishermen are also struggling with rising fuel prices and face similar challenges.

The Seafood Ireland Alliance called on the Government to help fishermen cope with soaring fuel costs almost a fortnight ago.

Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association general secretary Brendan Byrne has warned: This current fuel crisis is bad enough in its own right but it has hit an industry that is already in crisis.

We were hit by Brexit, we were hit by falling quotas and then we were hit by the Ukraine war.

There is only so much that this industry can take and it is my view that we are now staring down at the prospect of the Irish fishing fleet and the whole industry simply being no longer viable.

Suffering

Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation CEO John Lynch has warned: The industry urgently needs help or it is just going to have to stop fishing.

The white fish and prawn fishing fleet, of around 180 vessels, are the ones that are suffering the most, because they spend the most time at sea.

Although the industry has now passed the viability mark, fishermen are fishing through it, hoping the price will go down.

But there is going to come a time in about two to three weeks when itll be cheaper to tie boats up than go fishing. He pointed out that fishermen and women cannot pass the higher cost of diesel onto any of their customers, and instead have to accept what the market is prepared to pay for their fish.

Fish might go up in the shop because they have increased costs, but that doesnt pass on to the fisherman, he said.

We have to sell the fish we catch at the market price and we just have to take the on-the-day price.

Its a demand-based price, and it can go up or down from one week to the other.

Dingle-based fisherman Bosco Mac Gearailt said: The bottom line is the fact that the fleet will be tied up unless there is help.

It is as simple as that. The industry is already in dire straits but now there is this down on top of the industry.

If we cant fish, factories havent got work and theres no fish going into chippers. This is serious.
West Cork marine biotech company, Pure Ocean Algae, has launched Irelands first range of native seaweed supplements.

The pioneering company, set up in 2019 by former fisherman Michael ONeill, has announced the launch of Pure Ocean supplements, a new range of health supplements derived from native red seaweed on the Beara peninsula.

The products have officially gone to market in Ireland and the UK, with plans to expand further into European and Asian markets later this year.

The nutraceutical line includes three products comprising a hair and nail revitalising supplement, a cognitive-support supplement for focus and memory, and a hormone-balancing supplement.

All three products are available in capsule form and are advertised as having no artificial additives.

Invested

Over the past two years, Pure Ocean Algae has invested heavily in research and development, including human trials conducted with researchers at the University of Limerick to assess the functional benefits of red seaweed extracts.

Early findings related to metabolic and digestive health, which prompted the companys move into the broader functional-foods and nutraceutical space.

Mr ONeill said the red seaweed cultivated by Pure Ocean Algae is vastly different from wild-harvested dulse.

We control every stage of its development, we can enhance its bioactive properties and ensure a clean, consistent ingredient suitable for wellness applications, said Mr ONeill.

Irelands seaweed farming sector is still in its infancy, but with international demand for marine-derived ingredients across food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and dietary supplements, there is huge potential.

By focusing on high-functionality red seaweeds and developing premium nutraceutical ingredients, we can help transform coastal economies while bringing science-driven products to consumers.
Recently appointed as the new General Manager of Corks iconic Imperial Hotel, Lorraine Gavigans career in hospitality began over two decades ago with a summer job in the Faithlegg House Hotel.

That autumn, the Tipperary native started a construction management course in Waterford but quickly realised that it wasnt for her.

My dad said to me, what are you good at? Lorraine recalls. And I said, Im good at working in hotels.

So thats what the then 18-year-old decided to do  dropping out of college and applying to three hotel trainee management programmes. When she was accepted by the Dromoland Castle scheme, she knew immediately that she was making the right choice.

Im not necessarily an academic person, she says. College just isnt for me. I learn through doing. And so the trainee management programme at Dromoland was better for me. I was in the kitchens, I was in the housekeeping department, I was a cocktail waitress, I was a chef. You name it, I did it.

Lorraine has carried this early experience with her throughout her career.

It has stood to me because you really see the struggles that everyone is going through. You understand that when the dishwasher breaks down, it has a knock-on effect on the chef, the restaurant staff and then on the customers. You have a really good overview of how a hotel really works, and Im not sure that necessarily translates through textbooks.

Lorraine Gavigan, General Manager at Imperial Hotel, Cork City. Picture: Joleen Cronin

After her three-year trainee management programme, Lorraine moved to Massachusetts to take up a hotel supervisor role. This was followed by time in London, where she got further experience under her belt, but felt homesick for Ireland. It was at this point that Lorraine started her first job in the city that she would come to call home, at the then-new Cork International Hotel.

We were there in hard hats in a prefab writing SOPs (Standard Operating Procedure) for the hotel that was just about to be open, Lorraine reminisces. That was really exciting, being part of the opening team.

She completed a year in Cork before the opportunity arose to co-open a restaurant in Mullingar. She left her heart, however, in the Rebel County.

I had fallen in love with Cork, she admits. Just coming back from London and the busyness of it and the rat race. Cork city is nice and compact, and it felt like home.

After a few years in Mullingar, followed by Dublin, the opportunity to return to Cork  to the International Hotel as Food and Beverage Manager  presented itself. Lorraine grabbed it with both hands. She stayed there for a further two years before moving to the Clayton, where she held a variety of roles and had the chance to spend a year in Dusseldorf.

After this latest overseas experience, Lorraine was keen to return home. She had bought a house in Cork and was looking for a General Manager role at a Leeside hotel.

I saw that the Imperial had come up, says Lorraine. I thought, its right on my doorstep. Id be a fool not to apply. It was the job I wanted.

Lorraines application was successful, and the rest is history  in more ways than one, as she became, upon her appointment in August, 2025, the Imperial Hotels first female General Manager in its 210 years.

Lorraine describes starting her role as a mixed bag of emotions. It was exciting, but daunting too to be taking on the General Manager position of such a well-known Cork institution, known colloquially as the Grand Dame of the city. The close-knit Cork hotel community has proved to be a great support as she found her feet in the new job:

Thats what I love about Cork, that it does feel like more of a community... Even though were in competition with each other, were looking out for each other as well.

Having spent a number of years working in the corporate hotel environment, the guest-focused approach and memorable little touches of a family-run establishment like the Imperial have been a real source of inspiration for Lorraine.

After a few weeks of being in the role, I was like, theres so much I want to do, little things that will elevate the guest experience. And we have the ability to do that here because you sit down with the owners and theyre like, yeah, absolutely. I was shocked when I walked in here first and they were like, we give free glasses of prosecco to everyone who checks in... Louis (Fitzgerald  of the family hotel group who acquired the Imperial in 2023) wants everyone to feel special.

Thanks to small initiatives like these  the prosecco, gifts at Christmas, treats for guests celebrating special occasions  the Imperial sees the same customers returning year after year. This is not something that Lorraine witnessed at other hotels, and she appreciates the difference.

Its an experience, she notes of staying at the Imperial. Its not a hotel room that youre just throwing your bag into and then heading out into the city. Guests go for afternoon tea, they go to the spa, they come down for a cocktail before dinner.

Lorraine spent Christmas at the hotel  checking in herself on Christmas Eve and out again on St Stephens Day. She enjoyed building relationships with guests who chose to spend the festive period at the Imperial.

On St Stephens morning, I was hugging people and they were saying, we cant wait to be back again next year! I had an older gentleman come up to me and say, its my first Christmas on my own so I wanted to treat myself. I didnt know what to expect, but it was just amazing and ye looked after me. And I was just like, my god, this is lovely.

With its spa, themed afternoon tea experiences and refurbished bar, the Imperial has kept up with modern market demands. It has, however, a famously long history at the heart of Cork city. One of Lorraines favourite stories about the hotels varied past has a royal connection that endures to this day.

There was a royal visit in 1961, she reveals, referring to Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monacos stay at the hotel. And every year since, we have been sent a Christmas card from the Monaco Royal Family! I opened it this year and was like, what is this? and the Sales Manager was like, yeah, we get them every year! Its a different picture of the family every year, and its beautiful, so nice.

Its clearly the case that nobody forgets a stay at the Imperial, and ensuring that this legacy continues is one of Lorraines priorities as General Manager going forward.

Operational excellence is key for me, she says. I want to elevate the standards that we already have in place and to keep them there, and to keep the ties between the local community and the nostalgia that the hotel brings to a lot of families.

Lorraine has brought on new managers since starting in her role, and is confident that this new team, combined with the pre-existing staff  some of whom have been at the hotel for decades  share the common goal of providing the best service they possibly can.

She has big ambitions for the Grand Dame and a drive to achieve them, all the while ensuring that the hotel continues to feel both timeless and distinctly Cork.

As Lorraine concludes: The Imperial is an institution. I want the hotel recognised for how great it is and for the landmark that it is in Cork city.
The Nuvistor: Who Knows What It Is? Discover the Nuvistor: RCAs final masterpiece of vacuum tube technology. Learn how this miniature metal-ceramic marvel works, its history in high-end audio and aerospace, and why it was the ultimate 'transistor-killer' that arrived just a moment too late.

Vacuum Tube / Thermionic Valves Includes:

Basics How does a tube work Vacuum tube electrodes Transconductance vs amplification factor Diode valve / tube Triode Tetrode Beam Tetrode Pentode Nuvistor Equivalents Pin connections Numbering systems Valve sockets / bases Travelling wave tube

The story of the Nuvistor is one of the most poignant chapters in the history of electronics.

The RCA Nuvistor represents the "final stand" of the vacuum tubea masterpiece of miniaturization and precision engineering that arrived precisely as its replacement, the transistor, was beginning to conquer the world.

Developed by RCA (Radio Corporation of America) and introduced in 1959, the Nuvistor was an attempt to prove that thermionic valves could be just as small, efficient, and reliable as the new solid-state alternatives.

But today the Nuvistor has been all but forgotten and few people know what one is, let alone its technology.

Nuvistor 7587 with its RCA box

What is a Nuvistor?

The name "Nuvistor" is a contraction of "Nu" (new) and "vistor" (from "transistor" or "revival"), signaling RCAs intent to bridge the gap between old and new technology.

At its core, a Nuvistor was a high-performance vacuum tube. However, unlike the familiar glass "bottles" found in vintage radios, a Nuvistor looked more like a small metal thimble.

It is a ruggedized, miniature component housed in a ceramic and metal envelope, roughly the size of a fingertip.

While traditional tubes were built on glass bases with pins sealed through the glass, the Nuvistor utilized a revolutionary all-metal and ceramic construction.

This eliminated the fragile glass-to-metal seals that were the primary point of failure in standard valves. Most Nuvistors, although not all, were triodes or tetrodes, designed primarily for high-frequency (VHF and UHF) amplification where early transistors still struggled.

The Genesis: why did RCA build it?

To understand why the Nuvistor exists, one must look at the electronics landscape of the late 1950s. The transistor had been invented at Bell Labs in 1947, but by 1955, it was still a flawed technology. Early germanium transistors were noisy, thermally unstable, and had very low frequency limits.

RCA, then the king of vacuum tube manufacturing, believed that if they could shrink the tube and eliminate its mechanical weaknesses, they could maintain their market dominance.

They identified four major problems with standard tubes that the Nuvistor was designed to solve:

Size: Portable equipment needed smaller components.

Heat: Traditional tubes wasted immense power as heat.

Reliability: Glass seals leaked, and internal structures were prone to "microphonics" (vibration causing electrical noise).

Frequency: As television and military radar moved into higher frequencies, standard tubes became inefficient due to internal capacitance.

RCAs engineers, led by George Rose, reimagined the tube from the ground up. They moved away from the "hand-assembled" feel of glass tubes toward an automated, high-precision manufacturing process that looked more like an assembly line for high-end watches.

How the Nuvistor works

The fundamental operating principle of the Nuvistor is the same as any vacuum tube: - it uses thermionic emission.

Like other forms of valve or tube, the Nuvistor has a vacuum within its active environment.

A filament or heater warms a cathode, which is coated with a material that enables the electrons to be easily 'boiled off.'

These electrons are attracted to a positively charged plate or anode because like charges repel, but unlike ones attract.

A grid placed between the cathode and the plate acts as a gate; by applying a small signal to this grid, the flow of electrons to the plate can be controlled, thus achieving amplification.

What makes the Nuvistor unique is its concentric layout. In a standard tube or valve, the internal elements (cathode, grid, plate) are often flat or oval-shaped and supported by mica spacers at the top and bottom. These mica spacers could vibrate, causing noise, and were difficult to align perfectly.

The Nuvistor uses a series of nested cylinders. Each element: cathode, grid, and the anode or plate, is a perfectly machined cylinder held in place by a tripod of metal supports. These supports are brazed directly into a ceramic base.

Because the Nuvistor was designed to be assembled by machines, RCA used materials that could withstand high-temperature processing. The entire unit was assembled in a vacuum furnace at temperatures high enough to "outgas" the metal parts (removing impurities) and then brazed together.

This meant the Nuvistor didn't need a "getter" (the silver-looking flash inside glass tubes used to maintain vacuum), as the assembly process itself ensured a pristine internal environment.

Superior specifications

This rigid, all-metal construction resulted in several key advantages:

Low Noise: The concentric design and ceramic spacers reduced parasitic capacitance and inductance, making it exceptionally quiet at high frequencies.

High Temperature Operation: Unlike early transistors that would "thermal runaway" and melt, Nuvistors could operate at temperatures up to 200C.

Vibration Resistance: Because the elements were brazed into a rigid frame, the Nuvistor was virtually immune to microphonics, making it ideal for military and aerospace use.

Nuvistor 7587 compared to a B9A based ECC189

Although Nuvistors were revolutonary at the time, modern MOSFET technology has eclipsed them. As an example here is a comparison between a 6CW4 - a popular and well regarded Nuvistor and a BR988 MOSFET which is a popular RF device.
Farmers face a race for funding this summer as 225 million in Capital Grants opens amid expectations the scheme will be oversubscribed.

Details released by Defra on 19 March show the 2026 offer, due to launch in July, will support environmental improvements across England, including hedgerow planting, tree work and measures to improve water quality.

Full details of the scheme are still being finalised, with the complete list of eligible items set to be published in May alongside official guidance.

As in previous years, the grants will be split across six categories: boundaries, trees and orchards; water quality; air quality; natural flood management; assessments; and improvements.

Funding caps will remain in place for most groups.

Applicants will be able to apply for up to 25,000 across water quality, air quality and natural flood management, while a higher limit of 35,000 applies to boundaries, trees and orchards.

Each application can combine items from these groups, along with additional elements from the assessments or improvements categories.

Only one application per Single Business Identifier (SBI) will be allowed, continuing the approach used last year.

The scheme comes after strong uptake in 2025, and Defra has warned that competition for funding will be intense once again.

Updates will be issued as funding is allocated, with progress markers at 25%, 50% and 75%.

Applicants are being warned to prepare early, particularly when it comes to submitting supporting evidence.

Defra said there will be a greater emphasis on providing this information upfront, after last year saw widespread delays due to incomplete submissions.

This resulted in additional chasing, slower decisions, and in some cases, applications being rejected, underlining the risks of missing documentation.

Farmers who have already completed capital works under existing Countryside Stewardship agreements are urged to submit claims promptly and confirm when these are finalised.

Doing so releases land parcels from existing agreements, allowing them to be included in new applications.

Applicants must also ensure their details are up to date with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), including business records and land mapping.

Accurate maps will be required as supporting evidence to show where works will take place or to identify features such as historic sites or woodland areas.

Financial readiness is another key requirement.

Because grants are paid after work is completed, applicants must be able to cover costs upfront and reclaim the funding later.

For applications worth more than 50,000, proof of funds will be required through a letter from a qualified accountant confirming the business has sufficient resources.

The scheme forms part of wider efforts led by Defra to support environmental land management, as farm funding continues to shift away from direct payments.

Meanwhile, Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) advisers have been working with farmers to prepare for the latest round.

A large number of advisory visits have already taken place, helping applicants qualify for specific items within the scheme.

However, due to high demand, new requests for visits will not be prioritised before the application window opens.

Further support is expected later in the year, and farmers are being encouraged to attend free CSF events in the meantime.

With funds limited and competition intensifying, incomplete or poorly prepared applications risk being left behind.
Who is Zayn?

Aamir Khan's message

Dacoit to tell an emotional story

Zayn Marie Khan is ready to make her mark in the Telugu film industry. She joins the cast of Adivi Seshs Dacoit, which is scheduled to be released in theatres on April 10. The romantic action drama casts the budding actress in the role of a fierce police officer.To celebrate her birthday (March 21), the makers unveiled her first-look poster. The image captures Zayn in a striking khaki uniform. She is playing a character that matters in a film co-starring her Bollywood colleagues, Anurag Kashyap and Atul Kulkarni.Zayn is the daughter of acclaimed director Mansoor Ali Khan. Her father gave Indian cinema classics like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander. She is also the niece of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan. Her family ties extend to actor Imran Khan and Aamirs children, Junaid and Ira Khan. Before her Telugu debut, Zayn built a portfolio in Hindi cinema and digital spaces. She made her debut in the 2020 Netflix thriller Mrs. Serial Killer. Since then, she has appeared in notable projects like Monica, O My Darling and Made in Heaven Season 2. Her experience across diverse roles has prepared her for this challenging action role.The Dangal and Sitaare Zameen Par actor shared a heartfelt message of support for his niece. He wished Zayn and the entire team of Dacoit the very best. "Wishing Zayn and the team of Dacoit all the very best. Love, A," the superstar wrote.Adivi Sesh, who plays an ex-convict who escapes jail, has stated that Dacoit is not an "out-and-out action movie". It is a love story between two estranged former lovers. Described as a deep film, its script was written over a year.
I loved Dhurandhar-1, but The Revenge surpassed the original in both scale and soul.

The writing, casting, technical execution, music, world design and direction are flawless. But its the emotional stakes that really ground it.



The writing manages to weave plot twists that  rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) March 21, 2026

#DhurandharTheRevenge is an explosion executed with perfect precision!!!! The finest version of Ranveer unleashed and how  The way Aditya Dhar has conceived and delivered this standing ovation worthy experience is remarkable  Special mention to Maddys performance  Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) March 19, 2026

Just Watched #Dhurandhar2Patriotism with swag 

A film that will make every patriot proud Many clap-trapping moments 

BLAST! 

Congratulations to the entire team.Fine performances by @ActorMadhavan garu & all actors . Technical brilliance .



So proud to have a  Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) March 18, 2026

Dhurandhar: The Revenge has bowled over some of the most prominent voices of Telugu cinema. Some of Tollywood's biggest stars are in awe of its sheer scale, emotional depth, and technical brilliance. The consensus among the industry elite suggests that this is not just a movie but a milestone.SS Rajamouli, the visionary behind Baahubali and RRR, shared a detailed tribute, stating that while he loved the first part, the sequel surpassed the original in both scale and soul. He remarked that the writing, casting, technical execution, music, world design and direction are flawless, but highlighted the emotional stakes that ground the narrative. The sequence with the sister in the shed is a masterclass in acting, he opined.Mahesh Babu described the film as an "explosion executed with perfect precision". He added that the "finest version of Ranveer has been unleashed". The Varanasi actor further wrote, "The way Aditya Dhar has conceived and delivered this standing ovation worthy experience is remarkable. Special mention to Maddys (Madhavan's) performance and Shashwat Sachdevs music," the Guntur Kaaram actor wrote, adding that the film must be experienced and celebrated.Icon Star Allu Arjun praised the film's "patriotism with swag". The Pushpa 2 actor added, "A film that will make every patriot proud. Many clap-trapping moments." He further added, "So proud to have a brilliant and a versatile actor like my brother, Ranveer, in our country."Jr NTR called it a storm, also praising Ranveer Singh's breathtaking performance. "It takes conviction and fearless vision to mount a film like this and Aditya Dhar sir brings that strength to every frame. Using every tool at his disposal to elevate each scene to its absolute best deserves a standing ovation. This is a film that rouses your emotions and stays with you long after the end titles roll," the Devara and War 2 star wrote.Vijay Deverakonda was among the first Telugu actors to watch the movie. Soon after watching a March 18 premiere show in Hyderabad, he wrote, "Something big is going to happen in Indian cinema and culture."Ram Charan described the movie as "raw, gripping and impactful". Praising Aditya Dhar, the Peddi star wrote that the director "brings scale and emotion together seamlessly."


EQS Newswire / 22/03/2026 / 19:29 UTC+8

Press release (For immediate release) Sinopec Announced 2025 Annual Results Annual Payout Ratio Reached 81% The Board Considered and Approved the Proposal to Grant to a Mandate for New Round of Share Repurchase (22 March 2026, Beijing, China) China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation ("Sinopec Corp." or the "Company") (HKEX: 386; SSE: 600028) today announced its annual results for the twelve months ended 31 December 2025. Financial Highlights In accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards, the Company's revenue reached RMB 2.78 trillion; Operating profit was RMB 48.608 billion; Profit attributable to shareholders of the Company was RMB 32.476 billion. Basic earnings per share were RMB 0.268. In accordance with CASs, net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company was RMB 31.809 billion. Basic earnings per share were RMB 0.262. Net cash generated from operating activities of the Company was RMB 162.5 billion, representing an increase of RMB13.1 billion year-on-year. The Company's financial position remained stable. The Company's oil and gas equivalent output and the profitability of the natural gas industrial chain hit record highs. Production of oil and gas in 2025 was 525.28 million barrels of oil equivalent, up by 1.9% year-on-year, natural gas production reached 1,456.6 billion cubic feet, up by 4.0% year-on-year. Refining segment processed 250 million tonnes of crude oil and produced 149 million tonnes of refined oil products, with jet fuel production up by 7.3% year-on-year. Total sales volume of refined oil products for the year was 229 million tonnes. Total chemical sales volume reached 87.12 million tonnes, up by 3.6%. Taking into account profitability, shareholders' return and sustainable development needs, the Board proposed a final cash dividend of RMB 0.112 per share (tax-inclusive). The total annual cash dividend amounted to RMB 0.2 per share (tax-inclusive). Aggregating the share repurchase amount during the year, annual payout ratio reached 79% in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards, and reached 81% in accordance with CASs. The Board considered and approved the proposal to grant to a mandate for new round of share repurchase.

Business Review In 2025, China's economy maintained stable growth, registering a GDP growth of 5.0% year-on-year. International crude oil prices fluctuated with a downward trend. The domestic demand for natural gas and chemical products continued to increase, while the demand for refined oil products declined. Exploration and Production Segment In 2025, the Company strengthened high-quality exploration and profitable development, and achieved new progress in reserve and production growth with oil and gas equivalent output reaching a record high. In terms of exploration, we spared no effort to expand mining rights and increase reserves. Significant breakthroughs were made in the exploration of shale oil in the Bohai Bay Basin, new area in the Sichuan Basin and offshore natural gas etc. The construction of the Shengli Jiyang Shale Oil National Demonstration Zone was completed with high quality. In terms of oil development, we accelerated the construction of key projects such as Tahe, West Junggar, and offshore fields, implemented differentiated reservoir management, and shale oil production reached a million-tonne scale. In natural gas development, we pushed ahead the build-up of key projects such as marine facies gas in West Sichuan, offshore blocks, and Xujiahe Formation in the Sichuan Basin. At the same time, we further boosted the synergy of production, supply, storage and sales, with the profit for the natural gas business chain hitting a record high. The Company's production of oil and gas in 2025 was 525.28 million barrels of oil equivalent, up by 1.9% year-on-year, among which, the domestic crude oil production totaled 255.75 million barrels, and the natural gas production reached 1,456.6 billion cubic feet, up by 4.0% year-on-year. In 2025, the segment made efforts to increase reserves, boost production and cut costs, strived to improve the profitability of the whole natural gas industrial chain, but impacted by decrease in crude oil prices, the segment realised an operating profit of RMB45.5 billion. Summary of Operations for the Exploration and Production Segment Twelve-month periods ended 31 December Changes 2025 2024 (%) Oil and gas production (mmboe) 525.28 515.35 1.9 Crude oil production (mmbbls) 282.40 281.85 0.2 China 255.75 254.00 0.7 Overseas 26.65 27.84 (4.3) Natural gas production (bcf) 1,456.63 1,400.39 4.0

Refining Segment In 2025, the Company actively addressed the challenges brought by fluctuation with downward trend in crude oil prices and decline in demand for gasoline and diesel through optimisation and integration of production and marketing, maximized profitable processing volume and maintained a relatively high utilization rate. We optimised the pace for crude oil procurement to lower cost and freight. We optimised utilization rate and product mix and produced more market-favored products such as jet fuel, lubricant and grease close to market need. Efforts were made to carry forward low-cost "refined oil products to chemical feedstocks" and high-value "refined oil products to refining specialties" strategy in an orderly manner. We consolidated our leading position nationwide in high-end carbon materials. In 2025, the Company processed 250 million tonnes of crude and produced 44.22 million tonnes of light chemical feedstock, up by 8.4% year-on-year. Refined oil products output was 149 million tonnes, with jet fuel production up by 7.3% year-on-year. In 2025, the segment coordinated the procurement pace of crude oil by closely following the international crude oil prices, continued to intensify efforts to improve synergy, flexibly adjusted utilization rate, and optimized products slate. The segment realised an operating profit of RMB9.4 billion. Summary of Operations for the Refining Segment For the twelve months

ended 31 December Changes 2025 2024 (%) Refinery throughput (million tonnes) 250.33 252.30 (0.8) Gasoline, diesel and kerosene production (million tonnes) 148.95 153.49 (3.0) Gasoline (million tonnes) 62.61 64.15 (2.4) Diesel (million tonnes) 52.64 57.91 (9.1) Jet fuel (million tonnes) 33.71 31.43 7.3 Light chemical feedstock production (million tonnes) 44.22 40.78 8.4

Note: Includes 100% of the production from domestic joint ventures. Marketing and Distribution Segment In 2025, amid the challenges by intense competition in gasoline and diesel markets and rapid penetration of new energy vehicles, the Company fully leveraged its integration and network advantages, coordinated the expansion of sales and transition development, strived to develop itself as an integrated energy service provider of petro, gas, hydrogen, power and service. We carried forward targeted marketing tactics, expanded strategic clients and boosted the sales volume of high-grade gasoline. We stepped up efforts in expanding network for gas refueling, EV charging and battery swapping, proactively promoted hydrogen mobility, and achieved significant volume growth in automotive LNG refueling, EV charging and hydrogen refueling, with maintaining top position in domestic LNG and hydrogen refueling businesses. The "vehicle ecosystem" network and "home lifestyle" model were further developed to improve Easy Joy service quality. We accelerated development of international layout, with the Company remaining the world's largest supplier of low-sulfur bunker fuel. Annual total sales volume of refined oil products reached 229 million tonnes. In 2025, the segment adhered to integrated and synergistic profit creation, made great effort to expand market and increase sales volume, proactively developed EV charging and battery swapping, automotive natural gas and other businesses, strengthened cost and expense control, but impacted by fast development of alternative energy and the inventory loss caused by the decreased crude oil prices, the segment realised an operating profit of RMB10.0 billion. Summary of Operations for the Marketing and Distribution Segment For twelve months

ended 31 December Changes 2025 2024 (%) Total sales volume ofoil products (million tonnes) 229.02 239.33 (4.3) Total domestic sales volume of oil products (million tonnes) 177.56 182.82 (2.9) Retail sales (million tonnes) 110.16 113.45 (2.9) Direct sales and distribution

(million tonnes) 67.40 69.38 (2.9) As of 31 December 2025 As of 31 December 2024 Changes

from the end of previous

year(%) Total number of service stations under the Sinopec brand 31,195 30,987 0.7 Number of company-operated stations 31,195 30,987 0.7

Note: The total sales volume of refined oil products includes the amount of refined oil marketing and trading sales volume. Chemicals Segment In 2025, facing the severe condition of the rapid expansion in domestic chemicals capacity and narrowing chemical margin, the Company closely followed market demand to optimize production and operation, leveraged refining-chemical integration, and gave full play to the potential of profitable facilities. We optimised facilities and product mix and achieved a record high in PX production. We reinforced cost control and adjusted chemical feedstock to reduce costs of raw materials and processing. With further coordination of production, sales, R&D and application, we sped up the development of new materials such as POE. Annual ethylene production was 15.28 million tonnes. We strived to expand emerging and niche markets, seek strategic partnerships and explore overseas market. Total chemical sales volume for the year reached 87.12 million tonnes, up by 3.6% year-on-year, with export volume up by 29.8% year-on-year. In 2025, the segment spared no effort to reduce feedstock cost, closely followed the market changes, optimised the structure of products and operation of facilities, promoted the utilization rate of profitable facilities, implemented precision marketing, but impacted by the quick release of new capacities, decreased profits of chemical products and impairment loss of certain facilities, the segment realized an operating loss of RMB14.6 billion. Summary of Operations for the Chemicals Segment For twelve months

ended 31 December Changes 2025 2024 (%) Ethylene (thousand tonnes) 15,279 13,467 13.5 Synthetic resin (thousand tonnes) 22,037 20,087 9.7 Synthetic rubber (thousand tonnes) 1,578 1,429 10.4 Synthetic fiber monomer and polymer (thousand tonnes) 11,967 10,033 19.3 Synthetic fiber (thousand tonnes) 1,229 1,248 (1.5)

Note: Includes 100% of the production of domestic joint ventures. Innovation in R&D and Digital Intelligence In 2025, the Company intensified efforts in innovation with breakthroughs achieved in R&D and digital intelligence. In terms of R&D, the differential cube development technology for shale oil in continental rift basins supported the cost-effective development of shale oil. Heterogeneous composite flooding technology was applied to various reservoirs with high salinity and high calcium-magnesium content. Breakthroughs were achieved in high-end polypropylene cable insulation materials. We also achieved industrial production of 60K large tow carbon fiber. Our independently developed seawater electrolysis hydrogen production unit became China's first demonstration facility with long-term stable operation, while 100 KW-scale iron-chromium flow battery system was successfully deployed for "solar-storage-charging" integration at photovoltaic power stations. In terms of digital intelligence, we made steady moves to implement "AI+". The Great Wall series of large AI models became operational while the intelligent operation centers were further promoted for application. We accelerated the construction of smart factories, with 3 subsidiaries recognized as National Excellence-level Smart Factories, and 1 subsidiary included in the first National Pilot-level Smart Factory Cultivation List. In 2025, the Company filed 9,953 patent applications at home and abroad with 5,768 granted. We won 1 Gold Award, 1 Silver Award, and 3 Excellence Awards in the China Patent Awards. HSE In 2025, the Company continued to improve its HSE management system, enhancing the HSE awareness of responsibility and capabilities of all employees. We carried forward the 2025 Action for Fundamental Improvement in Safety Production. Measures were taken to advance the control of major risks, conduct comprehensive inspections and rectifications of safety hazards, implement specialized campaign for the entire hazardous chemicals supply chain and achieve overall safe and stable production. We strengthened employee health management, further improved working conditions, actively promoted the "Healthy Enterprise" initiative, and safeguarded the occupational, physical, and mental health of employees both domestically and internationally. 43 cases were selected as outstanding examples in the national "Healthy Enterprise" program. Capital Expenditures In 2025, the Company continued to optimise investment in projects, with a capital expenditure of RMB147.2 billion for the whole year. The capital expenditure of the E&P segment was RMB70.9 billion, mainly for the crude capacity building in Jiyang and Tahe, natural gas capacity building in Dingshan-Dongxi as well as the oil and gas storage and transmission facilities. The capital expenditure of the refining segment was RMB22 billion, mainly for Guangzhou Petrochemical revamping and Maoming Refining upgrading projects, etc. The capital expenditure of the marketing and distribution segment was RMB13.8 billion, mainly for the development of the petro, gas, hydrogen, power and service integrated energy station network. The capital expenditure of the chemical segment was RMB35.9 billion, mainly for the ethylene projects in Maoming and aromatics project in Jiujiang, etc. The capital expenditure of corporate and others was RMB4.6 billion, mainly for R&D and digital intelligent projects, etc. Business Outlook Looking forward to 2026, as China's economy continues to recover and improve, domestic demand for natural gas and chemical products is expected to maintain growth, and that for refined oil products will remain influenced by alternative energy. Taking into account the impact of changes in global supply and demand, geopolitics and inventory levels, the uncertainty surrounding the trend of international crude oil prices has increased. In 2026, the Company shall vigorously advance high-quality development in all fronts, focusing on safety and environmental protection, energy security, marketing, profitability enhancement and efficiency improvement, integration of R&D innovation with industry and finance, and reform-driven empowerment. We shall pursue the following key initiatives: E&P: The Company will advance efforts to increase reserves, stabilize oil production, boost gas output and reduce costs, accelerate the profitable development of new energy business, and strengthen the integrated oil and gas exploration, production, supply, storage, sales and trading system. In exploration, we will actively expand high-quality mining rights, intensify high-quality exploration activities, strive to secure substantial, high-quality reserves, and lower finding costs. In development, efforts will be made to accelerate crude capacity expansion in Tahe, offshore areas, and western Junggar, alongside natural gas capacity growth for offshore, the marine facies in western Sichuan, and the Xujiahe reservoir in Sichuan. We will drive large-scale, profitable production in new areas while proceeding with the fine development in mature oil and gas fields. For natural gas sales, the Company will optimise resource portfolio and reduce costs, accelerate targeted development of high-end, high-value-added markets, so as to improve the scale and profitability of natural gas business. The annual plan is to produce 280.91 million barrels crude oil, including 25.31 million barrels from overseas operations, and 1,471.7 billion cubic feet natural gas. Refining: The Company will focus on stabilising processing volumes and enhancing efficiency, strengthening synergies with marketing and chemical business, and improving intensive and efficient operations. We will insist the coordination across trading, storage, transmission and production, optimisie resource procurement and reduce procurement costs. We shall thoroughly assess the marginal benefits of resources, maximise profitable processing volumes, and flexibly adjust product mix. We will persistently advance the strategy of reducing refined oil products output while increasing chemical feedstock and refining specialties output, enhance the market competitiveness of refining by-products such as liquefied petroleum gas, petroleum coke, and asphalt, and accelerate to develop growth drivers including refining specialties and high-end carbon materials. We will expedite the construction of key projects to concentrate our advantageous capacity. The annual plan is to process 250 million tonnes of crude oil and produce 148 million tonnes of refined oil products. Marketing and Distribution: The Company shall remain market-oriented and customer-focus and fully leverage strengths of its integrated business to enhance overall competitiveness. We shall promote coordination between procurement and sales activities, volume and price and develop a differentiated and more precise marketing system. We will increase the portion of premium gasoline sales, expand the jet fuel market, and steadfastly consolidate sales volume of refined oil products. We will continuously optimise network layout, advance the integrated development of all business models, expand the scale of automotive LNG refueling, and grow the quality and profitability of EV charging and battery swapping and hydrogen energy services. The Company will accelerate the profitable development of the "vehicle ecosystem" and "home lifestyle" model, expand the comprehensive service scenarios of Easy Joy, and build proprietary brands. We will consolidate and enhance the integrated advantages in bunker fuel and actively expand the scale of domestic and international operations. The annual plan for domestic refined oil product sales volume is 170 million tonnes. Chemicals: The Company shall adhere to the strategy of "basic + high-end, chemicals + materials", strive to reduce costs, expand markets and minimize losses and increase profits. We will promote projects in an orderly manner, scientifically arrange schedule of new capacity deployment and phase out of outdated capacity. We will leverage the advantages of the entire industrial chain and implement multiple measures to reduce raw material costs. Close to market changes, we will conduct dynamic valuation of the marginal benefits of different grades, facilities and product chains to precisely drive product structure optimisation and efficient resource allocation. We will intensify the development of new and high value-added products to improve profit. In chemical sales, we will establish an efficient product-service interaction system to meet differentiated and personalised customer needs, enhance product innovation, increase sales to strategic clients, and strengthen international market expansion. The annual ethylene production is planned at 15.8 million tonnes. Innovation and Digital Intelligence: The Company shall pursue the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation, focusing on breakthroughs in key technologies to develop new quality productive forces. Collaborative research will advance projects including natural gas reserve expansion and production enhancement, profitable development of continental facies shale oil, and the CCUS/CCS industrial chain. Accelerated development and industrial demonstration of low-cost, cutting-edge refining technologies will be pursued, alongside intensified efforts to maximise the value of intermediate and by-products. We shall expedite the development and application of high-performance metallocene polyolefin technology and establish a comprehensive collaborative system spanning production, sales, research, and application. We will advance integrated research in strategic emerging fields including SAF and key materials and applications for solid-state batteries. We will coordinate digital and intelligent transformation, deepen the "AI+" initiative, enhance overall smart manufacturing maturity, cultivate flagship and exemplary smart factories with significant industry influence, create more high-value application scenarios, and empower digital and intelligent upgrading across all business segments. Capex: In 2026, the Company plans to invest RMB131.6 to RMB148.6 billion. Capex for E&P will be RMB72.3 billion, primarily for the crude capacity building in Jiyang and Tahe, natural gas capacity building in West and South Sichuan, and oil and gas storage and transmission facilities. Capex for refining will be RMB17.3 billion, mainly for Guangzhou Petrochemical revamping and Maoming Refining upgrading projects, etc. Capex for marketing and distribution will be RMB9 billion, primarily for developing the integrated energy station network. Capex for chemical will be RMB28.2 billion, mainly for projects including Maoming and Qilu ethylene, and Jiujiang aromatics. Capex for corporate and others will be RMB4.8 billion, primarily for R&D and digital intelligence initiatives. The Company will also flexibly arrange Capex of RMB17 billion in light of market conditions.

Appendix: Key financial data and indicators FINANCIAL DATA AND INDICATORS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CASS Principal accounting data Items For twelve months

ended 31 December Changes over the same period of the preceding year (%) 2025 (RMB million) 2024 (RMB million) Operating income 2,783,583 3,074,562 (9.5) Net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company 31,809 50,313 (36.8) Net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company excluding extraordinary gains and losses 29,529 48,057 (38.6) Net cash flows from operating activities 162,496 149,360 8.8 At 31 December 2025 (RMB million) At 31 December 2024 (RMB million) Change from the end of last year (%) Total equity attributable to equity shareholders of the Company 830,324 819,922 1.3 Total assets 2,155,617 2,084,771 3.4

Principal financial indicators Items For twelve months

ended 31 December Changes over the same period of the preceding year (%) 2025 (RMB) 2024 (RMB) Basic earnings per share 0.262 0.415 (36.9) Diluted earnings per share 0.262 0.415 (36.9) Basic earnings per share (excluding extraordinary gains and losses) 0.244 0.397 (38.5) Weighted average return on net assets (%) 3.86 6.19 (2.33) percentage points Weighted average return (excluding extraordinary gains and losses) on net assets (%) 3.58 5.91 (2.33) percentage points Net cash flow generated from operating activities per share 1.341 1.233 8.8

FINANCIAL DATA AND INDICATORS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH IFRS ACCOUNTING STANDARDS Principal accounting data Items For twelve months

ended 31 December Changes over the same period of the preceding year (%) 2025 (RMB million) 2024 (RMB million) Operating Profit 48,608 70,686 (31.2) Profit attributable to shareholders of the Company 32,476 48,939 (33.6) Net cash generated from operating activities per share (RMB) 1.341 1.233 8.8 At 31 December 2025 (RMB million) At 31 December 2024 (RMB million) Change from the end of last year (%) Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company 827,463 815,815 1.4

Principal financial indicators Items For twelve months

ended 31 December Changes over the same period of the preceding year (%) 2025 (RMB) 2024 (RMB) Basic earnings per share 0.268 0.404 (33.7) Diluted earnings per share 0.268 0.404 (33.7) Return on capital employed (%) 4.01 5.78 (1.77) percentage points



The following table sets forth the operating revenues, operating expenses and operating profit by each segment before elimination of the inter-segment transactions for the periods indicated, and the percentage changes between 2025 and 2024. For twelve months

ended 31 December Changes 2025 2024 (RMB million) (%) Exploration and Production Segment Operating revenues 285,992 297,249 (3.8) Operating expenses 240,461 240,864 (0.2) Operating profit 45,531 56,385 (19.2) Refining Segment Operating revenues 1,328,509 1,481,502 (10.3) Operating expenses 1,319,061 1,474,788 (10.6) Operating profit 9,448 6,714 40.7 Marketing and Distribution Segment Operating revenues 1,505,275 1,714,358 (12.2) Operating expenses 1,495,305 1,695,712 (11.8) Operating profit 9,970 18,646 (46.5) Chemicals Segment Operating revenues 464,108 523,862 (11.4) Operating expenses 478,686 533,859 (10.3) Operating loss (14,578) (9,997) - Corporate and Others Operating revenues 1,315,600 1,457,226 (9.7) Operating expenses 1,318,333 1,457,658 (9.6) Operating loss (2,733) (432) -

About Sinopec Corp. Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest integrated energy and chemical companies in China. Its principal operations include the exploration and production, pipeline transportation and sale of petroleum and natural gas; the production, sale, storage and transportation of refinery products, petrochemical products, coal chemical products, synthetic fibre, and other chemical products; the import and export, including import and export agency business, of petroleum, natural gas, petroleum products, petrochemical and chemical products, and other commodities and technologies; and research, development and application of technologies and information; hydrogen energy business and related services such as hydrogen production, storage, transportation and sales; battery charging and swapping, solar energy, wind energy and other new energy business and related services. Disclaimer This press release includes "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical facts that address activities, events or developments that Sinopec Corp. expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including but not limited to projections, targets, reserve volume, other estimates and business plans) are forward-looking statements. Sinopec Corp.'s actual results or developments may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including but not limited to the price fluctuation, possible changes in actual demand, foreign exchange rate, results of oil exploration, estimates of oil and gas reserves, market shares, competition, environmental risks, possible changes to laws, finance and regulations, conditions of the global economy and financial markets, political risks, possible delay of projects, government approval of projects, cost estimates and other factors beyond Sinopec Corp.'s control. In addition, Sinopec Corp. makes the forward-looking statements referred to herein as of today and undertakes no obligation to update these statements. Investor Inquiries: Media Inquiries: Beijing Hong Kong Tel:(86 10) 5996 0028 Tel:(852) 2522 1838 Fax:(86 10) 5996 0386 Fax:(852) 2521 9955 Email: ir@sinopec.com Email: sinopec@prchina.com.hk 22/03/2026 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News .

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



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View original content: EQS News
Die Markte feiern neue Rekorde  doch im Hintergrund braut sich eine Entwicklung zusammen, die alles verandern konnte. Die anhaltende Sperrung der Strae von Hormus sorgt laut IEA fur eine der groten Energiekrisen aller Zeiten. Gleichzeitig schieen die Preise fur Dungemittel und Agrarrohstoffe bereits nach oben.



Damit droht ein perfekter Sturm: steigende Energiepreise, explodierende Produktionskosten und ein moglicher Super-El-Nino, der weltweit Ernten gefahrdet. Erste Auswirkungen sind langst sichtbar  Weizen, Soja und Kakao verteuern sich deutlich, wahrend Lebensmittelpreise vor dem nachsten Sprung stehen konnten.



Fur Anleger bedeutet das nicht nur Risiken, sondern enorme Chancen. Denn wahrend klassische Markte unter Druck geraten konnten, entsteht auf den Feldern und Plantagen der nachste groe Rohstoffzyklus. Wer sich jetzt richtig positioniert, kann von einer Entwicklung profitieren, die weit uber Ol und Metalle hinausgeht.



In unserem aktuellen Spezialreport stellen wir drei Aktien vor, die besonders aussichtsreich sind, um von diesem Trend zu profitieren  solide positioniert, strategisch relevant und mit erheblichem Aufwartspotenzial.







Jetzt den kostenlosen Report sichern  bevor der Agrar-Boom voll durchschlagt!
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Saudi Arabia Welcomes Temporary Truce Agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Advent of Eid Al-Fitr

Saudi Press Agency

Wednesday 29/09/1447

Riyadh, March 18, 2026, SPA -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's welcome for the temporary truce agreement reached between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Afghanistan on the advent of Eid Al-Fitr.

In a statement, the ministry stated, "The Kingdom appreciates the willingness of both parties to respond to the calls made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and the Republic of Turkiye to implement this truce. It emphasizes that prioritizing dialogue and peaceful solutions is the most effective means to resolve ongoing disputes."

The statement further added, "The Kingdom reaffirms its commitment to continuing tireless diplomatic efforts, in collaboration with brotherly and friendly nations, to achieve peace, security, and stability in the region."

-- SPA

19:52 Local Time 16:52 GMT

0067

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PH, US complete maritime drills off Bataan, Manila Bay

Philippine News Agency

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

March 21, 2026, 11:52 am

MANILA -- The Philippines and the United States have completed a bilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA) in Manila Bay and waters off Mariveles, Bataan, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Saturday.

Dubbed as Bilateral MCA 26-3.1, the latest drills, completed on Friday, aimed to enhance interoperability among the participating units of the AFP, the US Indo-Pacific Command, and the Philippine Coast Guard to support sustained maritime security and response within the country's maritime zones.

"The successful conduct of the MCA reflected the continuing commitment of the Philippines and the United States to strengthen coordination and cooperation in promoting regional maritime security, stability, and adherence to international law," the AFP said.

"The AFP remains committed to building strong defense partnerships and enhancing its capability to safeguard the country's maritime interests and uphold a rules-based international order."

Assets from the Philippines included the BRP Antonio Luna (FFG15), two A-29B Super Tucano, a C-208B aircraft, a Sokol Search and Rescue Aircraft, and the PCG's BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV 8301), while the US deployed the US Navy's 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19).

During the activity, the participating forces carried out a series of exercises, including a communications check and a photo exercise.

The US 7th Fleet clarified that these drills, along with other MCAs, are conducted in a manner consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety, navigational rights, and freedoms of all nations.

"The US, along with our allies and partners, upholds the right to freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect for maritime rights under international law," it said.

"US 7th Fleet, the US Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Before the bilateral sails, the USS Blue Ridge conducted a port visit to Manila, where the US 7th Fleet and the Philippine Navy Fleet conducted subject matter expert exchanges and leadership calls.

The latest drills follow the two nations' January MCA off the Bajo de Masinloc against the backdrop of China's sustained presence in the West Philippine Sea. (PNA)

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TOKYO, March 22 (Xinhua) -- One of the two Japanese nationals who were detained in Iran was released, Japan's foreign minister said Sunday.

Speaking on a TV program, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the person who had been detained since June was released last Wednesday and got on a plane from Azerbaijan, bound for Japan.

"We are working toward the early release of the other individual," Motegi added.

Earlier this month, Motegi had requested the early release of the two Japanese detainees during a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. 
Re-Election of Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul

US Department of State

Press Statement

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

March 21, 2026

The United States congratulates Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on his re-election. The United States greatly values our alliance and deep friendship with Thailand, spanning nearly two centuries. We appreciate the Prime Minister's close cooperation with us on key priorities, including economic prosperity, law enforcement cooperation on cyber scams, modernizing our defense alliance, and helping to promote peace and stability in the region.

We look forward to working closely with Prime Minister Anutin and his new government to further strengthen the U.S.-Thai relationship by promoting peace and prosperity for both our peoples. Together, we will continue to make our countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous.

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WHO verifies deadly hospital attack in war-torn Sudan

21 March 2026 - The World Health Organization (WHO) verified on Saturday a hospital attack in war-torn Sudan that killed 64 people.

The Al Deain Teaching Hospital in East Darfur's capital, Al Deain, was struck late Friday, killing scores of people, including 13 children, two nurses, a doctor and multiple patients.

"Enough blood has been spilled," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "Enough suffering has been inflicted. The time has come to de-escalate the conflict in Sudan and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers and humanitarians."

To date, the total number of fatalities linked to attacks on health facilities has now surpassed 2,000 during Sudan's war, which began in April 2023 between rival militaries.

Deaths, injuries and damages

Over the nearly three-year conflict, WHO has confirmed that 2,036 people have been killed in 213 attacks on health care, including Friday night's strike in Al Deain.

This latest attack also injured 89 people, including eight health staff, and damaged the hospital's paediatric, maternity and emergency departments.

In total, more than 720 people have been injured in attacks on health care during the war to date.

Long-term consequences

Beyond the devastating human toll, attacks on health care have immediate and long-term consequences for communities already in desperate need of both emergency and routine medical services.

Al Deain Teaching Hospital is currently non-functional due to the extensive damage caused by the attack, resulting in a critical interruption of essential medical services.

WHO is supporting local health partners to help fill urgent gaps by scaling up capacity at other health facilities. This includes:

strengthening primary health care services to provide outpatient, paediatric and obstetric care

increasing capacity to treat the injured

deploying trauma care supplies and essential medicines

"Health care should never be a target," the WHO chief said. "Peace is the best medicine."

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Russo-Ukraine War - 21 March 2026 - Day 1487

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 138 combat clashes.

Defense forces destroy personnel and deplete the invaders' combat potential by creating a systematic fire effect.

The Russian opponent caused 48 aviacijnih strikes - dropped 163 controlled air bombs. In addition, acted to impress 3512 kamikaze drones and carried out 2375 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions today, the Russian enemy launched two air strikes, dropped seven air bombs, carried out 94 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, 12 of them - with the application of the RSV. Six clashes were recorded in the direction.

In the South-Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy attacked the positions of Ukrainian units five times in the areas of the settlements of Staritsa, Ohrimivka and Sinelnikove. One assault action in progress.

In the direction of Kupyansky, Russian troops attacked five times towards the settlements of Petropavlivka, Kurilivka, Pietscni, Glushkivka.

In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled three Russian assaults in the area of the Middle and towards the settlements of Stavka and Dibrov. One assault action in progress.

In the Slavic direction, the Russian opponent tried to advance six times in the areas of Platonivka, Zakitny and towards Rai-Oleksandrivka. One attack is underway.

In the Kramators komu direction, the Russian aggressor once tried to improve his position by attacking in the area of Chasovoye Yar, the fight is ongoing.

In the Konstantinivka direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders 17 times near the settlements of Konstyantinivka, Kleban-Bik, Yablunivka, Sofiyivka, Pleshiyivka, Rusin Yar and in the direction of Stepanivka, Illinivka and Novopavlivka. One assault action in progress.s

Russian forces committed 28 attacks in the Pokrovsky direction. The Russian occupiers tried to advance in the areas of settlements Shahove, Rodinske, Chervony Liman, Mirnograd, Pokrovsk, Grishine, Udaachne, Molodetske and towards settlements Nove Shahove, Kucheriv Yar, Bilitske, Novopavlivka. Six Russian attacks are ongoing.

According to preliminary calculations, today 52 Russian occupants were eliminated and 24 wounded in this direction; one vehicle transport unit, five special equipment units, one firearm control point and two manpower shelters destroyed; one artillery system, one vehicle equipment unit, seven manpower shelters, firearm control point were damaged. Destroyed or suppressed 171 BPLA of different types.

In the direction of Oleksandrivsky, the eRussian nemy six times stepped in the area of ternovoye, zlagoda and krasnogirs kogo. Committed an air strike on pokrovskkomu, ivanivci and pidgavrilivci.

In the direction of Gulyaipil, 11 attacks took place towards the positions of Ukrainian defenders towards the settlements of Zaliznychne, Varvarivka, Staroukrainka, Olenokostyantinivka, Green, Charming, Peaceful. The enemy caused air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Vozdvizhivka, Zalivne, Kopani, Wide, Charivne, Upper Tersa. One Russian assault action is underway.

In the direction of Orikhiv, the Russian enemy committed one offensive action in the direction of Primorsky. There were air strikes in the areas of veselyanka, pokrovsky, orikhovogo.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Russian opponent made one unsuccessful attack towards Ukrainian defenders.

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 improved the situation along the front line. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one airmobile brigade, one air assault brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades near Potapovka, Novaya Sech, and Miropolye (Sumy region).

In Kharkov region, losses were inflicted on units of three mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Chuguyev, Peschannoye, Kolodeznoye, and Izbitskoye (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 220 troops, eight motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made 155-mm M114 howitzer. In addition, two materiel depot were destroyed.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, and one territorial defence brigade near Novoosinovo, Borovaya, Shiykovka (Kharkov region), Svyatogorsk, Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted more than 180 troops, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, including two western-made samples. In addition, 25 motor vehicles and two ammunition depots were destroyed.

Units of the Yuzhnaya Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on formations of four mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, and one mountain assault brigade of the AFU near Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Krivaya Luka, Ilyinovka, Artem, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 190 troops, seven armoured fighting vehicles, including one German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicle and one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier.

Moreover, 10 motor vehicles, three field artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations, one ammunition depot, and two materiel depots were destroyed.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, one infantry brigade, one airborne brigade, one assault brigade of the AFU, one marine brigade, and two national guard brigades near Belitskoye, Grishino, Dobropolye, Krasnoyarskoye, Rayskoye, Kutuzovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Novopodgorodnoye (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 370 troops, 11 armoured fighting vehicles, 24 motor vehicles, seven field artillery guns, including two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers. Two electronic warfare stations and two ammunition depots were destroyed.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces advanced into the depths of enemy defences. Losses were inflicted on formations of one mechanised brigade, two air assault brigades, two assault brigades, and five assault regiments of the AFU near Boykovo, Lesnoye, Chervoniy Yar, Kievskoye, Dolinka, and Vozdvizhevka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 305 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, one electronic warfare station, and one materiel depot.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one motorised infantry brigade, and one mountain assault brigade of the AFU near Orekhov, Preobrazhenka, Kamyshevakha, and Zaporozhets (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 45 troops, five motor vehicles, four electronic warfare stations, and one materiel depot.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces struck power and transport infrastructure objects used by the AFU, UAV control posts as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 137 areas.

Air defence units shot down nine guided aerial bombs and 668 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost 671 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 125,893 unmanned aerial vehicles, 652 anti-aircraft missile systems, 28,392 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,690 MLRS combat vehicles, 33,982 field artillery guns and mortars, and 57,407 support military vehicles.

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Press Conference - Whyalla

Transcript

Friday 20 March 2026

Whyalla

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

Senator the Hon Tim Ayres

Minister for Industry and Innovation

Minister for Science

EDDIE HUGHES, STATE MEMBER FOR GILES: It's great to have the Prime Minister here in Whyalla today at the Steelworks. Just over a year ago, there was a massive intervention here in Whyalla to rescue the Steelworks, to provide a future for Whyalla and to provide a future for sovereign steel manufacturing in our nation. As a measure of what has happened and the confidence in the future, there are now 76 apprentices working throughout the facility here in Whyalla. So, that is great news. Over a year ago, unprecedented intervention has made a massive difference. So, an incredibly warm welcome for the Prime Minister and what he achieved, along with the Premier Peter Malinauskas, and a whole heap of other people doing the right thing by this community. So, congratulations there, Prime Minister. Over to you.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much, Eddie, and it's fantastic to be back here in Whyalla at the Steelworks and to be here with Minister Tim Ayres and back here with Eddie. A year ago, I stood here with Mali, the Premier of South Australia. And we committed to saving the Steelworks, saving jobs and saving this town. This Steelworks is the centre of this community when it comes to the economy, when it comes to everything that it contributes. But it's also such an important piece of national infrastructure that contributes to our national economy. A year ago, this was a vulnerable community, but we have ensured now that this is not only continuing to exist, it's having record steel making in recent times, but has a very bright future. There were a range of bidders to take over the Steelworks here and we've narrowed those down. And in coming months we'll work through to make sure that we get the right fit, the first time, and to make sure that this Steelworks has the future which it deserves, because we need to make more things here in Australia. If there's a lesson once again, we're being reminded of by what is happening with the Middle East conflict and the pressures that are on the global economy, is that we need an Australian economy that's more resilient. We need an Australian economy in which we make more things here. We need an Australian economy in which we train and skill up Australians for the jobs that are available here, and the jobs of the future. This Steelworks here had five apprentices when we were here a year ago. Today it has 76. It has a major contribution as well for the contractors who depend upon this, not just the directly employed workforce, but for all the services that come out of this Steelworks for the local community as well.

The Steelworks is safer and stronger because of the intervention and it's taken two Labor Government to do that, the Federal Labor Government working with the Malinauskas Labor Government in South Australia, making sure that we are delivering for working people, delivering by saving the Steelworks, but also delivering through the other measures that we've taken: making sure that people get a fair crack, the tax cuts that we've delivered for every worker who is here, the Free TAFE which is benefiting and encouraging people to undertake those apprenticeships, the $10,000 incentives for electrical and construction which is making a difference as well. All of these measures are contributing to this local economy here in regional South Australia, but importantly as well, contributing to our national security. That is why locally made steel is absolutely essential. And we were determined to not just sit back and watch things happen through markets that simply don't work. We were determined to intervene and to make sure that governments looked after people. And that's why tomorrow I certainly hope that Peter Malinauskas gets the result that he deserves, because he deserves to be re-elected as Premier of South Australia with people like Eddie as an important part of his team as we go forward. I'll hand over to Tim Ayres and then we'll take some questions.

TIM AYRES, MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY & INNOVATION: Really, I just want to say three things. Firstly, the Prime Minister is absolutely right. It's only because Labor Government., the Labor government of Peter Malinauskas here in South Australia and the Labor Government led by the most pro-manufacturing Prime Minister Australia has ever had, intervened here to secure Australia's sovereign steel making that we are all here today. I remember what it was like. I remember how tough it was. I spoke to Max's Services earlier on. He had a draw full of redundancy notices that kept him up at night in the weeks leading up to this decision. Now, he has a draw full of employment notifications, buying new plants and equipment. So, confidence not just here, but confidence in the supply chain and in the contractors right through this community. The second thing I wanted to say was thank you to all of you. This is a historic intervention in Australia steel making that was made 12 months ago. But it's you all - workers, apprentices, suppliers, contractors, trade unions, management, working together to secure the Steelworks, to make them safer, to make them more productive and to make them stronger for the future, that gives the two governments a platform to work upon here. And finally, I wanted to say thanks to Eddie for the advocacy and the work that he did in the lead up, in the lead up to this intervention. It's work of local members like Eddie Hughes that has real consequence. It's only a Labor local member fighting for his community, working With a Labor State Government and a Labor Albanese Federal Government that delivers the results here. Forgive me for a partisan message, but back this bloke and back him hard tomorrow because he deserves your support and he will keep on fighting for you. Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much. Just before I take some questions, I want to make some brief comments about Cyclone Narelle which has crossed the Queensland coast north of Cooktown in Far North Queensland. This is a category 4 cyclone as it crosses the coast. That means 250 kilometre winds which, when I spoke with Premier David Crisafulli this morning, had not caused up to that point any damage or any houses to be lost. There have been some sheds and facilities that have been damaged and lost. We say again to people affected in this zone, please listen to authorities. If you're asked to leave and you go somewhere to be safe, follow the advice of those authorities. It's bringing with it massive amounts of rain. We've seen just in the Archer River in six hours at the spot where a bridge was recently built over that river, the waters rise from 5 metres to 13 metres in just six hours. That will give you some indication of how much water is coming down in those communities. So, if it's flooded, forget it. That is where we've seen a lot of loss of life and tragedies in the past. So, please be ready if you're in that region to reenact your emergency plans. I of course offered, as we always do, our support to the Queensland government. We'll work together across the three levels of government to support those communities who are doing it tough. It's expected that over the coming period, it'll cross the west coast into the Gulf of Carpentaria there, and this is a really difficult period as we go forward. Happy to take questions.

JOURNALIST: Last month when Peter Malinauskas was here, he said that the 12 bidders have dwindled to five. Can you confirm that that number has lowered or that it's dwindling further?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, we can confirm that there are five bidders, all of them are very serious, that it's been whittled down to. It says something about how good this product is, how good the workers are here and the skills that they bring to their day-to-day work, that you have five consortiums putting forward very serious bids because they want to run this operation.

JOURNALIST: BlueScope Steel has confirmed that they're still at table to take over the steelworks. How is the Government negotiating issues of sovereign capability with market compensation?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we're making sure that we get this process right. Sovereign capability is absolutely critical. But we want to make sure that we get the right result out of this, that we do it just once, and that any successful bidder has to show that they plan for the long-term future of this amazing national asset. Anyone coming in here, and I think one of the reasons why there are these five serious bids, as I went around here this morning, I think some people who've worked here for more than a couple of decades, people who've been in this community their whole life, or people who've travelled from Australia or other parts of the world offering their skills and making a difference here. You have a ready-made, effective workforce here. You have good management, you have a real plan and a community as well that cherishes this as an asset. And so, this is a great investment which is why we have so much interest.

JOURNALIST: Overnight, key allies issued a joint statement expressing readiness to contribute appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Is Australia now out of step with key allies?

PRIME MINISTER: Not at all. We want to see the Strait of Hormuz open. We're offering support, have support on the ground in the region, including an E7 aircraft, including the AMRAAMs that we've supplied to the United Arab Emirates. And we're working with our allies, including once again calling for the Iranian regime to allow freedom of navigation. This is essential for international trade, and we again reiterate that call.

JOURNALIST: Could Australia be part of an insurance pool with other allies to get ships moving through the Straits?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll examine whatever we can do to provide assistance, but we are providing assistance in the region. We think this is absolutely critical. And again, we reiterate our calls for Iran to do the right thing and to allow for international passage to occur. Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle, and we again call for a de-escalation.

JOURNALIST: Tomorrow, South Australians head to the polls. Would One Nation success in South Australia set off alarm bells for the major parties in Canberra? Will it pick up speed tomorrow?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, what I want to see is Eddie Hughes re-elected as Member for Giles. One of the things that we see here is the difference that government has made. Independents and fringe parties actually aren't parties of government. What they can do is wait for decisions to be made and then decide whether they support them or not. They can't actually lead and make decisions, and that's the difference. Peter Malinauskas leads a government that has truly led, that has saved the jobs, that has saved the steelworks, that's made a difference in South Australia across so many areas. That's building infrastructure right throughout the state that's protecting jobs, that's building homes, that's building hospitals and health facilities, that's working cooperatively. And that's why, if people want to make a difference tomorrow, they need to vote for a Labor government, a Labor government that's deserving of being re-elected. Led by someone who's a South Australian, not led by someone from Queensland who wants to tap into grievance but doesn't provide any solutions.

JOURNALIST: And we've heard this morning that you were at Lakemba. There was some heckling that went on there. What's your response to that?

PRIME MINISTER: Oh look, I've seen some of those reports and they're just simply not accurate. There were 30,000 people plus at Lakemba this morning. Overwhelmingly, the reception was incredibly positive. I walked through the crowd to the mosque and not a single person heckled. There were a couple of hecklers inside. They were dealt with. Contrary to what's been suggested, no one was rushed out. We just sat there. It was dealt with. It was dealt with by the community themselves because overwhelmingly they did not want that to occur. And I thank very much them for the invitation. It was about respect for a very important day, Eid, for the Muslim community there. I thanked them for the very warm reception that was occurred. Yes, there were a couple of people who are heckling. Some people don't like the fact that we've outlawed extremist organisations like this Hizb ut-Tahrir and that brought a response from a couple of people. But if you got a couple of people heckling in a crowd of 30,000, that should be put in that perspective.

JOURNALIST: Thank you and apologies, I'm going to circle back to Whyalla. Just on the issue of sovereign capability and market concentration, does one come above the other?

PRIME MINISTER: We'll assess all of those things in the proper way between us and the South Australian government and we're very confident that we will have a fantastic outcome.

JOURNALIST: Those are all my questions, thank you.

PRIME MINISTER: I can announce that next Tuesday, the head of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, a good friend of Australia, will be visiting Australia, visiting Canberra, and she will address the Parliament next Tuesday. That will be important because of our relationship with the European Union. Such an important market for Australian projects, whether it be manufactured goods or whether it be in agriculture or other issues as well. It will be an important opportunity. We are finalising trade negotiations at the moment. And with the uncertainty that's there in the global community, it says a lot that just a couple of weeks ago, we had the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney. Now we'll have the leader of Europe, Ursula von der Leyen addressing a joint sitting of Parliament next Tuesday. I very much look forward to meeting with Ursula von der Leyen. We have a great relationship, and next Tuesday will be a good day in the interest of Australia, but also in the interest of our friends in Europe, I think.

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Doorstop - Coburg

Transcript

Saturday 21 March 2026

Coburg

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

Peter Khalil MP

Assistant Minister for Defence

Member for Wills

PETER KHALIL, MEMBER FOR WILLS: Good afternoon, everyone. It is wonderful to have the Prime Minister visit the new Coburg Medicare Urgent Care Clinic here at 444 Sydney Road, in the heart of Coburg. It's a wonderful location, and it's very, very popular with all the community members that I've been talking to about the grand opening, which is going to happen at 8am on Monday morning. But it's great to have the Prime Minister here to officially open the new MUCC. I will say we've also got Ged Kearney here, my great neighbour in the neighbouring electorate of Cooper, who's done a terrific amount of work, not just on Medicare, but particularly on women's health. We were just talking about that, when she was Assistant Minister for Health in the first term. So, a lot of great work there.

This is one of the legacy pieces of the Albanese Government, that the amount of impact that it has on the community. The investment in Medicare, the investment in bulk billing, investment in these Medicare Urgent Care Clinics is going to be remembered and acknowledged for generations, because it has a real impact on community. Every person I speak to out there on Sydney Road, when I say we're opening up this new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, their eyes light up. They say, 'this is fantastic. We need this.' Being able to get this kind of non-life threatening, but urgent care late at night on weekends is a must for this community. So, it's very, very popular. And I'm so pleased that we were able to get one here in Coburg. We need one in this part of Melbourne. And the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health, Mark Butler, have done a terrific job in this space. So, thank you, Prime Minister, for that commitment to health care for Australians. And it is going to be great to open this up on Monday, which happens to also be my birthday. So I'm looking forward to coming down at 8am - not to get any treatment, but just to see the first patients come through. My office is just down the road. So, with that, I'll hand over to the PM to say a few words. Thanks, Prime Minister.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much, Peter. And it's fantastic to be back in your electorate of Wills with, of course, your predecessor on the cake -

KHALIL: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER: Bob Hawke, of course, the Member for Wills. We remember one of the great legacies of the Hawke Government was the creation of Medicare, and what it needed was a long term Labor Government to entrench it, because we know that Gough Whitlam created Medibank, but it was destroyed by a Coalition incoming government. And it was only Bob Hawke winning four elections and then Paul Keating winning the 1993 Election that entrenched Medicare as a permanent feature of our health system. Of course, that hasn't stopped Liberal and Coalition governments undermining Medicare by trying to introduce a co-payment, which would have meant that literally no one got health assistance with just their Medicare card. So, it's one of the great divides in Australian politics, one of those value issues that a Labor Government will always value Medicare and will always seek to strengthen it. And I do want to join Peter in paying tribute to Ged Kearney and the work that she's done in strengthening Medicare, particularly the Women's Health Package, the largest women's health package that Australia has ever seen, making an incredible difference. I was at one of the endo clinics down in the electorate of Lalor, just a couple of weeks ago and talking to people there about the difference that that has made to their lives. 33 of them open around the country, making a positive difference.

Here, of course, with the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, this is one of the 137 that we've committed to. Almost all of them are now open. We promised in 2022 to deliver 50. We delivered 87. And then in the election, just last year, less than a year ago, we promised another 50, and almost all of them are opened. The final ones opening in these weeks. And we're hoping that they're all open before the Budget. Now, these are fantastic. And this one here, of course, is brand spanking new. And I want to pay tribute to the doctors and the nurses and the health professionals who will service people who come here without notice, just rock up, that's what you can do to get the health care you need when you need it. So, it's important for people's health. And the people I've spoken to in Urgent Care Clinics right around the country, the satisfaction rate is extraordinary. They're shocked that they can rock up here, for themselves or for their children, because one in three of the more than two million people who've received support through a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic are under the age of 16. They can rock up, get the care they need when they need it. Really important for people's health. But not just for people's health - also good for the health of their bank balance. Because all they need is this little piece of plastic. All they need is their green and gold Medicare card. It's green and gold for a reason, because it speaks about Australian values, that whether you're a billionaire or whether you are someone who is under financial difficulty, you get the same care, and that is absolutely important to who we are. The third thing it's good for, of course, is the overall health system, because it takes pressure off the emergency departments of hospitals. If someone has a broken arm or someone has a cut, they can get come here instead of waiting hour after hour, while more acute and life threatening cases jump the queue - quite rightly - ahead of them in emergency departments. So, it's taking pressure off them as well. A good primary health care system is so important.

Now, when you combine this with the tripling of the bulk billing incentive, that has seen more than 1,300 clinics, not just individuals, but clinics, go to fully bulk billing every single patient with just their Medicare card required, now that is making an enormous difference as well, with bulk billing rates rising after the decline that occurred under the former government. And so that, together with the $25 billion of additional investment we've put into the hospital system through state governments, with our Health and Hospitals Agreement for the next five years, it just shows the work that we are doing on health is making an incredible difference. And congratulations to everyone - for Peter who fought to get this Urgent Care Clinic right here. It will make a difference to the lives of people in this local community. Happy to take some questions.

JOURNALIST: Donald Trump says that Australia should get involved in the war - I guess you've seen these remarks that he's surprised that Australia has said no. What have you said no to?

PRIME MINISTER: I'm not conscious of that at all. The truth is that we have said yes to the request of the UAE for the E-7 Wedgetail Aircraft. That's operating there with personnel operating as well. In addition to that, we've sent MRAAMs. That's making a difference as well to intercept missiles or drones aimed at the UAE. So, we continue to provide the support that we have been asked to provide.

JOURNALIST: If the President does ask -

PRIME MINISTER: Well, he hasn't asked, so I'm not going to go through hypotheticals. We have done what we have asked been asked to do.

JOURNALIST: So, you don't know what he means?

PRIME MINISTER: We have done what we have been asked to do. There are comments at various times, I've said very early on, I don't intend to comment on all of what someone else says, and I stand by that. We've signed up to the statement that's been issued, has been coordinated by the United Kingdom that speaks about the work that we're doing to ensure the Straits of Hormuz are open. That's critical. And we again call upon the Iranian regime to stop its attacks, whether it be on the economic foundations of global trade, or whether it be on the 12 neighbours that it has attacked, unprovoked, whatsoever, not participants in the war, but have been attacked by Iran. It's difficult to see what their strategy is, except for alienating the Iranian regime from all of its neighbours.

JOURNALIST: Is - President Trump's obviously had a go at Australia, Japan, Korea, all of NATO - is he bullying allies?

PRIME MINISTER: I had a very positive conversation with President Trump, one on one, on the phone just a little over a week ago. We continue to engage constructively with our American friends.

JOURNALIST: There are reports that there will be, we won't be restricting petrol from Asian suppliers using Russian crude oil. So, has there been any lifting? Or will there be any easing on the sanctions of Russian, on Russia, and is Russia benefiting from this issue in Iran and the oil shortages?

PRIME MINISTER: No, what we are doing is talking with our partners, making sure that the secure relationship that we have continues. So, for example, I'll be having conversations, it's booked in, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of Singapore. We've spoken to our Korean friends, our Japanese friends as well. We remain a secure supplier of energy, and we expect those secure supplies to come our way as well.

JOURNALIST: The ACCC is now letting fuel companies coordinate distribution between them. How quickly do you think that will have an impact to restock fuel where it's out of action? In New South Wales, for instance, empty fuel servos?

PRIME MINISTER: What we know is that there hasn't been less supply over the last few weeks, there have been issues of distribution. So, there have been shortages in some areas. The ACCC have been given the power to ensure that those distribution issues are dealt with in a practical way. And that's why this change, allowing them to talk to each other, is really a common sense change that we've been able to deal with. I convened the National Cabinet on Thursday. The Commonwealth is responsible for supply, the states and territories are responsible for distribution. But what we're doing by establishing the Taskforce is making sure that there's seamless cooperation and coordination between Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, but also working with our industry partners as well. And can I say a range of industry partners have reached out making sure that they're cooperating. Just yesterday as well, we ensured that the two remaining refineries that we inherited - there were six refineries in operation around Australia when we left office in 2013, at the end of Angus Taylor and co's period in office, there were just two remaining. We're making sure that those two continue to operate.

JOURNALIST: What do you think the impact will be on distribution, how quick?

PRIME MINISTER: It will make a difference. We need to identify where there are shortages and get fuel to where it's needed.

JOURNALIST: We know that Treasury is modelling options to tax gas companies more. Will you raise the PRRT?

PRIME MINISTER: We'll have a Budget on the second Tuesday in May. And what we're doing is, is having appropriate discussions. We'll continue to do that. We'll work through - the only tax policy and changes we have locked in are the cuts to income tax on July 1 and then another tax cut the year after. They are, of course, tax cuts that were opposed by the Coalition that they said they would reverse if they'd have won the election on May 3 last year.

JOURNALIST: But why now? Then why are we doing this modelling now?

PRIME MINISTER: I have no idea what - bureaucrats do modelling. If that's the case, then good on them. That's what happens in the lead up to budgets, as the bureaucrats go about modelling different policy scenarios. So be it. That's called good government.

JOURNALIST: How close is the Prime Ministerial finger to pushing the button that says, 'fuel rationing'?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's a decision for State and Territory Government, so it's not a question for me. But our supply, our supply - as of today, we have 38 days of petrol, 30 days of diesel, 30 days of jet fuel, which is an increase in what there was. Now, importantly - that's an update as of this morning, latest figures. Importantly, you'll note that that hasn't gone down, as what's happening is that every single, every single, expected arrival of fuel has arrived. So that has occurred. We're an orderly government. We again, are dealing with distribution issues. We're also again calling upon people to engage in a way that we expect Australians to engage: looking after each other, your neighbours, your communities, and indeed, the national interest. There's no case for hoarding. People filling up jerry cans, keeping fuel in your garage, a bit like what happened in COVID, people filling up their garage with toilet paper. Toilet paper is less dangerous than fuel. There's a different aspect here as well. So, people need to engage responsibly, and I'm sure that overwhelmingly, that's what Australians will do.

JOURNALIST: What about the International Energy Agency's suggestions? You know, three days work from home, reduce speeds on highways - is that something that you'll introduce?

PRIME MINISTER: They're not suggestions to us, of course - they're suggestions to the world. So, the IEA head will be here, remarkably. On Monday, he'll be addressing the National Press Club. I look forward to welcoming him, having a chat with him on Monday. And I look forward as well to welcoming Ursula von der Leyen, the leader of Europe, here on Tuesday. She'll address the parliament on Tuesday as well, and that will be the first time that a European leader has addressed our National Parliament in a joint sitting. That will be a very good thing, and will be an important opportunity as well. One of the things that my Government has done is to reach out to countries, whether it be Canada, who - Mark Carney was here just a couple of weeks ago. Whether it be the work that we're doing with our European partners. The work that we're doing with ASEAN in Southeast Asia, the building up of relationships with Indonesia, with India, the alliance with Papua New Guinea, our first new alliance since 1951 is an example of the work that we are doing. What that does, those partnerships strengthen our national position, as well strengthen our national resilience, and that's a key. We know that the world is a turbulent place, and that is why we're making sure that we build that national resilience, that we make more things here in Australia. You know, on Friday, just yesterday, seems like long time ago, I was in Whyalla and Looking at the steelworks that, together with the Malinauskas Government that I certainly hope has re-elected today, we've partnered to make sure that they continue to make steel there. The day before, Thursday, I was with the Their Majesties, the King and Queen of Denmark at INCAT in Tasmania, in the suburbs of Hobart that are building the world's largest electric ferries, making an enormous difference as well, something we can be really proud of. We need to build our national resilience. That will be a major focus of the Budget on the second Tuesday in May, and I look forward to talking with you in between now and then.

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First live-fire surface-to-air missile launches by PLA Navy's Type 055 large destroyer captured in rare official media footage

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun and Liang Rui Published: Mar 21, 2026 03:07 PM

An official Chinese media report on Saturday released rare footage of the first live-fire surface-to-air missile launches by the Nanchang, the first Type 055 10,000 ton-class large destroyer of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, with all five missiles launched in the test hitting their targets. A Chinese military affairs expert said that the high accuracy demonstrated the Chinese warship's comprehensive capabilities, not only its surface-to-air missiles, but also its situational awareness.

The Nanchang (Hull 101) entered service with the PLA Navy in January 2020. About one year since its commissioning, it was tasked with its first air defense and anti-missile mission under realistic combat scenarios, China Central Television (CCTV) News reported on Saturday.

During the test, the Nanchang fired five surface-to-air missiles, and all of them hit their targets, demonstrating the Type 055 large destroyer's capabilities, according to the report.

The footage in the CCTV News report showed that an HHQ-9 surface-to-air missile was cold launched from the Type 055's vertical launching system at the bow, before an infrared sensor captured the moment when the missile hit its target.

Qiao Peng, a crew member of the Nanchang, said in the CCTV News report that the mission difficulty was equivalent to a world-class air defense challenge at the time. "We had no idea when the target aircraft would come - whether they would attack simultaneously or separately. We also had to monitor the changing trends of more than a dozen data points within seconds. So our greatest enemy was time; we had to be fast and precise."

"Missiles serve as our warship's first line of defense. After this live-fire exercise, we had much greater confidence when operating in the far seas," Qiao said.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Saturday that a highlight of the Type 055 large destroyer's first live-fire surface-to-air missile launches was its accuracy.

To successfully strike targets, the system must first detect them through the reconnaissance and early-warning network as well as detection radars, and determine target parameters based on defense ranges, Zhang said. Fire-control radars and other systems then complete target lock-on and missile guidance to ensure precise launches. The entire process also requires overcoming various complex challenges and interferences. Furthermore, targets were moving, which demand high-performance technologies such as mid-course guidance for the missiles. Achieving such results fully demonstrates the powerful air and missile defense capability of the Type 055.

The HHQ-9 is a long-range surface-to-air missile, enabling the Type 055 large destroyer to become not only an armed escort for aircraft carriers, but also a key command node for air defense operations. The missile has a range of several hundred kilometers, enabling it to perform area air defense missions for naval formationsZhang said.

At the V-Day military parade held in Beijing on September 3, 2025, China unveiled an even newer type of surface-to-air missile, the HHQ-9C. According to the Xinhua News Agency, the missile is primarily responsible for medium-range area anti-missile and air defense for surface ship formations, and is capable of intercepting incoming anti-ship missiles.

Zhang said that the HHQ-9C is an improved version of the HHQ-9, with even higher accuracy, longer range and faster reaction time.

The CCTV News' Saturday release of the Nanchang's live-fire shooting test back in 2021 came after two additional Type 055 large destroyers, the Dongguan and Anqing, were recently commissioned into the navy of the PLA Eastern Theater Command and carried out their first combat-oriented training at sea. With their commissioning, the total number of Type 055 large destroyers in service with the PLA Navy has reached 10.

The Type 055 large destroyer is the king of firepower among the PLA Navy's destroyers, with its main firepower coming from the missile system. It is equipped with more than 100 vertical launch systems VLS cells, which can mix and carry various types of missiles, including air defense missiles, anti-ship missiles, anti-submarine missiles, and land-attack missiles. This makes it the destroyer-class capable of carrying the largest number of missiles to date in China, CCTV News reported.

Air defense missiles possess dual capabilities of long-range air defense and anti-missile defense, enabling it to accurately intercept incoming aerial targets, including warplanes, cruise missiles, or even ballistic missiles; anti-ship missiles feature long range and great power, and can deal devastating blows to enemy surface vessels, the CCTV News report said.

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Prime Minister speaks with the President of Iran

India - Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister's Office

PM conveys Eid and Nowruz greetings; emphasizes regional stability and maritime security

Posted On: 21 MAR 2026 4:26PM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H.E. Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, today, to discuss regional developments and strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The Prime Minister conveyed his warm greetings to President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian on the auspicious occasions of Eid and Nowruz. During the discussion, both leaders expressed their shared hope that this festive season would usher in a period of peace, stability, and prosperity for the West Asian region. Shri Modi condemned the recent attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, noting that such actions threaten regional stability and disrupt vital global supply chains. The Prime Minister reiterated the critical importance of safeguarding the freedom of navigation and ensuring that international shipping lanes remain open and secure. Furthermore, Shri Modi expressed his sincere appreciation for Iran's continued support in ensuring the safety and security of Indian nationals residing in the country.

The Prime Minister wrote on X:

"Spoke with President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and conveyed Eid and Nowruz greetings. We expressed hope that this festive season brings peace, stability and prosperity to West Asia.

Condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which threaten regional stability and disrupt global supply chains.

Reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring that shipping lanes remain open and secure.

Appreciated Iran's continued support for the safety and security of Indian nationals in Iran."

***

MJPS/PRK

(Release ID: 2243361)

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Iran fired ballistic missiles at US-UK base in Indian Ocean

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

21.03.2026 [19:20]

Baku, March 21, AZERTAC

Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia, a strategically vital joint US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Neither of the missiles struck the base, according to the outlet, with one malfunctioning mid-flight, and a US warship attempting to intercept the other with an SM-3 missile. It is unclear if the interception succeeded, said the Journal, citing US officials.

No statement was issued by Iranian or American authorities regarding the reported attack.

The strike attempt is significant for what it reveals about Iran's capabilities. Diego Garcia lies roughly 4,000 kilometers (2,484 miles) from Iran, double the 2,000-kilometer limit Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed last month Tehran had deliberately imposed on its arsenal.

The island, the largest in the Chagos Archipelago in the central Indian Ocean, has hosted a joint US-UK military presence since the 1970s and serves as a base for long-range bombers and other strategic assets.

US-Israeli strikes against Iran began Feb. 28 and have reportedly killed 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

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Iran says Natanz nuclear enrichment complex hit again in US-Israeli attack

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

21.03.2026 [16:08]

Baku, March 21, AZERTAC

Iran said its Natanz nuclear enrichment complex was targeted again in a US-Israeli attack on Saturday morning, according to a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan enrichment facility in Natanz was struck as part of what it described as "criminal attacks" by the US and Israel.

It added that the attack violates international laws and commitments, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and other nuclear safety regulations.

The organization said technical and specialized assessments were conducted by the country's Nuclear Safety System Center to evaluate the possibility of radioactive contamination at the site.

According to the findings, no radioactive material leak was detected, and there is no danger to residents living near the facility, the statement said.

The Natanz nuclear facility was previously targeted in a US-Israeli attack on March 2.

The nuclear facility was one of three sites targeted by US strikes in June last year during the conflict with Iran, alongside Fordow and Isfahan.

The US-Israeli strikes on Iran began Feb. 28, with Tehran retaliating with repeated drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

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The President and other leaders issued joint statement on the Strait of Hormuz

President of the Republic of Lithuania

March 21, 2026

President Gitanas Nauseda, together with the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bahrain, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, issued a joint statement on the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.

"We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces," the statement reads.

The leaders expressed deep concern about the escalating conflict and called on Iran to immediately cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817.

"Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The effects of Iran's actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable," the leaders warned.

Consistent with UNSC Resolution 2817, such interference with international shipping and the disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security. The statement calls for an immediate comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations.

"We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning. We welcome the International Energy Agency decision to authorize a coordinated release of strategic petroleum reserves. We will take other steps to stabilize energy markets, including working with certain producing nations to increase output," the statement reads.

The leaders also expressed their determination to work together to provide support for the most affected nations, including through the United Nations and international financial institutions.

The statement concludes that maritime security and freedom of navigation benefit all countries. Therefore, all states are urged to respect international law and uphold the fundamental principles of international prosperity and security.

The President's Communication Group

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KABUL, March 22 (Xinhua) -- At least four commuters were killed and three others sustained injuries after their vehicle overturned in northern Afghanistan's Faryab province, the official media outlet Bakhtar News Agency reported on Saturday.

The mishap took place in the Jungal area, Dawlat Abad district, when the driver lost control due to carelessness, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and overturn, killing four on the spot and injuring three others, according to the report.

The injured were transferred to a nearby health center for treatment, it said.

Road accidents remain a leading cause of death in Afghanistan, often resulting from reckless driving on congested roads, poor road conditions, and a lack of traffic signs on dilapidated highways. 
Skies of occupied territories 'defenseless', says Speaker Qalibaf after Dimona strikes

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 10:50 PM

Iran's top legislator says reports of significant damage caused to the city of Dimona in the central occupied territories following Iranian missile strikes point to the disempowerment of the Israeli defenses in the face of Iranian retaliation.

"If the Israeli regime is unable to intercept missiles in the highly protected area of Dimona, it is, in operational terms, a sign of entering a new phase of the battle," Speaker of Majlis (the Iranian Parliament), Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, wrote in a post on X on Saturday.

He described the prominent feature of this phase as the occupied territories' skies having been rendered "defenseless."

"As a result, it appears that the time has come to implement the next pre-designed plans," the official concluded, referring to the surprises the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces have repeatedly promised they have in store for Tel Aviv.

The comments came after, despite widespread censorship of the real toll of the missile strike, local reports indicated that dozens had been killed in the reprisal targeting Dimona. The city is famous for being outfitted with extreme protective means due to its hosting the regime's notorious Dimona nuclear reactor in its vicinity.

Official sources have reported nearly 50 injured. However, the deployment of dozens of ambulances and several military helicopters to evacuate those affected has suggested that local accounts might be closer to reality.

While the regime's police have strictly prevented any form of filming of the scene, some residents of Dimona have reported seeing numerous body bags alongside the ambulances.

Israeli media describes 'hardest night'

Meanwhile, Israeli paper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that, due to the Iranian retaliation, the regime's so-called "home front" experienced its "most difficult night" since February 28. The day saw the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces begin unrelenting and decisive counterstrikes in the face of Tel Aviv's and Washington's most recent bout of unprovoked aggression targeting the Iranian soil.

The Israeli paper cited a high number of casualties in Dimona and the nearby city of Arad.

The Israeli military officially confirmed that the reprisal was carried out using a ballistic missile with a warhead carrying approximately half a ton of explosives.

According to military sources, two attempts were made to intercept the missile, both of which failed.

The Iranian reprisal, codenamed Operation True Promise 4, was launched momentarily after the unlawful aggression began late last month.

In the occupied territories, retaliatory strikes have targeted military sites in Tel Aviv, the occupied city of al-Quds, the occupied port of Haifa, the technological hub of Be'er Sheva, the Negev Desert, and other locations.

US military positions across the region, including in Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, have also faced sustained counterstrikes.

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'Enemy to be astonished': IRGC declares 'missile dominance' over occupied territories

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 8:27 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force has declared "missile dominance" over the skies of the occupied territories as the war enters its 23rd day.

In a post on X on Saturday, the force's commander, Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mousavi, declared that the skies over the south of the occupied territories "will remain illuminated for hours" tonight.

"The new tactics and launch systems to be employed in the upcoming waves will leave American and Zionist commanders astonished," he stated.

His remarks came hours after the IRGC carried out the 70th wave of Operation True Promise 4 against sensitive and strategic Israeli and American targets throughout the region.

Launched immediately after the United States and the Israeli regime launched an unprovoked aggression against Iran on February 28, assassinating the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and some top-ranking commanders.

Iranian armed forces have so far carried out 72 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.

In the occupied territories, retaliation strikes have targeted military sites in Tel Aviv, the occupied city of al-Quds, the occupied port of Haifa, the technological hub of Be'er Sheva, the Negev Desert, and other locations.

US military positions across the region, including in Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, have also faced sustained counterstrikes.

Wave 72 of Operation True Promise 4, codenamed Ya Rasul Allah, and dedicated to Major General Martyr Rezaiian and the martyrs of the Law Enforcement Command, targeted the hangars and fuel depots of the Israeli regime at the "Minhad" base and the "Ali Al-Salem" airbase with a massive volume of ballistic missiles and suicide drones on Saturday.

The previous wave also targeted Tel Aviv in the heart of the occupied Palestinian territories and points in "Rishon LeZion" with the "Emad" super-heavy, precision-guided missile system, as well as the "Qadr" heavy, multi-warhead missiles and suicide drones.

IRGC also announced the downing of a third Israeli fighter jet, F-16, in the central part of Iran by modern air defense systems on Saturday.

It said another fighter jet was shot down in the skies north of the city of Isfahan. The type and model of this aircraft are not known yet.

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True Promise 4: Iran and resistance axis ops. against US-Israeli assets on Mar. 21

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 8:00 PM

By Press TV Website Staff

Iranian armed forces and resistance groups across the region continue to carry out retaliatory military operations against the United States and the Israeli regime.

On Saturday, March 21, 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 72 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 over the past year.

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 US and the Zionist regime on March 21:

Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC):

Wave 70 of the "True Promise 4" operation triggered powerful explosions at more than 55 sites belonging to the US military and the Israeli regime across the region, which was carried out in memory of the martyred Iranian military advisors under the slogan "Allahu Akbar," signalling a new phase of the retaliation.

Within the framework of these joint and effective operations, five US bases were targeted in "Al-Kharj," "Al-Dhafra," "Ali Al-Salem," and "Erbil," in addition to the "Fifth Fleet," using "Qiam" and "Emad" missile systems and attack drones.

The attacks also targeted Haifa and Tel Aviv, particularly at sites such as "Hadera," "Kiryat Ono," "Savyon," and "Ben Ami," where targets exceeding the enemy's estimates were struck using multi-warhead "Khorramshahr 4" and "Ghadr" missiles.

71st wave of the "Operation True Promise 4", under the sacred code "Ya Sahib al-Zaman (may Allah hasten his reappearance)," targeted Tel Aviv in the heart of the occupied Palestinian territories and points in "Rishon LeZion" with the "Emad" super-heavy, precision-guided missile system, as well as the "Qadr" heavy, multi-warhead missiles and suicide drones.

Other points in the target bank of the IRGC Aerospace Force from the bases of the US military in "Ali Al-Salem," "Al-Kharj," and "Victoria" were also destroyed once again with attack drones and heavy missiles in the path of phased attrition.

The third Israeli fighter jet, F-16, was hit and downed in the central part of Iran by modern air defense systems of the IRGC Aerospace Force.

Shot down another enemy aircraft in the skies north of the city of Isfahan. The type and model of this aircraft are not known yet.

Wave 72 of Operation True Promise 4, codenamed Ya Rasul Allah, and dedicated to Major General Martyr Rezaiian and the martyrs of the Law Enforcement Command, the IRGC Navy, during a combined operation, crushed the hangars and fuel depots of the Israeli terrorists at the "Minhad" base and the "Ali Al-Salem" airbase with a massive volume of ballistic missiles and suicide drones.

Iranian Army:

Targeted the military infrastructure of the Israeli regime in the occupied territories, including fuel depots and the sites of the enemy's fighter jet refueling aircraft at "Ben Gurion" Airport.

An armed Israeli-American drone was destroyed in the skies over Tehran. Since the beginning of the war, in addition to destroying 127 drones, several manned fighter jets have also been targeted by various ground-to-air missile systems of the integrated network of the country's joint air defense headquarters.

Hezbollah:

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the Dhahr Al-Tayara area, between the border towns of Markaba and Rab Thalathine, with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in Khallet Al-Mahafar, on the outskirts of the border town of Odeissah, with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles in Khallat al-Aqsa on the outskirts of the border town of Odeissah with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the naval radar at the Ras Al-Naqoura naval site with an attack drone.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in Jabal Wardeh in the border town of Markaba with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the Taybeh project with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles at the "Al-Marj" site opposite the border town of Markaba with a large rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Filon" base south of "Rosh Pinna" with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters clashed with an Israeli force that attempted to advance from the Al-Tabasine area towards the municipality building of the town of Naqoura using light and medium weapons.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the "Khiam detention center" with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles at the "Al-Marj" site opposite the border town of Markaba with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles in Khallet Al-Aqsa on the outskirts of the border town of Odeissah with a qualitative missile.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, Islamic Resistance fighters engaged in direct clashes with Israeli regime forces in the city of Khiam, using light and medium weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the "Haghibat Al-Ajal" site north of the "Kfar Yuval" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the "Metulla" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the newly established site at "Namr Al-Jamal" opposite the border town of Alma Al-Shaab with an attack drone.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the newly established "Blat" site in southern Lebanon with an attack drone.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Golani Junction" base west of Tabariya Lake with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the headquarters of the Northern Command of the Israeli military ("Dado" base) north of the occupied city of Safad with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Naftali" base west of Lake Tabariya with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement with a swarm of attack drones.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, 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 "Nahariya" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the Israeli air defense system in "Ma'alot Tarshiha" with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, 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 "Shomera" barracks with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Zaeef" air defense base in the occupied city of Haifa with a swarm of attack drones.

Islamic Resistance in Iraq:

Saraya Awliya al-Dam group targeted the American military occupation's headquarters in Erbil with a swarm of attack drones.

Targeted the US occupation base "Victoria" in the capital, Baghdad, using a barrage of drones.

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IRGC targets US fighter jets' hangars, fuel depots at bases in UAE, Kuwait

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 6:43 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has successfully targeted enemy fighter jet hangars and fuel storage facilities at the US bases of Ali Al-Salem and Al-Minhad.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has successfully targeted enemy fighter jet hangars and fuel storage facilities at the US bases of Al-Minhad and Ali Al-Salem in wave 72 of Operation True Promise 4.

According to an IRGC Public Relations statement, the IRGC's naval forces executed a combined operation, utilizing a volley of ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones to strike hangars and fuel storage areas belonging to American-Israeli terrorist fighter jets at the Al-Minhad and Ali Al-Salem air bases.

The statement specified that these two bases had been the launching sites of recent attacks against Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf.

The IRGC emphasized the steadfast presence of its naval forces on the Persian Gulf islands, issuing a stern warning that the graves of aggressors "who kill children" are prepared for any further miscalculations.

The United States launched a large-scale, unprovoked war along with the Israeli regime against Iran on February 28, assassinating the former Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and several senior commanders.

In retaliation, Iranian Armed Forces immediately carried out powerful missile and drone strikes against US interests in the region and Israeli positions in the occupied lands.

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Iran's Army destroys another invading drone over Tehran

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 6:11 PM

The Iranian Army's Air Defense has targeted and eliminated another invading drone over the capital, Tehran.

The Army said in a statement on Saturday that the armed drone was intercepted and shut down before accomplishing its mission.

At least 127 US and Israeli drones have been targeted by the Iranian Air Defense since February 28. Some of them have been forced to retreat from the Iranian skies, and the rest have been destroyed.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Iran's armed forces launched the 72nd wave of Operation True Promise 4 against US assets in the region and targets inside the Israeli-occupied territories.

At least six hostile fighter jets have also been intercepted and targeted since the war began, including a US F-35, the most advanced stealth fighter jet in the world.

On February 28, the United States and Israel began attacking Iran. They assassinated Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and a number of high-ranking military officials.

Iran has been retaliating powerfully ever since. Crucial targets across the Israeli-occupied territories and critical assets, notably military bases, of the United States in the region have been pounded.

Iran says the missile and drone barrages against the adversaries are solely meant to defend the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic.

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Iranian islands will be graveyards of 'child-killing' aggressors if invaded, warns IRGC

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 5:15 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy commander has issued a stark warning to the United States and Israel, saying Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf will turn into graveyards for "child-killing aggressors" in case of a ground invasion.

Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri made the remarks in a post on X on Saturday, as the United Staes and Israel continue their aggression against Iran.

Tangsiri further noted facilities at Al-Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates as well as Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait have been destroyed with a large volume of ballistic missiles and destructive drones.

"These bases were the starting point for aggression against Iranian islands. We have prepared the graves of child-killing aggressors on all Iranian islands," he said.

The latest development comes as US President Donald Trump claimed military installations on Iran's Kharg island had been bombed, threatening to order attacks on critical oil facilities there if Iran continues to block the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran, in turn, has warned that any aggression against oil structures on the strategic Kharg Island will be met with the complete destruction of oil and gas facilities in any country from which the attack originates.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of the world's oil supply normally passes, has effectively been shut down since the US-Israeli aggression against Iran in late February.

Hundreds of ships have reportedly remained anchored nearby, while global shipping companies and oil exporters have paused operations due to security concerns.

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Bahrain: US Patriot missile, not Iranian strike, caused March 9 blast over residential area

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 4:47 PM

Bahraini authorities have held a US-built Patriot missile system responsible for an explosion over a residential neighborhood of the Persian Gulf kingdom earlier this month, which resulted in casualties.

The revelation was made in a brief official announcement to the Reuters news agency on Saturday.

This comes as the US military had earlier alleged that an Iranian drone had struck a residential area in Bahrain on March 9, injuring civilians.

Bahrain is one of the important centers of the US military and economic presence in the Persian Gulf region, and is also home to the United States Navy Fifth Fleet.

Iran has targeted the US Navy Fifth Fleet as part of its ongoing retaliatory strikes against the US-Israeli aggression, which began on February 28.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders were assassinated on the first day of the surprise and unprovoked aggression, which was launched even as Tehran was in the midst of negotiations with Washington over Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

Within the framework of their legitimate response, Iranian armed forces immediately initiated powerful missile and drone strikes on US interests in the region as well as Israeli assets in the occupied lands.

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'Blatant violation': Russia condemns US-Israeli attack on Iran's Natanz nuclear site

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 4:09 PM

Russia has categorically denounced the unlawful US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment facility on Saturday, warning that the attack risks catastrophic consequences for global nuclear safety.

The Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said in a statement on Saturday that the Saturday morning attack was a "a blatant violation of international law."

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed in a statement that the nuclear site was targeted again as part of the "criminal attacks" by the US and the Israeli regime.

The agency added that the attack violates international laws and commitments, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and other nuclear safety regulations.

According to the organization, there was "no leakage of radioactive materials" reported at the facility.

Officials at the agency also noted that technical and specialized assessments were conducted by the country's Nuclear Safety System Center to evaluate the possibility of radioactive contamination at the site.

They reassured that no radioactive material leak was detected, and there is no danger to the population living near the facility in the northeast of the central Iranian province of Isfahan.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a post on X that Iran has informed it about the attack. It said that no increase in radiation levels has been reported outside the site.

The Natanz nuclear site was also targeted by the US and Israel during their 12-day aggression against the country in June 2025. The facility was one of three nuclear sites targeted at that time.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched a new wave of aggression on the country, even as indirect negotiations were underway between Tehran and Washington regarding Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

Tehran asserts its legal right under the NPT to develop nuclear technology for energy production, medical research, and scientific advancement. The US and its allies, however, accuse Iran of seeking the technical capability to produce a nuclear weapon.

Tehran has consistently maintained that it regards weapons of mass destruction as a threat to humanity and has never included them in its defense doctrine.

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Iran needs guarantees of no future aggression before it can agree to end war: Pezeshkian

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 3:47 PM

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran requests firm guarantees that no military aggression is ever launched against the country in the future before it can agree to end the war if the United States and Israel immediately stop the hostilities.

In a phone conversation with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, Pezeshkian rejected claims by US President Donald Trump that the current military aggression against Iran was aimed at preventing the country from building atomic bombs.

"Iran did not begin the war and the aggressor enemy conducted a military aggression against Iran without any reason, logic and legal basis in the midst of nuclear negotiations," he said.

He pointed out that the US and Israel assassinated Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, top military commanders and defenseless civilians, including innocent school children, and also targeted public infrastructure.

The president reiterated strong opposition of the martyred Leader to building or possessing nuclear weapons, noting that he had given necessary instructions banning such arms.

Pezeshkian also rejected US claims portraying Iran as the source of instability and tensions in the region, saying Israel attacks wherever it likes such as Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, Iraq and Qatar and kills innocent people while attempting to justify its actions under the guise of security.

However, Israel's acts of aggression have only plunged the region deeper into chaos and conflict, he emphasized.

He said Iran has repeatedly expressed its readiness for international verification and monitoring of its peaceful nuclear activities and strongly condemned the "completely inhumane and immoral" measures of the US and Israel against the Islamic Republic.

Pezeshkian stressed the need to set up a security structure comprising of regional countries to establish peace and stability in the West Asia by its countries with no foreign interference.

Pointing to India's rotating presidency of BRICS, he called on the group to play an "independent" role in stopping the US-Israel aggression against Iran and safeguarding regional and international peace and security.

Modi, for his part, expressed India's deep concern over heightened tensions in West Asia and censured any attack on energy infrastructure in the region, warning of their serious implications for global food and energy security, as well as export of agricultural products across the world.

The Indian prime minister also stressed the importance of ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf.

He said war is not in the interest of any country and urged all the parties involved to choose the path of peace as soon as possible.

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Grand Ayatollah Sistani issues stern condemnation of US-Israeli aggression on Iran

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 2:22 PM

The top Muslim Shia cleric in Iraq has issued a statement strongly condemning the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.

Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani's statement was read during the Eid al-Fitr prayers held at holy Shia shrines in the Iraqi cities of Karbala and Kadhimiya on Saturday.

Ayatollah Sistani said in the statement that the flames of fire were still raging over homes in Iran and Lebanon while the two Muslim countries were under military aggression.

"We use the strongest words to condemn this oppressive war and call on all Muslims and freedom-seekers of the world to condemn it and show solidarity with the oppressed nations of Iran and Lebanon," the statement said.

Ayatollah Sistani, a source of emulation for tens of millions of Shias in Iraq and around the world, also called on influential countries and actors in the world as well as Muslim states to do their utmost to help stop the aggression.

The revered cleric also said he has allowed the use of religious donations and endowments made to his offices and representatives for helping people affected by the war in Iran and Lebanon.

The strongly-worded statement comes three weeks after the United States and Israel launched a military aggression on Iran.

Iran has successfully resisted the US-Israeli aggression by carrying out massive retaliatory strikes targeting the Israeli regime and US assets in Arab countries in the Persian Gulf.

Muslims across the region, including in Iraq and other countries, have actively supported Iran's resistance against the aggression by carrying out attacks on US forces in their countries.

The aerial assault prompted the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah to carry out attacks on the Israeli regime to support Iran, a move that caused Israel to hit numerous locations in south and east of Lebanon, as well as its capital Beirut, displacing hundreds of thousands of people in the Arab country.

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TEHRAN, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas spoke by phone Sunday to discuss the political, security, and humanitarian fallout from U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, Iran's Foreign Ministry said.

The two diplomats reviewed the latest regional developments following illegitimate strikes by the United States and Israel, and assessed the impact of escalating tensions on regional stability and international security, the ministry said in a statement.

An EU official told the media that the call took place but did not provide further details.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran retaliated with waves of missile and drone attacks against Israeli targets and U.S. military bases and assets across the Middle East. 
IRGC deploys 'new offensive tactics' to wear down enemy forces in new wave of strikes

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 1:20 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has deployed "new offensive tactics" in the new phase of retaliatory strikes against the US and Israeli positions using super-heavy missiles.

In a statement released on Saturday, the IRGC congratulated Eid al-Fitr and the Persian New Year and expressed pride in delivering the first "fiery blow" to the beleaguered Israeli regime and American terrorist forces at the dawn of the Iranian new year.

The new wave of attacks was launched immediately after the previous round, striking the city of Tel Aviv in the heart of the occupied territories and areas in Rishon Lezion with heavy and precision-guided Emad missiles and multi-warhead Qadr missiles as well as destructive drones.

Other locations in the IRGC's aerospace target bank, including US military bases in Ali Al-Salem, Al-Kharj, and Victoria, were also hit multiple times by attack drones and heavy missiles as part of a phased strategy to wear down the enemy forces.

IRGC intelligence and operational commanders, after closely monitoring and assessing vulnerabilities in enemy positions during the first three weeks of the war, have introduced new offensive tactics and more advanced systems for this latest round of impactful operations, further tightening the battlefield for the enemy, the statement said.

The United States and Israel launched a large-scale and unprovoked military campaign against Iran on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military commanders.

In retaliation, Iranian Armed Forces immediately carried out powerful missile and drone strikes against US interests in the region and Israeli positions in the occupied lands.

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Conflicts among Muslim nations will only benefit Israel: Pezeshkian

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 1:02 PM

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says the Islamic Republic does not seek conflicts with Muslim countries which will only be beneficial to the Israeli regime.

Pezeshkian made the remarks in a post on his X account on Saturday, addressing Muslim countries on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

"We are not after conflict with you. Only the Zionist regime (Israel) benefits from our conflict," he told Muslim states.

"Dear Muslim and neighboring countries, you are our brothers," he added.

This year's Eid al-Fitr is being celebrated in a somber atmosphere as the Iranian nation mourns the martyrdom of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and hundreds of civilians and officials killed in ongoing US-Israeli aggression against the country that began on February 28.

Iran has responded by launching barrages of missile and drone strikes against Israeli positions in the occupied territories as well as US military bases and interests throughout the region.

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IRGC hits another Israeli F-16 fighter jet with interceptor missile

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 1:00 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has successfully intercepted a third Israeli fighter jet, an F-16, in the skies over central Iran.

In a statement on Saturday, the IRGC Public Relations department announced that the invading fighter jet was targeted at 3:45 AM local time, noting that their modern air defense systems were responsible for the interception.

According to the statement, over 200 hostile aircraftincluding drones, cruise missiles, and advanced enemy fighters have been targeted and destroyed, demonstrating the IRGC's enhanced capabilities in monitoring and countering threats in Iranian airspace.

The interception of the Israeli F-16 reflects Iran's assertions of its growing military prowess and readiness to defend its airspace against foreign incursions.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military acknowledged that one of their fighter jets was targeted by a surface-to-air missile fired from Iranian defense systems.

In a statement, the Israeli military said the aircraft had departed from bases located in occupied territories with a mission to conduct airstrikes in Iran, specifically targeting areas around Tehran.

It further claimed the pilots managed to survive the incident.

The United Staes and Israel started a fresh round of aerial aggression on Iran on February 28, some eight months after they carried out unprovoked attacks on the country.

Iran has responded by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on US bases in regional countries.

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Iran fighting for security of region, Muslims: Military spokesperson

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 11:13 AM

Iran is not only defending itself in the face of the US-Israeli aggression, but it is fighting for the security of the entire region and all Muslims, says a spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces.

Speaking on Saturday, spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters Lieutenant-Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari said Iran is being benevolent with regard to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Our focus is on ensuring the security of our land and region, and now you see the results; we speak to you in the language of strength," he stated.

Zolfaqari also noted that the path to defeating the enemies is through "resistance."

He asserted that the enemies understand that prolonging the war would lead to further devastation of their already ruined and unrecoverable bases.

He described the seedling of the Islamic Revolution as having grown into a robust, deeply rooted, and unshakeable tree.

"We are grieving, but we are not tired," Zolfaqari stated. "Our losses are our driving force to crush you."

The spokesperson further emphasized that in line with the continued ascendancy of the Iranian nation and its armed forces, they will not permit the enemy to replicate their "poison."

Reiterating that the strategy for their defeat has been learned through resistance, Colonel Zolfaqari declared that the shift in the balance of power, which occurred some time ago, is now audible as the "siren of death."

The official stated that the conflict will persist until the option of aggression against Iranian soil is permanently removed from the criminals' agenda and strategy.

"These lawless, borderless, savage child-killers, for whom crime and oppression are constant habits, must understand," Zolfaqari said, adding that "these ignoramuses have never understood why they are repeatedly and disgracefully defeated in every battle."

He further said that the "flawless and unprecedented execution of our offensive and defensive measures has revealed Iran's mighty hand in the enemy's penetrable skies."

The US and Israel started a new round of assaults on Iran on February 28, some eight months after they waged a war of aggression against the country.

Iran immediately began to retaliate by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on US bases and interests in regional countries.

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Araghchi: Iran has not closed Strait of Hormuz, imposed restrictions on vessels linked to aggressors

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 8:17 AM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran has not closed the Strait of Hormuz but rather enacted restrictions on vessels linked to states involved in the US-Israeli war and at the same time is offering assistance to others amid serious security concerns.

Speaking in an interview with Japan's official Kyodo news agency on Friday, Araghchi stated that Tehran is prepared to facilitate the passage of Japanese ships through the strategic waterway, and that negotiations with Tokyo on the matter are underway.

"We have not closed the strait. It is open," the top Iranian diplomat stated.

He also emphasized that Iran is seeking "not a ceasefire, but a complete, comprehensive and lasting end to the war."

Iran has roundly dismissed calls for a temporary truce, insisting that any resolution must entail guarantees that attacks won't recur in the future, and that compensation must be paid for the damage inflicted during the onslaught.

Araghchi stated that Iran has not shut the Strait of Hormuz but rather imposed restrictions on vessels affiliated with countries engaged in the US-Israeli war of aggression, whilst helping others amid the volatile situation there.

He added that Iran is ready to ensure safe passage for countries like Japan in case they cooperate with Tehran.

Araghchi noted that the issue of negotiations of Japanese ships through the Strait of Hormuz was lately discussed with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi, stating that talks are underway but the details cannot be disclosed.

The Iranian foreign minister also denounced the imposed war on Iran, saying it was launched despite indirect Tehran-Washington negotiations on Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

"This was an illegal, unprovoked act of aggression," he said, adding that Iran's response constitutes self-defense and will continue "for as long as it takes."

The top Iranian diplomat called on the international community, including Japan, to adopt a position against the US-Israeli strikes.

Araghchi noted that several countries are trying to mediate an end to the war, and said Iran is "open to any initiative and willing to take proposals into consideration."

He underscored that while diplomatic efforts are ongoing, the United States has yet to exhibit its readiness for a genuine resolution.

The United States and Israel initiated an extensive and unprovoked military offensive against Iran on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei along with several high-ranking military officials and civilians.

The aggression has comprised a series of intensive strikes on both military and civilian installations throughout Iran, leading to considerable loss of life and extensive destruction of civilian facilities.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces immediately began a series of counterattacks, directing missile and drone strikes at American bases across the region and Israeli positions in the occupied territories.

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Iran has no oil on international waters; US claim intended to lower prices: Oil Ministry

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 7:09 AM

Iran's Oil Ministry dismisses comments by US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, who said Washington had temporarily eased sanctions to allow Tehran to sell crude "it has stored on the water."

In a statement responding to a "psychological ploy," the ministry said Iran has no crude oil stored at sea and no excess volumes awaiting release into international markets.

Saman Ghodousi, spokesperson for the ministry, said that "Iran currently has no crude oil left on the water and no surplus intended for other international markets," adding that the US secretary's remarks were aimed at encouraging buyers and influencing market sentiment.

The Trump administration waived sanctions on Iranian oil purchases at sea for 30 days to ease surging oil prices driven by the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Bessent said the waiver would bring about 140m barrels of oil to global markets and help relieve pressure on energy supply.

The move reflects White House concern that soaring oil prices - up about 50% to more than $100 a barrel, the highest since 2022 - will hurt US businesses and consumers ahead of the November midterm elections, when Republicans hope to retain control of Congress.

It is the third time the US has temporarily waived sanctions in about two weeks.

It had previously eased sanctions on Russian oil, and on Friday issued a general license allowing the sale of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products loaded on vessels as of Friday to 19 April, according to the license posted to the US treasury website.

Vital energy infrastructure in Iran and neighboring Persian Gulf states has been attacked, and Iran has effectively closed the strait of Hormuz, a conduit for about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.

Energy analysts, including Brent Erickson, a managing principal at Obsidian Risk Advisors, have said the administration's efforts to control prices would not have a meaningful impact until the strait is opened to vessels.

The US and Israel started a fresh round of aerial aggression on Iran on February 28, some eight months after they waged a war of aggression against the country.

Iran began to swiftly retaliate by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on US bases and interests in regional countries.

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Iran's Chokehold On Hormuz And The Limits Of Military Force

By Kian Sharifi March 21, 2026

The Strait of Hormuz, a 33-kilometer-wide chokepoint through which roughly a third of the world's seaborne oil passes, is effectively closed to normal commercial traffic.

Iran has not blockaded the strait with a chain or a fleet. Instead, it has made the waterway ungovernable through a combination of kinetic strikes, mines, electronic warfare, and market fear -- creating a closure that is arguably harder to reverse than a conventional blockade.

"I can think of no way to reopen and keep open Hormuz militarily and easily," Richard Allen Williams, a retired US Army colonel and former NATO Defense Investment Division official, told RFE/RL.

How The Strait Was Closed

The shutdown has four interlocking layers.

The first is physical: more than two dozen drone, missile, and fast-attack boat strikes on commercial shipping since the war began, with Iran demonstrating it can reach vessels hundreds of kilometers from the strait itself, off the coast of Iraq.

The second is mines. According to US intelligence reporting, Iran has begun laying mines in the strait. Its total arsenal is estimated at around 6,000, ranging from crude contact mines to sophisticated seabed devices that respond to acoustic or magnetic signals.

Laying them is easy; it can be done from ordinary fishing boats, indistinguishable from normal Persian Gulf traffic. Clearing them is not. It took the United States and its allies 51 days to sweep 907 mines off Kuwait after the Persian Gulf War, with the advantage of Iraqi minefield maps. Even a limited Iranian mining campaign would mean a closure measured in months.

The third layer is electronic. GPS spoofing and signal jamming affected more than 1,650 vessels on a single day in March, with navigation systems showing supertankers sailing over dry land and cargo ships transiting airports. In a narrow waterway, that level of disruption creates genuine collision risk with no missile required.

The fourth and final layer is financial: War-risk insurers have withdrawn coverage across much of the commercial market. Without insurance, ships don't move.

Michael Horowitz, an independent defense expert based in Israel, says the threat is structurally asymmetric.

"Just a few attacks per month is enough to increase insurance prices and market pressure," he told RFE/RL, comparing the situation to the Houthi campaign in the Red Sea. "This is a battle heavily tilted in favor of the disrupter."

What Washington Is Considering, And Why It's Hard

The Trump administration is weighing a couple of options.

Tanker escorts -- warships accompanying commercial vessels with drone and missile cover -- are the lightest footprint but require roughly two warships per tanker and continuous drone patrols overhead.

But the risk is high, according to Horowitz.

"A land-based attacker, even without a proper navy, can be very effective. A US loss would be dramatic and roll back the positive impact of escort missions in an instant."

Mines compound the problem further. The US mine countermeasure capability in the region, already limited to aging helicopters and troubled littoral combat ships, was weakened further when dedicated minesweepers stationed in Bahrain were decommissioned in late 2025.

Heavier air strikes aimed at Iranian coastal infrastructure are a second option. US Central Command says it has destroyed 16 Iranian minelayers. But Iran's mobile launchers are designed for shoot-and-scoot operations, and years of dispersal and hardening make systematic degradation from the air enormously difficult.

A third option that has been floated in the media is a ground operation, a Marine amphibious assault to seize or repeatedly raid Iran's southern coastline.

Williams was blunt about what that means in practice: large forces, mountainous terrain, and 190,000 Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) troops with asymmetric warfare experience. "Difficult, expensive, risky," he said, "with no assurance of success."

The Bottom Line

Even an optimistic escort scenario would reduce traffic to 10 percent of normal volume, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence, with a backlog of over 600 stranded vessels taking months to clear. None of the military options address the insurance and market dimension -- and shippers, not the Pentagon, ultimately decide whether tankers sail.

Horowitz sees a negotiated settlement as the most realistic path, but flags two other possibilities: blockading Iran's own energy exports to pressure both Tehran and its top buyer China, or waiting for the collapse of the Islamic republic. He's skeptical of the latter.

"The chances of that happening quickly enough for markets to recover are low, to say the least," he added.

What that leaves is a strait that may stay closed for the foreseeable future, not for lack of military options, but because none of them can do what only a political outcome can.

Alex Raufoglu contributed to this report.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-blockade-strait-hormuz-navy- escort/33711699.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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IAEA Urges 'Military Restraint' As Iran's Natanz Facility Hit, More Ground Troops Travel To Region

By RFE/RL March 21, 2026

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reiterated its call for restraint as Iran reported that its Natanz uranium enrichment facility had been hit on March 21, as US and Israeli strikes continued despite US President Donald Trump saying the day before that the war could be "winding down."

No increase in radiation levels had been reported outside the Natanz facility, the IAEA said. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said in a statement that "no leakage of radioactive materials has been reported in this complex and no danger threatens the residents of the areas surrounding this site," it said in a statement.

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi, in a post on X, reiterated his call for "military restraint to prevent a nuclear accident."

This is at least the second time the Natanz facility has been targeted during the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran that began on February 28.

Natanz was struck by US B-2 bombers on July 1, 2025, during Israel's 12-day war with Iran. At the time, Trump said the facility was "completely and absolutely" destroyed.

Meanwhile, a massive fire was reported at a US diplomatic facility near Baghdad airport in Iraq. Images from eyewitnesses showed a huge fire followed by dark columns of smoke rising into the sky.

Iraqi security sources said the fire was reported after renewed drone attacks on the US diplomatic compound near Baghdad airport.

At least three strikes were also reported on the compound, with a fire breaking out after the third attack.

The pro-Iranian militia group Ashab al-Kahf claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement.

On March 20, Trump said he is considering "winding down" military efforts in the Middle East, even as reports grow of thousands of US ground forces heading toward the region as the war with Iran enters its fourth week.

"We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran," Trump posted on Truth Social on March 20.

In the post, he listed the main US goals in the war, including degrading Iran's military and preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Trump also suggested it will be up to other countries that utilize the Strait of Hormuz -- now effectively shut down by Iran -- to secure shipping in the crucial waterway and help put a cap on soaring oil prices that threaten to roil the world economy.

"The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it -- The United States does not [use it]!" he said.

"If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn't be necessary once Iran's threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them," he added.

Trump's latest comments appear to be somewhat contradictory to recent remarks in which he suggested that, while Iran's military and leadership were mostly destroyed by US-Israeli air strikes, there was still work to be done.

The US Treasury Department on March 20 issued a 30-day authorization for the delivery and sale of previously sanctioned Iranian crude oil and petroleum products currently "stranded" on vessels.

However, Iranian oil ministry spokesman Saman Ghodousi wrote on Xthat Iran did not have any surplus oil stranded on vessels, rejecting US remarks that the action would free up some 140 million barrels for the world market.

Washington had previously granted a 30-day allowance for the purchase of sanctioned Russian oil that was also stranded at sea to bolster global supplies.

Israel To Ramp Up Strikes

Israel Katz, Israel's defense minister, said on March 21 that military operations against Iran are expected to increase in intensity in the coming days.

"The intensity of the attacks that will be carried out by the Israeli and US military against the Iranian regime and its supporting infrastructure will increase significantly," Katz said in a statement released by Israel's Defense Ministry.

A growing number of media outlets have reported -- citing unnamed US officials -- that thousands of additional US ground troops are on their way to the region, a move seen as giving the United States additional options in the war with Iran.

Trump, on March 19, denied to reporters he was about to deploy more troops, although he appeared to keep the door open: "I'm not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you. But I'm not putting troops. We will do whatever is necessary."

Reuters cited three US officials as saying 2,500 Marines, along with the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, and accompanying warships would deploy to the region, although they did not say what their role would be.

CBS, citing sources, reported that the Pentagon is preparing to send the famed 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

Newsmax, meanwhile, reported that the US military had already accelerated the deployment of thousands of Marines and sailors to potentially help reinforce its forces fighting against Iran.

Citing three officials speaking on condition of anonymity, the agency reported that the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit were deploying ahead of schedule from the West Coast of the United States.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that the Pentagon is sending three warships and thousands of additional Marines to the Middle East, citing unnamed US officials.

"Roughly 2,200 to 2,500 Marines from the California-based USS Boxer amphibious ready group and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are heading to the US Central Command, responsible for all American forces in the Middle East," the Journal cited officials as saying.

The forces would be in addition to an earlier deployment of Marines, due to arrive this week in the region. The Pentagon sent the 5,000-strong, Japan-based USS Tripoli and 31st MEU to the Middle East, adding to the approximately 50,000 troops already stationed in the region, the WSJ reported.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that Iranian forces targeted the strategically important US-UK military base on the tiny island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean but did not hit the site in the most ambitious strike geographically by the Islamic republic.

The report said two ballistic missiles were fired, with one failing to reach the island and the other being fired at by a US warship, although it wasn't clear if the US interceptor struck the missile.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Reuters, AFP, dpa, and The Wall Street Journal

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-winding-down- war-iran-israel-oil-sanctions/33711926.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on attacks against uranium enrichment facilities in Iran

21 March 2026 15:27

416-21-03-2026

The US-Israeli tandem continues to carry out massive strikes against Iranian military and civilian targets, including - most alarmingly - nuclear facilities, without regard for civilian casualties or potential radiological or environmental consequences.

Notwithstanding the well-known allegations about obliteration of the Iranian nuclear programme by US air raids last June, the Natanz Nuclear Facility, which is under IAEA safeguards, was subjected to an air attack in the morning of March 21.

This constitutes a high-handed breach of international law, UN and IAEA charters, special resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the IAEA General Conference. The international community, including the UN and the IAEA, must give an unbiased and uncompromising assessment of these irresponsible actions that create risks of a catastrophe for the entire Middle East and are explicitly aimed at further undermining peace, stability, and security in the region.



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Attack on Natanz Facility Blatant Violation of International Law - Russia's MFA Spox

Sputnik News

20260321

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The attack on the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in Iran is a blatant violation of international law, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said that Israel and the United States attacked the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, with no leaks reported.

"This is a blatant violation of international law, the charters of the UN and the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency], as well as relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the Agency's General Conference," Zakharova said in a statement.

The US and Israel continue to launch massive strikes against Iranian military, civilian, and "most dangerously of all - nuclear facilities, with no regard for civilian casualties or the potential radiological and environmental consequences," the spokeswoman added.

The UN and the IAEA must objectively assess the US and Israeli attack on the uranium enrichment facility in Iran, Zakharova said.

 Sputnik

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KABUL, March 22 (Xinhua) -- More than 3 million Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland Afghanistan over the past one year, spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation Abdul Mutalib Haqqani said.

"A total of 3,114,107 refugees had returned to their country Afghanistan from Iran, Pakistan and Turkiye in the year 1404 (in Persian calendar, which started from March 20, 2025 and ended on March 20, 2026. The year 1405 started on March 21, 2026)," the official Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA) quoted Haqqani on Saturday night as saying.

The Afghan government, in addition to providing some 4 billion afghani (62,992,126 U.S. dollars) in cash to the returnees at the crossing points and providing temporary shelters, has transported them to their home provinces, RTA reported.

More than 6 million Afghan refugees reportedly have been living in the neighboring Iran and Pakistan and the host countries have asked the refugees without legal documents to return to their homeland. 
Iran Has No Intention of Conflicting With Neighboring States - President

Sputnik News

20260321

DUBAI (Sputnik) - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday in an address to neighboring Muslim countries that Iran has no intention of entering into conflict with its neighbors.

"You are our brothers - we have no intention of entering into conflict with you," Pezeshkian said on X in a post marking the end of Ramadan.

Only Israel stands to benefit from any confrontation between Iran and its neighboring Muslim countries, the president added.

On February 28, the United States and Israel began striking targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran has carried out retaliatory strikes on Israeli territory, as well as on US military targets in the Middle East.

The US and Israel initially claimed their "preemptive" attack was necessary to counter the perceived threat coming from Iran's nuclear program, but they soon made it clear that they want to see a change of power in Iran.

 Sputnik

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Iran Notifies IAEA of Attack on Natanz Nuclear Facility - Statement

Sputnik News

20260321

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iran has notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of an attack on its Natanz nuclear facility, the IAEA said on Saturday.

"The IAEA has been informed by Iran that the Natanz nuclear site was attacked today. No increase in off-site radiation levels reported. IAEA is looking into the report," the IAEA said in a statement on X.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi once again called on the parties to the conflict to show restraint in order to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.

Earlier in the day, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said that Israel and the United States attacked the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, with no leaks reported.

Such actions violate international norms related to nuclear safety, the AEOI said. Iran has previously maintained it is not currently enriching uranium.

 Sputnik

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Iran's Foreign Minister Says Tehran Will Not Agree to Ceasefire With US, Israel

Sputnik News

20260321

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded by striking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East.

Iran will not agree to a ceasefire with the United States and Israel but seeks a complete end to hostilities, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Iran is is seeking "not a ceasefire, but a complete, comprehensive and lasting end to the war," Araghchi said.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz - a key route for supplying oil and liquefied natural gas from the Persian Gulf countries to global markets - has actually stopped. As a result, fuel prices are rising in most countries around the world.

 Sputnik

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G7 Foreign Ministers' statement on support to partners in the Middle East

Press release

Joint Statement from the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the USA and the High Representative of the EU.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP

Published 21 March 2026

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, express support to our partners in the region in the face of the unjustifiable attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies.

We condemn in the strongest terms the regime's reckless attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Iraq, in line with UNSC Resolution 2817. The Iranian regime's unjustifiable attacks against these states also threaten regional and global security. We call for the immediate and unconditional cessation of all attacks by the Iranian regime. We reaffirm the importance of safeguarding maritime routes, and safety of navigation, including in the Strait of Hormuz and all associated critical waterways, as well as the safety and security of supply chains and the stability of energy markets. We stand ready to take necessary measures to support global supply of energy such as the stockpile release decided by International Energy Agency members on March 11.

The G7 has repeatedly stated that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon and that it must halt its ballistic missile program, end its destabilizing activities in the region and around the globe, and cease the appalling violence and repression against its own people.

We support the right of the countries unjustifiably attacked by Iran or by Iranian proxies to defend their territories and protect their citizens. We reaffirm our unwavering support for their security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

We condemn the brazen attacks in Iraq by Iran and its militias against diplomatic facilities and energy infrastructure, particularly in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, and against U.S. and Counter ISIS Coalition forces, and the Iraqi people.

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Trump Gives Tehran 48 Hours To Open Hormuz Or US Will 'Obliterate' Iran's Power Plants

By RFE/RL March 22, 2026

US President Donald Trump has given Tehran 48 hours to "fully open" the crucial Strait of Hormuz or the United States will "obliterate" Iran's power plants, a major escalation of tensions in a war that already threatens to spin out of control.

The deadline threat came at 7:44 p.m. Washington time on March 21 and was posted on his Truth Social platform:

"If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP"

He did not specify the power plants that would be targeted by the United States and it comes one day after Trump said he was considering "winding down" military operations.

Even as he spoke, the Pentagon was sending thousands of additional ground forces to the region aboard US Navy ships to bolster military assets in the war with Iran, multiple media outlets have reported. The Pentagon hasn't commented officially on the reported deployments.

In an almost immediate response to Trump's ultimatum, Iran's military command was quoted by state media as saying that if Iran's fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked, all energy infrastructure belonging to the United States in the region will be targeted. Iran also said desalination facilities will be struck.

Although not physically blocked, Iran has made the waterway ungovernable through a combination of kinetic strikes, mines, electronic warfare, and market fear.

Blockage of the strait has restricted global supplies, sending oil prices surging worldwide and raising the cost of living for hundreds of millions of people.

Trump has demanded that countries that utilize the strait for transport of their energy resources take the lead in protecting shipping through the waterway, by military escort or other means.

US European allies and Japan have expressed readiness for "appropriate" efforts to secure passage through the strait, but many have said such an action would only come after a cease-fire, angering Trump, who called them "cowards."

Tit-For-Tat Attacks Near Nuclear Sites

Meanwhile, Israel and Iran appeared to intensify risks of a major disaster, with each side striking close to nuclear facilities of the other combatant, raising the rhetoric level in Tel Aviv and Tehran and worrying the UN atomic watchdog.

An Iranian missile on March 21 hit the Israeli town of Dimona, which is home to a nuclear facility, in what Tehran said was in retaliation for strikes on its Natanz uranium enrichment facility earlier in the day.

Israel has never publicly acknowledged that it has a nuclear weapon and the Dimona complex is officially described as a research facility. The site, just outside the main town, is widely believed to possess Israel's nuclear arsenal, the only such holding in the Middle East.

After the earlier strike on Iran's Natanz site, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reiterated its call for "military restraint to prevent a nuclear accident."

The IAEA then repeated the call for "maximum military restraint" following Iran's missile launch against Dimona.

"The IAEA is aware of reports of an incident in the city of Dimona, Israel, involving a missile impact and has not received any indication of damage to the nuclear research center Negev," the agency said on X.

"Information from regional states indicates that no abnormal radiation levels have been detected," it added.

'Direct Missile' Strike

The Israeli army told AFP there had been a "direct missile hit on a building" in Dimona as first responders said at least 33 people were injured at multiple sites.

"There was extensive damage and chaos at the scene," paramedic Karmel Cohen told AFP.

A second Iranian missile strike blasted the southern Israeli town of Arad, injuring at least 59 people, local officials said.

"Paramedics are providing medical treatment and transporting 59 patients to hospitals via dozens of ambulances," Israel's Magen David Adom first responder organization said.

"Among them are six patients in serious condition, 13 patients in moderate condition, and 40 patients in mild condition," it added.

Firefighters said that "in both Dimona and Arad, interceptors were launched that failed to hit the threats, resulting in two direct hits by ballistic missiles with warheads weighing hundreds of kilograms."

Meanwhile, Israel also said its forces had struck a facility within a Tehran university that it claimed was being used to develop components for nuclear weapons.

"The Malek-Ashtar University facility was utilized by the Iranian terror regime's military industries and ballistic missiles array to develop nuclear weapon components and weapons," the military said.

'Battle For Our Future'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue striking Iran after what he called a "very difficult evening" following the attacks on Dimona and Arad.

"This is a very difficult evening in the battle for our future," Netanyahu said in a statement. "We are determined to continue striking our enemies on all fronts."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel and the United States would begin intensifying their air strikes on Iran beginning on March 22.

"The intensity of the strikes to be carried out by the IDF and the US military against the Iranian terror regime and the infrastructure on which it relies will rise significantly," Katz said in a statement.

Iran's Longest Shot

The world continued to react to Iran's surprise launch of ballistic missiles toward the joint US-UK base on the island of Diego Garcia, some 4,000 kilometers from Iranian territory.

Israel said Iranian forces had for the first time fired long-range missiles, expanding the risk of attacks beyond the Middle East. Neither missile hit the site.

"These missiles are not intended to strike Israel. Their range reaches European capitals -- Berlin, Paris, and Rome are all within direct threat range," Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Reuters, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-israel-war-nuclear- trump-natanz-dimona/33712419.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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NATO relocates Iraq mission personnel to Europe amid Mideast escalation

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

21.03.2026 [13:58]

Baku, March 21, AZERTAC

NATO has relocated all personnel from its mission in Iraq to Europe, the alliance said on Friday, citing a shift in operational posture amid the current hostilities in the Mideast.

In a statement, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe confirmed that NATO Mission Iraq personnel were safely moved out of the Middle East, with the final staff departing Iraq on March 20.

"I would like to thank the Republic of Iraq and all the Allies who assisted in the safe relocation of NATO personnel from Iraq," said Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's supreme allied commander Europe.

He also praised mission personnel for maintaining operations during the transition.

Following the relocation, NATO Mission Iraq will continue its work from Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy, the statement added.

The mission remains a non-combat mission focused on advising and building the capacity of Iraqi security institutions, it noted.

The statement said that the mission's objective is to help Iraq develop sustainable, transparent, and inclusive security forces capable of maintaining stability, countering terrorism, and preventing the resurgence of the terror group ISIS (Daesh).

Since Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, so far killing some 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hostilities have escalated.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

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Excerpt from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview for Looking Back television programme hosted by Leonid Mlechin, Moscow, March 21, 2026

21 March 2026 15:17

415-21-03-2026

Question: Speaking of the art of Russian diplomacy, what does is look like today? There must be some art to it.

Sergey Lavrov: There is, indeed. It is set out in doctrinal documents such as Russia's Foreign Policy Concept which prioritises defending our national interests while respecting the interests of other countries that are willing to engage on an equal and mutually respectful basis, and to seek a balance such interests which is something the West sorely lacks particularly now, as we observe the Trump administration openly declare that they have no use for the international law, and instead follow their own morality and gut feelings. Saying that they will be guided by them.

Diplomacy is about national interests, mutual respect, understanding, and willingness, as well as the ability to appreciate the legitimate positions of your dialogue partner or vis-a-vis and, by all means, pragmatism.

Just like any politics, diplomacy is the art of the possible.

Question: Everyone is curious to find out how the negotiating process works, since it takes place behind closed doors. How does the art of gaining an insight into the mind of your counterpart and figuring them out work? What should one expect from them? Let us in on some of your little secrets.

Sergey Lavrov: There is no universal rule to it. Every negotiation is unlike the other and largely - if not decisively - depends on personalities of the people at the negotiating table, their education level and whether they possess the qualities we particularly value in the Russian diplomatic service such as fluency in foreign languages, knowledge of history and the regions and countries you deal with and are discussing in a specific situation.

Such qualities are usually not considered essential for American negotiators. We had country studies at the university, where a diplomat received training through deep immersion in a country, its history, culture, and the region they would focus on as diplomats. Our diplomats are typically posted abroad for an average of five years which gives them enough time to settle in, to get up to speed, and to produce recommendations and ideas over a long period of time. In the United States, things work differently: assignments last two to three years, after which a person may be reassigned from Indonesia to Congo, then to Guatemala, and so on. This is their tradition, an attribute of their diplomatic service. We treat this with respect.

For talks to be productive, it is, without a doubt, important to be versant in the subject matter, especially when discussing deep-rooted issues that go back decades or even centuries. In the Middle East, saying "Here's the deal, take it before it's too late" will never work.

Question: That's a very interesting point. Do you think what's happening in the world now happened before? Are we simply following a spiral in our development, as Karl Marx suggested, and run into such craziness from time to time, or are we dealing with something entirely new this time?

Sergey Lavrov: History unfolds in a spiral. Another well-known observation is that history tends to repeat itself as a farce. One can interpret the fact that history repeats itself in different ways. However, the situation at hand is quite serious and by no means a farce. Despite certain outward elements of farce - which I think many recognise - the consequences of what our US colleagues are doing in conjunction with the Israelis are extremely grave and will backfire for a long time to come.

Overall, we are witnessing a stage in history which may be a spiral, but it is taking us back to a world where nothing existed - no international law, no Versailles system, no Yalta system - nothing. A world where might makes right. Yet, as you know from a famous line by a well-known film character, "God is not in strength, but in truth." Look at what is happening. The United States has officially stated that it is not taking orders from anyone and is concerned only with its own wellbeing. It is prepared to defend that wellbeing by whatever it takes - coups, abductions, or even the killings of leaders of the countries that possess natural resources that are of interest to the United States. Our US colleagues do not hide the fact that oil is what they are after in Venezuela and Iran. They operate in line with their doctrine of dominance in global energy markets. Sanctions have been imposed on Lukoil and Rosneft, which are the first major sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. They are not legacy of the previous administration.

They have ruthlessly cut Europe off. Even back when the Nord Stream pipelines were being built, the Americans urged Europe not to use them. Now, Europe has been denied access to Nord Stream. Germany has been humiliated - everyone is aware of that. What's the upshot?

Now the Hungarians and Slovaks are fighting with all they have to uphold their interests in maintaining inexpensive and accessible energy as a driver of their economies, but are told to buy at double the price, because Russia must be "punished." This is not the proper way to approach international relations. It's an attempt to go back to the colonial era. This is exactly what Europe is doing as it forces Hungary, Slovakia, and other "dissenters" into obeying orders coming from Brussels that are issued by the people who, unlike national governments, are not elected officials.

Europe, which ruled the world for 500 years during the eras of colonialism and slavery, is now trying to entrench neo-colonialism. It still wants to live at the expense of others and dictate terms to everyone. The hubris and contempt for others are - pardon me the expression - simply oozing from today's European politicians when they start lecturing others. The United States has welcomed and continues to welcome Russia's marginalisation in European energy markets. Russia is being pushed out of Serbia as well. The Americans are doing it. Joe Biden started it, and Donald Trump is finishing it. This amounts to an open claim for energy dominance worldwide, across all regions.

Our US colleagues are telling us: let's settle the situation in Ukraine - we were ready to do so back during the summit in Alaska, but they are not so sure about it now - suggesting that we make more concessions, and vast economic opportunities will open up to us after that. At the same time, what I have just described is effectively taking place. We are being forced out of all global energy markets. Eventually, we will be left with our own territory. The Americans will then come to us and tell us they want to be partners. However, if we are prepared to carry out mutually beneficial projects on our territory and provide Americans with whatever may interest them, while taking our own interests into account, they, too, must take our interests into consideration. So far, we have not seen them do so. Respect must extend beyond Russia's natural wealth as well. This is unusual. We are returning to a time when there were no frameworks governing international relations. It was an outright message: the interests of the United States take precedence over any international agreements.

Question: Will that go away with this generation, or is it a turning point?

Sergey Lavrov: I am neither an astrologer nor a fortune-teller. Much depends on the personal qualities of the people who come to power and on how much elected leaders are supported by their voters throughout their term.

Question: At some point, Russian diplomacy focused on Europe as a main partner, and then the focus shifted towards the United States. What about now?

Sergey Lavrov: Since the time of the Russian Empire, we knew that Russia had only two allies: its army and its navy. Now we also have the aerospace forces which we cannot ignore, and new unmanned aerial units, which fact means we have even more allies now.

The key takeaway from our thousand-year history is that God helps those who help themselves. This is critical. Of course, one must rely on allies and like-minded partners, support them, and appreciate the support they provide. At the same time, relations must also be maintained with those who have deceived us more than once but, in a biblical sense, with the understanding that they are not to be trusted.

The President of Russia has repeatedly made it clear that the weak get beaten. That sums it all up. We must be strong. Russia is a very strong country. It is strong in spirit, immensely rich in natural resources, and boasts great scientific potential. The key is to translate all of that into technologies at the highest level.

As the President said, whoever becomes the leader in artificial intelligence will be the leader of the world. We want our diplomacy to help create proper environment for achieving precisely the results outlined by Vladimir Putin.

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Ministry of Defense Spokesperson: Four Ballistic Missiles Launched toward Riyadh Intercepted and Destroyed

Saudi Press Agency

Wednesday 29/09/1447

Riyadh, March 18, 2026, SPA -- Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki stated that four ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh were intercepted and destroyed. Scattered debris fell across various areas of the capital, with initial assessments indicating no casualties or damage.

-- SPA

20:44 Local Time 17:44 GMT

0070

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Ministry of Defense Spokesperson: Two Ballistic Missiles Launched Toward Eastern Region Intercepted and Destroyed

Saudi Press Agency

Wednesday 29/09/1447

Riyadh, March 18, 2026, SPA -- Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki stated that two ballistic missiles launched toward Eastern Region were intercepted and destroyed.

-- SPA

18:24 Local Time 15:24 GMT

0058

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Minister of Foreign Affairs Holds Meeting with the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Turkiye and Pakistan

Saudi Press Agency

Wednesday 29/09/1447

Riyadh, March 19, 2026, SPA -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a coordination meeting today in Riyadh with the foreign ministers of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Turkiye, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, on the sidelines of the consultative meeting of the foreign ministers of a group of Arab and Islamic countries.

During the meeting, they discussed the Iranian escalation in the region and the importance of continuing consultations and coordinating joint efforts to achieve security and stability in the region.

-- SPA

06:42 Local Time 03:42 GMT

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CAIRO, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Inside a modest home in Egypt's northern Beheira governorate, the traditional preparations for Eid al-Fitr have been overshadowed by the glow of a smartphone screen.

For the family of Ahmed Kamal, a 32-year-old kitchen cabinet installer working in Riyadh, the holiday's usual greetings have been replaced by a single, recurring question: "Ahmed, are you in a safe place?"

Kamal is one of millions of Egyptian expatriates currently living in Gulf Arab countries amid a significant escalation in regional hostilities. Following the beginning of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, the Gulf has seen a surge in ballistic missile and suicide drone attacks.

For many Egyptian families, the economic promise of migration has been complicated by the realities of a conflict zone. Kamal moved to Saudi Arabia several months ago, seeking a more stable income to support his wife and two young children.

"He moved to escape hardship at home, only to encounter a regional war," said his wife, Kholoud Ibrahim. She now messages her husband throughout the day. "When he is even a few minutes late to answer, I start to imagine the worst."

The anxiety is shared across Egypt. In Cairo's Nasr City district, Fadia Mohammed, 75, monitors news reports from Abu Dhabi, where her son, Mahmoud Tawfiq, works as a construction foreman. The worrying mother said she stays awake until dawn, waiting for a voice note confirming that her son's family is safe.

"The reports of strikes on infrastructure in the UAE are constant," the old lady said. "Every breaking news now feels personal."

According to official data, the Egyptian diaspora in the Gulf is vast, including approximately 1.47 million citizens in Saudi Arabia and nearly 1.3 million in the United Arab Emirates. Since the conflict escalated on Feb. 28, hundreds of strikes have targeted the region. While many attacks are aimed at U.S. military installations, others have struck civilian infrastructure, including airports, desalination plants, and energy facilities located near residential neighborhoods.

For the families left behind, the focus has shifted from financial upward mobility to basic survival.

"Money becomes much less important," Kholoud Ibrahim said. "I just want to hear my husband's voice saying he is okay." 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Participates in Ministerial Consultative Meeting on Iranian Attacks

Saudi Press Agency

Wednesday 29/09/1447

Riyadh, March 19, 2026, SPA -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participated Wednesday evening in Riyadh in the ministerial consultative meeting attended by foreign ministers and representatives from the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Turkiye, the Syrian Arab Republic, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Republic of Lebanon and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The meeting, convened by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to address Iranian escalation and strengthen regional coordination to safeguard stability, strongly condemned the Iranian missile and drone attacks, describing them as a violation of sovereignty and international law.

Participants held Iran fully responsible for the losses and called on it to immediately and unconditionally cease its aggression and comply with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The meeting also highlighted the dangers of supporting militias and undermining regional security, urging Iran to seriously reconsider its miscalculations. It warned that continued violations of the principles of good neighborliness and state sovereignty would have serious consequences, not only for Iran itself but also for regional security, and would negatively affect its relations with the countries and peoples of the region, who will not stand idly by in the face of threats to their resources.

-- SPA

05:12 Local Time 02:12 GMT

0016

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HE GCCSG Condemns & Denounces the Treacherous Israeli Aggression that Targeted Military Infrastructure in the South of the Brotherly Syrian Arab Republic

General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council

Mar 21, 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 Israeli attack that targeted military infrastructure in the south of the brotherly Syrian Arab Republic.

His Excellency pointed out that this Israeli aggression is not limited to targeting Syrian territories alone; its impact extends to undermining the pillars of security and stability across the entire region.

Furthermore, he emphasised the vital significance of respecting the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, while rejecting all forms of foreign interference in its internal affairs.

His Excellency underscored that Syria's security and stability remain a fundamental pillar of regional security, stressing the necessity of adhering to the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter, including state sovereignty, to safeguard regional and international peace and security.

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The General Secretariat of the OIC Strongly Condemns the Ongoing Israeli Aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

21-03-2026

The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned in the strongest terms the blatant attack by the Israeli occupation forces on military infrastructure in the south of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The General Secretariat expressed its strong condemnation of the Israeli occupation forces' persistent violations of Syria's sovereignty and territories and their attempts to undermine its security and stability and undermine efforts to establish security and stability in the region.

The General Secretariat holds the Israeli occupation forces fully responsible for the continuation of such attacks.

The General Secretariat reaffirms the OIC's support and solidarity with the Syrian Arab Republic and calls on the international community to take action to implement the relevant international resolutions and laws to ensure respect for the sovereignty, unity, security, and stability of the Syrian Arab Republic.

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Iraqi resistance group vows harsh strikes on Syria's HTS positions if it hits Hezbollah

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 21 March 2026 10:31 AM

An Iraqi anti-terror and resistance group has vowed to launch powerful strikes on the concentration positions of Syria's ruling Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces in case they opt to launch acts of aggression against the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement.

"In case of a direct confrontation with Hezbollah, HTS forces will be deemed as a strategic target and will come under missile and drone attacks," Hassan al-Ebadi, the cultural attache of the Kataib Sayyed al-Shuhada group in Iran, said on Saturday.

He pointed to the forced withdrawal of US and Israeli forces from areas in the region in the face of firm resilience from resistance fighters. "They will never protect you, as they ran away in light of our attacks across West Asia," Ebadi stated.

He called on HTS leader Mohammed al-Jolani to refrain from any provocative act against Hezbollah.

"We advise Jolani to remain silent just like treacherous Arab rulers because we will not exercise self-restraint against anyone who attacks our sisters and brethren in Lebanon. Our arms will be aimed at them," Ebadi warned.

The remarks come as Hezbollah forces on Thursday targeted a gathering of Israeli troops in the Lebanese border town of Houla with missile strikes, describing the attacks as part of its defense of Lebanon and its nation.

In a statement, the Lebanese resistance movement said its members struck Israeli troop concentrations in Khirbet al-Manara area near Houla, using missiles.

Separately, the group said it also fired rockets and artillery shells at Israeli military gatherings in border areas, including near Rabat al-Thalathin and Aitaroun.

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Saudi Arabia Expresses its Strongest Condemnation of the Blatant Israeli Aggression Targeting Military Infrastructure in South of Syria

Saudi Press Agency

Saturday 02/10/1447

Riyadh, March 21, 2026, SPA -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strongest condemnation of the blatant Israeli aggression targeting military infrastructure in the south of the Syrian Arab Republic, describing it as a flagrant violation of international law and Syria's sovereignty.

In a statement, the Ministry said: "Saudi Arabia reiterates its rejection of this blatant aggression and of Israel's violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. The Kingdom renews its call to the international community to put an end to Israel's violations of international laws and norms. The Kingdom affirms its solidarity with the Syrian Arab Republic and its support for all efforts aimed at preserving its sovereignty, maintaining its territorial integrity and unity and achieving security and stability for its people."

-- SPA

07:03 Local Time 04:03 GMT

0015

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Taiwanese officials shown 1st F-16V jet due this year

ROC Central News Agency

03/21/2026 09:31 PM

Taipei, March 21 (CNA) Taiwanese officials were shown the first of 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense said Saturday, adding that the aircraft has completed an initial flight test and is expected to be delivered later this year.

A delegation led by Vice Defense Minister Hsu Szu-chien () visited Lockheed Martin's F-16 C/D Block 70 (also known as F-16V) assembly line in South Carolina on March 16 to view the aircraft.

The jet will undergo a final acceptance flight in the U.S. before being delivered to Taiwan, the ministry said.

Also in attendance were Taiwan's Representative to the U.S. Alexander Yui (), Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff Tien Chung-yi (), and Wei Chung-hsing (), head of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Defense Mission to the USA.

Lockheed Martin has assigned several hundred personnel to assemble the remaining aircraft, with no bottlenecks in parts supply or staffing, and is operating a two-shift production system, according to the ministry.

As the F-16V is a newly configured variant, its systems and software require ongoing calibration through repeated test flights, with feedback used to refine the production process, the company said.

The ministry said it will continue working with the U.S. through existing security cooperation mechanisms to speed up delivery of the aircraft.

(By Sean Lin)

Enditem/kb



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Submarine flaws minor, do not affect testing: Contractor

ROC Central News Agency

03/21/2026 04:13 PM

Taipei, March 21 (CNA) CSBC Corp., Taiwan, the main contractor for Taiwan's first domestically built submarine, has pledged to promptly address issues in the ship's interior highlighted by an opposition lawmaker Friday, but it did not expect ongoing tests to be affected.

In a statement later Friday, CSBC categorized the issues raised by Kuomintang Legislator Ma Wen-chun () as "cosmetic issues" and said they could be immediately rectified.

Ma raised questions on social media about the submarine, christened the Narwhal ("Hai Kun" in Chinese), citing photos and footage of President Lai Ching-te's () visit onboard the docked vessel on Thursday released by the Presidential Office.

Among the issues Ma pointed out were three missing rivets in a visibly uneven steel panel behind a meeting table and water stains on an exhaust duct casing.

Ma questioned whether the water stains had resulted from a leak.

She also cited a video showing that a bunk bed curtain appeared stuck when the president tried to open it but said that was likely a minor issue.

In its statement, CSBC said the flaws stemmed from "incomplete restoration following work done," likely meaning that the areas affected had work done but were not restored to their previous condition.

Any repairs would not affect ongoing tests of the submarine, the shipbuilder said.

The company said it is contractually obligated to ensure the ship's appearance and finish prior to delivery, and will recheck and correct any issues related to the vessel's overall exterior and interior before delivery, after which the Navy will conduct a final inspection.

CSBC said the Narwhal has so far successfully completed six shallow-water submersion tests, and that further sea trials were proceeding step by step under the principles of safety and quality assurance.

Any indication of flaws in the submarine raises concerns given the delays the prototype vessel has faced.

Former Indigenous Submarine Program convener Huang Shu-kuang () originally said in September 2023, when the submarine prototype was unveiled at a photo op, that the submarine could be delivered to the Navy before the end of 2024, but that did not happen.

A November 2025 contractual deadline was also unmet, amid reports of technical issues, including components and parts failing due to voltage surges from an onshore power supply to which the ship was connected during testing in February.

CSBC said in February that it was working to deliver the submarine in June, but Defense Minister Wellington Koo () on Friday said the Ministry of National Defense will no longer set a timeline and will instead focus on ensuring that safety requirements are met.

(By Sean Lin)

Enditem/ls





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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.03.22

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Mar. 21 (Sat.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 22 (Sun.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:

7 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

3.Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe.

1150322_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

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Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: March 19, 2026 23:16

On March 19, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper at the latter's request, and the two sides exchanged views focusing on the current situation in the Middle East.

Yvette Cooper briefed on the UK's perspective regarding the current Middle East situation, stating that in the face of an increasingly turbulent world, the UK hopes to maintain close communication with China to put an end to hostilities at an early date, resume diplomatic negotiations, and seek a long-term solution.

Wang Yi elaborated on China's position, noting that the current conflict in the Middle East is escalating and hostilities are expanding, which not only undermines regional peace and stability but also directly impacts international energy, finance, trade, and shipping, thereby harming the common interests of all countries. A protracted war yields no winners; a ceasefire and an end to hostilities reflect the common aspiration of the international community. China urges all parties to immediately cease military actions, resolve differences through equal dialogue, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. As permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, China and the UK bear the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. Both countries should enhance communication, consistently pursue actions conducive to peace, and jointly commit to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, so as to prevent further erosion of the international order and the foundations of world peace.

The two sides also exchanged views on China-UK relations and agreed that both countries should actively implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, enhance exchanges, and continuously advance the long-term, stable comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK, so as to inject stability and certainty to a world marked by turbulence and change.

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PM call with President Christodoulides of Cyprus: 21 March 2026

Press release

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, this morning.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Published 21 March 2026

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, this morning.

The Prime Minister began by underscoring that as close partners and friends, Cyprus' security was of utmost importance to the UK.

The Prime Minister reiterated that RAF Akrotiri would not be involved in the UK's continuation of its agreement with the US to use UK bases in collective self defence of the region, including for the degrading of Iranian missile capabilities.

Discussing the economic impact of the ongoing conflict, the leaders agreed that deescalation in the region was the priority.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

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People visit a market featuring intangible cultural heritage activities in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, March 21, 2026. The market was held here from March 20 to 22, showcasing the charm of intangible cultural heritage. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

People experience making Hainan-style mooncakes at a market featuring intangible cultural heritage activities in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, March 21, 2026. The market was held here from March 20 to 22, showcasing the charm of intangible cultural heritage. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

People experience straw-weaving at a market featuring intangible cultural heritage activities in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, March 21, 2026. The market was held here from March 20 to 22, showcasing the charm of intangible cultural heritage. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)

An artist stages a performance at a market featuring intangible cultural heritage activities in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, March 21, 2026. The market was held here from March 20 to 22, showcasing the charm of intangible cultural heritage. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
PM call with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa of Bahrain: 21 March 2026

Press release

The Prime Minister spoke to His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, this morning.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Published 21 March 2026

The Prime Minister spoke to His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, this morning.

The leaders began by discussing the situation on the ground, and the Prime Minister outlined the UK's latest support for Bahrain, including deploying a team of experts to help counter drone attacks.

Both condemned Iran's ongoing attacks on critical national infrastructure and the Strait of Hormuz. The Prime Minister updated on the US use of UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region, including to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack shipping.

Discussing diplomatic efforts in the region, the Prime Minister welcomed Bahrain joining the growing list of signatories to the UK-led joint statement condemning Iran's attacks and calling for deescalation. The Prime Minister also thanked His Highness for Bahrain's continued leadership in the United Nations to drive forward an end to the conflict.

The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

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The Aging Convicts And Female Prisoners Bolstering Ukraine's War Effort

By Jakub Laichter March 21, 2026

At an icy training ground in the east of Ukraine, a dozen female convicts are being prepared for drone missions on the front lines.

One woman, with the call sign "Kupo," steers a quadcopter in to land. Like the other trainees here, she was released from prison to serve in a Shkval battalion, a military unit made up of convicts.

"I was trying to get into the army for years," Kupo said, as another woman took over the controller and the drone buzzed back up over the trees.

"Since 2023, I was applying everywhere," the former prisoner recalled. "Back then, even when they started accepting prisoners in the army, they wouldn't take women."

Forty-six brigades, she said, turned her down before recruiters from the Shkval Battalion of Ukraine's 59th Brigade came to Kupo's prison.

The military recruiters screened out those physically unfit to serve, and prisoners with drug addictions or who had committed disqualifying crimes such as rape or multiple homicide. About 100 women put their hands up to serve in the convict battalion, Kupo said, while only around 20 were accepted.

"A lot of women are still waiting," she said.

Kupo was convicted at age 23 for reasons she declines to speak about. After five years in prison, she vowed not to waste another day.

"There's no sense sitting in prison. You have to be useful. I think I can do my small part for a great victory. Everything will be OK, even in the worst case," she said.

Under the terms of Kupo's release from prison, she will regain her freedom providing she serves in the military "until the end of the war" with Russia. But many of the convicts will not survive that long. High-risk assignments at some of the most dangerous parts of the front lines await these fighters.

The women here are training for reconnaissance, which is less risky than the infantry assault missions that many convicts are given. An instructor at the training ground joins in the conversation. "For you, infantry is a last resort." Another woman responds, "We'll deliver results no worse than the men."

Kupo nods toward a group of aged male convicts training nearby. "I think even better," she quips.

While most women on this training ground are in their late 20s, most of the men are well into middle age. As the war drags on, Ukraine is struggling to find enough motivated men to fight. And the search for manpower keeps reaching deeper.

The men here have been through a month of training and are now on standby. A call that will send them on their first assault mission could come at any time.

Amid shouted commands from an instructor, one convict sits down to catch his breath. Despite only visiting France a handful of times, he has been given the callsign "Frenchman."

"This is hard for me," he complained, "at my age, this is hard." He is about to turn 58.

Frenchman claims he was set up by corrupt police in Georgia and imprisoned there, then later extradited to Ukraine. He signed up to fight soon after returning to his home country, he said.

Among other reasons, Frenchman cites revenge against Russia as his motivation to fight.

"We didn't go to them, they came to us," he said.

His hometown is in the now Russian-occupied Luhansk region, where he and his family had worked for generations in the mines. His wife fled at the beginning of the war to France to live there with their daughter.

"When the war ends I really want to take Sjava to Paris," Frenchman said, pointing to a nearby convict soldier with whom he was sharing a cigarette.

"Yes, to France!" Sjava said, excited.

Besides Ukraine, Sjava has only ever seen Poland, and that was in the 1990s.

"They locked me up there. I had a piece on me, a handgun," he said, adding that after three days in a Polish cell, he was returned to Ukraine. He was 16 at the time and got into further trouble in Ukraine. He says he spent the past 35 years in prison.

"In my town everyone knows me as a bandit," Sjava said.

The convict said it was a desire for some dignity and purpose that led to him swapping his prison jumpsuit for a military uniform. But he had no delusions of what lay ahead.

"We know where we are going. Everyone understands it's not going to be a little stroll in a meadow," Sjava said, "I am optimistic, but also I am ready for the worst."

Three weeks after that conversation, Sjava won his freedom but at a terrible cost.

On his first assault mission, he was severely wounded and had both legs and most of his fingers amputated.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/aging-prisoners-female- convicts-ukraine-war-russia/33711854.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Armed Forces Strike Ukraine's Infrastructure Facilities

Sputnik News

20260321

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Armed Forces struck energy and transportation infrastructure facilities used in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

"Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces' battlegroups struck Ukraine's energy and transportation infrastructure facilities, unmanned aerial vehicle control centers, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 137 areas," the ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine lost over 370 soldiers in combat against Russia's Tsentr battlegroup

Over 305 soldiers eliminated by Russia's Vostok battlegroup , up to 220 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated by the Sever battlegroup

, up to 220 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated by the More than 180 by the Zapad battlegroup, up to 190 by the Yug battlegroup, and up to 45 by the Dnepr battlegroup

 Sputnik

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Mariana Betsa participated in an OECD Online Event about Ukrainians Abroad

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

21 March 2026 17:23

On March 20, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa joined online presentation of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Review "Ukraine's Strategic Response to the Displacement Crisis: Return, Reintegration and Reconnection," organized within the framework of the OECD-Ukraine Programme.

The event took place in Stockholm in a hybrid format and focused on supporting displaced persons, their return and reintegration, as well as maintaining connections with Ukrainians worldwide as a key component of Ukraine's recovery.

At the beginning of her remarks, Mariana Betsa outlined the scale of the challenges caused by Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine.

She emphasized that the Ukrainian community around the world is an important strategic partner of the state in countering Russian aggression, advocating for Ukraine's interests and providing humanitarian assistance to the country.

"For Ukraine, it is important to maintain connections with Ukrainians abroad no matter where they are. Without the support of our citizens, who are currently abroad, it will be impossible to ensure the sustainable recovery of Ukraine," emphasized Maryana Betsa.

The diplomat emphasized that the return of Ukrainians must be strictly on a free will basis and depend on the creation of appropriate conditions, above all: safety, access to housing, education, and employment.

Mariana Betsa also informed participants about Ukraine's steps to strengthen ties with its citizens abroad, including the introduction of the instrument of multiple citizenship, which is intended to help preserve their connection to the Ukrainian state and facilitate their future return home.

She highlighted the importance of a comprehensive reintegration policy that will take into account the needs of different categories of citizens.

The Deputy Minister expressed her gratitude to the OECD for its ongoing support of Ukraine and for conducting a comprehensive and substantive study conducted in close cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and relevant government agencies.

This document is an important analytical resource, intended to support the development of public policy regarding the return of citizens, their reintegration and the reestablishment of ties with Ukrainians abroad.

The event was also joined by Sweden's Minister for Migration Johan Forssell, EU Special Envoy for Ukrainians Ylva Johansson, OECD Deputy Director of the Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs Mark Pearson, Ukraine's Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity Denys Uliutin, Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity for European Integration Ilona Havronska.

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The President Paid Tribute to the Warriors Who Fell During the Defense and Liberation of Moshchun

President of Ukraine

21 March 2026 - 14:43

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid tribute to the defenders who lost their lives in the battles for the village of Moshchun, which was a turning point during the Russian offensive on Kyiv at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

The Head of State lit a candle at the memorial stele on the grounds of the "Angels of Victory" memorial and spoke with the families and loved ones of the fallen warriors.

"It is both important and right to honor the heroes who protected Moshchun, the Kyiv region, and our entire state. We are very grateful to your relatives and loved ones. It is deeply regrettable that they are no longer with us. They remain in our lives, in our history. We thank them for defending Ukraine. Tragically, at such a high cost," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The President also thanked the defenders present at the ceremony who fought in the battles for Moshchun, recognizing their service and all these years of fighting against Russian aggression.

"I wish victory to everyone. It is very important to end this war justly. It is crucial that our guys did not give their lives in vain. We honor all those you knew and those who may be unknown. The key fact, known to us all, is that they achieved the most important thing: we are here, we are alive, Ukraine lives, and our children are here. That is the most important thing," emphasized the Head of State.

Moshchun became one of the key defensive lines for Kyiv. The Russian occupiers aimed to break through the village to reach the capital, using the Hostomel-Bucha-Irpin route. On March 21, 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine completely expelled Russian troops from Moshchun.

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The President and the First Lady Attended the Farewell Ceremony for Patriarch Filaret

President of Ukraine

21 March 2026 - 12:29

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska attended the farewell ceremony for His Holiness Filaret, Honorary Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine.

"He devoted immense effort to ensuring that Ukraine would have its own autocephalous church. Without his perseverance and courage, it is impossible to imagine the history of Ukraine's independence, our spiritual freedom, and the building of a truly strong state of our own. We remember. We honor. We remain grateful," Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olena Zelenska wrote on their social media.

The farewell ceremony took place at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv. The President and the First Lady paid their respects to Patriarch Filaret and expressed their personal condolences to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

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A voter casts her ballot during the 2026 Slovenian parliamentary election at a polling station in Radomlje, Slovenia, March 22, 2026. About 1.7 million eligible voters are expected to vote in Slovenia's parliamentary election on Sunday, with incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob facing a strong challenge from right-wing opposition leader Janez Jansa. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

LJUBLJANA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- About 1.7 million eligible voters are expected to vote in Slovenia's parliamentary election on Sunday, with incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob facing a strong challenge from right-wing opposition leader Janez Jansa.

Poll stations across the country opened doors at 7:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and will close at 7:00 p.m. (1700 GMT). Preliminary results are expected later in the evening, according to the election commission.

Recent opinion polls suggest a tight contest between Golob's Freedom Movement and Jansa's Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), with smaller parties likely to play a vital role in forming a governing coalition.

The pre-election campaign has been marked by controversy. Observers described it as increasingly contentious, with allegations of corruption, foreign interference and the release of covertly recorded videos intensifying political tensions.

With no party expected to secure an outright majority, post-election coalition negotiations are likely to be crucial in shaping Slovenia's next government. 

Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar casts her ballot during the 2026 Slovenian parliamentary election at a polling station in Radomlje, Slovenia, March 22, 2026. About 1.7 million eligible voters are expected to vote in Slovenia's parliamentary election on Sunday, with incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob facing a strong challenge from right-wing opposition leader Janez Jansa. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

A voter casts his ballot during the 2026 Slovenian parliamentary election at a polling station in Ljubljana, Slovenia, March 22, 2026. About 1.7 million eligible voters are expected to vote in Slovenia's parliamentary election on Sunday, with incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob facing a strong challenge from right-wing opposition leader Janez Jansa. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

A voter casts her ballot during the 2026 Slovenian parliamentary election at a polling station in Ljubljana, Slovenia, March 22, 2026. About 1.7 million eligible voters are expected to vote in Slovenia's parliamentary election on Sunday, with incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob facing a strong challenge from right-wing opposition leader Janez Jansa. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)
Featured

Iran strikes towns near Israels key nuclear site, at least 180 wounded

aljazeera.com International News Mar - 22 - 2026 , 09:17 4 minutes read

The Israeli Ministry of Health says at least 180 people have been wounded in Iranian missile attacks on the southern city of Dimona  home to Israels main nuclear facility  and nearby Arad, in one of the most dramatic escalations since the US-Israel war on Iran began.

Iranian state television framed Saturdays strikes as a response to what it said was an attack on Irans Natanz nuclear enrichment complex earlier in the day, marking a stark new phase of tit-for-tat targeting in the conflict, now in its fourth week.

At least 116 people were wounded in Arad, including seven in serious condition, according to Israels health ministry, with extensive damage reported in the city centre.

Another 64 were wounded in Dimona, with one in serious condition, the ministry said, with multiple shrapnel wounds, after several residential buildings were destroyed.

Reports said the wounded included a 10-year-old boy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a difficult evening for Israel, and promised to continue attacking Iran, where US-Israeli attacks since February 28 have killed more than 1,500 people, including more than 200 children, according to Iranian state media.

An Israeli military spokesman said Israels air defence systems were activated during the attacks, but failed to intercept some of the missiles, even though they were not special or unfamiliar.

In both Dimona and Arad, interceptors were launched that failed to hit the threats, resulting in two direct hits by ballistic missiles with warheads weighing hundreds of kilograms, firefighters said.

Al Jazeeras Nour Odeh, reporting from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, said three separate impact sites had been identified across Dimona, with one three-storey building having completely collapsed and several fires breaking out.

Get instant alerts and updates based on your interests. Be the first to know when big stories happen.

A video shot by a witness and verified by Al Jazeera, which is banned from operating inside Israel, showed a missile striking the city, followed by a large explosion.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had received no indication of damage to the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center at Dimona itself, and that no abnormal radiation levels had been detected in the area.

The nuclear watchdog said it was closely monitoring the situation, with Director General Rafael Grossi urging that maximum military restraint should be observed, in particular in the vicinity of nuclear facilities.

Dimona has been at the heart of Israels nuclear programme since its research centre, built in secret with French assistance, opened there in 1958.

Israels ministry said that that at least 4,564 people have been evacuated to hospitals since the start of the war. Of these, 124 are currently hospitalised, including one in critical condition and 13 in serious condition, it added.

Iran on Saturday said the US and Israel targeted its Natanz enrichment complex, though it reported no radioactive leakage.

An unnamed Israeli official, quoted by the Associated Press news agency, denied that Israel was responsible for the Natanz strike, but the Israeli army has not released a full statement on the matter.

Also on Saturday, the Israeli military announced it had struck a research and development facility at Tehrans Malek Ashtar University, which it said had been used to develop components for nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

The military said it will not allow the Iranian regime to acquire nuclear weapons.

Israel is believed to have developed nuclear weapons by the late 1960s. Its policy of deliberate ambiguity, neither confirming nor denying their existence, was part of a deal quietly struck with Washington, which judged that an open declaration would risk triggering a regional arms race.

Abas Aslani, a senior fellow at the Centre for Middle East Strategic Studies in Tehran, told Al Jazeera that Iran has been pursuing an eye-for-an-eye approach designed to re-establish deterrence.

Tehran wants to reduce the gap between words and actions, he said, adding that Irans goal was to make its threats credible enough to underpin a new long-term security arrangement, not to simply force a ceasefire, but establish deterrence.
Featured

Madagascars military ruler decrees that ministers must pass lie detector tests

theguardian.com International News Mar - 22 - 2026 , 09:07 3 minutes read

Madagascars military president has said new ministers will have to pass lie detector tests to root out corrupt candidates, after he dismissed the prime minister and cabinet without explanation earlier this month.

Michael Randrianirina came to power in a coup in October after weeks of youth-led protests under the banner Gen Z Madagascar. However, young people were quickly disenchanted by his choice of government officials, which they saw as being part of the old, corrupt elite.

Randrianirina told local media: We have decided to use a polygraph. It is with this polygraph that the background integrity checks will be carried out.

The president said a new cabinet would be announced early next week. We will know who is corrupt and who can help us, who is going to betray the youth struggle, he said.

Malagasy young people started protesting in September last year, first against water and power cuts, then demanding a complete overhaul of the political system. At least 22 people were killed in the first days of the protests, according to the UN.

On 11 October, the elite military unit Capsat, in which Randrianirina was a colonel, came out in support of protesters. The next day, the president, Andry Rajoelina, reportedly fled the country for Dubai on a French military plane.

Randrianirina was sworn in as interim president and has pledged to hold elections by late 2027. Gen Z activists have been pushing him to confirm the date, while criticising his appointments over their perceived ties to the previous regime.

Randrianirina fired the prime minister and cabinet on 9 March, then announced on Sunday that the anti-corruption chief, Mamitiana Rajaonarison, would be the new prime minister. He and Rajaonarison would only interview ministerial candidates who passed a lie detector test, he said on Thursday.

He said: Were not looking for someone who is 100% clean, but over 60%. That way, Madagascar will finally be able to develop.

One of the managers of Gen Z Madagascars social media accounts expressed scepticism at the use of polygraphs. Its not even scientifically proven to work, he said. For me its just a joke and embarrassing.

He added: We agree that the previous ministers werent good. We still have hope for the new ministers, but in general I think this regime is already better than the regime of Andry Rajoelina.

Madagascar is one of the worlds poorest countries, with a GDP per capita of just $545 (408) in 2024, according to World Bank data. The island is rich in natural resources, including vanilla and precious gems, which campaigners say have been exploited by officials and corrupt businesspeople. The country ranked 148 out of 180 countries in Transparency Internationals 2025 corruption perceptions index.

Agence-France Presse and Associated Press contributed to this report
Featured

UK strikes deal with Nigeria to fast-track deportations of illegal migrants

GraphicOnline International News Mar - 22 - 2026 , 09:00 3 minutes read

The United Kingdom and Nigeria have signed a new agreement aimed at accelerating the return of Nigerian nationals with no legal right to remain in Britain, in a move officials say will strengthen border controls and deepen bilateral cooperation on migration and crime.

The deal, reached during the state visit of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, introduces a key change that allows the Nigerian government to recognise UK letters as valid identification for returnees who do not possess passports. The development is expected to remove longstanding administrative delays that previously required emergency travel documents before deportations could proceed.

Under the agreement, the Home Office, led by Shabana Mahmood, will be able to expedite the removal of visa overstayers, failed asylum seekers and foreign offenders. Officials say the arrangement forms part of broader efforts by the UK government to tighten immigration controls and deter irregular migration.

Speaking on the development, Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris stressed that individuals who breach immigration rules would face swift removal. Anyone who abuses our systems, breaks our laws or tries to cheat their way into Britain will be stopped and removed, he said, adding that the agreement would help restore order to the border.

Nigerias Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described the pact as a reflection of his countrys commitment to responsible migration management. He emphasised the importance of fairness and transparency in sustaining long-term cooperation between the two countries. We need to be as open and as fair as possible, he said, expressing hope that the arrangement would serve as a model for future bilateral agreements.

The partnership also includes provisions for enhanced intelligence sharing and joint operations targeting organised immigration crime. Authorities in both countries will collaborate to tackle abuses such as fake job sponsorships, sham marriages and falsified financial records, with a new system introduced to verify application documents.

Officials say Nigeria will review its legal framework to impose stricter penalties on immigration-related offences, while the UK has pledged additional support to protect vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, from exploitation linked to migration and trafficking networks.

The agreement extends beyond migration enforcement to address transnational financial crime, with both sides launching a joint initiative to combat online scams, including romance fraud and cryptocurrency schemes. The approach builds on the UKs fusion cell model, which integrates intelligence from law enforcement, financial institutions and technology firms to disrupt criminal activity.

Recent collaboration between the UKs National Crime Agency and the Nigerian Police Force has already yielded results, including arrests linked to cryptocurrency fraud networks targeting UK residents.

UK officials say returns of Nigerian nationals have nearly doubled in recent years, with broader deportations reaching tens of thousands since 2024, underscoring the growing emphasis on enforcement within the countrys immigration system.

The agreement signals a renewed commitment by both governments to manage migration in a way that balances enforcement with cooperation, while safeguarding legitimate travel and economic ties between the UK and Nigeria.
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No patient was placed on the floor  Korle Bu responds to viral video

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IGP orders probe into alleged assault on artist Ibrahim Mahama

Mohammed Ali Mar - 22 - 2026 , 07:30 2 minutes read

The Ghana Police Service has launched investigations into the alleged assault of internationally acclaimed visual artist Ibrahim Mahama in Tamale.

The directive was issued by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Christian Tetteh-Yohuno, according to a statement released by the Police on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The statement said the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB), the internal body responsible for probing misconduct involving police personnel, would undertake a parallel inquiry, while the Northern Regional Police Command is handling a separate criminal investigation.

The police added that the outcomes of both investigations would be made public.

Confirming the development, the Northern Regional Police Command, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, C/Inspr Luckman Niendow Alhassan, said inquiries into the incident had already commenced.

The Command also dismissed reports linking the Special Operations Team, popularly known as the Black Maria, to the alleged assault.

According to the Command, the unit had been withdrawn from the Northern Region by the IGP on March 5, 2026, and therefore could not have been involved.

The Command described such claims as false.

Mr Mahama, founder of the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art, Red Clay Studio and Nkrumah Voli-ni in Tamale, is widely regarded as one of Ghanas leading contemporary artists, with works exhibited at major international platforms including the Venice Biennale, Documenta 14 and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

The incident comes months after a fire outbreak at Red Clay Studio in February, which destroyed one of his heritage trains following sparks from nearby repair works.

At the time of filing this report, the police had not confirmed the exact circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.

The PPSB and the Northern Regional Police Command are expected to provide further updates as investigations continue.
Joint police-military operation cracks down on illegal arms in Bono Region

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Muslims urged to live in peace with neighbours  E/R Deputy Chief Imam

Haruna Yussif Wunpini Mar - 22 - 2026 , 08:11 2 minutes read

Hundreds of Muslim worshippers on March 21, 2026, converged at the Koforidua Central Mosque to offer Eid prayers marking the end of the 30-day Ramadan fast.

The Eastern Regional Deputy Chief Imam, Sheikh Ali Abubakar, who led the prayers, urged Muslims to co-exist peacefully with non-Muslims in their respective communities.

Call for peaceful coexistence

He said Eid-ul-Fitr was a time for Muslims to come together with family members, friends and loved ones, strengthening bonds and fostering unity.

Sheikh Abubakar noted that the occasion also provided an opportunity to share meals, exchange gifts and extend love and kindness to orphans and the needy.

The Deputy Chief Imam urged Muslims to embrace peace, stressing that it remained the only path through which development could thrive.

Prayers for peace

He further offered special prayers for peace in the Middle East and Ghana.

"As we celebrate this years Eid, let's remember the true essence of Eid: compassion, forgiveness and generosity.

"As we break fast and share meals, let's remember the less privileged in our communities, offering support and generosity.

"May Allah accept our fast, prayers and good deeds and grant us the strength to continue on the path of righteousness", the Deputy Chief Imam stated.

Appeal for unity

A former Eastern Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who joined Muslims at the Koforidua Central Mosque, also called for tolerance and unity among the faithful.

He urged Muslims to be their brothers keeper and to respect differing views and opinions.

Mr Boateng further appealed to the Council of Muslim Chiefs and Imams to continue to pray for Ghana as John Dramani Mahama continues his efforts to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people.
An AI Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Constitution Identification Device, developed by the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, undergoes pilot operation in Niamey, Niger, on Jan. 10, 2026. (Xinhua)

NANNING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- In a high-tech hall at Guangxi Medical University in south China, a digital avatar came to life, speaking fluent Vietnamese to a room full of delegates from across Southeast Asia.

The scene unfolded at a ceremony on March 16, marking the official launch of the Guangxi Medical Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, the latest milestone in China's regional "AI + Healthcare" strategy.

Positioned as a specialized platform for China-ASEAN medical intelligence sharing, the institute was officially launched in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Its debut reflects the rising importance of regional hubs in China's broader AI strategy, aiming to export localized and cost-effective healthcare solutions to neighboring countries.

Guangxi, the only Chinese provincial-level region sharing both land and sea borders with ASEAN, leverages a "shared clinical profile." From hereditary blood disorders like thalassemia to tropical infectious diseases, the medical challenges in Guangxi closely mirror those faced across Southeast Asia, from Hanoi to Bangkok.

"Given our unique advantage of possessing a massive volume of characteristic clinical data, the institute will serve as a strategic hub," said Li Lang, vice president of Guangxi Medical University.

"We import top-tier algorithms from China's tech hubs like Beijing and Shanghai, train them on our unique disease profiles, and refine them with ASEAN-specific data, so they truly accommodate local needs," Li added.

The launch drew a crowd of high-profile regional stakeholders, including Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Vietnam's Hue Central Hospital, alongside sectoral heavyweights such as Beijing Yidu Technology Holdings Co., Ltd., and Shanghai SenseTime Shancui Healthcare Technology Co., Ltd.

These projects represent the vanguard of the region's AI development strategy, in which high-end algorithms from China's tech capitals are retooled for the specific linguistic and pathological makeup of ASEAN, according to Li.

At the heart of this portfolio is Urology's Talk, described as the world's first interactive medical AI specializing in urology and supporting multiple ASEAN languages.

Unlike general-purpose chatbots, Urology's Talk is trained on specialized medical corpora to navigate the "last kilometer," enabling the seamless integration of clinical data into cross-border medical consultations, explained Cheng Jiwen, vice president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University and one of the minds behind the platform's development.

"Telemedicine often falls short not because of the tech, but because of linguistic barriers," said Cheng. "We are bridging the clinical gap for minority dialects that global models often ignore. It allows for high-fidelity care between a specialist here in Nanning and a patient in rural Vietnam without the frictions of a human translator."

The system currently supports Mandarin, English and Vietnamese, with Thai, Burmese and Khmer modules in the pipeline.

Cheng emphasized the importance of building a rich local-language corpus, as many patients do not use "textbook" terminology. "In Vietnam and Cambodia, the same chest pain might be described with everyday phrases that a standard model simply doesn't recognize," Cheng said.

Beyond standard clinical protocols, efforts have also been made to modernize China's traditional healing methods by digitizing ancient practices to meet growing regional demand for more integrated healthcare.

Led by Huang Feng, a cardiovascular specialist at the Guangxi hospital, the AI Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Constitution Identification Device digitizes the four traditional diagnostic methods -- watch, hear, ask and touch to feel the pulse -- via computer vision and big data.

While linguistic bridges and traditional medicine may broaden the institute's reach, its most clinically significant breakthrough to date targets a lethal genetic disease shared across the "Thalassemia Belt" of Southeast Asia.

The tool, aptly named Iron Detective, addresses a critical bottleneck in a region that houses one of the world's highest rates of thalassemia.

According to its developers, the AI-powered device helps assess iron overload in patients with hereditary blood disorders, a task vital to long-term survival.

Built on a repository of over 5,000 cases from China, Vietnam and Laos, the system automates MRI scan analysis, a process that is normally arduous and prone to human error.

Developed by Peng Peng, a radiologist at First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, it represents the largest single-hospital dataset of its kind globally.

"By slashing diagnostic costs by roughly two-thirds compared to other proprietary software, the tool has already been recognized in 52 hospitals in China and is being deployed via remote diagnostic links to community-level medical institutions," Peng said.

"AI is particularly powerful for grassroots healthcare in developing countries," said Li. "Our systems already perform at the level of a senior attending physician with seven or eight years of experience."

According to Zeng Zhiyu, president of Guangxi Medical University, the institute will operate under a clear framework, conducting research and development in collaboration with ASEAN partners to identify specific regional needs, refining solutions through Guangxi's clinical infrastructure, and then scaling them up across the region.

Liu Yong, with A*STAR, noted that Federated Learning -- a machine learning technique that enables collaborative model training without raw data leaving the premises -- was jointly developed with the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University.

Liu said A*STAR is seeking substantive cooperation with the hospital to leverage high-quality medical data and real-world scenarios while strictly safeguarding patient privacy.

Zeng underscored that Guangxi is evolving from a gateway for physical trade into an intellectual hub for regional digital healthcare.

"We are no longer just sharing medical talents; we are sharing healthcare intelligence for the two billion people in our shared neighborhood, facilitating high-end diagnostics viable for developing markets," Zeng said. 

This photo taken on Sept. 17, 2025 shows the Urology's Talk, described as the world's first interactive medical AI specializing in urology and supporting multiple ASEAN languages, at the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua)
Local entrepreneurs will be able to get funding support after Guam Unique Merchandise and Art, GUMA, received a $500,000 check from the Guam Economic Development Authority.

GEDA received the funding, authorized by a legislative General Fund appropriation under Public Law 37-125, to be used to directly support aspiring entrepreneurs and graduates of GUMA's business training programs through targeted mentoring and start-up assistance, a media release from GEDA stated.

"Small businesses are the backbone of Guam's economy. This appropriation allows us to leverage GUMA's incredible decade-long track record to inject vital capital straight into the hands of our local creators and entrepreneurs, building a more resilient economic future for our island," GEDA Administrator Christina Garcia said in a statement.

For more than a decade, GUMA has remained steadfast in its mission to empower Guams entrepreneurs, GEDA said.

Since 2013, GUMA has supported more than 400 local enterprises, successfully incubated 53 businesses, demonstrating a proven impact on the island's economic resilience.

To ensure these funds are maximized, GEDA will oversee GUMA's allocation of the $500,000 across three key pillars:

1. Incubator grants: Direct grant awards will be provided to small and home-based businesses that have successfully completed GUMA's training program. Grants will support growth needs such as equipment, workspace, marketing, branding, and inventory.

2. Administrative support: These funds will cover the essential administrative functions necessary for GUMA to deliver its programs, including management fees, website maintenance, software subscriptions, and other general business expenses.

3. Training: Funding will support two full cohorts of GUMA's comprehensive 16-week business training program, covering part-time staffing, instructors, and graduation activities.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Guam Legislature for this appropriation and to GEDA for their continued partnership. This is a powerful investment in Guam's future. It allows us to expand our reach, equip more local families with business skills, and turn homegrown ideas into economic realities," said GUMA executive director Monica Guzman in a statement.

Each sub-grant requested by a local business undergoes rigorous evaluation by a panel of business experts before final approval by the GUMA board. GUMA has committed to working closely with GEDA to ensure timely and efficient management and reporting processes for the duration of the funding.

For more information on GUMAs training programs and incubator grants, visit www.gumaguam.com or contact info@gumaguam.com.
Tony Frank Toves Manila is now in police custody in connection with a Tumon hotel burglary, Guam Police Department spokesperson Norman Analista said on Sunday afternoon.

Manilas arrest comes two days after GPD issued a wanted flyer of him, in connection with a burglary at Pacific Islands Club Guam.

Manila, 46, of Yona, was wanted for questioning relative to a burglary to a motor vehicle complaint at PIC.

More information will be released when it becomes available, Analista added.
There is a new proposal from Ron McNinch, a professor at University of Guam, that would slash the pay of Guam senators by about 78%. Under his idea, senators would earn only $1,000 a month and lose their benefits.

At first glance, this might sound like a good way to punish politicians people are unhappy with. But before we rush to support it, we should stop and ask a simple question: Do we want more from our Legislature, or less?

Because when it comes to public service, there is a basic truth everyone understands: You get what you pay for.

If Guam cuts the pay of senators down to $12,000 a year, who will realistically be able to do the job?

Not a teacher trying to pay rent. Not a nurse working long shifts.

Not a young professional with student loans. Not a single parent raising kids.

Those people cannot afford to quit their jobs and work for almost no pay.

So who could do it?

Mostly people who already have money, people who run businesses, or people whose employers allow them to step away from work.

In other words, the proposal could lead to a Legislature made up mostly of wealthy individuals or business owners.

That is not a citizen Legislature. That is a Legislature where only certain people can afford to serve.

If we truly want everyday people to represent us, we must make sure the job pays enough for regular working people to do it.

Right now, Guam has only 15 senators. That means just 15 people make decisions that affect every resident of the island.

That is a lot of power in very few hands.

Instead of weakening the Legislature, Guam should consider strengthening it. One way to do that is to increase the number of senators, possibly returning to the 21 senators Guam had in the past.

More senators means better representation. It means more voices from different villages and different walks of life. It also spreads out power so fewer decisions are controlled by a small group of people.

Another important point is the amount of work involved. Being a senator is not a hobby. Lawmakers deal with budgets, education, health care, infrastructure, and relations with the federal government. These issues are complex and affect the daily lives of everyone on Guam.

Expecting people to handle all of that work for $12,000 a year is not realistic.

Across the United States, the average state legislator earns around $47,000 per year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Many states pay more because they understand that good government requires time, effort, and focus.

If we want lawmakers who are prepared, informed, and dedicated to the job, then the job must be treated as real work.

Again, the question comes back to this: Do we want more from our Legislature, or less?

If we want lawmakers who are serious about solving problems, then we must build a system that allows serious people to serve. That means fair pay, strong ethics rules, and enough senators to represent the whole community.

Guam deserves a Legislature that works hard, listens to the people, and focuses on the future.

And like any job in the real world, the same rule applies.

You get what you pay for.
Yale University's Whiffenpoofs choir kicked off its 2026 China tour in Chongqing. From musical exchanges to exploring iconic landmarks, the young American performers expressed admiration for Chongqing's urban development and highlighted music's role in fostering cultural exchange.
Iran said it would target oil and energy facilities across the Gulf if its power network came under attack. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said critical infrastructure and energy and oil infrastructure throughout the region will be considered legitimate targets.

The United States has issued a 48-hour deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with President Donald Trump threatening to strike Irans power plants, prompting warnings from Tehran of attacks on energy infrastructure across the Middle East.

The warning followed a statement by Trump that the US would obliterate Iranian power plants if shipping through the strait did not resume within two days. The waterway carries about 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies.

Iranian officials said the country retains control over access to the strait. Envoy Ali Mousavi told state media that vessels could pass with coordination from Tehran, adding that the route remains closed only to what he described as hostile actors.

Missile exchanges continued across the region. Israel said Iran has fired more than 400 ballistic missiles since the start of the illegal US-Israeli war against Iran, with a reported interception rate of 92 percent. Strikes on the southern cities of Arad and Dimona left about 180 people in need of medical treatment, according to Israeli authorities. The area is home to Israels nuclear research facilities.

Israel has assassinated numerous Iranian nuclear scientists in the last couple of decades using agents inside Iran or air strikes. Irans strikes were in retaliation for Israels bombardment of Irans nuclear facilities in Natanz.

Emergency services said more than 160 people were injured in the attacks, which hit areas near a nuclear facility. The real number of killed and injured in Israel and their roles in military or nuclear research cannot be found out due to strict censorship by the Israeli government.

Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the outcome could have been worse. Do not be complacent, he said during a visit to Arad, urging residents to seek shelter during alerts.

Across the Gulf, air defence systems intercepted waves of drones and missiles. The United Arab Emirates said it shot down four ballistic missiles and 25 drones on Sunday. Bahrain reported 145 missile interceptions since the start of the conflict, while Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted dozens of drones targeting its eastern region.

A blast near a cargo vessel off the coast of the UAE added to concerns over maritime security. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said the crew remained safe and an investigation was underway.

The conflict has disrupted global energy markets. Iranian officials said the closure of the strait has halted the passage of about 21 million barrels of oil per day.

The Iranian Red Crescent said more than 81,000 civilian units have been damaged in strikes, including hospitals and schools. Authorities have imposed an internet blackout that has lasted more than three weeks, limiting communication while some services work inside the country.

Diplomatic efforts have continued alongside the escalation. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held talks with officials from Iran, Egypt, the United States, and the European Union on steps to end the conflict, according to a Turkish diplomatic source cited by Reuters.

The World Health Organization warned that strikes near nuclear sites in Iran and Israel had pushed the conflict to a perilous stage. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said attacks on such facilities pose risks to public health and environmental safety.

HT
In an interview with The Telegraph , Stubb said the transatlantic relationship has changed rather than collapsed. The global West is divided, he told the newspaper, adding that ties have altered in recent months.

Finlands president Alexander Stubb said relations between Europe and the United States have shifted, warning of a widening divide while urging allies to preserve defence cooperation and Nato links.

He said Europe and the United States must focus on maintaining core elements of the alliance. Dont throw the baby out with the bathwater. Save what is salvageable from the transatlantic relationship, such as Nato and defence, he said in the interview.

Stubb said differences over trade and climate policy should be managed without damaging broader cooperation. He said allies should remain politely in disagreement on those issues.

The Finnish leader described the United States as a more unpredictable actor in global affairs. He said Washington has acted without consulting European partners, citing the joint US and Israeli strike on Iran in February.

Before, the United States was a benign superpower, Stubb said, noting it had consulted allies ahead of operations in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan and sought backing from the United Nations Security Council.

He said current policy marks a shift. At the moment the United States is using its power in a more unpredictable way, he told The Telegraph.

Stubb confirmed he had contacted US President Donald Trump after the illegal war against Iran began on 28 February, but declined to give details. From a Finnish perspective, I try to pick my battles. So my war is the war in Ukraine, he said.

The Telegraph reported that Stubb appeared more subdued than a year earlier, when he had expressed optimism about cooperation with Washington. He said he is now more pessimistic and more realistic.

Stubb linked changes in US policy to the war in Ukraine. He said easing sanctions on Russian oil and rising energy prices have improved Russias economic position. According to the Financial Times, higher oil prices and looser sanctions are adding about 150 million dollars a day to Russias revenues.

He said the shift has harmed Ukraines position despite gains on the battlefield. Stubb said Ukraines military capacity has improved, with a large share of Russian losses linked to drone strikes.

Over 80 per cent of deaths come from drones, he said in the interview.

Stubb said Europe now plays a larger role in Ukraine peace discussions and talks on US security guarantees have advanced. He said Ukraine stands in a stronger position than a year earlier.

At the same time, he warned that the United States risks weakening its global role without allies. He said the countrys power has long depended on partnerships.

If the United States continues on this path, they also weaken their ability to project power across the world, he said.

Stubb referred to his recent book, saying the structure of global power has changed. He said a previous triangle of power now resembles a broader configuration, with shifting roles among major states.

He said European leaders must adapt to the new reality. This is the reality that we Europeans have to live with, he told The Telegraph.

Stubbs comments follow recent tensions between Washington and European capitals over defence commitments and responses to the conflict in the Middle East. US officials have criticised allies for not contributing forces to secure shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.

Stubb said the priority for Finland remains support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia. He said sanctions remain a key tool in that effort.

HT
'Joy of Jazz Festival' presents free concert on Saturday

Hendersonville High School and West Henderson High School musicians will work under professional jazz players before performing a free concert Saturday afternoon.

The halls of Hendersonville High School will once again ring out with the vibes of jazz when the eighth annual Joy of Jazz Festival opens at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 28, and culminates with a concert, free and open to the public, at 4 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

Related Stories

Robin Tolleson, a jazz musician, music journalist and band leader, led the Hendersonville Community Music Center before his sudden passing in June 2019.

The Joy of Jazz Festival was established in 2017 by then Hendersonville Community Music Center Director, Robin Tolleson. After Robins sudden passing in June of 2019, the music center board and the Tolleson family decided to use monies donated in Robs memory to continue the Joy of Jazz Festival in his honor. Trinity Presbyterian Church and the Kealy Family Foundation have since donated monies to continue the festival.

The festival is a one-day clinic in which local high school jazz bands work with professional musicians, fine tuning their pieces and working on improvisation. This year students from Hendersonville and West Henderson high schools will work with respected teaching artists including Shannon Hoover (M.A.-Anderson University and Greenville Jazz Collective), Jason DeCristofaro (doctorate-Boston University and director of Creative Arts & Events at Warren Wilson), Will Boyd (MA-University of TN), Iliana Rose (University of Miami) and Justin Ray (Berklee College of Music, Boston).

For more information, contact festival coordinator Shannon Hoover at profmus1@yahoo.com or 864-353-7529 or Jocelyn Tolleson at jocelynctolleson@gmail.com.






Water flows through an irrigation canal in Iringa Region, Tanzania, Jan. 5, 2026. (CRJE/Handout via Xinhua)

DAR ES SALAAM, March 22 (Xinhua) -- As dawn breaks over the rice fields in Tanzania's Iringa Region, farmer Mashauri Julius walks along a newly-built irrigation scheme constructed by China Railway Jianchang Engineering Company (CRJE) (East Africa) Limited, a leading Chinese construction firm.

Julius watches life-giving water flow steadily onto his land, something he once thought impossible.

For years, Julius relied on unpredictable rains and traditional irrigation methods, never certain of his harvest. Today, as water runs reliably through the irrigation channel, he feels something new--confidence.

"This project has already begun to change our lives," he said. "Before, if you harvested 10 to 15 bags of paddy per acre, it was considered good. Now we are reaching 30 bags, and we expect even more."

His optimism reflects the transformation brought by sections 3 and 4 of the Iringa Irrigation Project, part of the larger Mkombozi scheme. Even before full completion, more than 70 percent of the system is operational, allowing farmers like Julius to glimpse a future of higher yields and greater stability.

Marked annually on March 22, World Water Day highlights the importance of freshwater and sustainable water management. In communities like Pawaga Division, the message is no longer abstract, but it is visible in flowing canals and thriving farms.

Located in Tanzania's southern highlands, the project involves constructing approximately 78 kilometers of irrigation canals and 85 kilometers of rural roads, ultimately serving more than 8,000 hectares of farmland. Once completed, it is expected to benefit tens of thousands of farmers across multiple villages.

"We have completed all the canal excavation and road construction, and only a small portion of structures remain," Zhang Hong, project manager, told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Despite challenges, especially during the rainy season, we are confident the project will be finalized soon and handed over to Tanzanian authorities."

Construction has not been without obstacles. Heavy rains often disrupted progress, washing away completed work and limiting access to sites. At the same time, local communities depended on the same water sources for daily needs and farming, requiring careful coordination.

Collaboration proved key. Support from Tanzania's National Irrigation Commission, local authorities, and residents enabled the project to move forward steadily.

For the Pawaga Division, where agriculture is the backbone of livelihoods, the impact is already profound.

Emmanuel Ngabuji, Division Officer for Pawaga Division, noted that farming has long been constrained by inadequate irrigation infrastructure.

"In the past, we used simple, traditional canals that could not meet demand," he said. "Now, areas that never received water are being cultivated. Production is increasing, and opportunities are expanding."

The project, backed by government funding of approximately 34 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 14 million U.S. dollars), supports a scheme that serves multiple villages and plays a key role in rice supply to major cities such as Dar es Salaam and Dodoma.

Beyond agriculture, the benefits ripple through the local economy. Improved roads have enhanced connectivity, while irrigation has attracted investment in rice processing and related industries. Youth employment has risen, with hundreds finding work in construction and farming activities.

For many residents, the changes are tangible. Families are building better homes, sending children to school, and accessing healthcare more easily. Women, once limited to small plots, are expanding their farming activities and gaining access to financial services.

Back in his field, Julius looks ahead to the next planting season with renewed determination. With reliable irrigation, farmers expect to cultivate multiple times a year and further increase yields.

"We are no longer farming with fear," he said. "We are farming with hope."

On this World Water Day, the flowing canals of Iringa stand as a testament to how access to water, supported by international cooperation, can transform not just fields, but entire communities, turning uncertainty into opportunity and sustaining life for generations to come. 

Water flows through an irrigation canal in Iringa Region, Tanzania, March 20, 2026.

(Xinhua/Nurdin Pallangyo)

Local farmers work in irrigated fields in Iringa Region, Tanzania, Jan. 5, 2026.

(CRJE/Handout via Xinhua)

Local officials communicate with a Chinese representative at an irrigation facility in Iringa Region, Tanzania, March 20, 2026.

(Xinhua/Nurdin Pallangyo)

Water flows through an irrigation canal in Iringa Region, Tanzania, March 20, 2026.

(Xinhua/Nurdin Pallangyo)
LA PAZ, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia will deploy around 250,000 personnel to ensure transparency and security in the subnational elections scheduled for Sunday, in which more than 7.4 million citizens are eligible to vote.

Carlos Alberto Goitia, a member of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), told Xinhua that the deployment will cover all nine departments and 340 municipalities, where over 5,400 authorities will be elected for the 2026-2031 term.

The deployment includes more than 200,630 electoral jurors assigned to more than 33,000 polling stations, along with temporary staff, police, military personnel and prosecutors.

Authorities said about 18,000 candidates are running in the elections, reflecting the scale and complexity of the process. Around 17,000 temporary workers will support the preliminary results transmission system to provide early voting trends.

More than 32,000 police officers will be deployed to ensure election security, while the armed forces will offer logistical support.

Voting will begin at 7:00 a.m. local time (1100 GMT) on Sunday under restrictions aimed at maintaining public order. 
JERUSALEM, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said in a brief statement that Israeli forces were currently conducting strikes early Sunday on "Iranian terror regime targets" in central Tehran.

The Iranian capital is currently under the most intense attacks, according to local media. 
A member of the 27th batch of the Chinese Medical Team in Sierra Leone checks a patient's X-ray films in Freetown, Sierra Leone, March 17, 2026. (The 27th batch of the Chinese Medical Team in Sierra Leone/Handout via Xinhua)

FREETOWN, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The 27th batch of the Chinese Medical Team in Sierra Leone has successfully saved a local patient from amputation through surgery earlier this week.

The patient, 42-year-old Mike Foday Baryoh, suffered an open fracture and dislocation of his left ankle following a local tricycle accident. Due to a lack of timely medical intervention, his injury went untreated for eight days, resulting in infection and the risk of amputation.

After the patient was referred to the Chinese medical team, Huang Xianzhe, a member of the team and Deputy Chief Physician of Orthopedics at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, quickly assessed Baryoh's condition and devised an emergency surgical plan.

"The surgery involved meticulous debridement and the application of an external fixation frame to realign the dislocated ankle, control the infection, and stabilize the fractured bone," Huang said, adding that they worked alongside Sierra Leonean surgeon Abdulai Bah and other local medical staff, facilitating a collaborative environment focused on skill transfer.

During the operation, the medical team's anesthesiologist instructed local doctors by guiding them through the anesthesia process, ensuring that knowledge was shared throughout the surgical experience.

Huang said the procedure lasted approximately one and a half hours and was conducted under strict infection control protocols. Huang indicated that the patient is expected to make a gradual recovery over the next several months.

Baryoh expressed his appreciation to the medical team, noting that had it not been for their intervention, his foot would have been amputated as advised by local doctors.

Bah commended the technical expertise of the Chinese medical team, noting their contribution to local healthcare through skills transfer and standardized procedures. This operation not only saved a limb but also underscored the strong commitment to medical cooperation between China and Sierra Leone.

Bah said the successful surgery symbolizes a hopeful beginning for the Chinese doctors, as they continue their mission of improving healthcare in Sierra Leone through collaboration and shared knowledge. 

Members of the 27th batch of the Chinese Medical Team in Sierra Leone perform a surgery along with local medical workers in Freetown, Sierra Leone, March 17, 2026. (The 27th batch of the Chinese Medical Team in Sierra Leone/Handout via Xinhua)
DAKAR, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Malian army said on Saturday that around 40 militants, including a key leader, had been killed during a week-long operation in the western Kayes region.

According to a statement by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the operation, code-named Dougoukolo, was conducted from March 14 to 21, mainly in the areas of Yelimane and Segala, following earlier operations in Ambidedi and Diboli.

During the operation, ground forces destroyed several militant hideouts, including two major bases in Medina-Kayes, the statement said.

The army also freed 12 hostages previously abducted by armed groups and seized a large cache of weapons, ammunition and other equipment, including kamikaze drones, communication radios and more than 3,000 liters of fuel.

Three vehicles, including a bus belonging to a local transport company, were also recovered and will be returned to their owners, it added.

The rescued hostages are undergoing medical checks before rejoining their families.

The army said it would continue operations to combat armed groups across the country. 
ANKARA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Three Turkish personnel were killed when a military helicopter crashed into Qatari territorial waters on Saturday, Turkiye's Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

The crash occurred during training exercises under the Qatar-Turkiye Combined Joint Force Command, part of ongoing military cooperation between the two countries, the ministry said.

Initial findings indicate the Qatari Armed Forces helicopter went down due to a technical malfunction, the ministry added. One Turkish Armed Forces member and two technicians from Turkiye's state-owned defense company Aselsan were killed.

Search and rescue teams recovered the wreckage and the bodies of the three personnel, it said. The cause of the accident "will be determined following an investigation by Qatari authorities."

Earlier, Qatar's Interior Ministry reported that six of the seven people on board had been found dead, with efforts continuing to locate the remaining individual. 
BEIRUT, March 22 (Xinhua) -- More than 3,800 people have been killed or injured in ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.

Since March 2, Israeli attacks have killed 1,029 people and injured 2,786 others, the ministry added. 
This photo taken on March 19, 2026 shows a maritime transport support vessel travelling in the waters of Sansha, south China's Hainan Province. On Jan. 7, 2025, maritime transport support vessels were officially put into operation for routes between Yongxing Island and Zhaoshu Island.

These vessels have effectively enhanced the convenience of inter-island transportation and significantly facilitated the work and daily lives of personnel stationed on the islands.

Statistics show that in 2025, the vessels completed a total of 831 round-trip journeys, transporting 11,588 passengers. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

This photo taken on March 19, 2026 shows a maritime transport support vessel travelling in the waters of Sansha, south China's Hainan Province. On Jan. 7, 2025, maritime transport support vessels were officially put into operation for routes between Yongxing Island and Zhaoshu Island.

These vessels have effectively enhanced the convenience of inter-island transportation and significantly facilitated the work and daily lives of personnel stationed on the islands.

Statistics show that in 2025, the vessels completed a total of 831 round-trip journeys, transporting 11,588 passengers. (Xinhua/Liu Lianfen)

A staff member fixes a maritime transport support vessel at the dock of Yongxing Island of Sansha, south China's Hainan Province, March 19, 2026. On Jan. 7, 2025, maritime transport support vessels were officially put into operation for routes between Yongxing Island and Zhaoshu Island.

These vessels have effectively enhanced the convenience of inter-island transportation and significantly facilitated the work and daily lives of personnel stationed on the islands.

Statistics show that in 2025, the vessels completed a total of 831 round-trip journeys, transporting 11,588 passengers. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A maritime transport support vessel carrying passengers from Zhaoshu Island approaches the dock of Yongxing Island of Sansha, south China's Hainan Province, March 20, 2026. On Jan. 7, 2025, maritime transport support vessels were officially put into operation for routes between Yongxing Island and Zhaoshu Island.

These vessels have effectively enhanced the convenience of inter-island transportation and significantly facilitated the work and daily lives of personnel stationed on the islands.

Statistics show that in 2025, the vessels completed a total of 831 round-trip journeys, transporting 11,588 passengers. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A maritime transport support vessel sets sail from Yongxing Island towards Zhaoshu Island of Sansha, south China's Hainan Province, March 19, 2026. On Jan. 7, 2025, maritime transport support vessels were officially put into operation for routes between Yongxing Island and Zhaoshu Island.

These vessels have effectively enhanced the convenience of inter-island transportation and significantly facilitated the work and daily lives of personnel stationed on the islands.

Statistics show that in 2025, the vessels completed a total of 831 round-trip journeys, transporting 11,588 passengers. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

This photo taken on March 20, 2026 shows maritime transport support vessels berthing at the dock of Yongxing Island of Sansha, south China's Hainan Province. On Jan. 7, 2025, maritime transport support vessels were officially put into operation for routes between Yongxing Island and Zhaoshu Island.

These vessels have effectively enhanced the convenience of inter-island transportation and significantly facilitated the work and daily lives of personnel stationed on the islands.

Statistics show that in 2025, the vessels completed a total of 831 round-trip journeys, transporting 11,588 passengers. (Xinhua/Liu Lianfen)

Passengers take a maritime transport support vessel from Yongxing Island to Zhaoshu Island of Sansha, south China's Hainan Province, March 19, 2026. On Jan. 7, 2025, maritime transport support vessels were officially put into operation for routes between Yongxing Island and Zhaoshu Island.

These vessels have effectively enhanced the convenience of inter-island transportation and significantly facilitated the work and daily lives of personnel stationed on the islands.

Statistics show that in 2025, the vessels completed a total of 831 round-trip journeys, transporting 11,588 passengers. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

Passengers take a maritime transport support vessel from Yongxing Island to Zhaoshu Island of Sansha, south China's Hainan Province, March 19, 2026. On Jan. 7, 2025, maritime transport support vessels were officially put into operation for routes between Yongxing Island and Zhaoshu Island.

These vessels have effectively enhanced the convenience of inter-island transportation and significantly facilitated the work and daily lives of personnel stationed on the islands.

Statistics show that in 2025, the vessels completed a total of 831 round-trip journeys, transporting 11,588 passengers. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A passenger boards a maritime transport support vessel at the dock of Zhaoshu Island of Sansha, south China's Hainan Province, March 20, 2026. On Jan. 7, 2025, maritime transport support vessels were officially put into operation for routes between Yongxing Island and Zhaoshu Island.

These vessels have effectively enhanced the convenience of inter-island transportation and significantly facilitated the work and daily lives of personnel stationed on the islands.

Statistics show that in 2025, the vessels completed a total of 831 round-trip journeys, transporting 11,588 passengers. (Xinhua/Liu Lianfen)
Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane (L) receives an interview with Xinhua in Thaba-Tseka District, Lesotho, March 6, 2026.(Xinhua/Chen Wei)

by Xinhua writers Hang Zebo, Bai Ge

MASERU, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Lesotho is willing to work with China to further advance bilateral cooperation and ensure that the partnership brings greater benefits to the two peoples, Prime Minister Sam Matekane has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua at his residence in eastern Lesotho, Matekane said that Lesotho and China have maintained close cooperation and achieved fruitful results.

He noted that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Lesotho in January reflected the profound friendship between the two countries, as the two sides agreed on the need to further deepen cooperation and move bilateral ties forward.

He added that bilateral cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, agriculture and education has continued to deepen in recent years, contributing to Lesotho's economic and social development while improving people's livelihoods.

"Our priority is agriculture," Matekane said, noting that China's support in agricultural projects, including emergency food aid and agricultural machinery, has strengthened local farmers' confidence in improving food security.

On people-to-people exchanges, Matekane suggested that the two countries further expand cooperation in talent development and exchanges. He noted that through the Sebabatso Youth Empowerment Initiative, a program launched three years ago, many Basotho youths have acquired practical skills in China.

"One of our youths who studied trout fishing in China now runs his own fish farm," he said.

Additionally, Matekane welcomed China's decision to grant zero-tariff treatment on imports from African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, saying the move creates new opportunities for Lesotho to expand its exports and deepen trade ties with China.

"Lesotho's textiles have reached store shelves in China, with significant volumes exported," he said, demonstrating the potential for further cooperation in trade and investment.

On global affairs, Matekane stressed that Lesotho is a peaceful nation that supports resolving disputes through dialogue rather than conflict, and stands firmly for global peace and stability.

"China, as a major country, is standing firmly to try to bring peace to the world. This is what we expect China to do," he said.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Lesotho's independence. Matekane said that over the past six decades, Lesotho has made notable progress in economic and social development and has achieved greater political stability through reforms.

He said Lesotho will continue to pursue development in other sectors, particularly water resources. Describing Lesotho as the "water tower" of southern Africa, Matekane noted that there is strong investment potential in sectors such as renewable energy and infrastructure.

He welcomed Chinese companies to explore opportunities in renewable energy, wool and mohair production, and expressed hope for deeper cooperation in infrastructure development.

"I'm very confident that relations between Lesotho and China will continue to grow stronger in the years ahead," Matekane said. 

Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane receives an interview with Xinhua in Thaba-Tseka District, Lesotho, March 6, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Wei)
Samuel Ababu rides an e-bike for delivery work in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, March 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang)

by Xinhua writers Muluneh Gebre, Liu Fangqiang

ADDIS ABABA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Samuel Ababu, 22, is one of 100 electric bike riders working for Klik, a delivery company specializing in transporting food, groceries, medicines and parcels across Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

For the young man, e-bikes not only provide a source of income but also a sense of freedom, sparing him the stress of traffic congestion, rising fuel prices and the search for parking.

"The use of e-bikes is cost-effective, especially during this time when the price of fuel is rising. They travel faster than normal bikes," Ababu told Xinhua.

Beyond delivery services, e-bikes are gaining popularity in Ethiopia, driven by the government's push to accelerate the transition to e-mobility and reduce foreign currency spending on fossil fuels. Despite its abundant hydropower resources, the country spends billions of U.S. dollars annually importing fuel.

As part of efforts to promote electric mobility, Ethiopia in 2024 banned the import of fossil fuel-powered vehicles and introduced tax incentives for electric vehicles (EVs). Under the policy, duties were reduced to 15 percent for fully built imported EVs, 5 percent for semi-assembled units, and zero for completely knocked-down kits assembled locally, in a bid to encourage domestic assembly and wider adoption.

The Ministry of Transport and Logistics has also recently called for an accelerated transition to e-mobility amid global oil price shocks triggered by the Middle East conflict.

Lodric Trading PLC, one of the fast-growing e-bike businesses in Ethiopia, has been assembling and distributing China-made Yadea-brand e-bikes in Addis Ababa and five other major cities over the past year.

Biruk Abiot, chief executive officer of Yadea Ethiopia, said demand for e-bikes has surged following the government's ban on the importation of fuel-powered vehicles.

Having studied in China for seven years, the young businessman witnessed firsthand the convenience and popularity of e-bikes in the country, a global leader in manufacturing electric vehicles and bikes.

"Our family has been in the bike business for a long time, so I thought to myself it would be a good idea to bring Chinese e-bikes to Ethiopia," Abiot recalled.

In March 2025, the company opened its first Yadea shop in Addis Ababa, followed by five more outlets in major cities, including Mekelle and Hawassa, in the following months. The shops offer a range of models with driving ranges of 60 to 150 kilometers.

"We are glad to see a 30 percent increase in the sales of our e-bikes during the second half-year compared to the first half-year of operation. During this period, we have also witnessed increased public awareness of e-bikes and their advantages over motorbikes," he said.

In Addis Ababa, riders without driving licenses are required to use bike lanes with a speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour, while those with licenses and registered plate numbers are allowed to use main roads at higher speeds.

Abiot, however, raised concerns over the slow issuance of e-bike plates by the government, saying it is a major challenge to market expansion in the capital. He expressed hope that the plate application process could be simplified to enable more people to use e-bikes, thereby reducing reliance on fuel-powered vehicles.

Isayas Fetene, a customer at a Yadea shop in Addis Ababa, told Xinhua that he plans to buy an e-bike for commuting, citing the government's intention to remove subsidies on imported fuel in the near future, which he said would affect owners of fuel-powered vehicles.

"I believe that electric bikes will help save money. I came to buy Yadea brand e-bikes because the company has spare parts available and provides maintenance services after sale," Fetene said. 

Chinese e-bikes are displayed at a shop in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, March 18, 2026.(Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang)
In Brief: The article discusses the resilience of Sedona's lodging market, highlighting its ability to maintain pricing power despite the challenging environment.

Sedonas Lodging Market: Resilience and Pricing Power - By Zabada N. Abouelhana - Image Credit Unsplash+

Nestled among the iconic red rock formations of northern Arizona, Sedona is one of the most distinctive leisure destinations in the American Southwest. Over the past decade, Sedonas hotel market has demonstrated remarkable resilience, supported by strong leisure demand, constrained hotel supply, and a reputation as a premium outdoor and wellness destination.

Following the surge in high-rated leisure travel during the pandemic, the Sedona lodging market entered a period of ADR normalization in 2023. Recent performance indicators and operator sentiment suggest that the market has stabilized and is poised for renewed growth as visitation trends strengthen and international travel returns.

Tourism Demand and Visitation Trends

Tourism demand remains the fundamental driver of Sedonas lodging performance. The market benefits from a diverse mix of regional drive-in visitors, national leisure travelers, and international tourists drawn to northern Arizonas natural landscapes.

According to the Arizona Office of Tourism and National Park Service, visitation to the American Southwests national parks and recreation areas, as well as Arizona State Parks, remains robust, with continued strong visitation at attractions such as Grand Canyon National Park, Slide Rock State Park (in Sedona), Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and other northern Arizona destinations. These destinations serve as key anchors for the regions tourism economy and drive significant overnight visitation across northern Arizona. However, we note that the 2025 data illustrate visitation declines of 5% to 10% at each of these destinations due to national economic and political uncertainty and reduced international demand.

Nevertheless, Sedona continues to benefit from its role as both a gateway market within northern Arizonas broader tourism ecosystem, as well as a standalone destination for its outdoor recreation, spiritual and wellness retreats, art galleries, and shopping.

Recent Hotel Performance

Sedonas lodging market historically demonstrated strong pricing power and relatively stable occupancy levels until experiencing significant disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a period of rapid ADR growth. Data from 2023 through 2025 indicate that Sedonas hotel market has largely stabilized with modest growth following the volatility of the pandemic period. Occupancy increased within the high 60% range, reflecting sustained demand driven primarily by leisure travel and outdoor recreation.

Despite the opening of Ambiente Sedona and continued rate growth at the luxury hotels in the market, overall ADR moderated in 2023 as pricing normalized from the extraordinary levels reached during the pandemic recovery period. However, rates remained elevated above historical levels, and modest growth has continued, underscoring the markets pricing strength.

Sedona Occupancy and ADR Show Modest Growth in Recent Years *

Source: CoStar

* Note: This data includes all properties in Sedona, including those with near or over $1,000 ADRs (Ambiente Sedona, Enchantment Resort, and LAuberge de Sedona).

The improvements in recent months appear to be driven by both reduced competitive supply following the closure of Outbound Sedona and strengthening leisure and tour-related demand in the market.

Preliminary data from early 2026 show strengthening performance across several properties. According to local operators and CoStar data, RevPAR has improved year-over-year during the first months of the year. These early-year indicators suggest that demand in Sedona remains resilient despite broader economic uncertainty and rising travel costs.

Evolving Demand Patterns

Historically, Sedona has relied heavily on leisure travel, but the composition of demand continues to evolve. One notable trend is the gradual return of international visitation. Prior to the pandemic, Sedona hotels regularly hosted international travelers from Europe and Asia. According to several local operators, this demand source faced a prolonged absence during the pandemic years, as well as more recently due to U.S. federal policies. Nevertheless, these local hotel operators report that international travelers have begun to return.

At the same time, business travel, while still limited compared with larger metropolitan markets, has begun to stabilize. Remote work trends have reduced the frequency of traditional corporate travel, but Sedona continues to benefit from small corporate retreats, wellness programs, and experiential group travel.

Tour group demand also plays an important role in the market. Operators report that some tour operators continue to book blocks of rooms in advance for Grand Canyon itineraries, though these bookings can occasionally be volatile due to last-minute cancellations.

Investment and Development Considerations

Sedona remains one of Arizonas most supply-constrained lodging markets due to topography, zoning restrictions, and community development priorities. These constraints have historically supported strong ADR levels and investor interest in existing assets.

In recent years, several properties have undergone repositioning or brand realignment as owners seek to capture higher-rated leisure demand. Notable examples include the conversion of Sky Rock Sedona to Marriotts Tribute Portfolio, the repositioning of Sedona Real Inn & Suites as Mountain Modern Sedona, and the ongoing redevelopment of Poco Diablo Resort into Outbound Sedona. Most recently, 40 new guestrooms and an indoor event space are planned to be added to Sedonas Sky Ranch Lodge, adjacent to the existing 94-room property. These investments reflect a broader trend toward lifestyle-oriented and experiential lodging products that align with Sedonas outdoor recreation and luxury leisure positioning.

For investors, the market offers the opportunity to create value through renovation, repositioning, or lifestyle-oriented branding in a destination where barriers to entry and sustained visitation support long-term asset performance.

Operational Considerations

Like many hospitality markets, Sedona hotels continue to face operational challenges related to labor availability and rising operating costs. Staffing shortages were particularly pronounced during the pandemic recovery period and continue to affect some operators.

Labor costs remain a significant component of operating expenses, particularly for the larger properties that provide extensive guest services. Insurance expenses have also increased significantly in recent years due to broader industry trends, though operators note that these costs have begun to stabilize.

Outlook for the Sedona Lodging Market

Looking ahead, Sedonas hotel market appears well positioned for continued stability and moderate growth. Factors that support this outlook include continued strong visitation to northern Arizonas national parks and outdoor recreation destinations, the gradual return of international tourism, limited new hotel supply due to development constraints, and Sedonas reputation as a premium wellness and outdoor destination.

While the market may not replicate the extraordinary growth experienced during the post-pandemic travel boom, current trends suggest a stable operating environment characterized by strong ADR performance and steady occupancy levels. For investors and operators alike, Sedona remains one of the most unique and resilient lodging markets in the American Southwest.

At HVS, we turn data into powerful insights that drive your success. Our unique methodology, which involves conducting primary interviews within local markets, enables us to gather real-time insights and current data. This approach ensures an in-depth understanding of each market we operate in, giving you a distinct competitive edge. For comprehensive information about the Sedona market or for assistance in making investment decisions that align with your specific goals and risk tolerance, we invite you to reach out to Zabada Abouelhana.

About Zabada N. Abouelhana

Zabada Abouelhana, a Senor Director with the firm, oversees the Mountain West region. During her time at HVS, Zabada has performed hundreds of hotel valuation and consulting projects across 28 states and several countries. She has experience in a wide range of hotel asset types, including limited-service hotels, full-service hotels, complex luxury resorts, historic properties, and mixed-use assets, in a variety of market types, such as rural, airport, suburban, downtown, and national park-adjacent. Zabada holds a certified general appraisal license. Contact Zabada at +1 (314) 280-2017 or zabouelhana@hvs.com.

Source: View the original article at HVS.
In Brief: The article discusses the evolving landscape of the hotel industry, where the value proposition is increasingly based on diverse offerings beyond just accommodation, including unique experiences, amenities, and services.

Why Hotel Value Is No Longer Built on Rooms Alone - Image Credit HNR News

Hotel assets are increasingly being designed and evaluated as multi-use platforms rather than standalone lodging properties, as owners and developers look to create value through a broader mix of residential, dining, wellness, work, and extended-stay uses.

Published March 22, 2026 | By HNR News Staff Reporter

Hotel Value Creation Moves Beyond the Guest Room

For much of the modern hotel industry, asset value was driven primarily by occupancy, average daily rate, and revenue per available room. That framework still matters, but it is no longer the whole story.

Increasingly, hotel owners, developers, and investors are looking at hospitality real estate as a broader platform for value creation. In many projects, revenue and asset performance now depend on a mix of lodging, food and beverage, residences, extended-stay inventory, event programming, wellness offerings, and public-facing social spaces.

This shift is helping redefine what a hotel asset is meant to do. Rather than functioning solely as places for overnight stays, many hotel properties are being designed to serve multiple demand streams simultaneously.

Hybrid Hospitality Gains Strategic Relevance

The idea behind hybrid hospitality is straightforward: the more ways an asset can generate revenue, attract foot traffic, and stay relevant across different customer segments, the more resilient it may become.

That can take several forms. Some projects combine hotels with branded residences. Others integrate coworking, flexible meeting space, destination restaurants, rooftop venues, spa and recovery concepts, or apartment-style extended-stay units. In urban markets, lobbies and public areas are often being repositioned as social and work environments that appeal to both guests and local users.

The result is a hotel model that is less dependent on a single revenue line and better aligned with how people now travel, work, live, and socialize.

Mixed-Use and Dual-Brand Models Support the Trend

Recent transactions and financings suggest that the market increasingly supports this broader approach to hospitality real estate. In its 2026 global hotel investment outlook, JLL said global hotel investment volumes rose 22 percent in 2025 from the 2023 low, as stronger debt markets, available capital, and slowing supply growth helped improve investment conditions.

That backdrop is supporting projects that do more than sell rooms. In Chicagos River North district, JLL recently secured refinancing for a dual-brand portfolio comprising a Residence Inn and a SpringHill Suites, in which new ground-floor restaurant concepts are part of the broader property positioning and neighborhood appeal.

Elsewhere, mixed-use luxury development continues to reinforce the model. JLL previously arranged refinancing for The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley and The Ritz-Carlton Residences as part of The Palmeraie, a larger ultra-luxury retail, dining, and residential project in Arizona.

Why Owners and Investors Are Paying Attention

Hybrid hospitality appeals to owners because it can improve asset flexibility and diversify cash flow. A property with multiple demand generators may be better positioned to handle volatility in any one segment, whether that is transient leisure, business travel, group demand, or local spending.

Investors also tend to favor assets with stronger place-making characteristics. Hotels that integrate dining, social programming, residences, or longer-stay accommodations may benefit from greater relevance in their markets, potentially supporting both pricing power and long-term valuation.

In practical terms, that means a hotel may create value not just through room nights, but through the total ecosystem built around the property.

Not Every Hotel Needs to Become a Mixed-Use Project

Hybrid hospitality does not mean every asset must include residences, coworking, and multiple restaurant concepts. For some properties, the model may be simpler. A select-service hotel in the right location might create value through an extended-stay component, a stronger ground-floor food-and-beverage offering, or more flexible use of meeting and public spaces.

The broader point is that asset strategy is becoming less binary. Owners are increasingly asking how a hotel can capture more use cases, stay active throughout the day, and generate returns beyond the room product alone.

Outlook

As development costs remain high and investors become more selective, hotel value creation is likely to depend increasingly on adaptability. Assets that can combine lodging with complementary uses may have a stronger case for financing, differentiation, and long-term resilience.

Hybrid hospitality is not a passing design trend. It reflects a broader shift in how hotel assets are being planned, monetized, and evaluated. For owners and developers, that means the future of hospitality real estate may depend less on selling a room in isolation and more on building an ecosystem around the stay.
These hotels are among the lowest-priced properties for travelers in Chiang Mai. Currently, the lowest price for a hotel in Chiang Mai is $9. There are 2 hotels priced at $9. Price data was last updated on April 25, 2026.
What is the best way for guests to get from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport to Holiday Inn Lisbon By IHG?

Getting from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport to Holiday Inn Lisbon By IHG can be as easy as renting a car at the airports rental desk for, on average, $7/day in Lisbon. Luckily, Holiday Inn Lisbon By IHG has parking on site for guests who choose this method of transportation. Taking a taxi or rideshare service from the nearest airport, Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport, to your hotel is often the most cost effective transportation solution.
Che Anderson Named Chair of Mass Cultural Council

BOSTON  Governor Maura Healey has designated Worcester resident Che Anderson as Chair of Mass Cultural Council, the Commonwealth's independent state arts agency. In this role, Anderson will lead the Agency's governing Council and help guide the organization as it strives to bolster the Massachusetts cultural sector.

"I'm grateful to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor for the opportunity to serve," said Chair Anderson. "The Commonwealth's cultural assets, from the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston and Old Sturbridge Village to Elevated Thought and MASS MoCA, are among the strongest in the nation. I look forward to helping amplify our core belief that culture is essential to the health and vitality of Massachusetts, and to advancing transformational change across our creative ecosystem that strengthens the livability of every Commonwealth community."

Anderson has served on the Council as both the Worcester County representative for more than four years, as well as co-chair of the Advancement Committee over the last eighteen months. First appointed by former Governor Charlie Baker on May 17, 2021, he was reappointed to a second term by Healey on February 29, 2024.

"Arts and culture are central to what makes Massachusetts such a vibrant place to live, work and visit," said Governor Maura Healey. "Che Anderson understands the power of culture to bring people together and strengthen communities. I'm excited to see him lead Mass Cultural Council as it continues supporting artists and cultural organizations across Massachusetts."

Mass Cultural Council, the Commonwealth's independent state arts agency, is governed by a 19-member board of citizens known as the governing Council.

As directed by state law, governing Council members are appointed by the Governor to staggered three-year terms. They are private citizens who demonstrate scholarship or creativity in the arts, humanities, interpretive sciences, or local arts, and who represent communities across every county in Massachusetts. The Governor also appoints a Council Chair and Vice Chair, who serve at the Governor's pleasure.

The Chair serves as Mass Cultural Council's Chief Executive Officer, with the responsibility of appointing the Executive Director, subject to the approval of the full Council. The Executive Director, in turn, leads the day-to-day operations of the Agency with support from the Senior Leadership staff team. While these roles provide essential leadership, the structure ensures that Mass Cultural Council's mission, programs, and services continue without interruption, even as individuals rotate on and off the Council or new staff is hired.

As Chair, Anderson will work closely with Council Vice Chair Jo-Ann Davis and Acting Executive Director David T. Slatery. Together, their first responsibility will be conducting a successful search for the Agency's next Executive Director.

"It was an honor and pleasure for me to have the opportunity to work so closely with our former Chair, Marc Carroll, and I look forward to forging a positive partnership with Che," said Council Vice-Chair Jo-Ann Davis. "As we move through this transition, his perspective, commitment, and collaborative spirit will be invaluable as the Council continues to support the cultural sector and we begin the search for the Agency's next Executive Director."

"Che Anderson has been an engaged and thoughtful member of the Council, and I'm pleased to welcome him into this leadership role," said Acting Executive Director David T. Slatery. "Mass Cultural Council's work is rooted in the idea that creativity strengthens communities and our economy alike. I look forward to partnering with Chair Anderson and Vice Chair Davis as we continue delivering the essential services and critical public investments of the Agency."

Anderson succeeds Marc Carroll, whose exemplary leadership and service guided the Council as Vice Chair, Acting Chair and Chair for seven years.
Governor Increases Home Heating Assistance Benefits for Massachusetts Households

BOSTON  As Massachusetts experiences one of its coldest winters in recent years, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is increasing Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits for tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents who rely on the federally funded program to help pay for home heating.

Persistent below-average freezing temperatures have resulted in one of the coldest Massachusetts winters in recent history. As a result, 72 percent of HEAP clients (approximately 54,000 households) have less than $100 remaining in heating benefitsfor the rest of the heating season, which runs from November through April.

"We know heating costs are putting a strain on families, especially during a winter like this one. And costs are only increasing because of President Trump's war in Iran," said Governor Maura Healey. "Increasing these benefits will help make sure seniors, families with children and other residents can keep their homes warm during the coldest weeks of the year."

During the 2024-2025 heating season, the HEAP program provided financial assistance to more than 159,000 Massachusetts households. The majority of households served by HEAP- 54 percent- are seniors living on fixed incomes, and approximately 11 percent of participating households assisted by HEAP include children under the age of six.

Currently, the maximum HEAP benefit for households using deliverable fuels such as oil, propane, and kerosene is $1,000, while the maximum benefit for households using utilities such as natural gas or electric is $850. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) projects increasing the maximum deliverable fuel benefit from $1,000 to $1,400 and the maximum utility benefit from $850 to $925 in anticipation of receiving the final $15 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the coming months.

Historically, HHS provides the final 10 percent of Massachusetts' annual HEAP funding late in the winter season, allowing the state to adjust and often increase benefit levels based on demand. In prior years, the state has typically waited to increase benefits until this final funding allocation is received.

In November 2025, at the start of this year's heating season and despite a federal government shutdown, the Healey-Driscoll Administration was able to leverage carryover HEAP funding to provide emergency heating assistance to households with the greatest need and initiated the winter utility shut-off moratorium weeks early to ensure residents would not lose heat during the coldest months.
Mount Greylock School Committee OKs Budget Without Adding Elementary School Position

Updated on Monday afternoon to include a revised estimate of Williamstown's total tax levy increase with the proposed school district budget.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Mount Greylock Regional School Committee approved a fiscal year 2027 spending plan on Thursday that officials characterize as a "level services" budget.

The elected body approved the same budget it reviewed two days earlier after deciding not to add an additional full-time teaching position at Williamstown Elementary School as advocated by a half-dozen WES parents who addressed the committee in the annual budget public hearing.

That additional position, a math interventionist sought by the WES School Council, would have added about $120,000 (for salary and benefits) to the assessment to Williamstown and raised that assessment to 14.42 percent over the amount raised for the district through Williamstown property taxes in the current fiscal year.

Before taking a vote to advance the budget as drafted, School Committee member Jose Constantine moved that the bottom line be increased by the $120,000 necessary for the full-time math interventionist. His motion was defeated, 4-2, with Curtis Elfenbein joining Constantine in the minority and Steven Miller, who joined the meeting late, not voting.

The final, original, budget then was passed on a vote of 6-0, setting the stage for the district's presentation to the Williamstown Finance Committee on Wednesday and to the Lanesborough Fin Comm and Select Board on April 6.

Ultimately, the budget will show up on the annual town meeting warrants in Lanesborough and Williamstown, where voters later this spring will have an up-or-down vote. The budget approved on Thursday would raise the assessment to Williamstown by 13.61 percent, year-to-year, and in Lanesborough by 10.99 percent.

Williamstown would be on the hook for $16.8 million (up about $2 million from FY26). Lanesborough's assessment would be $7.6 million (up by $751,000).

Thursday's meeting began with public comment from parents who urged the School Committee to honor the request from the School Council  a state-mandated committee of teachers, staff and caregivers that represents each building in a regional school district.

"I think asking the town for this investment while saying it keeps services level is not something we should feel good about," said Jenna Hasenkampf, a parent of two children at WES who serves on the School Council. "I think it's coming at a cost to the students. I think we have resisted improvement because of things the town has asked for around making sure we have space for the fire department, which was a need. We have the police department asking to add another staff member.

"I think it's time that we also need to look at what the school absolutely needs."

Hasenkampf told the committee that math struggles at the elementary school level have "lifelong consequences," and giving help to pupils who need it allows them to be more prepared to enter the middle-high school.

Devan Bartels was one of several parents who told the committee that they were willing to advocate for the budget and that the school's parents would come out in force at town meeting to give that support with their votes.

Another parent of two WES pupils told the committee her children benefited from instruction from the school's reading interventionist while they were in kindergarten.

"I think that we are probably losing out on really valuable education time by not having a math specialist, especially in the early elementary years," Ash Bell said. "One semester of intervention can have payoff for years and years to come. I saw both my children's reading comprehension, reading levels, letter comprehension go through the roof with that little extra boost that they needed, that they were so fortunately able to receive by having reading interventionists at the elementary school.

"We have to do that for math also. It is vital that we are using the time those students have in those formative years to get them the education that they need."

Julia Keosaian told the committee that her family moved to Williamstown because of the school system and wants to see its excellence maintained.

"We chose this community because we believe in it, and I'dlove to see the School Committee make the kind of investment that shows that they do, too," Keosaian said.

After the public comment period ended, the chair of the School Committee's Finance subcommittee and the district's superintendent walked the committee through the reasons why the increases in the district's assessments to its member towns are historically high, citing a hike in health insurance costs, a reduction in state and federal aid and the absence of reserves which the district purposefully spent down at the request of its towns over the last couple of years. Those arguments are laid out in an FAQ document on the district's web page.

Superintendent Joseph Bergeron noted that the FY27 budget is not "level-staffed" because it reduces one full-time equivalent position at the district office and two FTEs among paraprofessionals.

"That is paraprofessionals who are already departing and paraprofessional positions that are described as being one-on-ones by the nature of a [individualized education program] team working, collaborating and making that decision. That has naturally declined by two.

"But no employee is losing their job with this budget, and that's important to know. I know that's not enough, but I do want to make sure that at every turn, whenever there is a question, we are making sure our staff know exactly what this budget contains for them and their lives next year."

Constantine argued that the School Committee should follow the recommendations of the School Council it has in place to determine what each school needs.

"At the moment, we are hearing from families who have children in our district, in Williamstown, clearly hearing a need or desire to answer the call of the hard work done by the School Council at Williamstown Elementary," Constantine said. "At a recent School Committee meeting, I asked our wonderful principal if we could identify the two priority areas that Williamstown Elementary really needs to address.

"The math interventionist came out immediately. The need for a specialist in that area is reflected in, as we all know, some of the challenges that are appearing in our MCAS scores in math."

Carolyn Greene and Julia Bowen countered, in part, by pointing out that the district already is facing a battle to get the budget passed with double-digit percentage increases to both member towns. Raising that percentage by another 0.8 percent (or $120,000) would not make passage at town meeting any easier.

"In our seat as representing the schools, we should be advocating for what we think our students need most," Bowen said. "So I'm right with you, Jose [Constantine]. My question, though, that I'm struggling with in my head is around risk/reward and what should advocacy mean in the short-term and the long-term.

"I think we've all benefitted from really good partnerships with our towns  the finance committees and select boards. And I don't want to lose that, because I don't think they've told us to hold back. I just think we've worked with them to figure out how to work together. And I don't know how they'd feel if we said we want to add that teacher. I am worried that, if we push, we don't get the budget passed at all."

If the budget fails at either member town's town meeting, the School Committee would have the opportunity to amend its proposed budget and send it back to both towns for special town meeting votes. If it fails a second time, the district likely would start the 2026-27 school year on July 1 with a "one-twelvth" budget, where it is authorized by the commonwealth to spend 8.3 percent of its FY26 budget each month until a new budget is approved locally.

"The risk I'm trying to weigh in my head is what happens if we push and we can't get the budget through," Bowen said. "Then we just have a bunch of uncertainty and challenges in other ways. The last time I remember being through one of those cycles, I was one of the 10 teachers who was laid off. And I ended up leaving the district.

"I'm worried about that kind of negative outcome if we can't get a budget passed."

Greene asked Bergeron to explain why the WES math interventionist was not included in the budget before the committee.

He gave a three-part answer.

First, Bergeron said he recognized that the 13.61 percent assessment increase for Williamstown in the proposed budget already was "massive" and "historic."

In February, the Williamstown Finance Committee began reviewing a budget  for the town and schools  that had an estimated 7.7 percent increase in the property tax levy. That budget included just a "placeholder" 9 percent increase in the assessment from the Mount Greylock Regional School District, far below the 13.61 percent increase approved by the School Committee on Thursday night.

On Monday, Williamstown's finance director said that a 13.61 percent increase in the district's assessment would translate to a 10.4 percent increase in the town's tax levy, all other factors staying the same.

Based on the anticipated 9 percent rise, the property tax bill for a median single family home ($468,500) would go up by $502 dollars in FY27, based on the town's budget documents.

Bergeron's second argument against adding a math interventionist next year is that the school district currently is in the first year of rolling out a new math curriculum. He indicated it might be prudent to give the new teaching approach a chance before taking the step of adding an interventionist.

"Waiting a year and figuring out how those supports will best be utilized also creates the continual need to figure out how to maximize what we have," Bergeron said. "I know that does not sound like the shoot for the stars' approach. But it's also a pretty real way to try to manage rolling something out, learning it, growing within it and maximizing its use."

Third, Bergeron said adding the math interventionist in FY27 could constrain the district's ability to address other needs down the road, because he would see the potential new hire as a permanent addition to the payroll.

"We've talked a lot within this committee over the last few years about the need to make sure we are addressing students as a whole, as opposed to only the academic needs of students," Bergeron said. "Conflict between students, between students and staff, between staff and staff  all of that needs attention. It needs care. Because it impacts everything else about their lives and the ways that they grow. Knowing that we need to invest there is also weighing on my mind.

"Every time we hire somebody, that is a commitment. And if the decision tonight is to add money into the budget to hire a math interventionist, that commitment is going to be there to make sure that individual knows  It's a luxury, in a sense, that we've had in this district, but it's also been one of our real strengths that when we hire people, we don't have them turning around a year later and saying, Because of a budget cut or a reallocation, am I losing my job?' That commitment to people allows us to typically hire the absolute best people we can find."

Constantine later asked Bergeron to speak to the potential to add a math interventionist by reallocating some one of the positions already funded in the FY27 budget.

Bergeron said that would be one path to getting the math position, but it would mean a whole other conversation for district officials and the community: a conversation about reducing the number of sections within a grade at WES.

"Part of the reason that is a conceivable move is that when you look at the top 30 elementary schools in the state of Massachusetts by most metrics  our class sizes at Williamstown Elementary School are, in some situations, significantly smaller on average than that pool of high-performing schools," Bergeron said.

"However, I know Williamstown and Williamstown Elementary School and this district have often stuck to trying to keep those class sizes as small as they have been. That would be a serious conversation around pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages and ways that we want to think about things moving forward."

As for the district's other elementary school, the School Council at Lanesborough Elementary School also advocated for a math interventionist in the FY27 budget  in its case, a half-time position.

Bergeron indicated that request is more manageable, given the smaller school size in Lanesborough.

"Lanesborough Elementary School has a little more than half the enrollment," Bergeron said. "Through that differing nature, many times Lanesborough Elementary School already has portions of an FTE dedicated to one thing and portions dedicated to another thing in a way that Williamstown doesn't have with its scale.

"If this budget was to pass in a way that says Williamstown Elementary School gains an additional FTE, it's not necessarily that Lanesborough Elementary School would be without a math intervention capability next year, but it would be different. And it would be different in a way that both schools, by their very nature, are different."
LONDON, March 21 (Xinhua) -- A nuclear-powered Royal Navy submarine has arrived in the Arabian Sea with the capacity to launch cruise missile attacks on Iran, British media reported Saturday, quoting military sources. 
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Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Sunday that one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has been released and is headed home.

Mr Motegi, speaking on a Fuji Television talk show, said the person had been detained since last year and was released on Wednesday. He said the person took a flight from Azerbaijan which was scheduled to arrive in Japan on Sunday.

Kyodo News agency and other Japanese media said the former detainee later returned to Japan.

Mr Motegi said another Japanese national who was arrested earlier this year is still in custody.

Mr Motegi said the release came after his repeated demands to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and that he is "working to win an early release" of the other detainee while communicating with his family and other concerned parties.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has named the person detained in Iran in January as a journalist at Japan's public broadcaster NHK. The CPJ said the NHK journalist was arrested on 20 Jan by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was transferred on 23 Feb to the Evin Prison, quoting unidentified sources citing fear of persecution.

Mr Motegi did not identify either of the people detained but said the released Japanese national was detained in 2025.

The Foreign Ministry said earlier this month the detainees were safe and in good health, but only acknowledged that one was detained last year and the other one in January.

The ministry gave no further details and did not say whether the two cases were related.